Kia Problems

The car was going into limp home mode when it was losing power, that's why the speed was limited. Turning the engine off and restating has the effect of rebooting the computer. That suggests there was an electronic problem, and replacing the speed sensor would seem to be a valid course of action. I wouldn't have thought blocked injectors would cause the engine to go into limp home mode, that's a different issue. Worn injectors are a regular problem on modern common-rail diesels, whatever the brand, and replacing them is the way to go. Check your warranty documents to see if the injectors are included in the consumables list. If they are they probably won't be covered by the warranty, if they aren't you might have a claim. At best Kia might come to the party with part of the cost of replacement.

Finding the cause of a problem can be challenging, particularly if it is intermittent, or like yours, only when the radio was turned on. You have to pity the mechanic sometimes, but it does highlight the need to be observant when you find a problem. Write down as much information as you can about what happens, when it happens and anything else that might help the mechanic diagnose it.

The issue of map updates is one that applies to most carmakers, if not all. It seems to me that upgrades should happen automatically when the car goes in for service, at least for the term of the warranty. I don't recall any significant turbo lag when I drove the Sportage, so I would be asking the dealer to drive a similar car and compare it to what is happening on your car. If it is the same there's not much you could do about it, but if it's not you could ask the dealer to fix yours. AM radio reception is a problem. It can be affected by interference in your area. An amplified antenna could be the solution.

Thanks for your feedback. It's good to know what others have done to sort out the problems with their cars.

As a result of our request Kia had the vehicle inspected and also checked the conditions that it was occurring in and they told us that the vehicle is ok and that the problem Tim sees is related to the way he was trying to drive it. We understand that Tim is now content with Kia's response.

It's always good to hear about the experience of owners, and this information should help anyone having similar troubles with their Sorento.

You clearly don't trust the dealer, so you could contact Kia and ask them to have one of their technical representatives check the car over for you to assure you that it has been fixed. That could be difficult given that the case is now before the consumer affairs tribunal, so it's perhaps best in the circumstances that you either borrow a car or hire one until the case is settled.

Good to hear that you have been able to resolve the issue, and that Kia was helpful in doing it.

You can read elsewhere that Kia checked Tim Reeve's car and reported back to us that there was nothing wrong with it, that the problem Tim was experiencing was a result of his driving style. We will pass on your complaint to Kia and ask them to check you car out.