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:
6 / 31
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,437 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.
At 123K miles, my engine shut off in the middle of a mountain pass. Restarted with no issues except oil light flashed on then off. Checked the oil and I had no oil, completely dry. I have always done timely maintenance, have hauled a uhaul across country 5 years ago, never burned oil. Had the car checked for oil leaks and there are none. Researched the problem with burning G oil and across the board, regardless of the Kia year, Kia's cars have this problem, yet no recalls or acknowledgement feom Kia that there is a major problem. Dealerships are lying to owners.
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, she began to notice a darkish gray smoke emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact immediately pulled off to the shoulder as her husband went to inspect the hood. Upon opening the hood, flames began to emit from engine and the contact and her mother immediately exited the vehicle. The authorities were called to the scene and the fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report and a police report were filed. No injuries were sustained as a result of the fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard and destroyed. The contact called trophy Kia of carson(22020 recreation rd, carson, ca 90745) where they informed her that they were unaware of such failure and offered no further assistance. Upon investigation, the contact linked her failure to NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000(engine); however, her vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while at a stop light, flames were suddenly present coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames and filed a fire report. During the incident the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the fire was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer jim shorkey Kia located at 1050 pittsburgh rd, union town, pa 15401 were notified of the failure. The contact indicated that the engine was previously replaced under the NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000(engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was 150,000. Invalid VIN.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine, without warning. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence to inspect the vehicle. Upon inspection, the mechanic recommended that the vehicle be serviced by an authorized Kia dealer. The vehicle was towed to stokes Kia (202 S. goose creek blvd, goose creek, SC 29445) to be diagnosed. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and agreed to pay for the parts while the vehicle owner pay the labor cost. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (engine) which was linked to the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 108,000.
The car has cut while I was driving on a city street, it has cut off while sitting at a traffic light ; it also drags like its pulling a heavy load. As I was driving on the highway the Kia decides to almost cut off, but has a dragging affect to it and the picture of the tires turning comes up; so then I have to pull off the road, cut off the ignition, re-crank the vehicle and the sluggishness or pulling of the vehicle changes to a normal mode.
- Greensboro, NC, USA
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I noticed that there is oil leak and soaking of the engine surface by chance when I was replacing the air filter and doing a regular cleaning. Before that I notice a roaring sound coming from the motor when I am driving my car may be 2 months ago. Although there is no warning lights but I am worried about this scenario.
Oil disappearing no warning light excessive amount of oil use between oil change engine always hot took to dealership told me something about a test I didn't understand how come they couldn't give it one of those diagnosed test
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where they diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The mechanic then printed out information about NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling) which the mechanic linked to the failure. The contact then called NHTSA where she was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
On September 19, 2020 my husband and I were driving our 2013 Kia sorrento to get my windshield replaced as it had a crack in it. We had driven down the mountain from where we live to hickory, nc where it was cheaper to get it replaced. We had driven about an hour and the car was driving fine and we had not been having any issues with it starting, running or making any kind of noises in the time leading up to this day. We came to a red light and the vehicle just stopped and would not start up again, my husband said the car was not running hot and there was no warning lights on the dashboard. There was no evidence of oil or antifreeze in the road. I got out of the car and pushed the car off the road, while my husband stirred the car because we lost all steering for the car. We continued to try to start it, but were unsuccessful. We ended up having it towed to the Kia dealership in hickory, nc (paramount Kia). It was on a Saturday so they were short staffed, but were able to look at my vehicle. I was shocked by what they said the problem was. We were informed that the V6 engine had seized and it needed a starter and a new battery. We were told that it was going to cost over $6,000 to get it fixed. How could an engine with around $114,000 miles just stop running at a red light with no warning and how does the battery and starter also go out at the same time? we were informed that the engine they were going to put in the car already had 88,000 miles on it (I have attached the quote and diagnosis sheet)I have all oil change receipts. It was going to cost this much and this was not even a new engine and who knows how long this engine would last if it already has this many miles on it? I have never heard of an engine just stopping like that. I know Kia has recalls for 4 cylinders, but I wanted to make you aware that there are issues with the V6 as well.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at 20 mph, the front half of vehicle spontaneously caught fire. There were no reported injuries. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The insurance company took possession of vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 105,000. The consumer provided photos.
Was driving on the freeway and heard a sound as if I had ran over a piece of plastic. All of the lights on the dashboard came on and the car just shut off. I was able to get off the freeway safely before the car shut down again, after that the car wouldn't start anymore.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that a metal noise occurred coming from the engine. After driving four miles, the felt as if it was losing power and smoke was coming from the rear. The contact also stated that while driving and depressed the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down to make a left turn, the vehicle seized and the steering wheel become difficult to turn. The vehicle was failed to start. The contact pushed the vehicle into a parking lot. The contact noticed that there was leak of oil on the left side of the engine and also antifreeze leak. The vehicle was not take to a dealer or an independent mechanic for a diagnostic testing. The contact reference NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling) and stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
My 2013 Kia Sorento is having electrical problems and I only had my car for a year my engine is starting to go car shaking and staling N cutting off on
I was driving on the highway I95 South in South Carolina almost to the Georgia border doing 70 mph in the middle lane when my engine shut down without a warning while passing another vehicle on the right. I had no warning from my instrument panel and there was no indication of lack of power on accelerating prior to the engine shutting down. I was barely was able to get my car to the side of the highway without getting into an accident. The engine would not turn over at all and I had towed my car to the nearest repair shop and I found out that the engine seized up. The engine oil was replaced three weeks ago and the car was driving great without a problem until now.
My engine is burning a large amount of oil. I take it in to do regular changes. I have a 2013 Kia Sorento. It has 136000 miles just recently the oil light started coming on, checked the dip stick and it registers none. Its been taken for regular oil changes but burns up the oil before its time for a chsnge. I don't understand. Also ive seen numerous white Sorentos on the road and most of them have the same paint problem on the roof right above windshield. Its peeling off and getting worse. Also cracking around Kia symbol on rear hatch. It started with rust spots then, cracking then paint peeling. The engine problem seems to be a wide spread problems with Kia owners and the paint obviously is a defect from the factory. Love my Sorento but need these issues fixed.
While driving my 2013 Kia Sorento sx, the oil switch failed and leaked out all the oil in one day (less than 15 miles) causing engine issues. The issue happened while in motion and the oil light flickered on and off. This seems to be a known issue with these engines.
Check engine light came on without warning and two minutes later my engine seized in the middle of a 4 lane highway around a blind turn. I feared for my life as I couldn't move my vehicle and cars trucks were zooming by at 80 mph. I had to get my car pushed off the road to safety, later towed to a local shop. Was told the engine was completely shot. This is common with Kia engines as my research has shown. My make and model have had recalls but not my VIN#. seems however I have the same problem. Why was my engine not recalled? I'm lucky I wasn't seriously harmed but now I'm left without a car and fear loosing my job bc I don't have a way to commute 35 minutes to work now.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Espanola, NM, USA