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I also have the vibration between 65 & 70 mph which feels like its in the driveline to me. I had the car into the shop twice and they've aligned and balanced/rotated tires but so far the problem remains.
My dealer has been good but so far of little help. I'm hoping this forum can help track down the real solution to these issues.
...hello. Well, like you I have been apprehensive to jump into this "thumping" sound/feeling issue for sometime. I have a Sorento EX 4X4. I do not have the TOD. Some here have commented that the issues only involve the TOD, which I disagree with. I have found that sometimes I get the thumping noise when I start from a stop.....but I have found that I only get the thumping when I have come to an abrupt stop before from a higher rate of speed. When I come to a smooth more contorlled and conservative stop, I never have the thumping sensation.
Personally, this is what I think is happening. When you come to a quick harsher stop, driveline compression occurs. Simply meaning that when a vehicle comes to a stop, certain forces occure. The front brakes are doing much of the work, thus you get a lot of vehicle weight transfer to the front wheels. Thus the rearend of the vehicle rises a bit...especially in a larger heavier vehicle that sits high, hence the Sorento. As the the vehicle comes to a stop the wieght transfer then slightly retransfers to the back for just a second as the vehicle settles and chassis flex compresses. So as you take your foot off the brakes to leave from a stoplight, all those forces in the driveline now sorta relax and then immediatly tighten again as the wieght and drive forces move to the rear of the vehicle releasing a thud/thumping sensation. When you come to a nice smooth stop, these forces dont exist as much, thus, no thud/thumping sensation.
Regarding the vibration. I had a slight vibration in my Sorento after about 7500 miles. After many trips to the Kia service department to have the issues fixed, it only got worse. To the point where I could feel the vibration through the floorboards and brake pedal. Well, it turns out that my problem was over torqued lug nuts on all four wheels. By over torqueing the lugnuts, the brake rotors became warped, and only got worse the more times the wheels were removed, rebalanced or rotated and the retorqued. Needless to say, Kia replaced all four brake rotors, brake pad, and a new set of wheels. This took care of the problem! NO vibrations at all, and the vehicle comes to a with not vibrations at all. Just nice and smooth, just the way its suppose to. I have since started using a different Kia dealership with a much better service department that is aware of the over torquing issues with the Sorento.
I would also check for underbody rust protectent that is applied by the dealership. Sometimes care is not taken and they apply that crap to the driveline causing it to be out of balance.
And for what its worth, my Sorento now has over 31,000 miles on it. And the brake issue and a minor airbag sensor gone bad have been the only problems.
Hope some of this information is helpful.
About the vibration at certain speeds it was mentioned in another forum that the owners Sorento had undercoating on the drive axels and after having it removed by the dealer the vibration was gone.
one problem that I heard of the new Sorento: since the leather is of poorer, cheaper quality, it rips easier...is this true??
rctennis3811 - A $45K SUV (Infinti FX45) doesn't mean trouble free. Just look at the NHTSA site and you will find several recalls and TSBs on both '03 and '04 models.
Duncan
Well, are is a sampling of some of the other makes and their SUVS based on data that I was able to dig up here in Edmunds:
Acura MDX - 201
Honda Pilot - 390
BMW X5 - 438 (there would be more but this forum was closed almost 6months ago)
Infinite FX45 - 500+
Subaru Forester - 2008
Toyota 4Runner - 127
Toyota Highlander - 927
Nissan Murano - 190
Nissan XTerra - 768
Ford Explorer - 2254
Ford Escape - 2324
Hyundai Sante Fe - 583
So if your just looking at numbers and not reading the forums...the Kia is doing very well for itself. I think if you read through the forum a little, you will see just a few concerns most of us have had. And those being a drivline vibration in some Sorentos, ticking HVAC air ducting, a thumping sound from the rear of the truck when leaving from a stop, and a few front windshield issues and some minor chipping on the black paint part of the front gril. Thats really about it. I personally havent heard any problems with the leather seats.
Go test drive the Kia. Talk here in this forum with other owners. Compare the Kia against the competition. Then make your choice. But I'm guessing you will see that the Kia Sorento is a very solid vehicle in all respects. I'll be the first one to admit. The Kia isn't perfect. But it has been the best new car I have bought in over 15 years (knock on wood).
Tom
If you go for brakes service all you get is the junk that they sell or install under warranty. So, what I did, I checked my rotors. They are fine. They are straight like hell. Next, I checked the pads. Well, I can see myself reflected on my pads as a mirror. And I thought, maybe my pulsation while braking is caused by cristalized or glazed pads. Ok, I took a sandpaper and a can of parts and brake cleaner, and guess what? That was it, that was the problem. Now, they are working perfect. The brake pads from factory sucks!!. Now, I am thinking to replace them for a set of nice ones. TireRack.com carry a set for $44 dollars that will fit right and will perform better than the factory [non-permissible content removed] ones.
I know that there are Sorento owners with the same problem and my advise is that you do the same if there are no problem other than the pads itself. It worked for me, it will work for you. Think about it. Just try it!!
And for what its worth...brake pads from most manufactures that are OEM suck.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Which brings me to the point of this post. I came across this forum a couple weeks after purchasing the Sorento. Had I seen if before, I may have hesitated, unwisely.
I feel that having a dedicated forum named 'Sorento Problems' is really a disservice to potential future Sorento owners, and KIA itself. Not to mention what a 'problem only' forum may do to future resale values (keeping up the perception that KIA is 'junk' Korean made goods). While it is one of the great things about the internet to get together to compare notes, sometimes there is such a thing as too much information.
I'm not saying that the problems shouldn't be discussed, I just wish the forum could have been included in the Sorento forum, because a forum based solely on 'problems' really takes everything out of context. By reading it, or skimming through it, one could presume at first glance that the Sorento is a problem laden vehicle.
After reading through virtually the entire forum, it appears that the TOD system does have some problems, but other problems in common seem realitvly minor, such as vibrations (caused seemily by over inflated tires), some minor electrical problems, and a couple rattles/buzzes.
Listing 'fuel economy' as a problem, to me, seems downright silly. I read the same EPA estimates I presume everyone else did when they purchased a vehicle.
Vehicles are built by humans, and mechanical parts will sometimes fail. Some vehicles are, in fact, bad right out of the gate. Happens to all manufacturers, even high end ones. That's why we have lemon laws.
I personly think that for a vehicle out on the market for a couple of years, the track record seems pretty good. Also, it is important to keep in mind how well a manufacturer stands behind it product (a 100k power train warranty makes a strong case), but also there are different levels of service at dealerships when it comes to addressing problems. Sometimes, I think, people equate bad dealer service with a bad vehicle, not realizing that a dealer may just have under trained, under motivated employees on its staff.
Well, this is just my opinion, in any case. Like I said, so far I'm very happy with my Sorento, and am looking toward to many years of driving it.
Also a Happy Thanksgiving to all the lucky Sorento owners out there and also to anyone reading these contemplating a purchase.
Happy Thanksgiving also to the hosts from Edmunds and last but not certainly not least all of our folks in the armed forces. Thanks for all you do for us....
Duncan
tidester, host
The 2003 Sorento LX 4wd had no TSB's, or recalls.
Honda Pilot LX AWD - 1 recall, 8 TSB
Toyota Highlander AWD 6cyl - 1 recall
Jeep Liberty 4wd 3.7L - 1 recall
Ford Escape XLT Sport 4WD 3.0L - 5 TSB
Acura MDX AWD 3.5L - 2 TSB
BMW X5 4.4i AWD 4.4L - 1 recall
Chevrolet TrailBlazer LT 4WD 4.2L - 5 recall, 3 TSB
Infiniti QX4 4WD 3.5L - 1 TSB
Nissan Xterra XE 4WD 3.3L - 1 recall
Suzuki XL-7 Limited 4WD 2.7L - 1 recall
Honda CR-V LX AWD 2.4L - 1 recall
Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML350 AWD 3.7L - 1 recall
Saturn VUE AWD 2.2L - 8 TSB
Isuzu Axiom XS 4WD 3.5L - 1 recall
What does all this mean? Maybe the KIA is the Korean P.O.C. some make it out to be.......
1 - rattling sound in jack compartment rough roads
4 - other (these are just training bulletins for dealers)
1 - replacement of drivers side seatbelt wire harness
1 - electric power steering logic change to improve feel
1 - apply hood anti corrosion
I would consider them all very minor and only the last one applied to my Sorento, purchased in Feb.
Just for a quick comparison between Edmunds and the real organization that does the TSB's, I looked up the Vue. That model actually has 25+ TSB's. The Pilot, has one recall and 30+ TSB's.
Check out http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/home.cfm
BTW, I checked my trade in car, a 2002 Ford Focus, which I felt was a pretty decent vehicle -79 TSB's!.
my first car where the dome light doesn't come on when I open the doors. Absolutely annoying :-(
but I can live with it and hate it for the next 5 years or so !
The rest of the whole SUV is running real good after one month :-)
I wish my dealer can be smart enough to rewire the silly thing to turn "on" when the door opens
In the winter it gets dark around 4PM up here and that dome light could be useful rather than useless
You may want to check your dome light for an on/off switch. In my Sorento EX, there is a 3 position switch - to turn the light on, on when the door is open, or off completely.
Thanks for feedback. I will check if the scrolling intensity switch next to CRUISE does
anything. That is the only switch I can find or know of. I will read the book again. The book from Kia which contains 0 instructions of the radio ! Pre-Programming the stations turned out to be easy by hold the buttons in about 3-4 seconds but I would have liked a section in the book. I will reread again in case I skipped it but I do not recall the RADIO functions listed in the front index.
By the way..last knight was a first... fairly cold evening with a bit of snow etc.... I noticed the LX had a hard time clearing the windows.
This was never a problem in my previous 4 Caravans ...and no the air recirculate was not active.
The car simply seemed to have a high humidity content which fogged inside the windows and froze.
This could become a problem at 0 F or -20 F !!!
O.K. on the light issue.
As for the owner's manuals, my Sorento came with not only the basic owners manaul (about an inch thick), but also separate books for the sound system, warranty and the tires. That's why you couldn't find anything in the basic book - cuz it's in the separate one. You should have received all 4 in a nice little leather-like binder.
Interesting situation you have with regard to the foggy windows, etc. I don't have an answer for you on that one - and I will likely never have the same situation - as I live in the southern states. Good luck with it.
No switch found to activate dome light on door openning, this must be an EX option. Us poor LX owners have to stay in the dark when to door opens.
If this is a hardwired thing then a good mechanic could rewire it to work decently, if is is a softare controlled relay the Kia would have to change a chip containing the smarts to active the dome light when doors open.
Think anybody at Kia reads this board ????
(found the radio book in the pouch like u said !!) thanks
NOW SOMEBODY AT KIA PLEASE FIX THIS STUPID DOME LIGHT !!!!
Do the interior front door lamps light up when you open your doors? My LX has interior lighting (including dome light) automatically on for maybe 20 seconds or so whenever I enter (to start) or exit (after engine shutoff) the vehicle. The ignition key area also lights up after unlocking and opening the drivers door, for getting the key in. The dome light switch is located on the front of the dome light housing. I believe the middle setting will turn it on when a door is opened.
Another tip for those with ABS that want to confirm for themselves that the mechanical sound from the front wheels after engine startup and initial forward movement is an ABS system test, is this: Rest your left foot on the brake pedal when starting off, when the sound occurs you will feel the ABS pulsation through the brake pedal. Feels exactly like ABS brakes would if you needed them for a very sudden, sharp stop. So it is definitely NOT a problem, but another nice safety feature from Kia. They just need to write a better owner's manual.
For those of you who are thinking of buying a Sorento, since the salesperson more than likely starts the vehicle up and moves it before you get behind the wheel for a test drive, if this ABS test feature isn't described or explained, give them a bit of a surprise by turning off the engine and restarting it at some point in your test drive!
Theres no way in gods green earth that you will have a case for the lemon law on this one. Sounds like you need to go to another Kia service department.
Thanks
Also has anyone installed the weatherflectors? I just took mine off, because they rattle if you have the windows open just a little. I like a quiet ride. Is anyone else having that problem with them?
hicaffa - I do see some Auto Shade vent visors on some SUVs with a similar design as WeatherTech, no outside tape. But the it is a bit thicker and darker.
When backing up (front wheels turned about 45 degrees ) in 4wd hi mode, my Sorento comes to a halt after about 8 feet. (I did not dare force the transmission but I was stopped dead )
I was on dry pavement. I then put the car in 2 wheel mode and could then back away from my parking slot.
Tried backing out again in 4wd mode and the car stopped again if the front wheels are turned at an angle
Is this something to do about the wheels locking up because of different rund radiuses.
Everything alse is perfect on my sorento (except it sucks gas big time) Tried it in deep snow and it handled beautiful!!
-mike
Thanks for confirming my doubts. !
This something to think about all the time. My area gets big snow storms so I coud be in 4wd yet some parking lots can be underground (and dry as a bone) or have their snow cleared and melted away in an afternoon's on a sunny day.
Finding one's self on pavement can happen rapidly
with the wheels in 4wd mode !!
Though to me it sound like a tiny rub or a grind,
and then goes away.
Anyone find out what this was, or what will fix it?
Thanks!
Most of us have 4WD with limited slip differential (LSD) and with a good number of LX and EX owners. I mentioned this to my service manager. He told this is normal for 4WD and didn't do any further investigation. Many are guessing the transmission or the LSD.