10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,605 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #71

Feb 012024

Sorento

  • miles
In January 2024 I started getting power steering issues and multiple warning lights related to the electrical systems. I took my vehicle to Car Pros Kia for inspection and repair on 2/1/2024. They took it for a test drive at which time it caught fire.

- Tacoma , WA, USA

problem #70

May 242024

Sorento

  • miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Crossville, TN, USA

problem #69

Jan 192025

Sorento

  • miles
Was driving car it lost power, pulled over and had tow truck bring car to dealership. Dealership states a new engine is needed due to a malfunction in the engine block, however warranty is out on car just by 9,000 miles and car is still financed! Maintenance has been kept up on car. Kia wants $10,000 to replace engine.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #68

Feb 142025

Sorento

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine before the vehicle lost motive power, with the check engine and oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #67

Apr 132020

Sorento

  • miles
I bought a used Kia sorento from a Kia Dealership. This engine makes oil evaporate completely. This engine must be a bad engine. I heard there was some recalls on Kia engines not sure if this one fits it. The dealership did a five hundred dollar job on it and it did not fix. I put oil in this car every month. No way to upgrade because of these issues.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #66

Oct 062024

Sorento

  • miles
I had an engine failure in my Kia. On [XXX], I was driving on [XXX] in Maine, and the "malfunction" light lit up, and I lost power in the vehicle. I was able to make it to the side of the highway and call a tow truck. Losing power on a busy interstate put myself and my partner at risk, as well as having to wait on the side of the interstate for a tow truck. I had the vehicle towed to a mechanic who said the engine needed to be replaced because a cylinder lost compression. Kia had me tow it to a Kia dealership, and they verified that the engine needed to be replaced. The matter is still open. My case with Kia is [XXX]. Kia has been completely unresponsive in the matter. They have told me repeatedly that the matter is being looked into by their tech team, but they have never reached out to the Kia dealership they told me to send it to. It could be related to a rod bearing issue, but they are not willing to follow up enough to even determine whether or not that is the issue. Prior to the engine failure, I had issues with oil loss. I replaced the PCV valve, but that did not turn out to be the problem. I had it inspected a few weeks before the engine failure, and they noted that the oil levels were low. I was not seeing warning lights for low oil, but I was maintaining oil levels while I waited for an appointment to look into that issue. I believe Kia knows this is an ongoing issue with their vehicles, and they are actively obstructing any inquiries as to why this engine problem persists. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Washington, ME, USA

problem #65

Nov 122024

Sorento

  • miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and jerked and decelerated to 25 MPH. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a nearby parking lot and parked because the contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The following day the contact-??s husband took the vehicle to a local dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine might be faulty however, a diagnostic test was needed, and the engine needed to be taken apart to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #64

Apr 022024

Sorento

  • miles
Around 90,000 miles, the engine started leaking oil regularly, took it in for warranty. After repairs for gasket, then started burning oil and running of oil every week or two weeks, and I have to constantly refill oil. Took it again and Dealer told me I am out of warranty, then I called KIA USA and reported problems. They told me that they will get back to me and I am still waiting.

- Eagle Lake, MN, USA

problem #63

Dec 062024

Sorento

  • miles
Cáthalitic converter conoromised

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #62

Nov 232024

Sorento

  • miles
While driving on the highway, the engine suddenly stopped working without warning. I was unable to accelerate using the gas pedal. Fortunately, the highway was empty at the time, and I managed to safely pull over to the right side of the road. After waiting for approximately 30 minutes for the engine to cool down, I attempted to drive again. However, the car began shaking severely whenever I pressed the gas pedal or attempted to increase the speed beyond 2 RPM. The vehicle was subsequently inspected by a certified Kia service center, where the issue was diagnosed as a failure of the piston ring and cylinder 1, resulting in insufficient compression. The service center confirmed that the vehicle was well-maintained, with no external damage or user-related issues contributing to the failure. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms appeared prior to the failure. The engine issue was sudden and unexpected, posing a significant safety risk, especially as it occurred while driving at highway speeds. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

- West Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #61

Nov 192024

Sorento

  • 82,940 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact's husband discovered that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact's husband was consistently adding oil for the vehicle to return to normal operation. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,940.

- Orange City, FL, USA

problem #60

Jul 182024

Sorento

  • miles
Previous Complaint# 11618337. Additional Information: Engine is full of oil yet Oil Light comes on due excessive crankshaft & connecting rod bearing wear and knocking loud. Yet the recalibrated knock sensor will not pick up the issue and put the vehicle into derate with a code P1326 as it did before the Kia Dealership performed this recalibration. This is consumer fraud by purposely hiding a known defect and preventing the warranty from replacing the engine with a redesigned new engine that corrects the issue with larger oil ports. It is also a safety issue!! Now that the oil light is coming on and the engine has a bad knock, it can fail at anytime while driving causing lose of power steering, brakes and the ability to safely pull the car over to a safe location. The original P1326 code automatically determined the engine developed wear from lack of oil volume based on the known defect of too small oil ports. This recalibration doesn't address the wear the engine already has and based on what the dealer stated, they will not replace the engine until that code comes back. Which now can't happen due to this parameter change and elimination of the knock sensors ability to perform it's job correctly. Please investigate and resolve, Thank you!!

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #59

Aug 282024

Sorento

  • miles
My kia Sorento is involved in an engine recall. When driving on the highway three times now my engine has stalled and car has gone from 65 to 30 mph, almost causing multiple accidents while driving with my [XXX] and [XXX]. The Kia customer service agency said this must occur three times before they will replace my engine. They are not replacing the engine. I fear for my life, my husband life and my children-??s lives. I also fear for fellow drivers on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Gardner, MA, USA

problem #58

Oct 012024

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving my 2018 Kia Sorento up a hill going about 40 mph. It suddenly lost power and I had to pull over. No lights showed up on the dash warning me anything was wrong. I was draining oil like crazy and it was all over the engine. I had it towed to a mechanic and then the dealership. A bolt from inside the engine blew and tore a hold in the valve and head gasket. That-??s all I know now. I had purchased my vehicle pre owned certified, and Kia is not honoring the warranty even with extended warranties. This happened at 87,000 miles. I have seen other reports of Kia Sorentos having issues with their engines. Please help.

- Bremerton, WA, USA

problem #57

Aug 052024

Sorento

  • miles
Engine was consuming large amounts of oil, attempted to conduct oil consumtion test per Kia request was unable to complete due to volume of oil consumption. Engine locked up after kia telling me they couldnt help me since the oil consumtion test couldnt be completed.

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

problem #56

Aug 232024

Sorento

  • miles
My 2018 Kia Sorento sticks and when pushing the gas and the RPM jumps up. The car also stalls out and then turns right back on. It shakes and makes a funny noise as well.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #55

Jun 012024

Sorento

  • miles
I have a 2018 Kia Sorento that I absolutely love. As of late, I have noticed that 1,000 to 1,200 miles after my oil changes- I am getting my engine oil light on, on the dash. Upon checking, again after only 1,200 miles after an oil change- my engine oil was completely gone. The dipstick was almost bone dry. I took my vehicle in to have an oil leak test, because I instantly thought I had a leak due to that being an excessive amount of oil missing. However, there is no leak. It passed the leak test, and there is also no oil in my driveway. Upon talking to the Kia dealership this is apparently a very known, and prominent issue with this vehicle. I am "out of warranty" with Kia- so I am unable to file a claim with them to have this repaired. This is unacceptable for them to know that this is an ongoing issue, and they are not standing behind their products. I have thankfully purchased an extended warranty with an outside agency, that I am filing a claim for. However they will only cover the issue at Kia if the "engine oil consumption test identifies the failure" From what the service man said to me, from Kia- the two "failures" that they have, are either needing to have a combustion chamber cleaning done, or an entire new engine dropped in. Both of which leave me without a vehicle for WEEKS. As a mother with young children, and also a mother that works and has a one vehicle home- this leaves me needing to rent a car for however long that may take. Looking into this further I have seen that Kia Sorentos with the GDI motor (like mine) from NEWER years, have a recall on their engines for a very similar case and very similar situations with them burning excessive oil in their vehicles. I strongly think that the lower year makes and models need to be investigated, as well. I absolutely think that my vehicle needs to be included in this recall as I have gotten and maintained every single oil change, and service needed to my vehicle since I have purchased it in 2020.

- Elkhart, IN, USA

problem #54

Jul 292024

Sorento

  • miles
Engine had catastrophic failure without warning. No warning lights or performance issues. 110K miles on it. Well taken care of and taken in for oil changes at regular intervals 6K-8K.

- Sparks Glencoe, MD, USA

problem #53

Jul 262024

Sorento

  • miles
Oil leak was diagnosed as bad oil pressure switch that is under extended warranty for certain Kia Sorento models with GDI system, but not my car.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #52

Jun 072024

Sorento

  • miles
The engine seized as we were driving onto the freeway. Everything just stopped. The car had to be pushed to the side of the road. It failed to restart. When we checked the dipstick, it was completely dry and starting to burn on the bottom. There was no visible signs of an oil leak. There were no lights or other notifications that the car was out of oil. We were lucky the car wasn't hit and someone seriously injured or killed. The car had to be towed to our home. Kia Corporate Office was closed. The Kia dealership said I could have it towed at my expense and have it looked at when they had time the following week. It was just under 100K miles A different Kia dealership offered to give me $5000 towards a trade-in on a new car. That was half the trade-in value, but I couldn't be without a car. When I inquired three weeks later about what the service department found out was wrong with the car, I was told they hadn't even looked at it and would probably just use it for spare parts.

- Pismo Beach , CA, USA

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