NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
242 reports113,000 miles · Jan 7, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
I WENT TO THE BANK IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. I SHUT MY CAR OFF BECAUSE ITS STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE . I TRIED TO START IT WHEN I WAS DONE AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP TO START IT BACK UP BUT IT KEEP ON DYING. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT STARTED ENOUGH TO GET IT HOME . IT DIED RIGHT BEFORE MY HOUSE SO WE HAD T…
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I WENT TO THE BANK IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. I SHUT MY CAR OFF BECAUSE ITS STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE . I TRIED TO START IT WHEN I WAS DONE AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP TO START IT BACK UP BUT IT KEEP ON DYING. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT STARTED ENOUGH TO GET IT HOME . IT DIED RIGHT BEFORE MY HOUSE SO WE HAD TO PUSH IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT HOME THE ELECTRICAL KEPT CUTTING IN AND OUT AND IT WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. COME TO FIND OUT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF INTO THE ENGINE.I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 8 MONTHS AND PAID $8700.00 FOR THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10670791
85,000 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Engine
STARTED MAKING LOUD KNOCKING NOISE TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT, AS MANY OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10668904
73,000 miles · Dec 23, 2014
Engine
WAS SITTING PARKED THANKFULLY BUT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF ALTERNATOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN A YEAR. THANKFULLY WE WEREN'T IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF KIA SORENTO OWNERS (LOOKI…
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WAS SITTING PARKED THANKFULLY BUT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF ALTERNATOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN A YEAR. THANKFULLY WE WEREN'T IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF KIA SORENTO OWNERS (LOOKING ONLINE). KIA ISSUED A SERVICE MEMO TELLING THE SERVICE PEOPLE TO USE AN UPGRADED BOLT, HOWEVER WE HAD THE UPGRADED BOLT AND THE ISSUE STILL OCCURRED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10667848
121,000 miles · Dec 17, 2014
Power TrainSteering
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE INSIDE THE CRANKSHAFT CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS, AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE DEATH BY LOSING STEERING CONTROL OR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH OTHERS DUE TO LOST OF POWER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10667001
6,700 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting
PANEL DASH LIGHTS INTERMEDIATELY DIM, LOW HEADLIGHTS AND BACK RUNNING LIGHT BULBS BURN OUT CONSTANTLY, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT BULBS BURNT OUT AND MELTED IN CASING, PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED STATING IT IS OFF. POWERED DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME - PUSH POWER LOCK BUTTON OR BY KE…
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PANEL DASH LIGHTS INTERMEDIATELY DIM, LOW HEADLIGHTS AND BACK RUNNING LIGHT BULBS BURN OUT CONSTANTLY, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT BULBS BURNT OUT AND MELTED IN CASING, PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED STATING IT IS OFF. POWERED DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME - PUSH POWER LOCK BUTTON OR BY KEY AND STILL WON'T LOCK, KEYLESS REMOTES DON'T WORK EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF NEW BATTERIES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664449
105,280 miles · Dec 8, 2014
Air BagsSeats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,280.
NHTSA ODI #10662960
117,000 miles · Dec 5, 2014
Air BagsService Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
NHTSA ODI #10662413
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2014
Electrical System
LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS, JUST GO OUT WITH OUT WARNING . REPLACED 100S OF TIME S JUST VERY COSTLY . KIA WANTS 100. EVERY TIME TO REPLACE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10661393
83,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 12/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE'S V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 12/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THEREFORE REFUSING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 5/29/2015 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10655077
40,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Air Bags
"PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTANTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM ON 06 AND 07 SORENTOS MADE AFTER JUNE 06 BUT MY KIA WAS MADE P…
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"PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTANTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM ON 06 AND 07 SORENTOS MADE AFTER JUNE 06 BUT MY KIA WAS MADE PRIOR TO THIS DATE AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I AM AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF ANY PASSENGER IN THIS SEAT AND FEEL IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. I TOOK IT TO KIA AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS BUT NOW I FIND OUT THERE CERTAINLY IS BUT THEY STILL ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10655031
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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