general problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Sorento - part 2

To whom it may concern, I am the owner of a 2017 kia Sorento (VIN ending in [xxx] ) and have recently experienced excessive oil consumption with the vehicle. The engine is losing approximately 2 quart of oil per 1000 miles, with no visible external leaks or exhaust smoke. I am aware that many kia vehicles equipped with the 2. 4l gdi engine have been affected by issues related to piston ring defects, which can cause abnormal oil consumption and, in some cases, premature engine failure. I also understand that kia has issued recalls, service campaigns, and extended warranties on similar models and engines. I am requesting the following: 1. Confirmation of whether my vehicle is included in any recalls, service campaigns, or warranty extensions related to this issue. 2. A dealer inspection and oil consumption test to formally document the problem. 3. Information on any coverage, goodwill repairs, or warranty extensions available if my vehicle is determined to have this defect. I respectfully request your assistance to resolve this issue promptly. Please provide me with any relevant documentation or service campaign numbers in writing for my records. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your timely response. Sincerely, [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

1) my vehicle incurred catastrophic engine failure. The engine stopped running suddenly. It does not crank over. It is available for inspection. It does not run. 2) I am thankful that no one was injured and that the vehicle did not catch fire. 3) there is a safety-related defect in certain 2017 kia Sorento vehicles. 4) my vehicle was towed to the house and has not been inspected. 5) there were no signs of leaking oil or oil burning. No dashboard lights came on to signal overheating or low oil level. No check engine light ever appeared.

This 2017 kia Sorento with the 3. 3l v6 lambda ii engine appears to have had possible rod bearing failure or connecting rod failure. This vehicle has 107,987 miles on it when the incident happened. 2 hours into a drive on the highway, the car began to sound like it had a possible exhaust leak, however this was followed shorty by knocking which prompted us to pull over and just as we made the shoulder as the engine quit and began to smoke heavily. Went to quickly open the hood and the smoke died down in about a minute. Most likely due to the oil hitting the exhaust from the hole the rod left in the block. There were no oil lights or other indications that anything was going to happen prior to this. The vehicle has been maintained meticulously with all maintenance items. This vehicle is available for inspection. Let me know if this needs to happen prior to kia getting ahold of it. Our entire family was in the car (5 people including our dog) and we were at highway speeds when this happened. Fortunately we were able to get over just before the engine blew. Also fortunate enough to open the hood fast enough to get it cool before it started a fire. We are going to take it to the dealer for inspection, however both the dealership and kia customer care said this is not currently under any warranty for engine failure. I have yet to inspect myself to take pictures from under the car, so no inspection has been thoroughly performed. As previously stated, there was no warning lights, the car did sound like it started to have an exhaust leak no more than a minute or two before the knocking started.

Engine seized with zero warning lights, cautions, check engine lights, or low/high indicators. It started knocking and was driven 3 miles to our mechanic who said it was a failed engine. I called the kia dealer who recommended I tow or drive it to the dealer. ~3 miles from our house, less than a mile from the dealer the car lost all power. We had it towed. The service manager chastised me for not towing but also told me irregardless of how it arrived that the engine was no longer functional. It is out of warranty w/ 143,000 miles but without any indication of a problem how was I supposed to mitigate any risk. From the start of the knocking until the engine failed it was less than 6 miles. The mechanic had to put 3 quarts of oil in the car and it still failed on the way to the dealer. I get regular oil changes and have never been told it’s running low on oil. I’m asking that somebody please look into this issue. Thank you. R/ aaron.

On 8/16/2025 my 2017 kia Sorento experienced major engine failure which resulted in loss of power and severe engine misfiring. I submitted a warranty claim with full maintenance documentation to kia cooperation but was denied coverage on 8/27/2025. This denial is improper because 1. The engine type is covered under recalls and/or the kia engine class action settlement, which extends coverage to 15 years / 150,000 miles and my vehicle currently has 94423. 2. I complied with all maintenance requirements and have already provided numerous records. 3. Engine failure presents a serious safety hazard and has been widely reported.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, the contact heard a clicking and banging sound coming from the engine. The contact mentioned that while looking through the front driver's side mirror, she noticed smoke coming from the engine. Several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned the vehicle off and then exited the vehicle and opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed flames coming from the engine. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention. The contact dialed 911, but there was no police report filed. The fire chief showed up at the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was not destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from under the hood. In addition, the vehicle lost motive power, and the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the failure was due to the detached crankshaft bearings. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the dealer disassembled the engine and the transmission. The contact stated that when the vehicle was released back to the contact, several parts were missing from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that several of the parts of the vehicle were missing. The vehicle was being repaired. In addition, the contact stated that she had owned three kia vehicles, and each vehicle experienced the same failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

My 2017 kia Sorento has developed intermittent safety-related engine issues that have resulted in loss of acceleration and stalling. December 2024: after a two-hour drive, the vehicle stalled and would not restart. Roadside assistance confirmed the engine oil level was low, despite no external leaks. After approximately two hours, the vehicle restarted. [xxx]: after driving about 30 minutes and parking for 10–20 minutes, the engine started with loud rumbling/knocking noises, and the accelerator was unresponsive. The problem resolved only after shutting the car off and restarting. Video is available. The kia dealer performed a rod bearing test which passed, but the symptoms match early failure stages of the known theta ii engine defect covered under kia’s lifetime warranty (pi1802 settlement). Kia attributes the issue to “low oil” as a maintenance problem, but the oil consumption appears to be internal and abnormal. This defect creates a serious safety risk because it causes sudden loss of power, which could lead to an accident if it occurs while driving in traffic. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I don’t understand how my 2017 kia Sorento doesn’t have a recall on its engine. I bought the car in cash and 1 month the car doesn’t want to start. . I don’t understand I wasted money… I need engine replaced and don’t have $10000.

Oil consumption.

On July 25th when I started my car , 2017 kia Sorento, to leave work, it made a horrible knocking noise when it was starting, but once it started the noise stopped, no alert lights came on, so I drove it home 7 miles and parked it for the weekend. When my husband and I took it out again on Monday, July 28th, we had driven under 10 miles and gotten up to 70 miles an hour on the toll/express road, the check engine light started flashing as the power produced by the engine drastically declined and acceleration seemed capped or limited. We were able to safely exit the toll road without causing or being involved in an accident. We drove it 6 more miles home and parked it. A week later we had it toed to a kia mechanic who confirmed that the engine had been using oil, had metal shavings in the oil and the rod bearing had failed. The engine would have to be replaced. Once the engine was replaced, it was determined that the turbo had also failed on the impeller side and would have to be replaced. We did not take it to a dealer. We had both components replaced by a kia mechanic at our own cost.

While driving, the engine warning light suddenly turned on and the vehicle began shaking violently. I was forced to pull over, and the car had to be towed. The dealership diagnosed engine failure caused by excessive oil consumption. Despite routine maintenance, the manufacturer refuses to cover repairs under warranty. This creates a serious safety hazard, as engine components like spark plugs can fail without warning, potentially leaving drivers stranded or causing accidents.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sorento. The contact stated that three days after purchasing the vehicle, the contact checked the oil level and noticed that the oil level was two quarts low. The contact checked the oil constantly after one thousand miles and noticed that the oil level was low. The vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. Most recently, while the contact was driving at slow speeds, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact was attempting to overtake a us postal service truck when the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with knock sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

I have a 2017 kia Sorento. On Sunday [xxx], I was driving on [xxx] in oklahoma when I started hearing a weird knocking noise and was having difficulties accelerating. I was in the car with my mother and [xxx] son just between guthrie and edmond ok which is a very heavily trafficked area. My car suddenly shut off, I coasted to the side and put my hazards on. After 2 hours waiting for a tow truck to tow my vehicle back to my home town a mechanic informed us the engine was blown and could be apart of their lawsuit against engines. After reading many many other peoples encounter with kia, kia acknowledges issues with the engines and were placed in a lawsuit however they find every way out of responsibility for replacing the engines that are faulty. Not only did this put others in danger while I was driving under the 75mph speed limit but it is July in oklahoma and in the upper 90’s but feels like the hundreds placing myself, my mother and child at risk of heat exposure due to this faulty engine and having to wait 2 hours for a tow truck. I purchased the vehicle in 2020 during covid when many business’ were shut down and more difficult to receive oil changes properly, and many people reported that since the engine was faulty it was eating away at the oil faster meaning oil did not go as far as it should. This company should replace all faulty engines regardless of their oil change reports and software updates as this is a massive safety feature and puts lives at risk on the road. No warning lights went off until the engine already shut down. They need to accept responsibility on these models as this is a major cost in a time many people cannot afford repairs for something that should be safe to drive. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

We purchased a 2017 kia sorrento awd 3. 3l v6 153,000 on may 9 2025. We made our 2nd payment on July 11th & on July 17th @5am we went and filled it up and got on the highway to head to work. We didn't even drive ½ a mile when all of a sudden it lost all power at 73mph. No warning lights nothing. Dash said "key fob not in vehicle". We had it towed to kia which cost almost $350 for them to call & tell us we need a new engine. No codes nothing. Also almost $200 for them to diagnose that. And that it will cost over 10k to fix. We paid under 10k to begin with. They are saying it isn't covered under any warranty. It's our only vehicle that we can drive in winter. We literally had the kia just over 2 months.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was oil intrusion that caused the engine to fail. The contact was told that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact was informed that documents of past maintenance records were incomplete, and the warranty had expired. The contact stated that in the past, the vehicle consumed an excessive amount of oil. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Unknown engine stopped in the middle of driving. The engine has a bad bearing. Caused the starter wire to be burned so can’t start vehicle what so ever. Chunks of metal in the oil.

Engine seized kia denied warranty extension b/c of maintenance records changed oil myself had 3 years of receipts for oil and filters.

Prior to the below incident, my vehicle was driving normally. Oil levels were normal, and there were no warning lights. In June 2025, I was driving on [xxx] during morning rush hour. As I approached a traffic light at the end of this 3-lane expressway, the engine suddenly stalled. I rolled up to the red light. When safe to do so, I left the vehicle to stand on the side of the road so as not to get hit. I had the car towed to a local repair facility. Repair shop looked at the vehicle and determined that the engine was seized. They then checked for TSB's and discovered that kia had, in some instances, extended the warranty to 180,000 miles and 15 years. My vehicle had 142,000 miles. I then had my car towed to the closest kia dealer in hickory, nc. The dealer initially indicated it was possible my car would be covered by the extended warranty, but they needed to run pressure tests to determine the cause of the engine seizure. Over the next 2 weeks, I called the dealer repeatedly, but they had no update for me. After about 2 weeks, they told me that my vehicle would not be covered by the extended warranty, and a new engine would cost me $15,000. I then called kia customer care, and the representative told me there was nothing they could do. I asked about an appeals process and was told there is none. After I returned from vacation in early August, the kia dealer contacted me and requested that I pick up my vehicle. I drove to the dealer and called a tow truck to bring it to my home. I rented cars at my own expense from the time of the engine failure until I bought a new car in mid-August. Shortly thereafter, I arranged to sell the kia to a used car dealer for $1,500, far less than I would have received with a healthy engine. At that point, I needed to get the car out of my garage. While cleaning out the car the night before it was to be picked up, I opened the hood and found that the engine had been left disassembled with parts lying all over the place. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act.

My 2017 kia Sorento is not included in the engine safety recall regarding the crankshaft failure in the engine. But I am experiencing the exact same problem so I do not see how it is not included in the recall. I am requesting the recall be expanded to include more vehicles because it is not safe to drive and is currently being held hostage by the dealer who wants $10,500 to repair my engine. I refuse to pay for negligence on the part of the manufacturer. Kia corporate has been very dismissive and not helpful. Please advise.

I was driving and out of no where the battery light pop up and than car turns off on in the middle of traffic. . Surprisingly there was no accident it was scary I had my two babies in the car with me. There’s no recall it’s a safety hazard . .

Valves are knocking and rattling. Engine sometimes stalls out. The knocking and rattling will not go away. It is getting worse everyday to the point that I am scared to drive it because it will stall out on me somewhere and leave me stuck on the side of the road. Been doing this for a couple of months now.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sorento. The contact stated that the check engine and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an oil change was performed; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the nearest dealer for an unknown recall repair, and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the maintenance records needed to be reviewed to repair the vehicle under recall. The contact provided the maintenance records that the dealer sent to the manufacturer. The manufacturer later informed the dealer that the vehicle was not eligible for an engine replacement based on the maintenance records. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that the engineers had determined that the vehicle was not eligible for engine replacement and no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

Engine failure. Hyundai and kia theta engine class action settlement 2017 kia Sorento 2. 0 VIN [xxx] . Vehicle has the knock sensor detection system (ksds) update which extends engine coverage to 10 years/150k miles for rod bearing failure. The vehicle has 118k miles and is at a kia dealership. They denied coverage due to no present codes related to the knock sensor and being that it has low compression on one cylinder. My 2017 kia Sorento experienced a serious engine failure related to rod bearing wear, a known issue in the theta ii 2. 4l gdi engine. The engine began making a loud knocking noise, which is a classic sign of rod bearing failure. They just so happened to left that out of their diagnosis that it has rod bearing noise and are using only the fact that low compression and no code related to the bearings to deny the coverage. When rod bearings wear out, they allow excessive play in the connecting rods, leading to unstable piston movement. In interference engines like this one, that instability can cause the piston to travel too far upward and strike open valves during operation. This can result in bent valves, valve seat damage, low cylinder compression, and repeated misfires. In my case, the engine was diagnosed with low compression and misfires consistent with this kind of internal damage. This isn’t just a wear-and-tear issue. It’s a known design flaw that leads to catastrophic engine failure and a serious safety risk. Kia denied coverage, despite this exact failure being covered under a class action settlement and extended warranty program, and despite my vehicle showing textbook symptoms of the defect. I am requesting a full investigation into kia's handling of these claims and the lack of proper recall enforcement. My name is [xxx] with 1a auto mart inc. I am handling this case for my customer who is the registered owner of the vehicle [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Motor uses 6 guarts of oil in 3000 miles. No leaks. The dealer has done the oil consumption test. And it failed every time. Kia denied claim to replace engine. They stated that it passed the bearing test. This is crap.

In April 2025 the check engine light came on. The engine had been replaced in February 2025 so I immediately took the vehicle to safford kia dealership in fredericksburg, va. (note: the engine was replaced at jacksonville kia, jacksonville, nc as the issue with the engine happened while I was away working at that location. ) a few days after dropping the vehicle off I was notified by the service writer there that the catalytic converter had gone bad which was a common issue after problems with the engine. Specifically, I was told the engine dumps oil into the catalytic converter therefore ruining it. The new engine has been driven about a 1000 miles (give or take) as the vehicle was picked up from the dealership in jacksonville, nc and driven to fredericksburg, va on 1 March 2025 with minimal normal driving before the check engine light came on.

This is the third time I’m having to take my SUV to the kia dealership because my check engine light begins flashing and then my car has a hard time accelerating when it gets to certain speeds. It shakes but will not go over 68 mph although it is covered under a warranty, it is very frustrating. Having to keep take my car to get fixed. There should be a more permanent solution.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sorento. The contact stated the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The mechanic replaced the air filter, brake fluid, serpentine belt, accessory belt, performed tire rotation, replaced the power steering fluid, and performed an oil change. The check engine warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic who replaced the ignition coil and spark plugs. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed the diagnosis. The dealer replaced the valve cover gasket, fuel pump gasket, and coolant, performed a 3-point ggi induction service, refilled the brake fluid, and replaced a carbon air filter. The failure persisted and the vehicle was returned to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that piston #3 had failed, and a spark plug was burned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. While the contact’s husband was driving approximately 65 - 70 mph, the vehicle began to shake aggressively, and the engine had seized. There was no warning light during the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The driver had coasted to the side of the road where the vehicle was towed home with open fuel injectors and piston failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer informed the contact that the spark plugs needed to be replaced again. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Engine blew at 175000. It is not one of the vehicles that is covered under the class action lawsuit but the vehicle itself just blew an engine after an oil change. One of the pistons let go.

Engine failure, loss of power on multilane highway, engine valves failed. Unable to move to safe location dealer checked valves failed no warning lamps, messages prior to failure.

Urgent assistance needed: engine issue and warranty dispute since September last year, the engine warning light has been consistently on. Whenever I took the car to the kia dealership, they merely mentioned that the system was “too rich” and assured me it was not a concern. Instead of addressing the engine issue, they recommended replacing unrelated parts such as the air filter. When I took the vehicle to a local mechanic, I was informed that the engine was not in good condition, causing the oil to burn quickly, which indicated an engine problem. However, the kia dealership did not acknowledge this issue. On February 7th, while driving, the vehicle began shaking violently and making unusual noises. I immediately brought it to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that the #4 cylinder valve was burnt. The following day, on February 8th, I brought the car to the dealership. They mentioned that the engine might need to be replaced and promised to contact the warranty company for approval. They initially seemed optimistic, suggesting that the replacement could be covered under the warranty. However, two weeks later, I received a response stating that the warranty would not cover the repair. Despite multiple attempts to contact kia headquarters via email, I have not received any response. Upon further investigation, I discovered that my vehicle is part of the theta ii engine recall. Kia had publicly announced a lifetime engine warranty for vehicles with this issue. However, now that my engine has failed and requires replacement, they are refusing to honor this promise. The estimated cost for the engine replacement is $8,000, and I have been told that I am responsible for the full amount. I kindly request your immediate assistance in resolving this issue. I believe kia should honor its commitment to the lifetime engine warranty for the theta ii engine vehicles. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

The car is a 2017 kia Sorento with approximately 73,000 miles. We have always had the oil changed at the kia dealership. A month after the last time I had it changed (1/2025) we were going on a trip so my dad checked the oil. There was no oil in it. Since then we have been having to put oil in it about once a month or so because it runs out. It is not leaking anywhere and no oil light comes on when it does run out. The oil is disappearing. The oil is burning internally. I am having difficulties with the dealership in addressing the oil consumption issue, even when it's a known problem. This last time I spoke with robert at kia ramada in shelby nc. They want me to pay for them to look at it and then said they would write up a report to see if corporate would cover it. I feel like since this is a known issue I shouldn’t have to pay for them to look at or diagnose it. He said it would not be covered unless the engine locked up. Well if I keep driving it and don’t keep putting oil in it, it will lock up. I’d rather you fix the issue than have to put in a whole new motor. Please get in touch with me ASAP so I know what further actions that I will need to take to resolve this matter.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure. The contact stated that there was engine oil covering the engine compartment. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was not available.

My vehicle started leaking oil from the engine from an unknown location. I took it to the dealership for them to diagnose the cause of the leak which is under warranty. The dealer refused and did not honor the warranty. Now my car is immobile.

Engine failed, leaving me stranded at a stop light. I was finally able to get it started, but it ran terribly and didn't have the power to go uphill, almost rolled back into the vehicles behind me. Had to have it towed. No warning whatsoever, engine stalled and engine light on. I got it fixed at dealership I purchased from, then it did the same thing a week later. I will never purchase a kia again. Almost every shop I inquire about service won't even service kia engines anymore because of the problems. I'm left with a car payment and no vehicle.