Kia Sorento has standard features for the safety of drivers and passengers. These are equipped with handbrakes, also known as emergency parking brakes and e-brakes. These are helpful to stop the SUV from moving forward and backward.
Kia Sorento handbrake not working can be due to detached cables, a loose connection of cables, corrosion, damaged lever and button, worn-out brake pads, electric system issues, and cold weather.
Handbrakes are beneficial for SUVs when you are moving in hilly areas. These also function as a hill-hold assist when you stop on inclined road surfaces. In addition, you can also use them as an emergency brake when other brakes are not working in your vehicle.
| Causes | Solutions |
| Detached cables | Replace the broken and detached cables |
| Loose cables connections | Tighten the nuts |
| Corrosion | Keep the undercarriage clean |
| Damaged lever or button | Avoid pressing control switches frequently |
| Worn-out brake pads | Replace the damaged brake pads or lubricate them |
| Problem with electric system | Calibrate the electronic emergency brakes |
| Cold weather | Turn on the engine |
Detached cables
Kia Sorento handbrakes contain the cable attached to the rear side brakes to stop the wheels. In addition, it is attached to the brake pads and shoes.
These shoes expand when you press the lever or handle. Expansion of these shoes blocks the brake discs’ drum and restricts the rear wheels’ movement.
These cables can detach from the shoes, and you cannot engage them. Frequent use, mishandling, and excessive force while using them cause their detachment from the brake pads.
These cables’ wear and tear risk also increases because of exposure to environmental elements. Moisture and dirt from the road can come on them and make them weak.
Moreover, the risk of their breaking also increases because of their location. These are present under the vehicles and are vulnerable to rocks and road debris.
These can break easily because of accidental damages that come from road impacts. Chances of premature wear and tear increase when you operate them with excessive force.
Tension on the cable also increases when these are not appropriately adjusted or fully released. I faced the same issue when parking my SUV on an inclined surface.
I pressed the button, but my vehicle was moving backward. The issue came because of damaged and poorly stretched cable.
Age-related deterioration of these components is also common, which can cause their breakage. Avoid pressing them too hard because it can put more tension on the cable and increase their wear-out chances.
Replacing the broken and detached cable with a new one is also necessary. Ensure that cables are attached on both sides for their proper functioning.
Loose cables connections
The cables of the handbrakes are connected on both sides with nuts and screws. These screws become loose with time, and you cannot engage them while stopping on inclined surfaces.
These nuts and screws are made up of metal material which becomes weak because of corrosion. Cable connections also become loose because of their frequent use.
You can tighten the connections by using the screwdriver. Tighten the nuts that are present on both ends with a screwdriver. Avoid overtightening nuts because they can create tension and do not allow their smooth movement.
Corrosion
Handbrake components are located on the rear side of the vehicles, and corrosion can come on them easily. Corrosion increases the friction between the moving parts, and they cannot move smoothly.
Moreover, you can also hear the clicking and grinding noise while applying the brakes on Kia Sorento because of the friction between their parts.
Corrosion can come on them because of mud and water splashes from the roads. In addition, road salts are also present on the road to remove the snow from them and ensure safe driving conditions.
These road salts cause corrosion when they come in contact with metal components. Corrosion on the cables and other components also comes from a lack of lubrication and poor maintenance.
Debris and dirt from the road salts also increase the risk of rust on their surfaces. It is necessary to keep their parts clean and prevent them from environmental chemicals exposure.
Properly clean the undercarriage after driving on snowy, rainy, and muddy roads to remove dust, debris, and road salts. You can also use the corrosion-removal sprays for their cleaning.
Damaged lever or button
Handbrakes are also known as e-brakes because they are electronically controlled. They contain the switch near the driver’s side, and you can press the button to engage the brakes on inclined road surfaces.
However, some old models of Kia Sorento also contain the lever for their engagement. You can pull the lever to engage the brakes. Moreover, you can also move the lever forward to disengage them and release the tension.
Cables cause expansion of braking shoes and pads when you press the buttons. Barking shoes expand and squeeze against the drum surface because of the engagement of the wires.
These buttons can get damaged because of physical impacts and mishandling. In addition, these are at risk of wear and tear because of their daily and frequent usage.
Many people press them frequently when they cannot disengage the brakes and get stuck in one position.
You should not press the button repeatedly when the brakes are not disengaging. Check the cables and their connections to resolve the problem. The release mechanism of the buttons fails to perform its function when you press these switches frequently.
Worn-out brake pads
Brake pads or shoes are the components of the handbrakes that expand and squeeze against the brake disks to restrict the forward and backward movement of the tires.
You cannot engage the handbrake because of worn-out brake shows. In addition, these worn-out components also reduce the effectiveness of the braking system.
These are made of metal, and corrosion can come on them. Road salts, muddy water, and dust increase the risk of corrosion.
In addition, these cannot function properly because of the poor lubrication of their metal parts. These cannot expand properly because of the lack of lubrication fluid.
Moreover, these are two metal plates that can also get separated and do not allow the engagement of brakes. Brake dust and debris can also come on these metal parts and affect their smooth movement.
The chances of their wear and tear increase because of heat production. These are metal parts and overheat because of the frequent application of handbrakes.
Moreover, driving habits like high speed and excessive braking can also impact these components. Overheating issues can also arise because of the rubbing of two metal surfaces. It is better to replace the brake shoes to increase the system’s effectiveness.
Use high-quality lubricant to lubricate them and reduce the friction between metal parts.
Problem with electric system
Handbrakes in Kia Sorento are also known as e-brakes because they contain an electronic switch.
These contain electric connections and sensors for their functioning. These stop functioning because of the malfunctioning of electric components and the sensors that work with them.
You cannot engage and disengage them because of malfunctioning speed sensors mounted on the wheels and brake pads wear and tear.
Electronic parking brakes also contain wires for their functioning, and they cannot work well because of damaged, corroded, and loosely connected wires.
The electronic control unit also plays an important role in their functioning because it takes data from the sensors and allows their engagement and disengagement.
It is necessary to calibrate them for their proper functioning. Moreover, check the vehicle’s power supply to ensure the electric components’ correct functioning.
Cold weather
Handbrakes can also get stuck and stop functioning because of cold weather. The effectiveness of their moving parts decreases because of the cold weather conditions.
I also faced the issue in winter because of extremely low temperatures. Moreover, wet and highly humid environments also cause their components to freeze.
You can decrease the risk of their failure by using them daily. Daily usage also reduces the risk of corrosion on Kia Sorento handbrake components. It is better to turn on your SUV in winter for 3 to 4 minutes before driving to warm up the engine and other frozen parts.
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