Problems · by component

2008 Kia Sorento vehicle speed control problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Kia Sorento cite vehicle speed control, 13% of all 217 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
28
13% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Even after having the ESC and relay box replaced the vehicle has become much worse. It's shuts down my accelerator pedal and won't move I have to shut it off completely for it to reset its extremely unsafe and is now affecting my job. And the ability to take car of my son. And Kia wants to charge me $200 plus for a diagnosis when it clearly keeps shutting down the vehicle and the esc off light is on. I even replaced the accelerator pedal assembly $180 and it did not fix the problem please help. Also this has been an on going issue since August 2020 and even after running diagnostic on it. I keep getting the run around from everyone stating a different issue each time.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2021Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11443506
“WHEN IT'S HUMID OUTSIDE OR THERE IS ANY KIND OF MOISTURE IN THE AIR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE ESC LIGHT. THE CAR SEEMS BOGGED DOWN AND WONT GO ABOVE 2000 RPM. IT TAKES 15 MINUTES JUST TO GET THE CAR UP TO 50 MPH AND THATS WITH THE GAS PEDDLE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT DOES IT MAINLY WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS SCARY. IT LOOSES MOST OF ITS ACCELERATION POWER”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2020Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11343129
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 30 MPH AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, A TECHNICIAN REVIEWED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2017Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10946950
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THAT VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND A WHIPLASH. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INJURED BY THE SEAT BELT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2016Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10910025
“AFTER STOPPING AND LOOKING FOR ONCOMING CARS AND STARTING AGAIN, THE CAR JETTISONED CAUSING ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR AND THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP FOR ABOUT A HALF BLOCK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2015Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10786620
“WHEN DRIVING UP HILL AT 35 MPH IN AUTOMATIC DRIVE OUR VEHICLE LOSES POWER. WHEN PUSHING DOWN ON GAS PEDAL, IT DOES NOT RESPOND. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO TEST DROVE IT AND EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. WHEN USING MANUAL SHIFT THE CAR DOE NOT LOSE POWER AND RESPONDS WHEN GOING UP HILL. WE WERE TOLD IT GOES FROM FIRST GEAR TO FIFTH GEAR IN ABOUT 500 FEET WHEN IN AUTOMATIC DRIVE. LOCAL MECHANIC CALLED KIA DEALS IN SPOKANE AND I WENT TO EDMARK KIA IN NAMPA EACH DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ESC LIGHT IS ALSO ON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2015Vehicle speed controlODI 10761063

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.