CarComplaints.com Notes: There are just too many engine stalls or shuts down while driving reports to feel good about the Sorento. Especially when those things happen, on average, at just over 32,000 miles. Hopefully things will change.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,774 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.

2013 Kia Sorento drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #48

Jul 172019

Sorento

  • 55,536 miles

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

I have a Sorento that does not even have 60K miles on it. The car is a 2013, I bought the car less than 1 yr ago and after having it for 7 months, I being told by the mechanics at the facility that the car needs a new engine. The car broke down in the middle of the highway while I was on my way to work.

- Norristown, PA, USA

problem #47

Jul 192019

Sorento

  • 165,000 miles
When driving this vehicle on the highway or in-town, the vehicle lunges back and dies in the middle of the road or highway. I have almost gotten into several accidents because there was no warning. Then at a light, this vehicle makes a loud knocking noise and dies at the intersection. The car also knocks very loud at first startup. I see that there are a lot of people reporting this issue and the manufacturer does not seem to do anything about it. This is a very dangerous issue to have. My disabled daughter rides in the car with me and we could have a serious accident. This has been happening for about 6 months now and the latest was today.

- Poteet, TX, USA

problem #46

Jun 072019

Sorento

  • 140,000 miles
Initial issue-vehicle was driving perfectly and we had just gotten back from the store. No indication of issues. We were going to go somewhere and noticed key fob not working. We unlock the door manually and when we went to start it horn started going off and car would not start. We read into issues and we decided to take battery in to get checked and it was full charged. We cleaned battery cables and got car started but this time radio not working and key fob not working. Car driving good for about 2 days and coming home last night, while on highway, all lights turned on -on dashboard, vehicle lost power, it sputtered all the way home. Windshield wipers weak and it was raining. Power windows barely works and could not push on gas! we barely made it back home and parked vehicle but gear shift would only go up to neutral gear. Won't let us put into park and car is dead. Vehicle is just sitting there now

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #45

Nov 272018

Sorento

  • 72,000 miles

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

Our family was driving on the interstate and the vehicle started making a low clicking noise. We got off on the next exit and the car just turned off. No signals or lights turned on. After inspection from the dealership it was discovered that the engine rod bearing had blown out and made a hole on the engine. The vehicle only had approximately 72K miles on it. How does this happen. Recalls for other Kia Sorento have been issued but not my 2013 Kia. For this reason the engine and parts was not covered by warranty. Engine was backordered from November and came in at the end of March.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #44

Apr 262019

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
Car slows and stalls and rpms drop to zero when driving on highways and sitting in the driveway. Car will restart at some point but not right away each time. This has happened about 8 times since January 2019. Check engine light comes on sometimes. All evidence points to SC106, but my VIN isn't included in the recall.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

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problem #43

Mar 062019

Sorento

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. While exiting a highway, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when it was depressed and became stuck. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road as it lost electrical power. The vehicle finally stopped and the emergency brake was applied. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that the engine seized and a new engine was needed. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V240000 (engine and engine cooling), but the contact did not receive a notification. The contact also stated that he took the vehicle to the Kia store (5325 preston hwy, louisville, ky 40213, (866) 627-6887) to have the gear shifter replaced per NHTSA campaign number: 15V626000 (power train). The failure mileage was 79,000.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #42

Oct 112018

Sorento

  • 115,000 miles

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

As I was trying to park I put the car in reverse and apply the break and put it down into drive as I dropped it to drive I heard a loud bang. Once the bang happen the front left driver's tire seized up car started accelerated but we're not going anywhere the right tire facing forward the left tire facing 45 to the West. After further examination it looks like the axle had been ripped ripped from the transmission as there was noticeably transmission fluid on the axle

- Fairfield, OH, USA

problem #41

Apr 132018

Sorento

  • miles
The when is in motion or driving it feels like dragging and looks like it wants to change gears but it don't when it needs too. I am scared this can be one of those cars that are getting in fire I am always having the kids in this car what can I do.,.. and is an ongoing just very worry

- Hialeah, FL, USA

problem #40

Sep 042018

Sorento

  • miles
Recall notice for engine and engine cooling recall power train

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #39

Aug 062018

Sorento

  • 85,812 miles
PCM recall. Vehicle stalls at stops and slowing of vehicle. August 6 turned off engine would not restart after parking in driveway and turning engine off. August 4 and 5, 2018 vehicle stalled when I was coming to a stop on the road in town.

- Richfield Springs, NY, USA

problem #38

Dec 012016

Sorento

  • 0 miles

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

When I put my car into reverse it makes this baring grind noise even when I am going into reverse. It continues to make this noise as I am driving. Also sometimes it will stop but then start again when I make a turn and continue making the grind or baring noise. Also if I am at a stop light and I press the gas paddle it makes this grind noise. When I looked up recall for this I had found exactly what it could be and my VIN number said it wasnt for recall. Also. I noticed when I would put my park in the park gear position it wont sometimes lock all the way. As I had read also for my car. It depends on the weather how loud it makes the noise. When it's hot its loud then cold its off and on. This happens on streets and highways. My date of happening is an educational guess. I know it was already happening when I got a recall for the oil panel thing and something else.

- Oak Forest, IL, USA

problem #37

Jun 042018

Sorento

  • 33,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the ABS warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to riverchase Kia (2200 us-31, pelham, al) where it was diagnosed that the brake shift interlock mechanism was defective and needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced one of the mechanisms due to the vehicle being inspected and serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 15V626000 (power train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000. The VIN was not available.

- Alabaster, AL, USA

problem #36

May 272018

Sorento

  • miles
I have never received a recall letter from the Kia manufacturing Corp. Only to here about them on the tv news.

- Marshall, IL, USA

problem #35

Mar 092018

Sorento

  • 149,000 miles
Purchased the Sorento February 2017, and had noticed a miss in it in November. Sometime in March, the vehicle was down to about a quarter of a tank of gas and it started jerking very badly and losing power.

- Salem, VA, USA

problem #34

Sep 142017

Sorento

  • 70,000 miles
Around 4:30am (still dark outside) I was on my way to work, my engine was making knocking sounds and I started to get off on an exit, all of the sudden it seemed as if every light on the dashboard came on, the oil change light and some signs I've never seen before lighted up, the car went dead and came back on instantly, the steering wheel locked and I could no longer accelerate almost causing a major car accident. I turned my hazards on and remained in the middle of an exit until help arrived and was able to put my car in neutral and push my vehicle bumper to bumper to the side of the road.

- Livermore, CA, USA

problem #33

Nov 152017

Sorento

  • 60,000 miles
I have repeatedly contacted Kia corporate and the dealership regarding an axle issue. It is the same exact issue that nhsta has issued a recall notice for 2014 model vehicles. My axle is in jeopardy of fracturing - company will not repair the issue because they say 2013S aren't covered. Summary: Kia motors Corp. Is recalling certain model year 2014 front wheel drive Sorento vehicles manufactured January 7, 2013, through March 12, 2013; and equipped with 2.4 liter engines. Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture.

- Bradenton,, FL, USA

problem #32

Sep 292017

Sorento

  • 55,000 miles
My 2013 sorrento has stalled 2 times in the last 2 weekson the freeway. When bringing it to the dealer there are no ebngine codes. I see that from 2011 to 2013 there has been a PCM update for this issue SC106. And dealer states my VIN is not on the list even tho it falls into the year catagory. I will continue to go to the dealer.this is unsafe when you lose brakes and steering while on the freeway.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #31

Jun 172017

Sorento

  • 114,000 miles
Vehicle stalls suddenly while driving 72 mph in traffic, thrusts me over steering wheel. I was able to get it to right lane. Puzzled found out tires are fine. Upon returned to hwy, vehicle will not accelerate over 60 mph. Towed car. Mechanics runs code and find no incidents. They drive car and find nothing. Ten days, later car mimics same behaviors. Very dangerous as I am in traffic and cars are behind me. Tows car again. Mechanic runs code and find nothing. They decides it is solenoid in transmission. They release it me. I am days late picking it up. They continue to test drive it. Car mimics same puzzling behaviors hours before I pick it up. I had several incidents of vehicle stall in hwy before it was towed to dealership. There was no smoking, no spilling liquids, no check engine light, no smells, the car would make a "thump" noise and stop. This is frightening and dangerous.

- South Hill, VA, USA

problem #30

Jun 232017

Sorento

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to pete Kia where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. The dealer refused to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #29

Feb 142017

Sorento

  • 56,000 miles
The car was being driven and caught fire on rural roads about 50mph.the dog and my significant other were able to get out of the vehicle and my S.O.'s quick thinking...snow in the engine helped extinguish the flames. A game warden arrived and the car was towed to a Kia dealership who replaced the entire engine free of cost.

- Greenville Jct, ME, USA

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