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:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 1
Average Mileage:
51,102 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2014 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #48

Apr 082023

Sorento

  • miles

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

I have not had my car a year and the seatbelt light came on 2 days ago. I am keeping the services up and all of these things were supposedly passed during the inspection before I purchased my car. Also, the paint is peeling off the car. There are so many cars that has peeling paint when passing. Paint should not peel like that. I've never had this problem with any car I have purchased.

- Kathleen, GA, USA

problem #47

Sep 012021

Sorento

  • miles
After my engine was replaced, due to recall, the airbag light has been on causing check engine light to stay on. In addition to the air bag light, shortly after tlairbag light issue, all other dashboards lights came on and remain on. All buttons and horn on steering wheel don't work. Since they replaced my engine, my AC has never worked again. When I got it back to Houston, it started smelling like was bad so I took to a mechanic. He said gas was spraying everywhere under the hood and I was lucky to be alive. Since the engine replacement it's been a disaster. All worked fine before engine went out and no lights were on.

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #46

Feb 152023

Sorento

  • miles
I experienced a deceleration when I stepped on the gas pedal to accelerate on the interstate. I was going 65mph at the time. The emission control warning light came on so I pulled off the next exit and called the Kia dealer. I turned around and headed back to take it in for diagnostic service and repair when it started making noises so I pulled off onto an exit and the engine stopped shortly afterwards. I could turn the engine on but it would not go so I called AAA to have it towed to the dealer. The steering was difficult as well. The dealer said the engine needed to be replaced and the clock spring needed to be replaced (air bag warning light was on). This experience was dangerous and I was fortunate not to be in heavy traffic and in an area where there was a safe enough place to pull over. The car had 132,000 mi on it. The engine was replaced with a rebuilt 2014 engine but now the emissions control light just came on - not even a month has passed since replacement. I will take it in tomorrow for a diagnostic.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

problem #45

May 072022

Sorento

  • miles

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

Sensor lights came on detecting problems. 5/7/2022

- Fayetteville , GA, USA

problem #44

Feb 112023

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
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

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problem #43

Sep 012022

Sorento

  • miles
Airbag sign came on my dashboard

- Hudson Falls , NY, USA

problem #42

Aug 302021

Sorento

  • miles

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

I received notice mid August 2021 about recall and warranty repairs that needed to be made to my car. Brought it to the dealer on 8/30/21. On 8/31/21 I was given the car back and told, yes, it needed the repairs but I needed to wait for parts and they'd be in touch. I have heard nothing from KIA, despite complaining to them several times.

- Taunton , MA, USA

problem #41

Feb 082022

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
CHECK THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT If this occurs, Kia-€™s system is designed to illuminate the airbag warning light on the instrument panel to alert you of a potential problem with your airbag system so that you can have the system inspected and repaired as soon as possible. The passenger-€™s front airbag is a -€˜low risk deployment-€™ airbag that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, meaning it has a reduced deployment strength for occupants in close proximity to the air bag. Despite being a low risk deployment airbag, if the airbag warning light is illuminated and the vehicle continues to be driven without being repaired, the front passenger airbag will deploy in a frontal impact regardless of whether the seat is occupied or not.

- Moca, PR, USA

problem #40

Oct 112020

Sorento

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after turning on the vehicle the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with a clockspring failure. The vehicle was repaired however, after several months the failure recurred. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer who inspected the vehicle and stated that the clockspring was damaged and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the part to repair the vehicle was not available and had to be ordered. The contact was concerned that the failure would recur after replacing the clockspring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

- Hagerstown, MD, USA

problem #39

Jul 172021

Sorento

  • miles
Recall notices have been sent to us regarding possible airbag deployment, electrical issues, and now HECU controls and the ABS system. Each time we get a notice, we contact the Kia dealerships in our area for repairs. Every time we have tried to bring in our vehicle for safety recall repairs, the dealership has made it impossible to do so. For example, when we called to make an appointment for one recall notice, we were told that no action was needed unless we heard a loud banging noise coming from the engine. We stated that we heard weird noises but not a loud banging. We were told that the dealership cannot do repairs unless we show evidence of the banging. Also, there have been electrical problems with the car since we bought it -€" the buttons malfunction, the airbag light is always on, etc. This was not regarded as evidence of need for repairs. For another recall notice, we were told that the repairs could not be completed because they didn't have the parts. We received the Safety Recall Number 21V331 on Friday July 17 and have tried repeatedly to contact Kia of Cerritos in order to make an appointment for repairs. The dealership does not answer their phones in the service department. At 2:30 July 19, I got through to someone in the service department. He said he would make an appointment to complete recall repairs but instead put us on hold and transferred us to a full voicemail box. We are very worried about the safety of our Kia Sorrento. This is our family car. Given the ongoing recalls and history of Kia failing to provide safety repairs, I think this may qualify for the Lemon Law. This recall notice indicates that an engine fire may occur. The airbag light is continuously on. I am concerned for the safety of my family. We do not feel safe. I have contacted KIA Consumer Assistance Center and opened a Case #14271977 but they have failed to reply.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #38

Apr 012020

Sorento

  • 149,000 miles

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

I've only had my 2014 Kia Sorento for a year, from 2020-2021. I've noticed these problems in the beginning and assumed they would work itself out because the dealer mentioned that the conditions were minor but they only progressed. I'm putting oil in this vehicle every three to four days because the oil stick is clean ( indicating no oil). The engine light has always been on. I've taken it to several mechanics, including the mechanic that works directly with the dealership in which I purchased this vehicle. The engine light will come back and whenever it started to blink it would cause my vehicle to jerk excessively and forcefully while driving on the interstate and main highways each time causing the speed to decrease. Same thing with the airbag indicator light, it's always been on and I was told to ignore it. And the driver seat does not move, I was told a simple small green fuse (30) would fix that and I purchased several and each time the mechanic would insert one of the fuses, you could hear a pop. I was told not to touch it or it could start a fire (the fuse box area). As of today (April 20, 2021) my 2014 Kia Sorento still have these dangerous issues. Very dangerous and something is definitely not right under the hood.

- Hickory, NC, USA

problem #37

Jan 012021

Sorento

  • 151,915 miles
While driving last night, my vehicle turned off. Pulled over it would restart but then shut off. Let it sit for a couple minutes restarted and was able to go 1 mile then shut off again. After that let it sit again and restarted and went 1/2 mile before it shut off again. Then wouldn't start again. There's fuel in it, all lighting worked. Battery light and engine light came on.

- Jeannette, PA, USA

problem #36

Dec 302020

Sorento

  • 115,000 miles
Cluster lights turned off while driving air bag light stays

- Auburn, AL, USA

problem #35

Nov 122020

Sorento

  • 101,900 miles
Airbag light came on today while driving on the highway (roughly70mph), will not shut off, vehicle not under recall for airbags at this time. Headlights and taillights randomly come on and off, even with brand new bulbs, have changed bulbs almost monthly in last 3 years. Buttons on steering wheel do not work properly - including cruise control not working, volume button starts voice command, etc.

- Swansea, MA, USA

problem #34

Aug 272020

Sorento

  • 127,800 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the air bags warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the front driver's side air bags were defective and needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer napleton's Kia of elmhurst located at 727 w. grand ave, elmhurst, il 60126, (630) 530-6866 and the dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was diagnosed nor repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 127,800.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #33

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 #32

Jun 052017

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
Motor went out on the heating unit in the passenger seat.

- North Chicago, IL, USA

problem #31

Feb 092020

Sorento

  • miles
Air bag light stayed on. Vehicle was stationary. No accident. Airbag has never deployed. One day to the next no issue. Now I am greatly concerned for my safety.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #30

Nov 012019

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
My airbag light has been going on/off for a few months now, and I have contacted several Kia dealerships that have told me my car is not a part of an airbag recall, and if I want it fixed, I will have to come out of pocket to the time of about $2,000 to get this fixed. The dealerships I called, and 1 I went to in-person, told me that anything related to the airbag light is not under any type of warranty anymore, even though my car is only 5 years old. This is a safety issue, pure and simple, and is a mechanical failure that I should not be responsible for. I believe Kia is hiding something here, and I just cannot magically come up with $2K to fix this. I've seen many other complaints about other years of the Sorento, and I am not happy the manufacturer is not willing to realize the issue here. Very disappointed on how this has materialized, and will try one last time later this week at the Kia dealership local to me. This car has driven great, and have had no other issues, but this is a significant issue to say the least.

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #29

Oct 022019

Sorento

  • 186,243 miles
On regular terrain the drivers seat became noticeably loose, and upon going over a speed bump and slightly rougher terrain, the seat is unstable and moves out of place. A few days later the sensor light appeared on the dashboard for the airbags. Uncertain with how it happened, it is a major safety concern and should be addressed accordingly.

- Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

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