2018 Kia Sorento

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an oil change, the contact was informed that there was an oil leak coming from the engine. The contact had her son inspect the vehicle, and he discovered that oil was leaking onto the spark plugs in cylinder #1. The contact’s son diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure and recommended that the engine be replaced. The contact then stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle started shaking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and waited for approximately an hour before being able to restart the vehicle and drive to the destination. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where a diagnostic test was performed, and the dealer discovered several oil leaks in various cylinders. The vehicle remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine was making an abnormal knocking sound. The contact stated that while slowing for a traffic sign or stop lights, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started making the knocking sound again. The check engine warning light illuminated and was now constantly illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the sounds and check engine warning light being illuminated, the contact was constantly adding engine oil, even after an oil change. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the engine was failing and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the engine was replaced in 2019 by the same dealer. The dealer requested that the engine be replaced; however, the manufacturer later informed the contact that the request was denied. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact requested an escalation to review the engine replacement and was informed that the escalation had been denied. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 79 MPH, the oil warning light illuminated, and he observed a burning oil odor emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road and inspected. The contact observed condensation under the front of the vehicle and no oil on the dipstick. Additionally, another vehicle pulled to the side of the road and reported that condensation from the vehicle sprayed onto the windshield and hood of their vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbo feed line assembly needed to be replaced due to corrosion and a hole. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle lost all power while depressing the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact also stated that white smoke began to emit from underneath the hood of the vehicle. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact saw flames coming from underneath the vehicle as oil began to leak from the vehicle. The flames eventually dissipated and authorities were not called to the scene. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed initially to the contact's home and later to the dealer. Once in the dealer's possession, the contact was informed that there was a hole in the engine block which had led to engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but had yet to offer any assistance. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine had sustained a loss of compression in cylinder #4, and oil had leaked onto the spark plugs. The contact was advised that the engine was faulty, but no repairs would be made until the engine rods had failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed the instructions provided by the dealer. The failure mileage was 138,500

After inspection, the service agent, Jeff, came and informed me there was “good news and not so good news”. Good news - He said there was a 999,999-mile warranty on the engine for the oil pressure stick problem. The not so good news is that Kia will not replace the engine until it locks. I was shocked to say the least. I asked him, how in the hell is that safe? Why isn’t the fact that the car started shutting down on me (power steering) enough of an indication that it needs to be replaced? That along with the amounts of oil I’ve had to replace. All the years I’ve had my Kia, I’ve NEVER had to add oil. He said those warnings were not enough. He said the engine light would come on as well as others, the engine would start knocking as well. THEN you get to the side of the road. I told him as I’m going to state here, that is the most asinine thing I have every heard! So essentially, before Kia will replace my engine, I have to possibly kill myself, any passengers and any other drivers on the road first? What if I’m in heavy highway traffic and cannot get over, cannot get to an inside grassy area or shoulder and my car just stops? He said his hands were tied unless these things happened.

The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal ticking noise detected. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light flashing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the knock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission and catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into park(P). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.