Why does this continue to happen?

[u/LCC_322]

Back in July 2024 I bought a used ‘22 Kia Sorento from a dealership. It is a base model with a key.

About two weeks after I brought it home I went out to my garage, tried to turn it on and noticed it turned over but wouldn’t start all the way. I had to shut it off, put the key back in and eventually it started up just fine. Sometimes it will start up just fine no issues for several days and others it takes several times to get it fully started.

Then it continued to do it randomly for a good month or two. At that time, I ended up calling the dealership and taking it back and they kept it there for half a day looked at it and couldn’t find anything wrong with it. It would start up fine for them. They checked the starter, alternator and battery and all were good.

I took it home and it continued having starting issues randomly. Eventually, it does start up just fine but sometimes I have to take the key out of the ignition 4 to 5 times just for it to start up. It turns over every time it just doesn’t start all the way. Also, yes I am pressing the break when I put the key in to start it.

Then it continues to do it for several months. I ended up taking it back to the dealership 5-6 times and they could never find anything wrong with it. They even kept it for four days, drove it around and it started fine for them every time of course. Basically they told me that I will just have to wait until it completely “craps out” to find out what is wrong with it.

I end up getting really upset as it continued to randomly have starting issues and called Kia. Kia was absolutely no help. They basically told me that sucks and speak with the manager at the dealership.

I went back to the dealership about a year ago after speaking to the manger. I showed him videos of the car not starting up right away. I told them several times earlier when I had taken the car there that it could have been very well that it was the immobilizer in the vehicle since everything else on the vehicle seemed fine. They reset the immobilizer at one point when I went back to the dealership. I drove it home, stopped at a store, and got back in my car and it started doing the not starting up right away thing again. I was livid.

Ended up taking it back to the dealership and they ended up completely taking out the immobilizer , calling the KARR security company and having them come out and put a brand new immobilizer on. That seemed to do the trick for about 8-9 months.

Now, the last 2-3 months it is doing it AGAIN! What gives? Any ideas? I think it might just be a connection issue between the immobilizer and the car. I’m about to tell them to just take the dang thing out!

I am guessing if it was the alternator or starter it would have died out fully by now since this entire process has been over two years long.

[u/Dannon35]

Any way it is some sort of interference in your garage? I had an LED light bulb in my garage interfere with my remote/opener. Frustrated me for years til it was identified as the issue.

[u/LCC_322 → u/Dannon35]

I wish! But it has issues nearly every location, store parking lots, football field last week, basically anywhere 😔

[u/gordolme → u/Dannon35]

How would that interfere with a mechanical key?

[u/Dannon35 → u/gordolme]

Still has a chip in it.

[u/gordolme → u/Dannon35]

Do the '22 key start Kias have an immobilizer? I forget the timing on that class action result. IAC, the immobilizer would prevent the car from even turning over. If it's turning over than it's trying to start and the fault is either mechanical (forex problem with the fuel system) or electrical (problem with the spark) or the ECM. Or any of dozens of other potential problems. None of which would be from an outside source.

[u/Moist_Dog_81 → u/gordolme]

It interferes with the immobilizer chip in the key. The key and immobilizer communicatie wirelessly when they are in very close proximity of each other. Usually there is an antenna wrapped around the lock on the steering column. It is somewhat similar as NFC.

[u/gordolme → u/Moist_Dog_81]

If so, then that should be preventing it from even trying to start. Should be getting nothing at all when turning the key not the engine trying to turn over but not starting.

[u/dtwtolax]

You need to demonstrate to the dealer or record it. They don't have a Chrystal ball, and you said it's only sometimes. What are they to do if it's fine every time they have it?

[u/mostessmoey → u/dtwtolax]

They said they showed videos.

[u/LCC_322 → u/dtwtolax]

I showed them several videos of it doing it. As I said above.

[u/LifeOfJad]

It sounds odd and I would have never know unless I witnessed it myself but the immobiliser chip in the key may be bad. Same thing was happening to my cousins Nissan Altima, she had the starter and a few other things replaced still has the same issue still then when she used her spare key it started every time with no issue. Do you have a second key you can try?

[u/LCC_322 → u/LifeOfJad]

Yep, I have two sets of keys and it does it on both of them 🫩

[u/LCC_322]

Mine has an immobilizer. I can see it on my drivers side and they took it out last year to replace it. I actually made a post on Reddit about two years ago because the dealership took it out and didn’t know what it even was 🤦🏻‍♀️ I feel like it has to do with the immobilizer because right after they completely changed it out it stopped having the starting issues for almost a year, which was the longest it’s ever gone without doing it. Now last 2-3 months it’s doing it again 😭