10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,155 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #29

Jan 062025

Sorento

  • miles
I wasn't in a car accident or anything but my engine is burning oil more then it should like I have to add oil (1 1/2 quarts of oil) every week to my engine and most times when i am driving my car I smell burning oil like its burning inside of the car somewhere and I think that my car is about to caught on fire or just go out. I went up to the kia store to let them know what has been going on and they are telling me that there is nothing that they can do about it, I haven't had this car for a year yet I got this car last year in September they told me that there was nothing wrong with my car, I have 128,000 miles on my car and I just don't know what to do at this point I owe 13,900 on the car. I see that there has been recalls on the kia Sorento's engine before and I even told the dealership about it too and they still told me that there is nothing that they can do, this all start January of this year and I have been fighting with kia over this since then. My car is just a ticking bomb before my engine jsut gives out and I don't know when that will be but I just want to get this fixed and i dont have 5,000 to replace the engine and Kia also told me that they can't replace it either so I'm hoping that this might help me in some kind of way.

- Shepherdsville, KY, USA

problem #28

May 072025

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, there was white smoke coming from under the hood. The contact stopped the vehicle on the side of the highway. The contact had recently had an oil change completed at an independent oil replacement shop. The contact called the shop, and a technician was sent to the location. The technician checked the engine oil level and stated that there was no oil on the dipstick and added four quarts of engine oil. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the vehicle had started to emit white smoke from the engine compartment and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the vehicle needed an engine oil flush. The vehicle was repaired but the contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Stedman, NC, USA

problem #27

Jun 062025

Sorento

  • miles
The Kia was using to much oil, the engine light came on and it-??s the cam shaft sensor-??just got it replace but still doing the same thing as the RPM-??s is fluctuating -??

- Texarkana , TX, USA

problem #26

Apr 222025

Sorento

  • miles
Engine was in limp mode after having the KBS software earlier this year installed. Engine is currently at 115,000 miles, oil has been changed consistently. The engine has been consuming the oil and burning it fast, where I need to add oil constantly.

- Albrightsville, PA, USA

problem #25

Jan 142022

Sorento

  • miles
I am currently making very expensive car payments for this car and was not informed this car was on recall. I pay 375 every other week. And I have been having electricitial issues. I was seeing about some short of reimbursement.

- Terre Haute , IN, USA

problem #24

Jan 152025

Sorento

  • miles
I have 105k miles on the vehicle. My vehicle is burning oil between oil changes, so much so that there is no oil on the dip stick. There is a recall for kia engine's doing this but mine is not listed. I owe 3500 dollars for payoff and am now faced with buying a new vehicle or replacing the engine myself because it just happened out of warranty. If this is a know issue with these engines it needs to be remedied.

- Ward, AR, USA

problem #23

Apr 302025

Sorento

  • miles
Complete engine failure while traveling on the highway with no warning. No check engine lights came on. Engine started knocking and would turn off when traffic came to a stop. As I was in a construction zone, I had no safe space to pull over. Car ran this way for about 10 minutes until I could safely pull over. It then would not restart. Confirmed to be complete engine failure. Oil change had just been completed three weeks prior. There are only 73k miles on this vehicle.

- Newmanstown, PA, USA

problem #22

Dec 162024

Sorento

  • miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request"-- Engine, yes it is How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?-- the car will begin to sputter and will even randomly turn off Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?-- Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?-- It was inspected by a mechanic at multiple repair shops Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear"-- not before I started having issues, the check engine light is on now and it came on at around 130,000 miles

- Thomaston, GA, USA

problem #21

Apr 212025

Sorento

  • miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request"- MY CAR IS BURNING OIL AT A RATE OF AT LEAST 1 QT PER 1K MILES How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?- DRIVING A CAR WITH INSUFFICIENT OIL COULD LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE OR FIRE. I DRIVE MY [XXX] DAUGHTER AS WELL AS MYSELF AND FAMILY IN THAT CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. THE CAR COULD LEAVE ME STRANDED OR CAUSE A FIRE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND THEREFORE HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT. I AM CURRENTLY WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I WILL NOT RISK MY FAMILYS SAFTEY. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?- YES THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY KIA AND MANY VECHILES WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVE BEEN RECALLED. 2 INDEPENDANT SERVICE CENTERS HAVE CONFIRMED MY CAR IS BURNING OIL AND IT IS UNSAFE. KIA HAS ALSO CONFIRMED IT IS BURNING OIL. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others" -YES KIA PERFORMED AN INITAL OIL CONSUMPTUPN TEST WHICH IT FAILED, BUT REFUSE TO DO ADDITIONAL TESTS/REPAIRS DO TO SERVICE RECORD DOCUMENTATION. I AM STILL WITHIN MY 10Y/100K WARRANTY BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. IT IS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT NOT USER ERROR Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear- THE OIL LIGHT WENT OFF THE FIRST TIME IN DEC 2024 AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO SHELL STATION. THIS WAS BEFORE I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEY TOLD ME I HAD NO OIL. IN FEB 2025 I GOT ANOTHER OIL CHANGE AT VALVOLINE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. KIA CONFIRMED THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN APRIL 2025 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Wareham, MA, USA

problem #20

Apr 052025

Sorento

  • miles
According to the dealership diagnostic assessment, the engine has two holes in the block as a result of connecting rod bearing failure. My Kia Sorento engine is a V6. This is a known issue in the Kia Sorento 2.4L for which a recall/extended warranty was granted. The Kia tech service line is denying any assistance with repair/replacement of my engine exhibiting the same engine failure results as the 2.4L engine. The day the engine blew, the oil level was full prior to drive, on the interstate it began sputtering and rattling, the engine then made the sound of a pop or muffled explosion and the car ceased to run causing us to have to quickly divert across lanes of traffic to get safely to the shoulder. Once stopped, the car was noted to have a pool of oil underneath and would ceased to drive.

- Gibsonville, NC, USA

problem #19

Feb 172025

Sorento

  • miles
Blown headgasket coolant leak in engine

- Reed Plantation , ME, USA

problem #18

Feb 212025

Sorento

  • miles
As I was driving down the street it sound like I ran over something but it was actually my engine failing, then caught on fire. I was able to pull over and used water bottles to let out the fire. My vehicle had to be towed to the repair shop because the engine wasn't able to restart.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #17

Feb 182025

Sorento

  • miles
My sorento was making a propellor type sound when driving up an incline. There were no lights on my dashboard. I took it to a Kia dealership as it is under warranty. They said my oil pan had gone bad and needed a new engine. Warranty company denied due to low oil, and ignored the metal shavings in the oil pan and maintenance records showing I-??m up to date on oil changes. No check engine light on. What would have happened if I continued to drive? It appears this is a recurring problem with Kia. I have the lambda engine

- Damascus, PA, USA

problem #16

Apr 082024

Sorento

  • miles
[XXX] while driving down the highway the vehicle started to stall and shake significantly, while exiting the highway then and only then did a check engine light and oil pressure light. The safety of myself as well as my husband and 4 kids was put at risk b y the fact that it was during the solar eclipse, and our area highways were bumper to bumper traffic. With multiple accidents already happenening in the area. Had we not safely been able to exit the highway ourselves as well as any other individual around us could have been in imminent danger of a serious accident. The problem has absolutely been confirmed by Larry stovesand kia as well as sales automotive. The vehicle has not further been inspected. As kia stated it is a cylinder 4 misfire requiring a total engine replacement. That they state is not covered under warranty (exceeded miles) or class action that includes kia sorentos up to year 2019. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Marion, IL, USA

problem #15

Feb 112025

Sorento

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud knocking sound before the engine seized. The vehicle was started; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

- Glocester, RI, USA

problem #14

Dec 182024

Sorento

  • miles
I was informed at routine maintenance that engine was burning oil. This was an issue since I purchased vehicle at 16k miles. Shortly after 80,000 engine spontaneous started knocking. I had it towed to the dealership that confirmed it was a spontaneous engine failure.

- Forest, VA, USA

problem #13

Nov 192024

Sorento

  • miles
On 11/19/2024 I was driving when my Kia begin to sputter and lose power, and the check engine light came on. I was on an interstate so I exited and pulled over, after paying $400 in tow fees it was determined my engine had failed with only 126,291 miles. I never had any indication of problems with my engine it happened in the blink of an eye

- Mount Solon, VA, USA

problem #12

Aug 022024

Sorento

  • miles
I have noticed at around 36,000 miles excessive oil consumption and knocking sound in the engine.I know the have this problem with older models, but you get the push around from dealership and Kia corporate. Thanks

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #11

Aug 012024

Sorento

  • miles
Two weeks ago the engine started to consume oil excessively. I had to add 1/2 quart of oil, just to have it above the low level. Last week I added 1/2 quart oil, after driving in the city a few hundred miles. There were no visible oil leaks noticed by the dealership's technician. The SUV has only 37,000 miles, and all the maintenance was done at the KIA dealership.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #10

Jun 142024

Sorento

  • miles
The engine light consistently comes on and off. When you go to diagnose problem it would read- because the engine light would stay on. Two mechanics looked at it, and are saying it-??s a failing fuel pump. And it-??s not working correctly. The car just shut off and stopped working while exiting a busy freeway. Just cut off in the middle of the exit/road.

- Austin , TX, USA

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