Kia Sorento Complaints (2014)
988 consumer complaints on file.
- #11527235June 15, 2023ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Kia Corporate Complaint No. [XXX] We bought a used but Kia certified 2014 Kia Sorento with 29K mileage in Jul 2017. Ran great but check engine light came on 3 times. Well before 100K mileage, we took it to dealer service department and we’re advised it was an ‘electrical problem’ that reported a false code. Each time the check engine light was reset. Car ran great except for the false trouble lights. We were told that if the light did not blink, not really a problem. At 120K mileage, we got a code and took car to local garage. Mechanic changed 6 plugs but advised that No. 6 coil may need to be replaced. At 122K miles, 3 weeks ago, we got a solid check engine light but with a serious female voice and pop up screen advising we get to Kia dealer. This time code was run by our local mechanic for clogged catalytic converter. We drove to Kia dealer and they ran code for fouled fuel injector for cost of $1,000. We left car parked at dealer and called Kia USA Corporate in CA. We got a complaint number with assurance Kia would contact us. Nothing in 3 weeks. Local dealer says no recalls of V6 engine but we see reports on line of a known fire problem. We fear driving car should the catalytic converter catch fire. Help! [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11526038June 8, 2023STRUCTURE
The Paint above the front windshield is chipping and continues to get worst with rust and paint. I've seen multiple Kia Sorento just like my model with the same issue. My paint began peeling in a tiny spot I thought was a chip from a rock but rapidly began peeling all over. KIA SORENTO SNOW WHITE PAINT PEELING CHIPPING AND DELAMINATION. I believe the ENTIRE kia needs to repainted and fixing one spot is not the solution!! This includes the top of the car and racks on top, Mine are silver and peeling .
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11525590June 6, 2023ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the contact heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and was only able to accelerate to 30 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who retrieved DTC code: P1326. After investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,800.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11525627June 6, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
Engine control module when it fails vehicle will lose power and drops engine compression causing a danger to other traffic. I was on I-10 on Sunday morning at 60 mi. when all of a sudden it slowed down to 20mi causing other drivers too maneuver around me to avoid from colliding into my SUV. Had engine control module checked out and was advised me to take in to dealer to have it reprogramed or replaced. Either will be an expense I just cant afford replacing it would cost me over 2000.00 and reprograming any where from 200 to 500. If Im not wrong a recall for software added to engine control module was done around 2020 didnt that up.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11524930June 1, 2023VISIBILITY/WIPER
The low beam headlights are very dim at night time. The inside reflective coating of the projector headlights has deteriorated over time.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11524627May 31, 2023ENGINE
UNKNOWN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT I COULD NOT. TRIED TO JUMPSTART BUT STILL WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS. RECALL #SC 147.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11523277May 22, 2023ENGINE
Knocking Sensor Detection. Loud knocking noise associated with flashing check engine light.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11522504May 17, 2023STRUCTURE:BODY
The paint is peeling off of the car. My safety is not at risk but this is a serious manufacturer defect. The defect has been confirmed by the dealer but they are now refusing to repair the paint. The pint has been inspected by auto repair shops and it is called delamination where the paint peels off the primer in sheets. There were no warnings but the paint began peeling in 2018.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11521671May 12, 2023STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint is flaking off.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11521133May 9, 2023UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Pearl white paint is chipping off in large sizes for over 2 years. Just found out this is a common problem with Kia certain years and this exact paint color
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11521183May 9, 2023ENGINE
On 5/8/2023 I was driving on the freeway going about 70 to 75 MPH. All of a sudden the car stopped accelerating and the engine just stopped working. I costed somehow to the side of the freeway until a tow truck could arrive. There was no warning, until this happened. Car was running perfect up to this point. By the grace of God, I wasn't hit and no one was hurt. I honestly thought I was going to die and or take others with me. There was quite a bit of traffic and everyone had to swerve out of the way to avoid hitting me. This is a 2014 Kia Sorento that has been well cared for with 140K miles. Now I have no car. Being told I need a new engine that could cost up to $ 10K. This car is not worth that much.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11521051May 8, 2023ENGINE
The contact’s son owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his son was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle shuddered, and the engine seized. The check engine and the low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact’s son was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 91,089.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11520802May 7, 2023STRUCTURE:BODY
The paint is chipping significantly in the area on both sides of my windshield and starting to continue down into the rest of the car. I have a snow white car and my research has shown this make, model, year and color has been reported of having the same problems. It really affects the look of the car. This paint chipping has been going on for the last 5 years or so. I purchased this vehicle used but in 2014 and it is a 2014 so I've owned it for 9 years and it continues to get worse and worse.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11520594May 5, 2023ENGINE
In December of 2020 my vehicle stalled in the middle of turning. I lost all power and was not able to accelerate. After a tow to my mechanic no reason could be found and vehicle started and ran fine. No check engine or codes displayed. Then in July of 2021 same issue happened. I again had it towed to my mechanic who said it could be the timing but referred me over to my local dealership. At the dealership I was told it was the timing and spent over $4,000 to replace. Two days after picking my vehicle up there was oil all over my garage. Another trip to the dealer where they stated it was a faulty crankshaft seal and no big deal. A month later and I was still having issues. Prior to the work done by KIA I never had oil consumption issues. I was then told to do a combustion clean out which I did. Since then I have been dumping oil into the vehicle. fast forward to April of 2023. While on the interstate the vehicle began to shake and lost all power. After a very expensive tow home and to the dealer the diagnosis was engine failure that they are unable to tell from where specifically and again no check engine or codes displayed. I was quoted $10,000 for an engine replacement for a vehicle I still owed 4,500 on and is not worth as much as the engine
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11520663May 5, 2023ENGINE
The engine seized up. The issue may be due to a design problem with all Kia engines. Here's what the service technician at the Kia dealership told me: 1) There is a pin on the cam shaft that keeps it in place; 2) Over time it moves, and gets sheared off; 3) When the pin is sheared off, the cam shaft spins out of time; 4) That causes the valves to slam into the pistons and bends the valves; 5) After the valves are bent, the engine has no compression; 6) The engine needs to be replaced or the car needs to be junked. The service tech says he had seen it happen quite a bit with all Kia models. In other words, it's a design flaw. There are other ways to keep the cam shaft in place, which are used by other manufacturers.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11519560April 29, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I never received any letter from KIA about this recall. I recently found out about this recall when I entered my vehicle VIN on the NHTSA website because the ABS and stability control lights have been on since last week. I called Kia about this (North East Kia at White Plains, NY) on April 24, 2023, and reported this. They said that their system was down or something like that and that they couldn't check for any recalls for my vehicle. I told them about the report from NHTSA, they said it didn't matter because they still need to see it on their system. I pushed for an appointment with service, they gave me one for Friday, April 28, 2023, at 8:30 am. I went there on that date. Oscar (the person in charge of service) told me when I arrived that their system still was with some kind of issue and that they couldn't check my car until they see the recall on their system. So they didn't check my car. I showed him a picture with the ABS and stability control light on in my car. He said they couldn't do anything about it. He just told me that they will call me or email me when their system is back to normal. I am worried that something bad can happen to my car and KIA is not doing anything to fix this recall. Please, help with this. Thank you
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11518358April 21, 2023ENGINE
Was driving my kia sorrento and check engine light came car was acting as if it wasn't getting any gas took to autozone came bk with 2 codes and pulled out and my car basically powered down in the middle of the street a car almost ran into me...the police had to push my car down a waze so no one would hit me , my car won't start..battery was at good percentage...took it to the shop replaced starter and still nothing won't start..they figured out testing that engine was done for
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11517841April 19, 2023ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Engine overheated with no warning, Heater failed, Coolant wouldn't go through the system, replaced the T-stat, and it still continued to overheat with no warning or indication. I was driving with my 2.5year old in the middle of a busy street during the evening. Took it to a repair shop and was told they found coolant in the combustion chamber, and failed head gasket. They had to R7R both cylinder heads, replace the head gaskets, head bolts, t-stat, crank seal, oil pan gasket, timing cover gaskets and seals, Fuel injector - o - rings, fuel seals, fuel pump. They had to rethread and repair the bolts because they stripped. This was all fixed after i had to pay, $7,000. There was no warning lamps messages except for the 1 time overheating.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11516423April 10, 2023AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11516088April 8, 2023STRUCTURE:BODY
I own a 2014 Kia Sorento that the peeling is rapidly peeling off ( or what the body shops call Delamination ) . My paint began peeling in a tiny spot I thought was a chip from a rock but rapidly began peeling all over. The vehicle is hand wash and the peeling continues, any water pressure continues to peel the paint including natural weather rain conditions. Mileage of vehicle is 113,000. This is very upsetting as you can wash the vehicle weekly or as needed as it would in race the delamination.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0