2018 Kia Sorento: What to check before buying

Oil disappears between changes with no visible leak and no warning light. This is the dominant complaint, with reported rates from about a quart every 400 miles to several quarts between changes. Many cases end with knocking, misfires, heavy exhaust smoke, or a sudden loss of power and stall at highway speed, followed by a dealer calling for a new engine. Failures tend to show up between 90,000 and 116,000 miles. Several owners say Kia refused coverage once the warranty ran out, despite a known service bulletin. Others report limp mode and knock sensor faults after a recall software update.

Engines knock, shake, and lose compression after a period of steady oil consumption, and oil is found on the spark plugs in cylinder #1 or #4. Many cases end in a stall and a dealer recommendation to replace the engine. Repeat failures after replacement are also reported. One fire followed a hole in the engine block at 55 mph. A corroded turbo feed line also leaked oil, bringing on the oil warning and a burning smell at highway speed. At 138,500 miles, one dealer declined to repair a faulty engine until the rods failed.

The wheel turns heavy or sticks, often at highway speed, then breaks loose and overshoots, so the driver has to correct back. Other reports describe a clunk when turning at a standstill, shaking, and a metal rattle. Dealers trace these to the steering column or a rubber coupler between the electric assist motor and the column. A warning message can appear as power assist cuts out. Several owners say their VIN was not covered by the recall and they paid for repairs, with one quote of $3,000. One car caught fire on a dealer test drive after electrical warnings.

Headlights shut off without warning while driving at night. It usually happens with the switch in Auto and often right after using a turn signal. Drivers have to cycle the switch to get them back. The opposite also happens: headlights or running lights come on by themselves hours after the car is parked. Some owners report passenger-side bulbs burning out repeatedly and a burning smell at the headlight circuit board. A recall replaced the multi-function switch on some cars, but other owners say dealers will not cover the problem. Several drivers describe near misses in the dark.

Headlights go dark while driving at night, often in Auto mode or when signaling, and lights also switch on in a parked car with the engine off. Some owners hear clicking from the dash as the lights flash. Two fires are reported, including flames under the car after a stall at 60 mph. Other faults include sudden power loss on the interstate traced to a wiring harness and failed wheel speed sensors that make the speedometer jump. Owners also describe a key the car does not recognize and brake and headlight bulbs that keep needing replacement.

Airbags fail to deploy in frontal crashes. Reports describe hitting guardrails, a snow bank, a deer at highway speed, and another car at 35 mph with no deployment. There are 4 injuries, including whiplash, knee and chest impacts, and a concussion when a side airbag did not fire. Separately, the passenger airbag warning light stays on with someone in the seat. In one case it was traced to an occupancy sensor quoted at $1170. Another report describes the dashboard splitting open over the passenger airbag.

Most reports here describe engine failure rather than driveline faults. Cars suddenly lose power on hills or highways, oil pours out, an oil pump fails at about 75,000 miles, and an internal bolt lets go at 87,000 miles. Replacement engines can set the P1326 knock sensor code and misfire again within about 4,000 miles. Some complaints claim that a sensor swap and ECM reflash cleared the code while the knocking got worse. Other complaints cover a failed AWD coupling not covered by warranty, a corroded shift cable, and one crash after sudden acceleration in reverse.

The engine stalls or loses power at speed, sometimes with no warning light, and the driver has to coast out of traffic. Other reports describe unexpected downshifts on the interstate, sluggish acceleration after stops, and knocking that returns after a knock sensor replacement. One crash with an injury involved sudden acceleration out of a car wash with the brakes not engaging. In another report, smart cruise pushed the car forward toward a vehicle ahead. That car had 650 miles on it.

Snow White Pearl paint peels off the hood, front bumper, and fender, starting around 45,000 miles even on a garage-kept car. It gets worse, with chipping where the clear coat is gone. Other reports describe a rear hatch that clicks open but has to be lifted by hand, and a panoramic sunroof that cracked all the way across with a loud pop while the car was parked. One complaint describes an engine-compartment fire at 50 mph that destroyed the car.