2011 Kia Sorento Electrical System

My 2011 Kia Sorrento caught fire while parked in my garage. Kia is saying it's not due to any recall they have and that it was an electrical fire store behind the steering wheel and they're refusing to take any responsibility financially for it or otherwise due to it being through previous owners and an older vehicle

I bought my 2011 Kia Sorento used from a dealership. The Air Bag Warning light was on & I insisted that they inspect car before I buy it, which they did. I go to pick the car up & the Air Bag Warning light is still on. When I questioned it, I learned that, for SOME REASON, a car's #1 safety feature, the Air Bags, is NOT part of PA's Safety Inspection!! A couple months go by and 1 by 1 the Bluetooth/Audio controls on the steering wheel stop working. So, after reading the Owner's Manual & finding that there is no fuse for the steering wheel controls, I go online to see if I can find the cause &/or how to fix it. That's when I run across hundreds of posts/blogs from other 2011 Sorento owner's saying the exact same thing happened to them and all the replies say that it's caused by the Clock Spring and upon replacing it, all their Bluetooth/Audio controls on steering wheel worked again. I then remember the letters regarding the Clock Spring in with the car's Owner's Manual. I have 2 letters, 1 from 2017 & 1 from 2019 saying that Kia Extended the Warranty on the Clock Spring to 15 years. To take the car to a Kia dealership and have the Air Bag Warning light diagnosed & if it's determined that the Clock Spring is reason it's illuminated, Kia will pay to fix it. What I don't understand is if Kia saw fit to issue TWO identical letters TWO years apart from each other, why didn't they just issue a recall? They obviously knew it was a problem that effected most, if not all of the 2011 Sorento's manufactured. And the real reason I'm writing? Since my research on the internet TWO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS things have happened. 1)my horn no longer works! At 1st it worked when it wanted to but now it doesn't work at all! I've almost gotten in 3 accidents because of it & my car will NO LONGER PASSES INSPECTION and 2) Now the Air Bag system cannot detect when someone is in the passenger seat, so their Air Bags never turn on!! The Extended Warranty expires in 2024 & NO RECALL!????

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the horn was inoperable and the front and rear driver's side windows did not go up and down as designed. In addition, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

The Hydraulic Electronic control unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short , whioch can result in an engine compartment fire while paked or driving the car.

I called Courtesy KIA in Altoona, PA. I informed them that I have another recall addressing this latest issue "The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit," as I was there last month addressing another recall. That situation was resolved. However, I called today 5/13/24 at about 12:50PM and was told by service dept. member Toby that we already have all the parts we can order for recall. He also told me to call him back in a month??? My concern is I am getting a letter saying the engine could catch fire and I am being told to call back in a month. I just wanted to log this incident for my personal file to show that I am trying to remedy the problem. Regards, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

This defect was repaired as a recall, repaired again by a shop, and is doing the same thing again. The dash lights for ABS, downhill accent, and the anti-skid light up when first start up. The second time of this defect the car would not start, the anti-thief system was activated (lights and horn were activated). Repair was done in my driveway because the vehicle would not start. I contacted a dealer about the second time and was told this problem had already been repaired by a recall. The second time the switch/commutateur interruptor, NAPA part # SL1031 was replaced. Now those same dash lights are back on.

Mechanical failure in the wiring harness, caused smoke to come out of vents (melted wires). No evidence of rodent damage. Safety was put at risk, immediately dialed 911. As a result several electrical features do not work. Air/AC/heater, power windows nor headlights. Two mechanics & insurance claims representive deemed it "mechanical" failure despite the vehicle being inspected two months prior. Only symptoms that occurred prior were a fused being tripped; interior lights and radio didn't work when this happened.

Intake manifold runner control actuator on 2.4L engine has an inherent defect. The plastic coupling that connects the runner male connection on the side of the intake manifold to the runner control actuator has cracked twice, requiring several replacements of the runner control actuator at a cost of approximately $300 (part and labor) each repair. The coupling can't cost more than 25 cents to manufacture but once it cracks, you can't just buy the plastic coupling; you have to replace the entire runner control actuator. Suggest Hyundai/Kia manufacture the coupling from a metal capable of high temperature application and make just the coupling available for purchase.

MY ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AND KIA REPLACED IT, I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITHIN 15 MONTHS THE SECOND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 70 M HR THE CAR WITH NO WARNING THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED ON THE INSIDE LANE NO BRAKES, NO GAS, NO LIGHTS, THIS WAS SUCH A DANGEROUS WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED I HAD TO PAY OVER 900.00 TO GET THIS REPLACED, I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO REPLACE BATTERIES AND ALTERNATORS I'M KNOW FOR THE 3RD TIME HAVING TO HAVE THIS DONE AGAIN

INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ALL COME ON DURING DRIVING. SHUT VEHILE OFF AND RESTART AFTER SEVERAL HOUR , RESTART AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ALL OFF. THEY WILL ALL COME BACK ON AGAIN AFTER A WHILE WHEN DRIVING .THIS HAS BEEN INTERMITENT FOR TWO MONTHS

THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF AT SPORADIC TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THIS CONDITION IS FRIGHTENING, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT SINCE WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WITH NO STREET LIGHTS ON MANY OF THE ROADS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO FIND YOURSELF IN TOTAL DARKNESS ON COUNTRY ROADS THAT HAVE DEEP DITCHES ON EITHER SIDE.

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS LIKE THE DOOR IS LOCKED, HOWEVER IT IS NOT LOCKED. IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT OR NEED TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE, NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET ME OUT. IT REMAINS THIS WAY AT ALL TIMES; INCLUDING WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. THERE IS A WARRANTY EXTENSION OFFERED BY KIA, BUT THEY ARE TELLING ME THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL THE VIN'S!

MY CAR TURNED OFF ON ME TWICE WHILE DRIVING IT ON THE STREETS, ALL LIGHTS WENT BLACK.THERE WAS CARS BEHIND ME, I WAS SCARED ON GETTING HIT. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A SMART JUNKING BOX CAUSING THE PROBLEM SINCE SOME CABLES HAS CORROSION. THEY HAVE BEEN RECALL ON THAT AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THEY SEND ME A PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM, AND I SEE NO CORROSION. NOW I'M SCARED DRIVING MY CAR AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ESPECIALLY WHEN HAVING MY KIDS WITH ME AND DRIVING AT NIGHT, IF THAT CAR TURNS OFF, IT CAN CAUSE A HORRIBLE CRASH. *TR

ALTERNATOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS... MECHANIC AT PEP BOYS SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL OF THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL COME IN FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM...

DRIVER SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. WHEN CHILD LOCK IS ENGAGED, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. DEALER INDICATED POSSIBLE ACTUATOR FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS 106,000 MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

THE DRIVER DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ANYMORE I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BACK AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN

DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE

I AM NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT WILL BE COVERED OR NOT. MOST LIKELY IT WILL NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE CS1603 CAN ONLY BE COMPLETED ONCE, AND ONLY UNDER THE 5 YEARS/ 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED OUT OF WARRANTY BY THE YEAR AS IT GOES BY THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY START DATE OF 06/04/2011. HOWEVER, WE CAN LOOK INTO POSSIBLE GOODWILL ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR THAT IS NEEDED. OF COURSE I AM NOT ABLE TO GUARANTEE ANYTHING UPFRONT. KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. 111 PETERS CANYON RD IRVINE CA 9260 ON FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019, 8:43:00 AM CDT GOOD MORNING, I WOULD RECOMMEND TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO YOUR LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE CONCERN. TYPICALLY, THE REPAIR CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED ONCE, BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING THAT TO OCCUR. I AM NOT TECHNICALLY TRAINED IN MY OFFICE, SO I AM UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE CS1603, OR RECALL, COULD BE CAUSING THIS OR NOT. A KIA DEALERSHIP WOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE SETTING UP AN APPOINTMENT PLEASE LET ME KNOW, AND I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP. SUBJECT: RE: 13091874 YES, MY CONCERN IS THAT I TOOK MY 2011 KIA SORENTO INTO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP FOR A DOOR LOCK RECALL WHILE I WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. THEY DID A REPAIR. NOW, EVERY SO OFTEN, THE ONLY DOOR LOCK, WHERE YOU CAN PUT A KEY IN, YOU TURN THE KEY, AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THEN YOU TURN THE KEY AGAIN AND THE FRONT AND BACK DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK. IN SOME CASES NOT. SO, I AM NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM WHERE BEFORE THE RECALL I HAD NONE. SO, I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL, OR WHAT IS GOING ON???? Consumer stated vehicle has not been repaired.*JB

DROVE TRUCK TO BANK AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT MY BCM BODY CONTROL MODULE IS BAD. I HAD A TOW TRUCK DRIVER TELL ME THAT I WAS THE 10TH VEHICLE HE HAS PICKED UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT.

THE ALTERNATOR IN THIS VEHICLE HAD DIED NOW 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE ALTERNATOR GOES FROM WORKING TO COMPLETELY DEAD. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE CAR HAD AROUND 65,000 MILES. THE SECOND TIME IT HAD AROUND 128,000 AND THIS LAST TIME AROUND 131,000 THERE WAS A RECALL LISTED FOR THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR BUT KIA CLAIMED IT DID NOT APPLY TO OUR CAR EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURED DATE FIT WITHIN THE LISTED MONTHS.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. HAD DRIVEN DAY BEFORE. WENT TO START AND HEAR CLICKING NOISE LIKE STARTER PROBLEM. CALL TOW TRUCK TO TAKE TO SHOP $92.32. SHORT IN WIRING DOWN BY STARTER ASSEMBELY. REQUIRED REPAIR AND RETEST OF SYSTEM. $311.39

THE VOLUME CONTROL ON STEERING WHEEL, AND OTHER ELECTRONICS WILL RANDOMLY MALFUNCTION. HAD WHERE I WOULD HAVE CRUSIE CONTROL ON AND TURN THE TURN SIGNAL ON AND IT WOULD SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL (ONLY THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD CAUSE THIS). THE VOLUME ON STEERING WHEEL, YOU WOULD GO TO TURN IT UP AND IT WOULD TURN IT DOWN INSTEAD, LIGHTS ON DASH SUCH AS THE STEEP DECLINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON AND IT IS NOT EVEN BEING USED.

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN PA, RT. 83 AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LUCKILY I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS NO POWER WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. I GOT IT TOWED TO MY GARAGE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR. I GOT IT REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IMAGINE IF I KEEP DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO ACCELERATION. I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. RT. 83 IS ONE OF THE WORST HIGHWAYS IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FOR TRACKER TRAILER ACCIDENTS. THIS SORENTO IS A 2011 AND ONLY 55,900 MILE. WHAT YHE HECK. TWICE IN A MONTH. I WANT THIS ON RECORD BECAUSE IF THIS VEHICLE CAUSES ME TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT THAT KILLS ME, KIA IS LIABLE. I ONLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2018. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO?

JUST WHEN THE WARRANTY RAN OUT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR QUIT WORKING. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF CHILD LOCK IS PUT ON, THEN THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE BLOCKING EGRESS FOR THAT REAR PASSENGER.

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB WENT OUT. WENT TO REPLACE BULB AND THE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED