Engine caught on fire while driving down the hhighway in SC. Vehicle was towed to Fred Anderson KIA of Greer & has since been sold by them after sitting in their lot for almost 3 years. I was driving down the highway not knowing my car was on fire. I only pulled off at the exit because my son, who was in the car behind me, had called to tell me he needed to use the facilities at the next exit. I pulled up to a gas pump to top off my gas tank while we were there. It was not until then that I had smoke coming out from under the hood of my car. I opened the hood and the engine compartment was completely engulfed in flames. The fire department did come onsite to extinguish the fire but a bystander had already used an extinguisher and put it out. Insurance refused to pay due to the many issues with KIA vehicles and had reduced my insurance to only liability. There were no prior warnings of any issues with the car. We had been driving all night from Ohio to SC for a family wedding and we were still 3 hours away from our destination.

- Defiance, OH, USA

Driving up a small hill when you hear this knocking noise.The car got to the top of the hill and shuts off no engine no turn over spent 198 to get it towed then comes to find out that it is because the car had no oil from what the mechanic told me. The car had oil but apparently only this model has issues with not having oil and you have to do an oil change every 4 months rather than 10,000 miles and I just brought the car.

- Richmond City, VA, USA

I was driving everithing was normal but suddenly the light of the Engine was on and the car lost power and the engine shut off everything happened in like one second, dont let me time or opportunity to think something safe, it was a lot of traffict on the street and the car behind almost crash on me. it was like a nigthmare.

- Warr Acres, OK, USA

oil light in past week would come on for short time then go out, i brought to kia cape coral, fl. see video attached from kia. oil went up no oil on ground. then the oil went past switch for oil light up to next hose that had wires for injectors. $5,000 for this wire alone and 7 hours labor. Total quote $6,700. the 2017 sorento with a 3.3l engine has an extended warranty to 150,000 miles. my 2017 sorento not covered as it is a smaller engine. danger of engine failure known oil switch problem.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

Going down the interstate on 2/7/26, 56 miles from home and my Kia lost power, no lights or warning, loud bang from the engine, smoke rolling out of the back and engine is completely dead. 149,000 miles. Called several tow truck companies, and each asked make and year of vehicle, and immediately after, "Did your engine go? Kia has that problem." Me and my sister were left stranded on the side of the interstate in the extreme cold. Luckily, 2 gentleman stopped to see if we were okay because they had seen fire under the vehicle. Purchased the extended lifetime warranty and Kia will not honor it. No I have no vehicle and a car payment.

- Strasburg, VA, USA

To Whom It May Concern, I am the owner of a 2017 Kia Sorento and have recently experienced excessive oil consumption with the vehicle. The engine is losing approximately 4 quarts of oil per 1000 miles, with no visible external leaks or exhaust smoke. I am aware that many Kia vehicles equipped with the 2.4L GDI engine have been affected by issues related to piston ring defects, which can cause abnormal oil consumption and, in some cases, premature engine failure. I also understand that Kia has issued recalls, service campaigns, and extended warranties on similar models and engines. I am requesting the following: 1.) Confirmation of whether my vehicle is included in any recalls, service campaigns, or warranty extensions related to this issue. 2.) A dealer inspection and oil consumption test to formally document the problem. 3.) Information on any coverage, goodwill repairs, or warranty extensions available if my vehicle is determined to have this defect. I respectfully request your assistance to resolve this issue promptly. Please provide me with any relevant documentation or service campaign numbers in writing for my records. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your timely response. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Baltimore, MD, USA

This uses oil. It takes 16 ounces or more every 400 miles.

- Ocala, FL, USA

Daughter was driving home from getting her kids from daycare and said she couldn-??t see behind her from smoke and her boyfriend told her the car was on fire and she said the engine light came on and then all the lights came on and it started smoking more and a lady pulled over and told them get out because the car was on fire and 911 was called and she got out and got kids in the lady-??s car and called me at work and I left and got there and the fire department was hosing down the car for about 45 minutes. They finally got the fire out which was contained under the car engine and Insurnace checked it out and gave me the estimate that was uploaded and told me that it was a mechanical failure from the engine so they won-??t cover anything and I have to put a new engine in it because it has a big hole in it underneath. I am not even sure if they really looked at it because they told me they will give it back to me and I can-??t afford to have it looked at. I had a warranty but was told it would be totaled out because a fire is a total loss and the warranty said even though I had coverage the day it caught on fire they won-??t cover because they said the claim had to be placed before it got canceled which makes no sense to me but them and insurance said because there are recalls on engines for other same models of my car that Kia should have to make a recall for it since the engine is what caused the fire. I still have a payment on the car and waiting for them to get it back to my house and not sure when that will happen because it snowed and they keeps saying they can-??t tow it back to my house. But I feel if other 3.3l engines within 2017 Kia Sorento then there needs to be a recall. I don-??t see how there are absolutely no recalls on a car. I have yet to find a car that does not have a recall especially Kia-??s and I have 2 of them and my other one has several recalls on it. Then magically this specific one that-??s catches fire has no recall on it.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

Driving home from work car started making a slapping noise, no engine light on. I stopped and the motor shut off and spit out oil. Found out that a connecting rod had broke off and went through the oil pan. now the car needs a new engine with only 166,000 miles on a 2017 Kia Sorento. The car has had all maintenance done on it.

- Kearney, MO, USA

I am reaching out regarding a challenging situation with my vehicle. On October 24, 2025, my engine seized up while I was driving. After conducting research on my vehicle, I discovered that there was a recall related to a component of the engine which was issued in 2018. I purchased my vehicle from Carbone Honda in June 2021 and was not aware of this recall until recently. Unfortunately, this incident occurred during a particularly difficult time for me, as my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer (stage 4 glioblastoma) in the same week. In addition, I am currently a nursing student facing significant financial constraints. I waited two months for an appointment at Destination Kia to determine whether my vehicle would still be eligible for an engine replacement. During this period, a mechanic kindly allowed me to store my vehicle at his facility. My appointment took place on December 22nd, and the following day I was informed that I did not qualify for repairs because the recall that was sent out prior to purchase of my vehicle was not addressed prior to the engine failure. I understand the requirements for recall-related repairs; however, my engine failure appears to be linked to a known defect. I would appreciate any guidance or assistance regarding possible solutions or eligibility for support in this matter. Vin # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Forestport, NY, USA

1. The Snow White Paint is lifting and peeling in all areas of the vehicle. 2. The engine, despite proper care and maintenance, is seizing occasionally upon starting the vehicle. 3. Auto Braking System and Lane Departure turns off at random

- San Diego, CA, USA

I was driving and heard a loud noise. The car started to hesitate and was making a knocking noise. I pulled over and had it towed where I was told it was a rod bearing failure and I needed a new engine. It had 130,000 miles. I have been reading online and found a lot of vehicles with the same engine as mine where this has happened and there are no recalls. Engines size 3.3L V6. Right now the car is sitting. I still owe on it and can-??t afford to have it fixed. The oil was changed regularly. It was changed four weeks before this happened. No warnings.

- Baraboo, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from under the hood. In addition, the vehicle lost motive power, and the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the failure was due to the detached crankshaft bearings. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the dealer disassembled the engine and the transmission. The contact stated that when the vehicle was released back to the contact, several parts were missing from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that several of the parts of the vehicle were missing. The vehicle was being repaired. In addition, the contact stated that she had owned three Kia vehicles, and each vehicle experienced the same failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- Pacific, MO, USA

I was driving our 2017 Kia Sorento 2.4 liter, on I-94 in Detroit, MI when suddenly, the vehicle would not go over 50 mph when the engine suddenly lost power on Friday 11/28/2025..We towed the vehicle to the Auto Repair Shop a few days later. On Tuesday 12/9/2025 the Auto Repair shop contacted us and said that their was plenty of oil in the vehicle but Cylinder 3 misfired and there is a loss of engine compression. Auto shop says cylinder 3 failed and now only 3 cylinders are now working on the 2017 Kia Sorento now mileage is now 94, 971 miles. I have not taken it to the dealer yet because even though there was a class action lawsuit, the Auto Repair shop has informed us, as well as other information online, that the dealer will sometimes try to avoid replacing the engine. I did contact the dealer on 12/10/2025 and informed that we do have maintenance records and have the vehicle towed there this weekend, however, my initial conversation with the Service rep did not sound promising to date.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

To Whom It May Concern, I am the owner of a 2017 Kia Sorento (VIN ending in [XXX] ) and have recently experienced excessive oil consumption with the vehicle. The engine is losing approximately 2 quart of oil per 1000 miles, with no visible external leaks or exhaust smoke. I am aware that many Kia vehicles equipped with the 2.4L GDI engine have been affected by issues related to piston ring defects, which can cause abnormal oil consumption and, in some cases, premature engine failure. I also understand that Kia has issued recalls, service campaigns, and extended warranties on similar models and engines. I am requesting the following: 1.Confirmation of whether my vehicle is included in any recalls, service campaigns, or warranty extensions related to this issue. 2.A dealer inspection and oil consumption test to formally document the problem. 3.Information on any coverage, goodwill repairs, or warranty extensions available if my vehicle is determined to have this defect. I respectfully request your assistance to resolve this issue promptly. Please provide me with any relevant documentation or service campaign numbers in writing for my records. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your timely response. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Youngsville, LA, USA

My 2017 Kia Sorento is experiencing significant engine issues, including excessive oil consumption and ongoing oil leaks. The Kia dealership initially told me I qualified for an oil-consumption test that could result in a free engine replacement if the results met the criteria. After inspecting the vehicle, they refused to perform the test because they said it was -??leaking too much oil, -?? charged me $600 for a gasket, but the vehicle still leaks and burns oil. Now the dealership claims the engine is not covered and wants $5,000 for a replacement, despite previously stating testing could qualify me for a free engine. This appears to be a common issue with Kia GDI engines and a safety concern due to risk of engine failure and fire. I believe Kia is improperly denying required testing and coverage, and I request NHTSA review this pattern. I included the invoice fr the gasket repair and pictures from the oil change I got last week showing pictures of it still leaking oil despite the repair at Kia.

- Columbia , TN, USA

Car oil light doesnt come on, only when almost gone. Car stop and slugish on highways and automatic turns off, this issie since the update

- Columbus, OH, USA

I am reporting a serious defect involving my 2017 Kia Sorento 2.4 Liter GDI engine (VIN [XXX] ) At approximately 84000 miles, while still under the powertrain warranty, I brought the vehicle to the dealership from which I purchased it (Hutchinson Kia in Macon GA) due to engine hesitation and abnormal performance. I was initially told the engine might need replacement, but the dealer later claimed the issue was only a relay/software problem and performed a software update (likely the KSDS knock sensor update) At approximately 94000 miles, the engine suffered a SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE while driving on the interstate, The failure was abrupt and created a dangerous situation in traffic. The Vehicle is now inoperable. The engine is equipped with the THETA II GDI engine, which has a documented history of bearing and connecting -rod failures, fires and sudden engine seizure. KIA is refusing to cover the failure, even though the symptoms began during warrantly and the KSDS update was reportedly completed. This appears to be consistent with the widespread THETA II engine safety defect previously investigated by NHTSA. The sudden failure of the engine posed a significant safety risk to myself, passengers and other motorists. I am requesting the NHTSA review the incident and evaluate whether KIA is properly honoring required safety-related engine replacements for Thet II GDI equipped vehicles. Thank You. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Macon, GA, USA

I am reporting a serious engine defect in my 2017 Kia Sorento. The has failed and presents an ongoing safety concern. The issue is while driving on the interstate, the vehicle began shaking violently, started making a knocking noise and the check engine illuminated. The RPMs also began spiking so I slowed down and got off at the next exit. Now every time I start the vehicle it continues to shake, knock and cannot accelerate properly -- the RPMs climb as high as 5000 with very little power. This is a clear safety hazard and makes the vehicle unsafe to operate on public roads.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

Check engine light came on, oil light came on after, vehicle stalled on expressway. Engine is knocking.

- Pleasant Plain , OH, USA