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:
71,630 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.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. While the contact's spouse was driving 7 mph, the engine inadvertently revved. The brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. As a result, the contact crashed into a parked vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact's spouse sustained bruising to her chest, which required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,000. Updated 10/12/17 updated 10/12/2017
I received notice of NHTSA recall 17V-224, Kia engine safety recall campaign SC147 in the end of May 2017. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing the recall work on approximately June 10, 2017. It is now August 11, 2017 and the recall has not been completed and the vehicle has sat as undriveable for 2 months. This is an unacceptable amount of time to complete the safety recall.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. When the vehicle was started, black smoke appeared under the hood and the muffler that emitted through the vents inside the vehicle. The contact turned the engine off and called an unknown local Kia dealer located in salem, or where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that she did not change the oil when needed; therefore, they would not make any repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was not available.
We were driving our 2013 Kia Sorento on the turner turnpike in Oklahoma going straight at approximately 75mph on July 22, 2017 and the car engine went out. We had it towed to Kia and they said the long block went out and the engine seized up and we need to replace with a new engine. The car has approximately 90K miles on it.
When beginning a right-hand turn after stopping for red light, the engine quit and it took two attempts to restart it. The car was fully warmed-up and had 3/4 tank of gas, the weather was about 82 degrees and humid..
On July 11th 2017, my husband was driving home from work in his 2013 Kia Sorento on interstate 35 going 65 mph when he heard a loud noise coming from under the hood. He continued to drive to get to the rest stop which he did not make it the engine just died, no warning lights or anything, so he had to pulled off to the side of the road and called for a tow truck, the Kia was towed to the nearest mechanic which upon examination of the car determined that the engine seized up and would need to be replaced, they could replace it for $5000-6000 since they are a GM dealer we decided to have it towed to a Kia dealer who came to the same conclusion and would charge us $5875 for a used engine with 120,000 miles on it which is more than our car has on it or $7100 for a new engine. We have a 2.4 liter mpi which is not part of the recall but should be, there is no reason a 4 year old car with routine oil changes should blow and engine!
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. Kia of slidell, Louisiana was made aware of the failure and replaced the motor in the engine, but the failure recurred. The contact was informed by the dealer that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 35,000.
Engine lockd up making a clicking sound when started. It locked up steering and gear shift a couple times before it started the noise. Was told by dealership not covered by recall because manufactured in different plant than other Sorentos with exact same problem.
My husband and I were driving North on I-49 in Louisiana when our 2013 Kia Sorento (approximately 86,000 miles) began making a clicking/knocking noise upon acceleration, the check engine light began blinking, and the engine immediately shut down. We pulled over to the shoulder, turned the vehicle off, and attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the engine failed to restart. We turned our emergency lights on for cautionary purposes, but after approximately 30 minutes, the lights completely stopped working. There was evidence of oil leakage underneath the vehicle, as well as oil splatter underneath the hood of the vehicle near the engine and over the entire exterior of the vehicle, from the front hood to the back window. We had the vehicle towed to the nearest Kia dealership and were told by the service department that the bearings in the engine had failed, which resulted in "catastrophic engine failure, " and that engine will need to be replaced. We were also informed that the engine in our vehicle is a 2.4-L mpi engine, which is not part of the current recall; however, individuals at the dealership and with Kia customer service confirmed that the problems we experienced are the exact same problems that have been reported with the 2.4-L gdi engines that are part of this recall. We have been extremely diligent with oil changes, and had approximately 2000 miles until our next oil change, which we can support with documentation. Kia has denied our request for assistance because our vehicle is no longer under warranty.
This a correction to post on July 9, 2017. Our 2013 Sorento has the theta II mpi (multi-point injection) and not theta II gdi (gasoline direct injection). Now I know why I haven't seen a recall letter. I still have a blown engine.
Our Kia Sorento had 46963 miles. We are the second owners and have put 34K miles on it and have had the oil changed at approximately every 5K miles. The Kia Sorento stopped running while it was being driven at 55 mph on a two-lane road. I was being followed by a dually pick up towing a large boat. The car lost power and the "check engine" light came on. I had just enough time to turn on my emergency flashers and find a safe place to pull off the road. We had it towed to a repair shop in kingsland, tx, they cut the serpentine belt, couldn't get the engine to turn, told us that the oil pump had failed and the engine seized. We then had it towed to the dealer in austin, where they had a technician look at it and confirmed that the engine was blown. They said that the only way to know if there were metal shavings would be to pull the oil pan ($195) and that would only confirm that shavings were in the oil. To actually know what had caused engine failure they would have to pull the main and rod bearings ($400). They said that even if we did find that the engine failure was due to metal shavings that it would not be considered as part of recall SC147 because it wasn't manufactured at a "certain plant" in a "certain month". he was unable to tell me what plant and month. We have now found, through decoding our VIN, that this car was built in Georgia and has the theta II engine. They did offer to put in an engine from a wrecked Kia with 100K miles on it at a cost of $6700-$6800. The kbb value is $9800. We were told that the basic warranty had ended on April 24, 2017 and that the 5yr/60K warranty was not transferable to the second owner. We then found this: Https://www.NHTSA.gov/vehicle/2013/Kia/Sorento/SUV/fwd#manufacturercommunications showing that they had modified the warranty. No one at the Kia customer service center or at the dealership told us this.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to pete Kia where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. The dealer refused to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
My 2013 Kia Sorento should become a part of the recall that is currently involving Kia motors. We changed our oil and noticed it to be what my husband called a bit lumpy. Took our car into the local garage and they told us there was a leak on the top of the motor. We planned on fixing this the following payday, but instead left the dealership to a high pitched squeal and that was it the car never moved again. The rods were shot and caused motor to seize. Our local garage, bending wrenches believes there is evidence to support our claim. We have paid for a new engine to be placed in vehicle and are hoping to become a part of this recall and be reimbursed for this manufacturer defect. We have all paperwork from garage and also kept the oil that had been changed from the Kia showing that there is probably little fleks of the metal from the rods in this oil which caused it to become lumpy. Not sure where else to turn for help with this claim.
Kia Sorento 2013 88K miles, going down highway, loss of power, light clunking noise. Coasted to stop. Towed to a shop. They said timing chain not lubricated, broke and destroyed cylinder head. Can't get replacement motor because of a freeze on selling these motors.
Kia recall: While driving at 60 mph on a two lane highway, the engine seized up on my 2013 Kia Sorento with 78000 miles on it. The company that rebuilt the engine said it was due to a loss of oil pressure. However the oil was full and clean and was 1000 miles below its next scheduled oil change. The engine did not make any noises prior to the failure. Kia states that the VIN # on my Sorento is not part of the recent recall on their engines that are failing in this same manner. I had the engine rebuilt (at a very hefty price) and am looking for reimbursement.
2013 Sorento started making a clicking noise that sounded like a loose fan belt. Then while driving in city traffic and approaching a red traffic light, SUV stalled. Was able to start SUV again and continued home with the engine making a loud clunking noise. Roadside asst towed to dealer who said the engine failed and would need replacing. They also said it would not be covered under warranty. The car has been on the dealers lot for eight months because of the expense of replacing the engine..
Engine is loud I was told to report to the Kia dealer if the engine was getting more loud. The vehicle was loud from the time I purchased it and was told to bring it in if it seemed to get more loud. I was also told that it has solid lifters and that is why it is loud. Now it has 99730 miles and some engines are seizing up. I asked if the recall would be in force if I went over 100000 and was told to park it until I received a letter from Kia for instructions. Now I have a car that I can't drive and paying payment's on, I'm the original owner. The Kia rep said to hurry when I receive the letter so the dealership could get me scheduled but he said he did not know if it would be covered because of the mileage! he also said if I took it in now that I would have to pay for an inspection. Basically now I'm the proud owner of a Kia boat anchor!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rocky Mount, NC, USA