10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 31
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,437 miles

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problem #340

Aug 102020

Sorento

  • 180,000 miles
2013 Kia Sorento, 2.4L. I have replaced the alternator, accelerator position sensor, and the crank shaft position sensor. Symptoms of the problem are this, after driving to achieve full operating temp, let the car idle for 15 minutes, pull out and get on highway, slow acceleration, and at 2000 rpms, the car violently jerks about 3 times, tach goes to 1000 RPM, accelerator is non responsive but engine does not die, after about 4-5 seconds, the engine begins to respond normally, no codes are captured, no indication to what the issue is. I did bring my car in not long ago and they re-flashed the computer that controls the transmission, and this new software may be at fault. It is non reproducible to demo to the Kia mechanic. But can happen as said above but not reliably. I plan to get a full electrical diagnostic of the main computer, the body controller, and transmission controllers to see where the fault is. I question the health of the main computer as no codes are recorded.....sampling rate seems to be in question. This can happen at 60 mph or 30 mph, at lower speeds seems like the engine will totally quite about 30 percent of the time, other times the engine continues to run but in "limp mode" and non responsive. I see this as a severe safety issue, you never know if it will die. It also seems like the transmission is commanded to a lower gear at high speed and after the jerks, the engine will shut down so damage will not occur to transmission or engine. If engine does not shut down fully, it seems like it takes about 5 seconds for the computer(s) to reset and resume "normal" operations. Always happens when in motion, never stationary on city street or highway at 60 +mph.

- New Hope, AL, USA

problem #339

Aug 282020

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
This as happened 3 times..while driving car it will mysteriously staul..last time on interstate then after hours of sitting it will start with no codes and be fine til next time

- Dover, OH, USA

problem #338

Aug 202020

Sorento

  • 47,000 miles
Connecting rod shoot out the engine and went throught the 4th cylynder opening a big hole. This vehicle has only 47000 miles. This break down happened in the middle of a highway.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #337

Aug 182020

Sorento

  • 121,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the engine seized. There was an abnormal knocking noise detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the engine bearings failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact called all star Kia of san bernardino (735 show case drive North, san bernardino, ca 92408, (888) 480-0418) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the failure was like that of NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 121,000.

- Loma Linda, CA, USA

problem #336

Aug 182020

Sorento

  • 121,000 miles
Bearing were bad and it caused my engine to seize and stop working.

- Loma Linda, CA, USA

problem #335

Mar 302019

Sorento

  • 135,212 miles
In December of 2018, my father in-law was driving the vehicle on the highway, and the entire vehicle shut down(engine, lights, steering, everything). We towed it to the dealership, and they stated that it was a faulty battery, and had us pay to replace it. When we took the old battery back to advance auto parts, they stated that the old battery was fine after testing it. In March of 2019, we started to hear a knock in the engine at or over 2000 RPM. We took the vehicle in to the dealership, and they stated that the vehicle had advanced bearing wear, and the engine would need to be replaced. They stated that as there was no recall, that we would be responsible for the replacement.

- West Jefferson, OH, USA

problem #334

Aug 082020

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
Truck was leaking fluid. Cut off in the middle of me driving on New Jersey parkway. Truck was also smoking.

- Neptune, NJ, USA

problem #333

Aug 022020

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
While driving the vehicle at about 50mph, the RPM gauge rose significantly and the check engine light came on. I stopped the vehicle and restarted it and the same thing happened again. I then had the vehicle towed to my local mechanic and he indicated that the engine was failing and should be replaced.

- Ware, MA, USA

problem #332

Jul 302020

Sorento

  • miles
All the oil leaked out and the engine froze. I was stuck on a major highway. There was a recall for this. I went to the dealer and they offered free oil change this was when recall notice came out but they never fixed the problem

- Middlesex, NJ, USA

problem #331

Jul 302020

Sorento

  • 148,000 miles
Driving on interstate the car suddenly lost power and slowed down then stopped. I was able to move over and get off on the exit and roll down hill off the road. This was very dangerous. The vehicle would not start, had to be towed 80 miles home. Motor seems to be seized. Have had no problems with it until now, no warning at all.

- Madisonville, TN, USA

problem #330

May 182020

Sorento

  • 17,900 miles
Engine light came on code was show cam shaft sensor needed to be changed after changing the sensor engine light was reset. Same day code popped back on showing same code. After talking to multiple repair shops I am being told to replace the computer and or timing.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #329

Jul 132020

Sorento

  • 103,000 miles
While driving on I 81 in shenandoah county va my Kia started losing power, lowing the speed I could do and the rpms right in front of a semi truck. It has happened since then and actually before then but was never as scary. The dealership has not been able to duplicate the issue or find any codes in the computer.

- Edinburg, VA, USA

problem #328

May 022020

Sorento

  • 116,072 miles
On 05-02-20 while getting on the freeway. My Kia, Sorento(2013) stalled and had to pull into the emergency lane. Shut vehicle off waited for a minute, restarted and no warning lights on. Drove 1/4 mile, engine started knocking/pinging. Had to be towed repair shop. Metal found in oil, rod knocking. 116072 miles on unit. Have all regular maintenance records. Engine repaired @$ $5,636 I just couldn't put a tarp over it. Dealer stated no recall on 2.4L mfi past limited warranty.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

problem #327

Jul 082020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
We were driving back from a post op surgery appointment when the check engine light started flashing. It has never gone off before. We stopped at the nearest auto shop and the connecting rod bearing is bad in the engine and a while new engine is needed. This is a known recall for this car, make, model, and year. Somehow it does not include my VIN number in the recall, but we are having the same exact problem. I have invoices stating this from the auto shop I can email.

- Oconomowoc, WI, USA

problem #326

Jun 062020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 101,000 miles
Engine starting knocking/ticking. Car then stalled on the highway. Was able to restart & drive to exit. Car was towed to dealer where per test, engine locked up. Dealer informed needed new engine. Not covered by recall as not gdi engine but Kia would not answer why only gdi engine even though same block(2.4).

- Marion, IA, USA

problem #325

Jun 172020

Sorento

  • 145,000 miles
When driving on the freeway my vehicle started making a clicking noise and seized up myself and my two children where on the freeway driving about 55mph when this happened, thankfully I was close by a offramp to pull off of the freeway to the side of the road. There was no prior warning no lights that came on, I had the car towed home and the battery replaced but when car was turned on it made a loud knocking noise, vehicle was towed to the mechanic who can not get a reading or diagnostic reading from the car to see what or why it seized up, thank god we were able to exit the freeway without getting hit this was a terrifying experience and I cannot believe it did this, I've kept up the maintenance and my car was in great shape, I contacted Kia for recalls I find it ironic that numerous customs with a 2013 Kia Sorento and the same issues yet we are not ousted for the recall under our VIN. This could of resulted in a detrimental loss and now I am being told the engine was not supposed to do that and that this should of been part of the recall, I will continue to reach out and try to get help now that I'm being told it is safest to replace the engine, at this point I am extremely uncomfortable even operating a Kia vehicle given all the research I've done and how many issues they have and continue to have with the engine, this will be my biggest regret purchasing this vehicle especially because Kia is very aware of the issues yet it doesn't seem like they care, as many reports as I have seen with this identical issue all 2013 Sorentos should of been replaced due to the accidents that the engine can cause, a car should never shut off on you when your driving.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

problem #324

Jun 262020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 130,761 miles
I was driving down I70 West in Missouri I got to mile marker 83.8 and I hear tink think and as I'm pulling over I see my control steering light flashing and all sudden boom and then nothing. Won't start, won't turn over. Nothing. I was driving my 2013 Kia Sorento down the highway at about 72 miles an hour.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #323

Jun 172020

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Rear main seal started leaking profusely at 40K miles. Vehicle has been towing trailer that's 2000lbs but has tow capacity of 3500lbs. Concerned that the tow capacity is overstated as the rear main seal shouldn't be a problem in a newer vehicle. Looking at a $1200 fix for a problem that shouldn't have happened.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #322

Dec 122018

Sorento

  • 55,000 miles
While driving engine oil lamp lights and since I was less than 2000 yards from home, I costed into driveway. Engine off, I lifted hood and checked oil and it showed nothing. Looking behind car, I notice oil all over back of car rear and some on road and driveway. Filled oil and restarted only to see oil being pumped seemingly out of rear main and front of trans. Took to nearest dealer who fixed problem under 50K warretee. It was oil sending switch located under intake manifold. Seal between metal body of switch and electric connection of same blow out. Seems like epoxy did not hold. Less than 17 K miles later, same thing happens on highway exit ramp had towed 85 miles back to local area since Kia couldn't find mechanic to work on it during hunting season. 1500 dollars later after showing mechanic links to the oil leak fix... they fix again the same oil sending switch. Some people have had it replaced 3 to 4 times. Canada has this part as a recall. Why not the usa yes I paid for it as warrantee expired due to 5 years.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #321

Jun 022020

Sorento

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was jump started however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to Kia of West nyack (250 N. rte 303, West nyack, NY 10994) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

- Spring Valley, NY, USA

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