8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,320
Average Mileage:
81,100 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. new engine (4 reports)
  2. not sure (4 reports)
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problem #8

Jul 012021

Sorento LX 3.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 155,000 miles

There is no visible leak on my vehicle. I do routine maintenance. Oil change frequency every 3 months and maybe sooner depending on the mileage driven. But always between oil changes I find myself adding 1 quart or two...at present time, I find myself adding more than 6 quarts between oil changes. That is definitely too much especially if there is no leak. Where is all this oil burning off? Combustion chamber? That's what most forums say. I am going to try to get pcv valve changed to see if that solves the problem. But I just found out here that the Oil pressure switch might be the problem...could it be that it is seeping out there? Again, there is no visible oil leak anywhere. I'm afraid of engine failure. As of right now car mileage is 223,000+ miles.

- Reina Z., Bayonne, NJ, US

problem #7

Jun 212022

Sorento LX FWD 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,563 miles

click to see larger images

excessive oil consumption

I have been having oil consumption issues since June 2022. It was under 100,000 miles at that point. I purchased it with 23,000 miles. I am currently at 105,000 1/27/2023- it consumes 3 quarts of oil in less than 1,000 miles. Corporate Kia TOLD me to go through their oil consumption test which I started 8/2022. I had to pay out of pocket plus rent a car for 2 days. That alone cost me $800+. I submitted to Kia, they refused to pay for anything. Their excuse was that I am the 2nd owner of a converted Sorento wheelchair accessible car- like I really own this for kicks and giggles and prestige! Kia service documented that I need a new engine. My mechanic states I need a new engine- after he ran another oil consumption test $200. Kia has stated the Theta engine are bad. The car burns 3 quarts of oil in less than 1,000 miles.

Kia sent a form stating I had to submit by January 4, 2023 all my paperwork. I certainly did that! I have yet to hear from them. I am a traveling therapist in the State of Ohio for an insurance company. I drive 15-20,000 miles per year. My significant other with Multiple Sclerosis just died 9/11/2022. I purchased the car in 2018 with 23,000 miles to be able to take him to doctors, community appointments, and have some kind of quality of life. I now take a 91 year old woman to doctor appointments and to see her family. This is not a luxury car. It is a work car. Kia has totally impaired my ability to work, and serve others! And now...I just paid for have a re-manufactured engine delivered to a local mechanic to install. This is costing me $7350 !!!!! I have had to pay for additional oil to add to the car, prior to 2-7 hour trips to visit patients.

I can not possibly even sell this car with the defective engine that Kia knows about and refuses to do anything. It is not just the car, but it also the fact that it a special class for wheelchair and powered wheelchair people. Shame on Kia. Shame on your lack of ethics, morals, and humanness! The CEO, COO, and ALL THE MANAGERS should be tarred and feathered and dumped into the Pacific Ocean tied to one of your defective cars! What goes around, comes around. You are deceitful, have no regard to be responsible for providing defective vehicles, and I hope the United States gets with it and throws you out of our country! I will be advertising on the sides of my vehicle that your company does not have any customer service, nor regards for defective cars with your name on them!

- Karen K., Cincinnati, OH, US

problem #6

Feb 242022

Sorento LX 2.4L- Gdi 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,828 miles

I BOUGHT my 2017 Kia Sorento in 2020. It had less than 5000 miles on it. I had regular required oil changes done. I liked the vehicle. Advance to 2022. At 51828miles on 2/24/22 I had an oil change and was told it was 2 quarts low on oil.

On 3/08/22 I took it in to a Kia dealer for the required Knock Sensor upgrade. I mentioned to them at that time about the oil consumption issue at the last oil change. Was told to keep an eye on it and that the warranty was up and I was not the original owner. But we could do an Oil Consumption study on it. . In April or May I took it back to the Kia dealership for another oil change. Drove it as is and just added oil when needed. Because after they told me it was past its warranty and not being the original owner I figured I personally couldn't afford a new engine. I started looking up recalls and engine issues on the internet.

Seeing my vehicles history on needing new engines, I started checking the oil almost every time I got into it.

I took it in to the Kia dealership for another oil change in the fall of 2022. End of July or beginning of August. I brought up the oil consumption again at that time. And requested the Oil Consumption Test. Went back 3 times at 1000 mile intervals. It was burning 1 to 1.5 quarts of oil at each 1000 mile check. I felt bad for complaining because I did not buy the vehicle from this dealership. Anyways, they said a new engine was not covered but Kia would supply the Combustion cleaning. Had that done Dec. 26 and 27th. I am now driving it for 1000 miles and then checking the oil. Checked it quick yesterday and its down like 1/2 a quart . I'm going to keep monitoring the oil and report back to the shop at 1000 miles if not sooner.

- Julie C., Poynette, WI, US

problem #5

Oct 032022

Sorento LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

The oil light came on less than 1,000 miles after getting and oil change. I check for oil leaks and there were none. KIA Dealership said there were problems with these motors, so they started an oil consumption test. Every 1,000 miles my vehicle needed 3.5 quarts of oil. I call Kia and they don't seem to do preemptive measures.

Since they know their engines are crap, I would think they would fix the problem before it actually blows up and leave me stranded. No help from the KIA corporation.

Has anyone sued them for selling a bad product?

- Jerome L., Troy, US

problem #4

Apr 012021

Sorento

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Excessive oil consumption for over a year now. Took it to a Kia dealer and they changed the oil every 1000 miles for 3000 miles, then they put in an additive and that did not stop the excessive oil burning. Then the dealer said, well, if you do not have records of all your oil changes, you are basically s*** out of luck.

- Michael C., Swedesboro, NJ, US

problem #3

Oct 032019

Sorento ES 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

This 2017 Kia Sorento guzzles oil and they don't know where it goes. I know it does not leak underneath because it's parked on concrete every day & night. "NO OIL SPOTS" Where and when is this going to be fixed?? This Kia is supposed to be covered to 100,000 miles and I have to add at least 3-4 quarts between each oil change and I change my oil like exactly when it supposed to be, and have always been particular about vehicles I drive. Kia put some type of device on my Sorento that will down shift the engine and disable it before the engine blows up. WHAT??

After multiple visits over the problem the Kia dealership told me to drive it until it blows!! I don't know about anyone else but I really don't want to out on a freeway somewhere broke down with a blown engine. This is not an option for me, to drive it until it blows up, Kia!!!

- Patricia G., Blaine, US

problem #2

Dec 092021

Sorento

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,300 miles

At my last oil change I was told my oil stick was not reading the oil. It was down at least 2 quarts of oil. The mileage on my vehicle is 62,300. I had the oil change completed and was told to take it to the Kia dealer because there have been reports of oil consumption problems with the Sorento models. The dealer confirmed the oil consumption problems and told me that this issue is not covered through KIA or my extended warranty. They performed an oil consumption test and after 1000 miles, 1.3 quarts of oil was consumed.

The dealer recommended an upper camber combustion cleaning for $450.00. They also stated this was not a guaranteed fix for this problem. So my options are to spend $450 for a repair that might not fix the problem or add oil to my car every 1000 miles, which amounts to 4 quarts of oil added before each oil change , for the life of the vehicle. This is a Kia problem which needs to be corrected by Kia. I will never buy another vehicle from Kia or would I recommend a Kia a vehicle to my friends. Kia needs to recognize this issue and make it a recall. There has been numerous complaints about this problem and many of them have been before 50,000 miles.

- Ronald H., Lagrange, US

problem #1

Jul 202018

Sorento

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I have had to put oil in this car constantly from the day I purchased it. It loses power, engine knocks and smokes.

- Melisa P., Doniphan, MO, US