CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2nd generation Sorento (2011-2014) has just too many engine problems at early mileage, year after year.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 25
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,781 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.

2014 Kia Sorento engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 17)

problem #340

Jun 202023

Sorento

  • miles

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

head bolts broke and ran hot,

- Ball, LA, USA

problem #339

Aug 152024

Sorento

  • 174,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the headlights failed to function properly. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.

- East Saint Louis, IL, USA

problem #338

Jul 152024

Sorento

  • miles
Left out for work one morning as normal. Everything was ok no lights no warnings no problems. I was driving approximately 25-30 mph when my speed began to decelerate, a knocking noise, the check engine and oil light came on and my vehicle just stopped. After about 10-15 mins I could restart the car and drive to a safe parking lot off the street. When I started the car back up the knocking sound was even worse. In the parking lot, all the fluids were checked and there was not one drop of oil in the engine. I took the vehicle to the shop and was told the engine was done. It would need to be replaced. The mechanic explained that there had been a problem with the engines burning up oil in the 2011-2014 Kia's. Thankfully, I was on a local road during morning travel, not the highway. I shudder to think of what may have happened if I suddenly started to decelerate at highway speeds and was hit by another vehicle.

- Dallastown, PA, USA

problem #337

Jun 032023

Sorento

  • miles

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

when I purchased the vehicle the check engine light came on the day after. It would come on and off as I would start and turn off the vehicle. The salesman told me that the check engine light was still on because they had just serviced it and it needed to be reset. No driving problems occurred until a year later. I took the vehicle to be diagnosed three times by three different auto mechanics. There was a recall on the vehicle that is no longer a recall. The Kia dealership service department told me that I would have to pay thousands of dollars to do a engine breakdown to see what the root problem is. The vehicle will not drive far anymore so I do not drive it and I'm still paying for it.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #336

Aug 312024

Sorento

  • miles
Check engine light started blinking then a lot of knocking started from the engine. How it won-??t stay started and the knocking it-??s a lot louder. Someone told me sounds like the engine bearings

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #335

Aug 252024

Sorento

  • miles
Whilst driving on the interstate, the vehicles engine shut off with no warning. Rpm and everything was as normal and the vehicle shut off with no gas power, nothing. Engine and oil lights started flashing heavily, engine started rattling. Upon checking battery all was normal, car started smelling of burning under the hood

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #334

Apr 122024

Sorento

  • miles

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

See attached document for complaint

- Coon Rapids, MN, USA

problem #333

Jul 242024

Sorento

  • miles
Coolant, oil compression, runs hot, to over headlights need replaced frequently

- Phoenix , AZ, USA

problem #332

Jul 072024

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving on the freeway in traffic with my 3 children returning home from a holiday weekend vacation, it was high 90's so the A/C was running and I had devices charging on the ports. We were 1.5 hrs into our drive and the vehicle failure came out of nowhere. Car has been in good condition and normal operation previously. Suddenly the entire dash flashed, flickered off then came back on with check engine light illuminated and battery symbol also on (very faintly), felt a minor kickback and car started slowing down until it stopped. I was able to get over and pull off to the shoulder to avoid incident but this could have easily turned into a very bad crash with a less experienced driver behind the wheel or if we had been going faster. Prior to this happening there was no warning of an issue with the vehicle - temperature check was in center between C and H, oil pressure was normal, no warning lights on dash, plenty of fuel and car was not due for an oil change for another 40 miles. Once I pulled over and stopped, turned off the car, it would not restart. Not enough power to turn over the engine. We had to call AAA and have the car towed home 35 miles. I had the vehicle towed to the Kia dealership and they are stating that it is not covered under a current recall or warranty extension and are seeking over $12,000 to replace the engine. I feel like my vehicle 2014 Kia Sorento SX V6 with 3.3L engine needs to be looked into for recall and warranty extension on the engine.

- Lake Forest, CA, USA

problem #331

Jun 302024

Sorento

  • miles
Was driving to the store for groceries with my 2 young children, when my car just stopped accelerating and the engine seized up on a local road. Had noticed a ticking and knocking sound when accelerating a few prior and a weird sound coming from the suspension but it was dismissed by the dealer. Had the vehicle towed to my home and had to tow to dealership as it would no longer turn over at all. Received a recall notice but apparently it doesn't apply to my vehicle because I had oil, coolant and no leaks anywhere. Only had 127,000 mold and this is the 4th issue I've had with this vehicle. 1st was rats chewing all my wires, 2nd was the rear differential, 3rd fuel pump, and now this.

- Lincoln, CA, USA

problem #330

Jun 102022

Sorento

  • miles

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

I own a 2014 KIA Sorento 2.4L LX FWD. I have been experiencing a problem with my car for about two years. This usually occurs when driving up a hill and the transmission downshifts and I experience a jerk, either from the transmission or engine and the rpm drops to zero. The transmission will not shift from the last shift point. Most times it will be in the drive for final gear. You can increase the vehicle speed by pushing the accelerator all the way down. We were coming back on vacation two years ago and was driving in the left lane on an interstate. I experienced the symptoms and the rpm dropped to zero. No downshift or up shift. I managed ti find an opening in traffic to get over in the right hand lane and exit. Once I came to a stop, I tried to accelerate but engine struggled. I turned off the engine and was able to restart the engine and it operated properly. Had rom, transmission shifted properly. This was an unnerving situation. I felt very fortunate that I did not have to evade a dangerous situation on the interstate since the transmission would not shift and I could press the accelerator to the floor to gain a little extra speed. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

- Newell, AL, USA

problem #329

Mar 212023

Sorento

  • miles
Have already applied several times about my engine and what happened started out with crank sensor going out and cause my engine crash and stop running should have paperwork did on March 2023 applied several times still no request back from any company need hear from NHTSA not yet would like to no what was the results never heard back thank you

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #328

Apr 122024

Sorento

  • miles
I took my Kia to Thomas Kia on April 12, 2023 and paid a total of $3321.93 for an oil change, fuel injection flush, engine oil flush, drive belt, oil pressure switch, front valve cover gasket, passenger brake bulb, high pressure ac line, cooling system flush, 6 spark plugs and plug assy-spark. I could not drive the car almost three months later I took my Kia back to Thomas Kia and was told it had a bad spark plug, a blown head gasket, oil leak into the cooling system and that would be an additional $6500. Are there any recalls that can help me?

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #327

Dec 122023

Sorento

  • miles
My oil keeps running out. Had this problem for over six months. Took to the dealership but keep getting the run around. They said, it wasn-??t a recall for that but it-??s been reported that certain vehicles was having this problem.

- Newhaven, MI, USA

problem #326

May 092024

Sorento

  • miles
My Grand daughter' car. May 9th 2024 discovered engine oil is in the engine coolant system. KIA tech says it a blown head gasket or the threads that were machined into bolt holes in the engine block for the head bolts are pulling out. Safety hazard, engine could have failed on interstate or in traffic and posed a threat to driver and others traveling on roadway. No warning of any type.

- Youngsville, LA, USA

problem #325

Mar 252024

Sorento

  • miles
Engine failure similar to other Kia Engine Class Action Lawsuit

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #324

Apr 012024

Sorento

  • miles
While driving car it suddenly lost acceleration. RMP's wouldn't go above 1.5. Speed wouldn't go above 20MPH. Check engine light came on. Was going up a hill with lots of cars behind me and suddenly could barely move. Made it to an Advance Auto and they ran diagnosis on the check engine light and it came up with 2 different codes, relating to fuel system and crankshaft. When I got the vehicle to my local mechanic they saw the codes also, and that the car had gone through 4 quarts of oil. I wasn't at the mileage for an oil change yet, so not sure why oil was almost gone. Mechanic did and oil change and issue was still not fixed. Stating engine needs to be replaced. I have several other people with Kia's who have also recently expirenced massive oil consumption and engine dying. Car was running fine prior to just going into "limp" mode randomly. However I have had a battery issue with this vehicle since day one of purchase. I have been to several mechanics including a Kia dealership with no one being able to pinpoint what is draining the battery. I have had to replace the battery 6 times in 3 years, with my vehicle being dead every other day and sometime every day from Oct-Mar.

- South Paris, ME, USA

problem #323

Apr 132024

Sorento

  • miles
My car started overheating, then started a clicking noise and smoking. Took it to the Jackson, MI KIA dealership. Service Tech said I have a blown head gasket, but KIA discontinued the V6 motor, so I can-??t get a new motor. I searched online, found out the V6 motor was discontinued because of this very issue. There was a class action lawsuit/settlement, but it was before I purchased this vehicle. What if anything can be done ? I feel duped. None of the salespeople told me about this issue.

- Jackson , MI, USA

problem #322

Apr 062024

Sorento

  • miles
Blown head gaskrt due to headbolts bolts stripping under normal wear and tear, 116,000 mi.

- Doylestown, PA, USA

problem #321

Apr 052024

Sorento

  • miles
My 2014 kia sorento its knock sound from engine

- Surprise, AZ, USA

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