10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 6 / 6
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 50,106 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The engine quit/shut down while traveling at 65mph on freeway. We replace engine, now 50,000 miles later we are replacing the connector rod bearings.
- Hood River, OR, USA
Paint started peeling off
- Orange , CA, USA
On 8/19/23 driving cross country moving from MN to AZ. Heard a clunk and my engine went into limp mode. Called nearest Kia Dealership and advised not to drive. 8/21/23 had to have car towed 100 miles to Kia Dealership in Cheyenne, WY. Rented car from Avis to get to AZ in time for closing on new home. Car inspected at dealership and confirmed a new engine was necessary. To date, car is still in WY.
- Sun City, AZ, USA
engine is smoking, but is not showing over heating on gauge. just had oil changed on Thursday 9-28-23 by NTB, It has happened 3 times before oil change and once since(today),
- Rosedale 21237, MD, USA
Without vehicle warning lights, I was driving on a highway and my engine began making loud noises. My safety was put at risk as my car did not indicate any warning there were any vehicle issues and I was on a major highway which could have potentially not only affected my safety but the safety of others.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
Engine failed and started knocking on 8/29/2023. Had it towed to dealership where it has been sitting ever since. I am being told that its taking 8+ weeks to get approval on a new engine from KIA due to the defects of their engines. They will not supply a loaner or rental car until (IF) the engine replacement is approved.
- Littleton, CO, USA
Without warning, engine stalled while in motion. Electrical system was still functioning and on. Loss of power steering and power brakes. This continued to happen at random times during driving, putting all passengers at risk. Kia dealership looked in to the problem and diagnosed it as a faulty PCM/ECM module and replaced. Rolling engine stall continued and continues to happen at intermittent times. We are now 6 months in to the process of trying to determine the issue. The car has been taken back to Kia dealership for inspection. The problem has been reproduced by another auto repair shop but they are unwilling to work on it since there is no check engine light or corresponding code to work from.
- Hollister, MO, USA
Unknow
- Jonesboro , AR, USA
It is abusive to American consumers that Kia Motors America knowingly sold several Kia models from 2011-2019 with the Theta ii engine issues. They have not done enough as a car company to support the needs of customers that are affected by this problem. They are taking 2-3 months to diagnose and repair failed engines at dealerships. Additionally, they are not doing enough to help people when they don't have access to their car. I was forced for 2.5 months to have no car without a loaner vehicle offered to me. I experienced a Kia Sorento 2015 engine failure on 6/1/2023 and was not fully repaired until 8/18/2023. During that entire timeframe, I had to file a BBB report at 60 days to get an update on the diagnosis for my car. When I went to pick up my car on 8/19/2023 at Cochran Robinson Kia, they lost the key to my car and acted like it was no big deal. I am sick and tired of Kia Motors America being allowed to continue selling faulty vehicles in our country. They need to be shut down and charged to the full extent of the law as a car company.
- Coraopolis, PA, USA
Engine blew
- Chicopee, MA, USA
The engine was inspected for a possible timing chain rattle/issue and was found to be consuming oil. The oil level was low with no obvious leaks from the engine, meaning that the engine has been burning oil for about 4 months since the last oil change at the very least. The oil consumption could cause engine to wear and fail during operation, causing obvious safety issues for this model, as is the case for other Kia models affected by a class action settlement. The issue has been confirmed by an independent mechanic, but has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or other individuals. There were no warnings of low oil levels prior to being informed of this oil consumption issue.
- Lakeland, FL, USA
The engine of this vehicle has always rattled on start-up, but the sound goes away after a few seconds. Oil levels have always been maintained and the oil has been changed on a regular basis at the scheduled mileage intervals. Within the last month, the engine rattle is present when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear, at approximately 30-40 mph. The engine rattle is coupled with a revving sound that would indicate that the engine is working hard to accelerate, yet the RPMs remain relatively low for the amount of sound made by the engine. To date this has not posed a safety risk, but I consider it to a potential safety issue if the engine failure problems present in other Kias of similar years are also present in this year and generation of Sorentos with V6 engines such as this vehicle. The engine issue is currently being inspected by a mechanic to see if they can replicate the issue and identify a specific problem. No inspections have been performed to date by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. No engine lights or warning signs were present before this started occurring.
- Lakeland, FL, USA
August 11,2023 My 2015 Kia Sorento engine light came on, it started bogging down, and rattling noise came from the engine, when plugged in it was diagnosed as the exhaust crank shaft position timing-over-advanced (Bank 1) Code P0014. I had a hard time keeping the engine running it kept wanting to stall out while driving down the road to safely make it home. I'm lucky to have made it home and not stranded out on the highway. I'm told know the engine has failed. I will need rods replaced; I've had all my recalls done but yet this still has happened to me. I thought 1 of the recalls was for this very reason yet it still happened, how is this possible. As I've read through other people's issues, I'm also at 85,000 miles and had no warning that my engine would be shot. If you have a Kia 2015 Sorento sell it or trade it in now, especially if your mileage is hitting 80,000 mileages.
- Adrian, MI, USA
Driving 45mph on busy street and engine stopped working- locked up. No codes, no warning lights, etc-?? Coasted to an advanced auto parts store, hooked up scanner- no codes. My Mechanic and Kia both said there is oil in the engine, but it-??s locked up. No help from Kia on this issue even though there are similar issues/complaints on this engine problem.
- South Beloit, IL, USA
RE: Kia Engine Failure I have a 2015 Kia Sorento that has approximately 86,600 miles. My engine failed on July 5, 2023. I did receive the Recall No. 18V907000 and tried to contact Kia numerous times when I received the notice to get my software updated; however, I was unable to speak with anybody from the service department and had left numerous messages to no avail. Shortly after the recall, I had a heart attack and needed time to recuperate. Then Covid hit, my doctor advised me to quit my part-time job and stay quarantined due to my high risk of contacting Covid due to being a diabetic, having a recent heart attack and other medical ailments. I have been disabled for 12 years and have other medical issues that I'm dealing with. Recently on July 4, 2023, when I was driving my car, my engine started making a knocking sound. It made a loud noise and felt like it was stuck in gear. I took it into my mechanic the next day who confirmed that my engine was going out. The check engine light never went on. The next day when I drove it to the market, the car completely went out. I have been trying to get in touch with Car Pros Kia in Huntington Beach, CA. and Kia of Irvine, as well as contacting a lot of phone numbers regarding the Kia lawsuit, but nobody answers the calls or returns your messages. You can be on hold for hours. I had an appointment this morning to get recall updates on my car, which I scheduled several weeks ago before my engine failure. I called the service department of Kia of Irvine in CA., and explained to the service advisor, Cody Brown about my engine failure if I should take in my car for the scheduled recall updates. He advised me not to take it in, because in order to complete the recalls, the engine needs to be in working condition. I inquired about my engine failure to see if it was covered under the lawsuit. He advised me that it was not and that I had to contact the Kia manufacturer, which I did, but have been on hold for hours.
- Yorba Linda, CA, USA
My engine went into limp mode on the road wile my daughter was in traffic. After she was finally able to get the car to the side of the road. I had the Sorrento towed to my local mechanic. The mechanic informed me the engine had an internal engine failure.The car had 125,000 miles I have always done my oil changes at 5000 miles with synthetic oil. Spoke with Kia they said I would have to a Kia Dealership mechanic diagnostic. The Kia dealership said the engine had an internal engine failure. They said it is some type internal failure but have not said what is failed.
- Newnan, GA, USA
The car completely stalled out. Engine Light on.
- Bryans Road, MD, USA
After hearing a knocking or rubbing sound when turning left or right, I made an appointment to have my 2015 Kia Sorento checked and also to have it inspected. The auto repair shop was in the middle of road-testing the vehicle when it suddenly began running poorly and the SES light turned on. The vehicle started to misfire and was unable to accelerate past 30 - 35 MPH. Upon inspection the car was found to be very low on oil, although there had been no prior alert nor was it time for the routine oil change. Vehicle also shut down unexpectedly on road, putting driver and other vehicles in danger.
- Myerstown, PA, USA
Going on vacation with elderly disabled mother and family. Exited off highway stopped and car just shut off with lots of traffic behind me and coming. After several attempts to start vehicle it started and was really loud. Pulled out and coasted to a place I could safely pull over. Checked the oil, belts, and for leaks and no check engine light or other warnings. With no other real options, I drove with flashers on and coasted to our hotel with minimal power and the engine compartment sounding like it was coming apart. Grinding popping and knocking. Still no check engine light. Once stopped at the hotel, the car cut off in the parking lot and had a weird fumes/burning smell. With it being a holiday I had to find a shop and wait until they were back open to see if they would take my car. There were no KIA dealerships in my area. I called and had the vehicle towed to the shop. They say it needs a new engine. The car is still out of state which is going to cost hundreds just to get the car back home and not to mention the 8000-10000 in engine repair. Also we were lucky it didn't catch fire with the fumes/burning smell or be involved in a wreck due to the car just shutting off with no warnings at all.
- Colfax, NC, USA
- Smyrna, GA, USA