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:
5 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,407 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2014 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 3 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #76

May 242020

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 78,500 miles

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

I was driving straight down a 2 lane highway at approx. 55 mph and the engine abruptly shut off. However, all electrical components still worked, including the A/C, lights, and the navigation screen. I didn't even have time to think about what I needed to do, but I was able to pull into someone's driveway, as there was no shoulder on the highway that I could pull over onto. After pulling off of the highway, I placed the vehicle in park and I turned it off. I tried to restart the vehicle and every light on the dash was illuminated, but it would not start. None of the electrical components worked now after shutting the car off. Heard a clicking sound when brakes were applied. I checked oil on dip stick and oil was fine. The vehicle had over a quarter tank of gas. No lights appeared on dash before it abruptly died. Called tow truck to come get it and take it to repair shop. Mechanic says it is showing the problem could be in the main brain of the vehicle, and I will have to have it towed to nearest Kia dealer which is 2 hours away. I just purchased this vehicle approx. 3 months ago with roughly 75K miles on it. I am the second owner with no prior accidents. I am greatly concerned about this issue with my 2014 Kia Sorento sxl, due to the fact that it could have caused an accident and someone could have been seriously injured due to the engine just abruptly dying. This needs to be recalled asap!

- West Plains, MO, USA

problem #75

May 242020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 162,000 miles
Unfortunately while driving my vehicle on the highway it shut off abruptly.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #74

Jun 012014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 3,000 miles
Something is draining the battery. If the car isn't driven for a few days, it will not start.

- Garrett, KY, USA

problem #73

Jun 012019

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles

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

Every 2 days putty a quart of oil.

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #72

Jan 262020

Sorento

  • 90,660 miles
While driving on the highway, my entire dashboard went out. This made it impossible for me to see how fast I was going. Turns out, when I turn my heated seats on it blows the fuse for my dashboard. This is very disappointing, because I just bought this car 6 months prior to this happening.

- Roseville, MI, USA

problem #71

Feb 012020

Sorento

  • 75,000 miles
My vehicle has automatic locking doors and will lock automatically when shifting the SUV from park into reverse or drive and then will unlock once placed back in park. However recently this function stopped working altogether and the locks on the doors will no longer lock when shifting the car from park into another gear creating a safety issue. Furthermore, due to this electrical/safety issue the lock/unlock button on the door no longer works and as well due to the same issue. Nor can I lock the vehicle with the key fob. In googling this problem, I have found out thousands of other Kia owners are having the same issue and the only remedy from Kia is to replace a $1500 computer as in manufacturing they soldered a $3 relay switch onto the computer board and they will not /cannot replace the faulty relay that seems to be causing this problem. Hence this is the reason why I am reaching out to the NHTSA as I feel that this is a electrical /safety issue and the only way to lock my vehicle securely is to walk around the vehicle and lock each door individually. Please help me and the other thousand of Kia owners whom are having this problem.

- Salem, NH, USA

problem #70

Feb 202020

Sorento

  • miles

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

I turned the engine off the radio and to unlock the doors were working because I had just dropped my kids off at school, went to turn the engine on the radio stop working the windows it won't go down stop working and the door opener button to unlock the doors stop working. The tire light keeps flashing and there is some wierd noise like vibration coming from the engine only when you start the engine and the air conditioner comes on full blast.

- Bloomington, CA, USA

problem #69

Jan 292020

Sorento

  • 116,000 miles
Doors just started not unlocking or locking with fob or by door panel and the back up alarm beeps non stop as soon as you put it in reverse, all sensors are clean.

- Newaygo, MI, USA

problem #68

Jan 262020

Sorento

  • 94,000 miles
Today I was driving to my parents house on a long straight away highway (55mph speed limit). I began passing another vehicle and as soon as I got around him my check engine light, oil light, and battery light came on. I promptly pulled over on the side of the road and shut the car off. I checked oil level, which was fine. No obvious over heating, smoke, or leaks. I decided to turn the car back on to see if the lights were still there but the car wouldn't start. It was completely dead aside from one tiny crank noise then nothing. Luckily someone stopped and we got the car started by jumping it. Went to the local parts store and my battery, starter, and alternator all checked out ok. No further lights or issues the rest of the day. Not sure what happened but I'm scared to drive it long distance now. Never had an issue with this car before this.

- Newark, AR, USA

problem #67

Jan 232020

Sorento

  • 91,000 miles
My headlights continue to blow out every few weeks, no matter what kind of bulb I use. Last night while on a very dark and rainy road, both headlights went out forcing me to drive with my hazards with my children in the car. Very dangerous. Apparently, this isn't an isolated incident.

- Morrow, GA, USA

problem #66

Jan 022017

Sorento

  • 35,000 miles

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

Car will not lock doors with lock switch in front doors and with key fob. This started in June of 2016 on and off car has been to concord Kia 2 times now in the last 4 years it would lock on and off now its all the time not working and they say they can't get it to not work, we have read that this it an issue with a lot of models and years with Kia cars, we were told it could be a body control module cost is any were from $800 to over $1000 for repairs

- Oakley, CA, USA

problem #65

Jan 102020

Sorento

  • 84,000 miles
2014 Kia Sorento will not lock the doors using the key fob or the door panel. So this means I have to walk around each door and lock them by hand. This is a big safety concern when traveling through high crime areas. Once all the doors are locked I can push the lock button on my key fob to set the alarm. I have changed the battery on the key fob still the same thing. With this going on it does cause a safety of my loved ones.

- Greensboro, MD, USA

problem #64

Apr 022019

Sorento

  • 50,000 miles
Power locks do not work properly. Doors do not lock and this occurs variably. This is a safety concern as doors do not lock and I have small children. Kia dealership states there are no recalls although multiple consumers report similar issues.

- Jenks, OK, USA

problem #63

Jan 012016

Sorento

  • 57,000 miles
I have two major safety hazards going on with my vehicle that I fear for the safety of my 4 children and wife when we're driving on the highway, and other fast roads. The first issue is the electrical. It first started back around 40,000 miles when I took my Kia to a Kia dealership in naperville, il and they told me both low beams were out, so they replace them. Ever since, I've been replacing these bulbs every 3-6 months because they keep blowing out while driving and it's against the law to use high beams, so I'm driving in pitch black. Now, just 3months ago, both of my brake lights go out, at the same time. Three years ago my back up camera stopped working, and hasn't worked since. At 57K miles my engine was recalled for engine failures, ad within the last 6 months I've experienced stalling, stuttering, knocking while driving on high ways, at red lights, in traffic. Furthermore, in September 27, 2019 my engine oil was completely undetectable on the dip stick when I took it in for a routine oil change at 99,664 miles. Also, back at 64,977 miles during routine service, it was low. With these concerns, I took my Kia in today to the gerald Kia North Aurora, il, they ran diagnostics and said everything was perfect. They said they cannot explain why my bulbs keep burning out. The tech manager also stated that the stalling and knocking in my engine is because my engine had no oil in it. He checked for leaks, and didn't find any leaks. My last oil change at a jiffy lube, they told me the same thing at 99,664 miles, it was almost dry. At todays service, mileage is 102,554. That means 5 quarts of oil burned up in 2,890 miles or most likely way sooner because after 1.5 months of the oil change I started experienced stalling, knocking, stuttering in the engine, so that must have been at only 1000-1500 miles. I put in a claim with Kia Consumer Affairs, but I'm not satisfied.

- Yorkville, IL, USA

problem #62

Nov 152019

Sorento

  • 25,000 miles
Door locks only lock and unlock occasionly. Batteries replaced in fobs still not operating properly. Read that slot of people have or had the same issue. Doors would typically lock when you drive. Use to not anymore. Had car in for recall on engine this year.

- Centuria, WI, USA

problem #61

Dec 112019

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
Engine seized with no warning. Complete engine failure. We have maintained the vehicle and have had no prior issues. The engine seized at 90,000 miles driving down the road. The check engine light never came on. We have the 100,000 mile warranty and Kia has not covered the repairs to the engine. We were advised we need a new engine.

- Kennesaw, GA, USA

problem #60

Jun 212019

Sorento

  • 135,000 miles
Power ports keep blowing fuses, rear hatch quit opening, engine surging, speedometer bouncing, temperature gauge sometimes bounces, white cloud of exhaust sometimes, A/C don't blow cold even when charged

- Rigby, ID, USA

problem #59

Oct 292019

Sorento

  • 137,000 miles
In the last two years I have replaced every bulb in my car and multiple fuses and for some reason there is still a short in my fuse panel so my brake lights constantly pop the fuse. It is cost me a lot of money and we still have not found out where the short is in the electrical system but my brake lights constantly blow a fuse and bulbs

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #58

May 132019

Sorento

  • 71,000 miles
There is an apparent issue with the steering column causing the airbag to not function. It is also causing all of the control switches on the steering wheel to not function properly, including the cruise control. It came on when set but then wouldn't go off using the cancel button. This is a huge safety concern. The estimated cost for repair is $1700.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #57

Jul 222019

Sorento

  • miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. While driving various speeds, several electrical features failed to work when activated, including the headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and the fuel tank button. The contact also stated that the passenger side air bag warning indicator constantly illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Pulaski, TN, USA

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