Kia Sorento Complaints

10,397 consumer complaints on file.

#11738032May 15, 2026
ENGINE
Car is 6 years old less then 100k miles and losing oil and motor problems Went through entire oil change in 1 month Kia unable or willing to assist with any coats I was told by a private garage that the motor in my car should be part of a recall that was already listed for 2021 through 2026 but they’re saying it’s not covered
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738108May 15, 2026
ENGINE
The car is consuming oil under the 3,000 mile mark.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738133May 15, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
The vehicle involved is a 2019 Kia Sorento with approximately 111,000 miles. Over the course of ownership, the vehicle has experienced numerous unresolved mechanical and safety-related issues, including ongoing fuel leak concerns, excessive oil consumption/loss of oil, rough shifting, shift solenoid problems, rattling noises, shaking/vibration while driving, and repeated drivability issues. The primary safety concern at this time is a suspected fuel leak that multiple independent mechanics have identified. I have been told by at least three separate mechanics that the vehicle appears to have a fuel leak. During my most recent oil change at Valvoline, the technician expressed concern about the safety of driving the vehicle in this condition and warned me that driving a vehicle with a fuel leak could be dangerous. I previously brought the vehicle to Kia dealerships multiple times while the extended warranty was active and specifically requested inspection for the suspected fuel leak. On at least three separate visits, I was informed by the dealership that they could not find or confirm a leak. Because the issue was never resolved or properly diagnosed while under warranty, I am now out of warranty coverage and facing potentially dangerous and costly repairs. This issue has placed my safety and the safety of others at risk due to fear of possible fire hazards, stalling, or sudden vehicle failure while driving. Because of these concerns, I have significantly reduced driving the vehicle and currently do not feel safe operating it regularly. This has created substantial hardship because this is my only vehicle for work and daily life. Additional unresolved issues with the vehicle include: - Persistent rough shifting and shifting hesitation - Shift solenoid issues - Ongoing excessive oil consumption/loss of oil with no confirmed source - Constant rattling noises - Excessive vibration/shaking while driving - AC system failure around 60,000 miles - Electrical seat failur
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738211May 15, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
All lights came on the dashboard including the check engine light and I could not accelerate. I had to pull over and turn car off and on to get it to accelerate. It poses a very serious threat as you can not accelerate at all and can be rearended. Kia has fixed the throttle twice and have told me 2 other times they can not replicate the issue. It clears out by the time I am able to bring it to the dealership. This issues has happened 4 times starting at 9,000 miles and most recently at 21,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738166May 15, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly jerked and then lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the low-pressure and high-pressure fuel injectors and gasket had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,779.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737792May 14, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I own a 2015 Kia Sorento with Snow White Pearl paint. The paint is prematurely peeling/delaminating from multiple areas of the vehicle despite normal maintenance and no accident damage. The vehicle was inspected by a Kia dealership, and I was informed that the condition appears to be a paint defect rather than normal wear and tear. The paint failure is occurring in a manner consistent with numerous complaints from other Kia owners involving Snow White Pearl paint adhesion failure. The peeling paint affects the appearance and value of the vehicle and continues to spread. In areas around the roofline/windshield pillars, exposed surfaces may also create long-term corrosion concerns and potential visibility/safety issues. Kia has acknowledged my complaint under Case #26008837 but has not agreed to repair the defect. I am submitting this complaint because this appears to be a widespread manufacturer paint defect affecting Kia vehicles with Snow White Pearl paint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737858May 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 KIA Sorento. The contact stated while driving the vehicle on a hill he states the vehicle stutters very hard and moves back and forth with hesitation to accelerate. The vehicle was seen by a dealer 3 months before and was made aware of a transmission failure starting, the contact moved to an area that has much more hills and is now experiencing hard transmission failure symptoms. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage 136,577.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737857May 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving rotating noise coming from and louder when accelerating. The was taken to local mechanic transmission. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission needed to the be replaced. A transmission software update was performed but the failure continued to occur. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously service under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000(POWER TRAIN). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737713May 13, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
COMPONENT: 2.5L T-GDI engine failed completely at 102,971 miles, requiring full replacement (~$8,000). Vehicle available for inspection at [XXX] Kia, [XXX] . SAFETY RISK: Engine lost power during normal operation. Sudden, uncontrolled loss of engine power creates a direct collision risk at highway speeds for the driver, passengers, and surrounding vehicles. CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Mark Kia performed a borescope inspection on April 10, 2026 confirming cylinder wall scoring, oil-fouled pistons, and worn honing patterns across multiple cylinders. Findings are consistent with Kia TSB ENG235 (January 2022), which documents a defective PCV check valve on 2021–2022 Sorento 2.5T engines allowing oil to contaminate combustion chambers. Vehicle was serviced exclusively at Mark Kia for all 17 visits since 2021. TSB ENG235 does not appear in any service record. PRIOR SYMPTOMS: No warning lamps or messages before failure. A certified 36-point inspection one week prior showed zero cautions. Spark plugs replaced at 74,534 miles (Jan 2025) were found fouled at ~102,000 miles, only 28,000 miles later — indicating silent, progressive oil contamination. The defect is undetectable by the driver until catastrophic failure. Kia America has not responded to two formal written dispute requests (Case #XXX, April–May 2026). 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
#11737601May 13, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Immediately after a dealership-performed warranty repair, the vehicle experienced a severe safety‑critical failure at highway speed. The vehicle began shaking violently, produced loud knocking and impact noises, and metal pieces fell from the underside. The failure occurred without warning and created an immediate loss of safe drivability. The dealership later documented that an engine mount (‘lower dog bone mount’) had not been torqued to specification, which allowed the engine to shift back and forth under load. This improper torque caused the violent shaking, metal impacts, and falling metal. The problem was confirmed by the dealership, but no corrective repair was performed. Only a single bolt was re‑torqued, and no inspection was done to determine the extent of damage, the source of the falling metal, or the cause of the knocking. The vehicle was returned in an unsafe condition and has not been driven since. The vehicle had to be towed directly from the highway due to the severity of the failure, and it was delivered straight to the dealership because it was unsafe to operate. The vehicle remains available for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737579May 13, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I own a 2022 Kia Sorento that was manufactured on January 13, 2022. My vehicle experienced a failure involving the electronic oil pump within the transmission system. While driving, a transmission error message appeared prior to the failure. Shortly after, the vehicle unexpectedly entered a limited-mobility condition and significantly slowed down, operating only at a reduced speed. This created a hazardous situation, as I was unable to maintain normal traffic flow, increasing the risk to myself and other drivers. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by a service center as a malfunction of the electronic transmission oil pump. I am aware that Kia Motors has issued a recall for certain 2021–2022 Sorento and 2021–2023 K5 vehicles related to a defect where the fail-safe limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired due to a transmission oil pump malfunction, potentially resulting in a complete loss of drive power. Although my vehicle appears to have been manufactured during the same timeframe as the affected vehicles, it has not been included in the recall. The failure I experienced is consistent with the conditions described in that recall. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, but the issue has been confirmed by a service center and the component should be available for inspection upon request. Given the safety risk and similarity to the recalled defect, I believe this issue warrants further investigation and potential inclusion of my vehicle in the recall population.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737498May 13, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have had to replace my radiator twice in under 2 years because the open spaces in the grill are too large and rocks are able to go through them and puncture the radiator.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737411May 12, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Today, May 12, 2026 at 12:10pm the panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded. I heard some shacking sounds in the car, right as I was picking up speed on the freeway and then heard a bang above my head. Nothing had hit the car. It sounded like a balloon had popped in my ear. When I stopped the car 5mins later, I could see the glass was getting pushed out from the inside and then broke apart in the sunshade. I am my kids were not in the car at the time. It was above their car seats.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737357May 12, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The contact owns a 2026 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 2 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to stop and rolled forward. The Forward Collision Avoidance feature also failed, causing the vehicle to crash into a building. No warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact and his wife did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who sent the computer system to the manufacturer; however, no data was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The insurance company was made aware of the failure but had not yet deemed the vehicle totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would notify NHTSA of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 600.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737056May 11, 2026
ENGINE
I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2019 Kia Sorento that has experienced recurring oil loss/oil starvation and engine-related issues that I believe may present a safety concern. I purchased the vehicle used with approximately 45,000 miles. Since ownership, the vehicle has experienced repeated incidents involving low or nearly empty oil levels despite regular maintenance and monitoring. The vehicle previously underwent an oil consumption evaluation, however the issue continued afterward. During one event, the vehicle was reportedly found approximately three quarts low on oil. More recently, the vehicle again appeared to have little to no oil visible on the dipstick and began exhibiting drivability and engine concerns including grinding/banging noise during acceleration, intermittent timing/tensioner-type noise, misfires on cylinders 1 and 2, exhaust smoke, and strong oil-burning odor from the exhaust. Due to concern over possible engine damage and reliability, the vehicle was returned to the dealership for further diagnosis and repair. The dealership replaced ignition coils and spark plugs and road tested the vehicle extensively. While the vehicle is currently operating, I remain concerned that the underlying oil consumption/oil starvation condition may not have been permanently resolved. My concern is that repeated oil starvation conditions could potentially lead to sudden engine failure, loss of power while driving, or other safety-related issues. I am requesting that this issue be reviewed to determine whether similar complaints or defects exist involving oil consumption, oil starvation, or related engine failures in this vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737083May 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This car has been at the dealership twice in not even 2 years. I've only had it not even 3 years. The check engine light comes on and starts shaking. In June of 2025, a tune up was performed due to a cylinder 4 misfire code. P030400 In April of 2026, the same exact thing happened. Dealership said misfire on cylinder 4. Loss of oil would cause the engine to lock up causing harm to me and other people on the road. I am constantly putting oil in this car!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737159May 11, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Had to replace transmission at 133k miles. It was jolting sometimes providing a hard jolt at times will driving. There are also times of what feels like a cylinder misfire. Oil is constantly leaking and have to replace oil every 1k Miles. Have had multiple shops look at it and not able to find anything. Now during acceleration there is a huge grey smoke cloud coming from the exhaust. Looking at this site and through online it seems to be a common issue with this car and engine. So there has been multiple issues with this car - oil consumption of the engine leading to smoke in the exhaust and the transmission which was replaced a week ago
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737163May 11, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The paint on my 2014 Kia Sorento (Snow White Pearl) is peeling and delaminating across multiple areas of the vehicle, including the roof and side panels. In several areas the paint has detached completely, exposing bare metal, and rust has begun forming on the roof. The condition appears to be progressively worsening and does not appear consistent with normal wear or isolated paint damage. The affected areas are available for inspection. The peeling paint may create a road or visibility hazard if pieces detach while the vehicle is in motion. In addition, the exposed metal and developing rust on the roof and upper body areas may affect long-term structural integrity over time. This appears to be a widespread issue affecting similar Kia Sorento vehicles with Snow White Pearl paint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737171May 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAD GOT OFF WORK AND GOT INSIDE MY VEHICLE,A 2026 KIA SORENTO AND WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE THE BACK WINDOW SPORADICALLY SHATTERED AND I DO HAVE CCTV OF IT AS WELL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11737028May 11, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that an unknown, sticky fluid had spilled through the slits of the mode selector which was a dial that can be selected for driving during different road conditions. Upon start of the vehicle, the 4WD mode selector would intermittently flash on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated the mode selector would remain stuck in eco drive and that the contact could not switch out of the mode selector. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where upon a diagnostic, it was discovered that an unknown, sticky substance had entered the mode selector through the slits in the mode selector. The contact agreed to have the part replaced; however, the part for the repair was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure where they refused to offer any assistance with the vehicle's repair. The vehicle remained in the dealer's possession and had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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