NHTSA Complaint #10355870 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2011, KIA SORENTO LX, WITH 2.4L ENGINE, ON 4/22/10. DURING THE NEXT 3.5 MONTHS AND 4,800 MILES, THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUE SEVEN TIMES, TWO OF WHICH A COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, FROM IT'S DEFAULT POSITION, THE ENGINE REMAINS AT IDLE SPEED FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING RAPIDLY, PROPORTIONATE TO THE THEN THROTTLE POSITION. DURING THIS LAG, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS HELD IN THE POSITION REPRESENTING THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF ACCELERATION UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS HESITATION OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY, SEVERELY IMPACTING NORMAL JUDGMENT AND DRIVING REACTIONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON FLAT PAVEMENT, SLIGHT INCLINE OR DECLINE, FROM A STOP, PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR WHILE TRAVELING 35 TO 40 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. IT WENT IN FOR SERVICE AT A KIA DEALERSHIP THE DAY AFTER THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE IN ONE TRIP, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS CURRENTLY BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ONE WEEK. AFTER ONE DAY, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND KIA HAD NO RESOLUTION, THEREFORE BOTH PARTIES OFFERED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. OUR INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO KIA. THE RESULTANT CASE HAS BEEN ESCALATED THROUGH KIA'S SYSTEM, AND WE ARE NOW WAITING FOR FURTHER COMMUNICATION. THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN QUESTION...OUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHAKEN. CURRENTLY, MY WIFE AND I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, WE CONSIDER IT TOO DANGEROUS, AND WE DO NOT WANT TO PUT OURSELVES, OR OTHERS AT RISK. *TR