2008 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

Your engine experiences a runaway throttle condition where the engine races uncontrollably, then operates at partial throttle, and finally stalls completely. This problem comes and goes intermittently, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. The issue likely involves a faulty throttle control component or sensor that needs diagnostic testing and replacement.

MY 2008 KIA SORRENTO, WITH ONLY 92K MILES ON IT... I HAD IT IN THE SERVICE SHOP AT THE KIA DEALER, FOR A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE.. THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE MAIN BARRING GOING OUT.. AND THEY QUOTED ME 12K TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AS A FIX... OF COURSE I SAID NO, THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO, MY SORRENTO IS STILL SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY UN-DRIVEN, WHICH IS COMPLETELY PAID OFF.. INSTEAD I PURCHASED ANOTHER CAR FROM KIA... RECENTLY I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS ON NEWER VERSIONS OF THE SORRENTO'S... I WROTE KIA CORPORATE, ABOUT THIS, AND OF COURSE NO RESPONSE BACK FROM THEM AT ALL. I AM A LOYAL KIA DRIVER, HOWEVER I WISH KIA WOULD STEP UP AND CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS MAIN BARRING DEFECT.. A LOUSY $20 DOLLAR PART FAILED ON A 30K PURCHASED SORRENTO, AND THEY WILL NOT ANSWER ME BACK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO SHAWNEE MISSION KIA (7591 SHAWNEE MISSION, KS 66202), BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE SIX YEARS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,970. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TIRE DISCOUNTERS FOR AN OIL CHANGE. IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 200 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO MALL OF DAYTON WHERE IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

THE ENGINE MAKES A HIGH PITCH WHINING NOISE. HAVE NOT HAD ANY REPAIRS AS OF YET. KIA THINKS IT'S THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. KIA STATES THIS WILL COST 4000 OR MORE TO FIX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE SEC AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

FOR THE 3RD TIME IN AS MANY YEARS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT COME ON AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESET IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. HAVE REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SEE THIS IS A COMMON THEME WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT HAS NOT BECOME A RECALL. WHEN LOSING ALL POWER ON HWY IN TRAFFIC THIS IS SURE TO BECOME A FATALITY ISSUE BEFORE LONG. I WOULD THINK THE COMPANY WOULD RATHER RECALL BEFORE IT BECOMES A LAWSUIT.. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND THE ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO START THE CAR. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND TOOK TO MY MECHANIC. REPLACE ON OIL PUMP AND CAR WILL NOT START. HE STATED MOTOR WAS GONE. PLEASE HELP ME. HAVE 30 MORE PAYMENTS ON THIS 2008 KIA SORENTO. GOD BLESS ND HAVE A GOOD DAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD, CAUSING A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER AND DID NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND REVEALED THAT THE OXYGEN SENOR, BRAKE PEDAL LIGHT SWITCH, AND THROTTLE PEDAL SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAILED PARTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,371 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

I HAVE A 2008 KIA SORENTO I HAVE HAD 6 SERVICE ISSUES WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC COMING ON. KIA DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED GAS PEDAL X2, THROTTLE SENSORY ASSY, TIGHTENED CONNECTIONS, CLEARED CODES, APPLIED STABULANT, TIGHTENED PINS, RESET CODES, CLEARED FAULTS, CLEANED GROUND STATION AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. I ONLY HAVE THESE ISSUES WITH THE CAR IN THE WARMER MONTHS (MAY-AUGUST)? IT LOSES POWER AND WON'T ACCELERATE. *JS

MY 2008 KIA SORENTO LX LOSES POWER & WILL NOT ACCELERATE TO 60MPH. I FEAR DRIVING MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS BY AN 18-WHEELER DIESEL DUE TO THE FACT THE POWER IS LOST UPON ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION TO THE LOSS OF POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE & ESC OFF LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED. LIKE MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I HAVE TRIED TURNING MY ENGINE OFF & WAITING 10 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE ENGINE TO SEE IF THAT CLEARS THE STATUS OF THE LIGHTS BUT HAD LIMITED SUCCESS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, FOR RESOLUTION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED THAT CERTAIN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS THE GAS PEDAL BUT YET EITHER HAS RESOLVED THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN WANTED TO CHARGE ME $2800 FOR ONE TRIP & $1800 ON THE NEXT. THIS WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE & CORPORATE WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE & ARE ANOTHER REASON FOR WHY I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF ME & MY PASSENGERS WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. *TR

2008 KIA SORENTO LOSES POWER. ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATES AS WELL AS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE TO MORE THAN ABOUT 40-45 MPH. IF I PULL OVER TO A STOP AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART THE ENGINE THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES RESOLVES ITSELF. SOMETIMES I FIND THE FUEL CAP IS LOOSE AND WITHOUT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF I TIGHTEN THE CAP AND THIS RESOLVES THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2009. IT WAS USED WITH ABOUT 12,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED MY SON HAD IT ON A TRIP AND HE CALLED IN A PANIC WHILE DRIVING IN A LARGE CITY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. THAT WAS IN THE SUMMER OF 2010. THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY TIGHTENING THE FUEL CAP AS HE TOLD ME HE HAD JUST FILLED IT WITH FUEL. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2011 THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MUCH MORE FREQUENT, NEARLY A WEEKLY EVENT FOR EITHER MY WIFE OR ME. THANKFULLY WE LIVE IN A SMALLER CITY WHERE TRAFFIC IS LIGHTER AND IT IS EASY TO PULL OFF ON A SIDE STREET TO DO THE "SHUTDOWN/RESTART" PROCEDURE. *TR

BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2008. PROBLEMS BEGAN WITH THE ESC OFF LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE ABOUT A YEAR LATER. MULTIPLE PARTS WERE SUPPOSEDLY FIXED AND REPLACED BUT THE LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON, EACH TIME LOOSING ALL ACCELERATION SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY! A FEW DAYS AGO, DRIVING UP A HILL, BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON, MY CAR STALLS OUT, STEERING LOCKS AND STARTS ROLLING DOWN THE HILL, LUCKILY IN A QUIET, SLOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBORHOOD. AFTER THAT MY CAR WON'T EVEN START. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE SINCE CALLED CORPORATE... WE WILL SEE WHAT THAT DOES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORRENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

I BOUGHT MY 2008 KIA SORENTO 11/11/2008. IN MARCH 2009, I STARTED TO NOTICE A COMPRESSION TYPE NOISE AND IT OCCURS EVERY 3-5 SECONDS. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. THIS IS AN ONGOING AND STILL CURRENT ISSUE. IT'S VERY INCONVENIENT TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY OTHER WEEK JUST TO HEAR THAT THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP CAN NOT TELL ME IF IT A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE TECH'S CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, THEN HOW DO I KNOW IF MY FAMILY IS SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE? *TR

MY 22 YR SON. WAS DRIVING A KIA SORENTO, AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON 11/27/08 ON I-10 W IN HOUSTON, TX, JUST EAST OF LOOP 610. THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR AND HAD CA. 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MY SON REPORTS HEARING A LOUD BOOM FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD VENTS. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE MEDIAN SHOULDER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, NOTICING DARK SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD, THEN FLAMES. HE PROMPTLY CALLED 911. THE OPERATOR SAID SHE HAD HIS VEHICLE FIRE ON THE OVERHEAD HIGHWAY CAMERA. MY SON IS A CULINARY STUDENT AND RAPIDLY RETRIEVED HIS VALUABLE KNIFE ROLL FROM THE REAR SEAT FLOORBOARD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE HEAT AND SMOKE. HE SAYS THE FD ARRIVED WITHIN 5 MINS AND DOUSED THE ENGINE FIRE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND LESS SO TO THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY SON IS SMART, QUICK AND AGILE. THUS, HE SUFFERED NO PHYSICAL INJURY, BUT WAS QUITE DISTRAUGHT. HE WILL DO WELL. I AM AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN WITH 20 YRS OF EXPERIENCE. I HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING THIS APPARENT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT RAPIDLY RESULTED IN AN ENGINE AND VEHICLE FIRE. IT IS APPARENT THAT A DEFINITELY ADVERSE OUTCOME, INCLUDING SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH COULD RESULT IF THE OCCUPANTS WERE ELDERLY OR A FAMILY WITH CHILDREN IN PROPER RESTRAINTS, BOOSTER OR INFANT SEATS. ADDITIONALLY, MY SON REACTED RAPIDLY AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. ANOTHER TRAGIC SCENARIO COULD OCCUR IF THERE WERE A NARROW OR NO SHOULDER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW AND ACTION. *TR