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

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2013 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 2 of 24)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #447

Sep 282023

Sorento

  • miles

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

Engine cooling system failure on my second engine after it being replaced ounce already still the same thing overheating millions of recalls on 2013 kia serento with cooling system failures why am I have to buy another engine with 2 years of replacing my original with the same problem my vehicle vin need to be added with the rest of the same year make an model

- Carrollton , GA, USA

problem #446

Sep 062023

Sorento

  • miles
1) Engine suddenly stopped; seized; couldn't control steering wheel was very hard to steer off road; 2)safety of passengers and children in school zone; 3) safety 3 passengers ages 67, 93, 13 because of sudden stop; reduced speed at its own pace and vehicles behind, traffic; steering was difficult because of locked engine; 4) had to push off busy street, got towed next day; 5) no warning prior to failure on 9/6/2023 at 1130am CDT.

- Pearland , TX, USA

problem #445

Aug 032023

Sorento

  • miles
Car caught fire in the engine compartment.

- Van Alstyne, TX, USA

problem #444

Aug 182023

Sorento

  • miles

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

Burning oil rapidly at approximately 100,000 miles. Engine started to make a clicking noise when going uphill with poor acceleration. Engine seized while driving, but was able to pull over to safe area thankfully. Learned of engine recall and is now being replaced by dealership at 118,000 miles.

- Rincon, PR, USA

problem #443

Aug 152023

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle consumed one quart of oil for every 700 miles driven. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #442

Aug 212023

Sorento

  • miles
P1326 came on while traveling at highway speed 70mph, the vehicle jerked and turned of while traveling. Managed to pull over at weight station to get towing service. The vehicle just started knocking and on safe mode at 2000rpm. Can't drive it.

- Hyattsville, MD, USA

problem #441

Aug 082023

Sorento

  • miles

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

When driving to work the engine made a noise then quit running. It will not turn over.

- Trenton, FL, USA

problem #440

Aug 102023

Sorento

  • miles
KIA vehicles have an oil comsumption problem. I discovered recently that my engine was empty of oil. Two weeks later I check the oil level and was 2 quarts below full capacity. I went to an online forum of KIA owners and discovered the seriousness of the problem. The main problem are engines seizing-up while highway driving. I can attest to the seriousness of this problem when approximately 1 year ago my daughter's 2012 KIA Optima engine seized while driving and fortunately her husband was with her and helped her steer the vehicle to a safe place along the highway. KIA has known of this problem for many years and has yet to con-front the issue.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #439

Jul 212023

Sorento

  • miles
High oil consumption for several months. Using 3-5 qts of oil every other week. Oil is burnt and black. Engine noise. Engine failed while driving.

- Vale, NC, USA

problem #438

Jul 312023

Sorento

  • miles
This truck has had one owner (though 3 on paper - myself and my ex husband, then transferred solely to me, then transferred to my current partner a few months ago). It has been pristinely maintained and has 110,000 miles on it. Despite absolutely perfect maintenance, and even taking it to the dealer in March and asking them to look for problems, and none being found, the engine blew on the highway yesterday. It started to get sluggish, then slowed significantly, the check engine light came on, and then we coasted off the ramp, having to push the truck the rest of the way to safety. Local shops are quoting $10,000 to rebuild or $12,000 for a new engine.

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #437

Nov 172021

Sorento

  • miles

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

The engine started knocking, experienced loss of power, and oil leaks around the engine head. Kia of Savannah refused to retrieve the vehicle, and I could not afford to tow it to them. Then, they could not get me an appointment for months. Now they are refusing to conduct repairs because the -??knock sensor upgrade-?? was never performed.

- Statesboro, GA, USA

problem #436

Jun 262023

Sorento

  • 178,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle had exceeded the warranty requirements. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.

- Middlebury, VT, USA

problem #435

May 292023

Sorento

  • 94,000 miles
The contact-??s stepdaughter owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while the driver was driving 10 MPH, the engine made abnormal knocking sounds. The contact was unsure if a warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) since an unknown recall for the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update on the vehicle was not performed. However, the contact stated that he had scheduled an appointment with the dealer for Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update prior to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

- Kittanning, PA, USA

problem #434

May 012023

Sorento

  • miles
engine stopped. will not turn over. checked oil control valve and full of metal shavings. oil pan full of metal shavings. call kia. not on list. repair yourself. they are not reparing any cars. said they were but denying everyone. check the records. all talk and no action. pleasing the judge with their layer statements. what can i do. i have no help. no kia, no court, no gov. never again will i and my court be debutted.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #433

Jun 172023

Sorento

  • miles
Driving car, was getting off an exit and the engine completely seized up, no power, no lights, no steering. Had it towed. Found out the engine seized with no apparent reason and the motor needs to be replaced.

- Rainier, WA, USA

problem #432

Apr 012023

Sorento

  • miles
When driving my 2013 Kia Sorrento with 68,000 miles on a highway at 65 mph, the engine seized coming to a complete stop. The brakes were also completely frozen. I was lucky to maneuver the car to the shoulder of the road where it eventually rolled to safety. The Kia dealer informed me that was a recall on my vehicle for this exact problem. And a Kia certified mechanic deemed the problem of my car the exact issue as to why a recall was placed on the vehicle. Kia Corporate is refusing to honor the repairs that need to made according to the recall. Kia is denying the repairs because they claim they mailed me postcard in 2018 notifying me of the recall. I did not receive the postcard or any other form of communication from Kia regarding this recall. Kia cannot prove they mailed the postcard to me. In this age of technology, a consumer such be able to trust that an important notification from a car manufacturer about an recall that is potentially very dangerous to the life of the driver and passengers of the car, would warrant an email, text message, or phone call. A simple postcard without a follow up is unacceptable and in this case ineffective because I never received it. I would like Kia to honor the recall and repair my vehicle.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #431

May 012023

Sorento

  • miles
Like many Kia owners my engine had catastrophic failure. Without warning it overheated. The dealership said it was a cracked engine block. There are hundreds of stories like mine on a Kia owners Facebook page. One family had the engine catch for on the side of the road. This is a known issue for Kia. There needs to be a recall and not just extended warranty band aids.

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #430

Mar 172023

Sorento

  • miles
My engine stopped without warning while traveling on the highway at 60 miles per hour. If there had been any cars coming, it would have been a diaaster.

- Elkins, WV, USA

problem #429

Feb 232023

Sorento

  • 131,178 miles
The contact-??s wife owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact-??s wife was able to restart the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated; however, after the vehicle was retrieved, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. Upon research, the contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin Number: SC106. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,178.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #428

Feb 082023

Sorento

  • miles
Engine keeps shutting off at 50 miles per hr no warning lights or engine codes, this keeps happening every two or 6 days. Mechanic replicated the issue but no engine codes were presented, so no solution. This vehicle is no save to drive. When vehicles shuts off you lose control of the steering wheel. And you can-??t start the vehicle back up until you get to a full stop.

- Sicklerville , NJ, USA

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