CarComplaints.com Notes: There are just too many engine stalls or shuts down while driving reports to feel good about the Sorento. Especially when those things happen, on average, at just over 32,000 miles. Hopefully things will change.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 31
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,737 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.

2013 Kia Sorento engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Kia Sorento:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 15 of 24)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #187

Sep 132018

Sorento

  • 60,000 miles

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

Twice my vehicle has lost power. I am driving normal speed down the interstate when the engine light comes on and the acceleration drops dramatically with no warning. Extremely dangerous on an interstate when you speed drops from 70 to 40 with no warning. Have had it fixed once and it has happened again.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #186

Oct 032018

Sorento

  • 102,000 miles
My engine oil is disappearing. The dealer has checked twice and found no evidence of leak or signs of burning oil. After 2000 to 2500 miles the engine is completely out of oil with no oil light staying illuminated. The oil light blinks for a second and goes off and would be very easy to miss. I feel that this is directly related to the non collision fire issue that this same engine is having. If I were to not see the oil light blink, the car could be driven home and have a major failure. All maintenance except one oil change has been done by two local Kia dealers and at proper intervals. I have owned the car since new.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #185

Jun 152014

Sorento

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. While driving low speeds, the vehicle constantly stalled without warning. The dealer (doug smith kay, 495 w main St, american fork, ut 84003, 801-692-4390) was unable to provide a permanent remedy to repair the vehicle; however, they recommended that the battery be replaced. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure continued. The vehicle was not included in nets campaign number: (engine and engine cooling) or manufacturer service campaign: SC-106, but the failure continued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA

problem #184

Oct 102015

Sorento

  • 7,500 miles

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

Takata recall, 2014 Kia Sorento lists power when I accellerate. Sorento is very sluggish when driving down the highway it seems to jerk and lose power. This sluggish feeling happens almost daily, even if I have a tune up completed and all new filters. I have also tried different brands of gasoline to try and help with this issue. Nothing seems to help. I am very concerned also about the mount of heat the engine gives off. The heat coming from the engine is so hot you can barely stand by the car.

- Metter, GA, USA

problem #183

Apr 132018

Sorento

  • miles
The when is in motion or driving it feels like dragging and looks like it wants to change gears but it don't when it needs too. I am scared this can be one of those cars that are getting in fire I am always having the kids in this car what can I do.,.. and is an ongoing just very worry

- Hialeah, FL, USA

problem #182

Aug 032018

Sorento

  • 135,000 miles
While driving on congested highway at ~40 mph, the engine suddenly locked up and vehicle abruptly stopped. Diagnostics from dealership validates the engine had a major mechanical failure. Dealership also validates vehicle was highly maintained. Other Kia Sorento 2013's have been recalled for same problem. However, this VIN has not been recalled yet. Please review.

- Rutledge, TN, USA

problem #181

Jul 012016

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles

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

No oil leak but every oil chang there is no oil steering is just not right

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #180

Jan 222018

Sorento

  • 86,896 miles
In Jan. 2018 while driving on main road there was a noise coming from the engie.. oil had just been changed in Dec. Shortly after hearing noise the battery light illuminated and the car cut off on me in traffic. Was able to get the cr to restart to lill over out of the middle of the road. When I opened the hood there was smoke coming from the oil dipstick area. I had the vehicle towed to my home where I then contacted Kia and had them tow it to the nearest dealership. I was told by Kia that there was a recall on the 2013 Sorento gdi engines. Kia suspects a blown engine at only 86,896 miles but my VIN was not included in the recall because it's the 2.4L DOHC engine... the vehicle is currently stil not running... I purchased this vehilce in March of 2017.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #179

Sep 182018

Sorento

  • 64,090 miles
Takara recall, Monday September 17,2018 my kids read bright to a Kia dealership for an oil change before leaving for a trip the following day. Tuesday September 18,2018 were left for our trip from Missouri to Florida for a vacation. My car had only 63,700 miles on it. We got into Mississippi and stopped for gas. A few miles down the road I heard a noise in the engine, we stopped to see if maybe we had just got bad fuel and treated it for that and checked the oil, all seemed fine except for the noise in the motor. We got 5 more miles down the road and my engine made a very loud grinding noise right before our check engine light came on and my husband felt parts falling into the oil pan and we lost all power in the vehicle and we were barely able to pull off the highway. We sat in a ditch in the middle of Mississippi in the 92 degree heat with my little sister in the vehicle and decided to try and get a tie truck. 45 minutes to an hour later we finally got one there and when he tried to start my car it would crank and fire but did not sound well so we immediately shut it back down. We got the Kia to the dealership and they told us our motor was completely done and needed to be replaced. Now we are still waiting for a call back to see how long the motor will be on back order and when we will get our car back. I don't even know now if I want to put my child back into this vehicle for fear that it could hurt or even kill us. My husband is a 3 time liver transplant patient and a kidney transplant patient from birth until recent. This was not a very good situation to have him in in that kind of heat in the middle of a state we don't know anything about. Luckily we had just stopped at a gas station so he had some water to drink. This is not the first or last incident with this vehicle and a recall needs to be put out a.S.a.P before someone is hurt or killed.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #178

Sep 082018

Sorento

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. While driving, the check engine, oil, and battery sensors suddenly illuminated. After stopping the vehicle and turning the engine off, the vehicle could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (Kia of aberdeen, 4702 sw dr, aberdeen, tx 79606) where it was diagnosed that the engine seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #177

May 202018

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. While driving 55 mph, the contact heard a loud noise under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to coast the vehicle onto the road shoulder where it was towed to an unknown dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer did not disclose what caused the engine failure. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they would assist with the engine replacement. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer waiting for a new engine for over four months. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #176

Sep 022018

Sorento

  • 89,000 miles
While driving to tucson from mesa on interstate 10, my engine started making knocking noises and lost power, thereby stalling by the roadside. It has 89,000 miles on and has been meticulously maintained with regular oil changes. I towed it to my mechanic who said the vehicle had suffered a catastrophic engine failure with metal shavings from the failed bearing all visible on opening the valve cover. He suggested I contact Kia to see if this engine was part of the recall SC 0147 which is a recall due to this kind of failure from a manufacturing defect. After investigating, Kia denied my request stating this particular engine was not under recall and therefore could not have suffered this same defect. They refused to tell me when and where the engine was manufactured was manufactured, in my attempt to link the engine with those under recall, just stating it was not part of the recall. I therefore have to meet the cost of replacing a whole engine that my mechanic believes suffered the same manufacturing failures as the the ones recalled. This is not fair.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #175

Aug 242018

Sorento

  • 92,000 miles
Engine failure while driving down a major highway in heavy traffic. Same issue as recalled engines but Kia refuses to address the issue on this vehicle.

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #174

Sep 072018

Sorento

  • 113,000 miles
Engine had been making a noise (humming and grinding) when vehicle was operating between 40mph and 60 mph. Brought to Kia dealer who stated it was the new tires we bought from meineke. Brought vehicle to meineke who said it was not the tires. Was driving vehicle and while exiting highway the engine shut off and had to pull off to the side of the road under 0 power. Vehicle would not start even though there was still battery power. Vehicle was towed to meineke who told me that there was no oil in the engine. We had an oil change done in May 2018 at the milford ct Kia and was not due for another oil change until October 2018. The vehicle had approximately 800 more miles to reach the 3000 mile mark for an oil change also. I had the vehicle towed to milford Kia who is still examining the issue. Kia stated they would check with Kia motors to ascertain if this issue is covered by a current engine recall for 2013 Kia sonatas.

- Milford, CT, USA

problem #173

May 032018

Sorento

  • 75,000 miles
Driving down the highway and car cought fire. If it wasn't for the car next to us who signaled to pull over we would have been toast.

- Sahuarita, AZ, USA

problem #172

Sep 052018

Sorento

  • miles
Kia refuses to replace the known defective engine. My husband took the car into the dealership for the SC147 recall and was told it passed, "for now" but it would have to continue to be checked. Kia knows the engine is defective and has placed myself and my family in an unsafe and potentially life threatening situation and I don't feel comfortable driving in a car where the engine could seize at any time without prior notice because Kia knows the engine is defective but is waiting for it to fail the test. That is wrong and it could happen prior to a periodic recheck and no one in their right mind would feel comfortable driving a vehicle like that and Kia is using deceptive practices by refusing to replace the engine that is knowingly defective. Not only that, but in order to sell the vehicle, which we now want to do because we do not feel safe in it, we would have to inform the potential buyer otherwise it would be negligent not to. A trade in value was given to us that was way below the trade in value and it is because of the open recall.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #171

Sep 062018

Sorento

  • miles
The car was taken in for a recall and I was told it passed the test, for now, but I need to continue to bring it in periodically for checks. Therefore the car is potentially dangerous and the engine could seize while driving. No one should be forced to drive a car like that and the recall is not complete but yet they refuse to remedy the problem. If the car was safe, then it wouldn't have to continue to be checked for the same problem. Kia knows there is a problem with the motor and refuses to fix it and instead is making people continue to bring the car in for future checks. The problem could still occur without any warning as they know the engine is defective. They are using deceptive practices and putting peoples lives at risk. I am stuck with an unsafe car and if I sell it, I would have to disclose that to the new buyer, to do otherwise would be very wrong, although Kia doesn't seem to think so. I was quoted an amount much lower than the trade in value because of it.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #170

Sep 042018

Sorento

  • miles
Recall notice for engine and engine cooling recall power train

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #169

Aug 242018

Sorento

  • 105,000 miles
I was traveling down a route 30 in greensburg, pa at approximately 45 mph. There was a slight clicking noise and then silence. No noise. The engine light came on. The gas pedal would not work. The power steering would not work. I was able to coast into the mall parking lot. I had my vehicle towed to allwine curry auto sevice, a local garage, for evaluation. I was told that the engine was shot and that a used one could be installed for $3500. We purchased our vehicle used from smail Kia in May 2017. We have our oil changed every 6000 miles. We have not had a oil light come on or any warning that there is a problem.

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #168

Aug 202018

Sorento

  • 78,900 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. While driving from New Jersey to Florida, the contact noticed that the oil level was low. The contact stopped to add oil to the vehicle. Once the contact arrived in Florida, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an unknown Kia dealer in Florida, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle remained at the dealer with possible oil and engine failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling), but she was not informed of it when the vehicle was purchased in July of 2017. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,900.

- Mount Royal, NJ, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?