CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2nd generation Sorento (2011-2014) has just too many engine problems at early mileage, year after year.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,924 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Kia Sorento drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2014 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #53

Jun 012023

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Had been getting -??BSD-?? disabled messages while driving on expressway for several months, dealer inspected twice and found nothing. On May 30, 2023 while driving on street rear differential locked not allowing rear wheel rotation for short period ( 2 street blocks ), then resumed operation but with a high pitch squealing. On May 31, 2023 l took vehicle to dealer requesting a full inspection of the differential, mileage at 133367. I was immediately told that the differential is a sealed unit and could not be inspected, but they recommended a transmission force flush, a complete fuel system flush, plus an oil and filter change. I agreed to service, but insisted they needed to test drive vehicle. Dealer called me back same day indicating vehicle ready. We picked up vehicle, $600.93 cost. We were told everything checked out fine. On way home upon entering expressway just a mile away from dealer, rear differential locked up again!! We immediately pulled over to shoulder, Had we been on expressway, our vehicle would have been rear ended ! I called dealer to come pick up vehicle, they sent a tow truck & vehicle was brought back to dealer. Dealer confirmed rear differential was seazed and would have to be replaced. A week later they called to inform us that the front differential/transfer case had also failed and also needed to be replaced. Two weeks later, on June 17, 2023 vehicle repairs were finally completed at cost this time of $7292.60, totaling $7893.53 including initial repair costs. Mileage is now at 138320, and vehicle has once again begun to display -??BSD-?? disabled messages. Differential has been making engagement/disengagement clicking sounds as if their is a lot of backlash/slop between gears.

- Palm Coast , FL, USA

problem #52

Jul 232023

Sorento

  • miles
On 06/23/2023 i went to team Nissan located at 70 Keller st. took it in while purchasing new tires from tire warehouse told me about repairs that needed done that was still under warranty with team Nissan. when i took it to team Nissan they refused my warranty by telling me my car issuer was not any issue that they repaired back in July of 2022 for the amount of over 2thousand dollars. team Nissan lied to me let me leave their shop knowing the dangers just because they did not want to grant my warranty which where brakes outta tie Rodes and rear light INOP charged me 45 for en inspection to deny my warranty. I still can't drive my car because team Nissan wanted me to repay for pairs that was still covered under their own warranty my vehicle only has 120 thousand miles i was still in my year frame and way less than the miles. i prefer to bring in my documents if not i must downmload at another time cant take pic ith desktop

- Concord, NH, USA

problem #51

May 212023

Sorento

  • miles
Engine control module when it fails vehicle will lose power and drops engine compression causing a danger to other traffic. I was on I-10 on Sunday morning at 60 mi. when all of a sudden it slowed down to 20mi causing other drivers too maneuver around me to avoid from colliding into my SUV. Had engine control module checked out and was advised me to take in to dealer to have it reprogramed or replaced. Either will be an expense I just cant afford replacing it would cost me over $2000 and reprograming any where from 200 to 500. If Im not wrong a recall for software added to engine control module was done around 2020 didnt that up.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #50

Dec 282022

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine overheated with no warning, Heater failed, Coolant wouldn't go through the system, replaced the T-stat, and it still continued to overheat with no warning or indication. I was driving with my 2.5year old in the middle of a busy street during the evening. Took it to a repair shop and was told they found coolant in the combustion chamber, and failed head gasket. They had to R7R both cylinder heads, replace the head gaskets, head bolts, t-stat, crank seal, oil pan gasket, timing cover gaskets and seals, Fuel injector - o - rings, fuel seals, fuel pump. They had to rethread and repair the bolts because they stripped. This was all fixed after i had to pay, $7,000. There was no warning lamps messages except for the 1 time overheating.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

problem #49

Feb 132023

Sorento

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the all-wheel drive (AWD) warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the dealer stated that the all-wheel drive (AWD) switch was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Miamisburg, OH, USA

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problem #48

Nov 282022

Sorento

  • miles
Engine locked up while driving. It just stalled when in motion. Now the engine will not turn over. Mechanic says it has to be replaced.

- Ball, LA, USA

problem #47

Feb 112023

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle engine shut down while I was driving on the highway situation was very dangerous other vehicles had to take evasive maneuvers in order not to collide with me I was very scared as I had my grand children with me the vehicle is currently at auto nation in keennesses Georgia it is available for inspection there were no warnings or other indications

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #46

Nov 092022

Sorento

  • miles
While driving down the road, I heard a loud bang and then the car felt like the wheels were falling off as I was driving. The car's handling was very poor and there was very loud clunking while driving straight or turning. The car was only drivable at very slow speeds due to the sound and poor handling. I have had no other previous issues with the car. I had the car taken to a KIA dealership for evaluation. The dealership told me that the differential had broken in half. The dealership quoted me ~$4500 for the repairs and it was not covered under warranty. I have since bought a new car and the KIA has not been repaired and is available for inspection.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #45

Oct 192022

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
I have had a lot of issues with my engine. Took it to different shops had crankshaft position sensor changed, coil packs and spark plugs changed several times in consecutive intervals trying to sort out the issues. Multiple diagnosis fees, and am still having issues. Kia said the can-€™t help me until the code P1326 comes up.

- Rohnert Park, CA, USA

problem #44

Jul 012022

Sorento

  • miles
I started experiencing miscellaneous electrical issues and occasional poor acceleration. Engine/ABS/tire pressure/etc. warning lights would come and go indicating random problems; transmission solenoid was a common code but I did not initially have transmission problems. Radio/backup camera had intermittent problems with not powering on. Normal headlights stopped working and only high beams would function even after replacing bulbs and checking fuses. Problems got worse and the car would sometimes lurch strongly with a clunking sound and be stuck in 3rd gear "limp mode", but would randomly drive normally when restarted. I brought it to the dealership when I was experiencing sudden loss of acceleration and couldn't match the flow of traffic. The dealership said a new transmission was required. On replacing the transmission they found that there was a problem with the wiring harness and it would also need to be replaced, doubling the cost of an already expensive repair.

- Valdosta, GA, USA

problem #43

Jan 012018

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Bought this vehicle on 10/18/2017 it had 93,675 miles on it. As soon as it reached 100K it began to burn oil extremely quickly!!! It needs a new Engine, which KIA should have to replace!!!

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #42

Mar 012021

Sorento

  • miles
Kia refused to issue a recall for a known problem & refuses to fix vehicle & reimburse for unnecessary repair costs--have contacted their consumer center many times but they will not address problem--below is initial complaint I made on 06-09-2021, the first of many & all ignored to date: 06/09/2021 06:45:06 I have unnecessarily spent about $1000 replacing original factory equipment that was not faulty/not the problem all because you knew about the problems on the 2014-15 Sorentos but chose not to issue a recall to correct (as told by Master Tech at the local dealership)! Labor & parts bought/replaced: alternator, starter, relays. A few mths ago vehicle would start up fine on 1st drive of the day but after 1st stop of the day (as little as 5 mins!)vehicle would not even attempt to start up again! This happened multiple times & I found myself stranded in an essentially still new vehicle (note low miles for a 7 yr old vehicle)! All in all I replaced the above mentioned parts but problem continued so finally took it in to dealership for diagnosis, which they found no codes or problems! A service mgr mentioned that Nissan had similar problems (but they issued recalls unlike Kia!) where the frequencies would interact/interfere with those of neon stop lights"?? Cars would simply shut down on the road/busy intersections--danger!!! I noticed that this happened most when I am at my mail center which is close to a medical clinic & at the bank--both of which have high frequency medical equipment/security systems??" I am a disabled vet on a fixed income & to have spent money unnecessarily when YOU KNEW OF THE PROBLEM & REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL you are liable to reimburse me in full for all the money I am out & the emotional/physical distress caused by your product & decisions! FIX MY CAR!

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #41

Jul 152020

Sorento

  • 126,000 miles
The contact's fiancé owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated the vehicle engine had been misfiring and the brake fluid had been leaking onto the fuse block. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where they had replaced the spark plugs however, the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with the fuse box and power relay control was needing to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not provide any assistance as a case was opened. The vehicle was not repaired due to the fact that the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

- Hamilton, MT, USA

problem #40

Feb 182021

Sorento

  • 156 miles
My car stop working with no warning as I was driving on the highway and I was about to exit and stopped. I had to have it towed to nearest mechanic. It was took it to to mechanic and was told that engine was damaged

- Suwanee, GA, USA

problem #39

Aug 172020

Sorento

  • miles
I had to replace the rear differential on my passenger side. I had two estimates done was told it's hard for that to go out. I ended paying to have it replaced since the SUV was not drivable.

- Kent, OH, USA

problem #38

Oct 112020

Sorento

  • 79,250 miles
Hello, problems with the headlights of Kia Sorento 2014, these are very dim and in the dark you can see little or nothing and this can cause a big accident on the road.

- Moca, PR, USA

problem #37

Aug 282020

Sorento

  • 106,400 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle independently decelerated and jerked. The contact stated that the engine overheated and loss motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact coasted to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later towed to atlanta West Kia (1301 thornton rd, lithia springs, ga 30122) and the contact was informed that a new engine and spark plugs were needed. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 106,400.

- Villarica, GA, USA

problem #36

Jul 162020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
In May. My airbag light came on and won't go off. I'm not sure if the airbags are defective or not, but I'm scared to drive around with the light on. Then on July 16,2020, my vehicle started cutting off on my in the midst of moving traffic. I have to throw my hazard lights on and coast to a safe place to let the truck sit. It's cut off about 7 times now with my 3 kids in the car.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #35

May 292020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 84,000 miles
Driving on 2014 Kia Sorento with only 84,000 miles. Doing oil change on time I keep the receipts for records. Last Friday while I was driving my car broke down in the middle of the intersection. Sounded like cranking engine rattling. Had to tow the car to my mechanic that told me the engine broke down. I did some research and Kia had few unannounced engine recalls on my model. When I call Kia they don't want to help at all. They don't want to take any responsibility.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #34

Mar 312019

Sorento 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to accelerate, there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The contact stated that there was a delay between the accelerator being depressed and the vehicle responding. In addition, the vehicle would shuddered with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to la fontaine Kia located at (2027 S. telegraph rd, dearborn, mi 48124), where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed a tune up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. Consumer stated motor overheated while driving and vehicle would shut off.

- Dearborn, MI, USA

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