Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Kia Motor Sorento - part 1

"the vehicle has twice suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power at highway speeds (approx. 70 mph) on the interstate, forcing the driver to coast across active traffic to the shoulder without engine pull. The engine revs freely in 'drive' but the transmission fails to engage any gears. No dashboard warning lights, check engine lights, or diagnostic trouble codes are triggered during or after the failure. The failure resets temporarily only after cycling the ignition key off and on. The vehicle previously had safety recall sc250 (8-speed electric oil pump) performed by an authorized dealer, but the software flash completely failed to prevent this catastrophic hydraulic/electronic failure mode or provide the federally mandated dashboard warning countdown. The vehicle is entirely unsafe to drive,.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

While I was driving, my 3. 3 v6 engine on my 2016 kia Sorento seized up with no warning. There is no visible oil on the dip stick, although I have changed my oil routinely. There has never been visible oil outside of the engine or on the ground. I never had any warning light come on. I believe the engine burns an extreme amount of oil, which is putting people in a dangerous situation and financial hardship.

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Ac stopped, engine began to struggle, engine light came on and engine over heated. Pulled off highway to be towed. Dealer found metal in oil and suggested possible manufacturer defect issue.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

I am filing this complaint regarding my 2021 kia Sorento, which has suffered a transmission failure. The transmission slips, shifts harshly, hesitates during acceleration, loses power unexpectedly, and has become unsafe to drive. This defect has put my safety and the safety of others at risk. On several occasions the vehicle failed to respond properly when accelerating, including while entering highways and driving in traffic. The hesitation and sudden loss of power created fear and anxiety because I could not trust the vehicle to operate as expected. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a repair facility, and the symptoms are consistent with a transmission torque converter clutch failure. I also contacted kia and provided the vehicle information. Kia informed me that they would not repair the vehicle because it has exceeded 100,000 miles and that the recall or warranty extension had expired. However, my vehicle is experiencing the same transmission-related symptoms reported by many other kia owners. I never received any recall notification because I purchased the vehicle from a dealership as the second owner. Had I been properly notified, I would have taken the vehicle in for inspection much earlier or would never have purchased the dangerous vehicle in the first place. It is extremely frustrating and costly to be denied assistance solely because of mileage when the failure appears to be related to a known transmission defect. Before the failure, the check engine light illuminated and then went away even though the issue did not. Prior to that warning, the vehicle had already shown delayed shifting, slipping, hesitation, rough gear changes, and loss of power, which became progressively worse. I reported this to kia on a previous service visit to romeo kia in lake katrine, NY and was told they did not find anything wrong. This situation has caused significant emotional stress and anxiety. I am requesting a full review and a fair resolution from kia. Thank.

On Saturday the 18th of July, the car was fine, on Sunday 07/19/2026 got ready to take car to regular scheduled oil change and it was making a blown engine noise, the rod had failed, safety issues where the people at oil change could have had a rod thrown out the bottom of the engine, or my car could have failed in the middle of the road causing an accident. No warning signs, no limp mode, no engine light, no noted metal in oil on previous oil changes. Inspected at kia, does not meet any recall warranties, however service manager at west hills kia stated this is in an internal engine failure and should not have happened with our service records and care of vehicle.

Spontaneous fire under hood. Nothing was malfunctuoing, no warning lights. All fluids were good, no temp issues. Parked to to run inside to use rr, was paged and came out car is on fire.

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I have a 2023 kia Sorento with approx 60k, purchased new from new pot richey kia. Approx 7 days ago, while driving home from dropping my son at school, my transmission system error warning came on as well as my check engine light. My rpm's would increased without corresponding acceleration, which meant my transmission, was slipping. I was also experiencing jerking during shifting. In addition to that, my car would hesitate before moving. And I would also experience a slight vibrations at low speeds. All of this would make me feel unsafe when driving my car.

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I took my 2016 kia Sorento to the dealership for an emissions service update as a result of a service bulliten (sc340) after recieving the car back, the transmission acts unpredictably and the throttle is erratic. This happens when started cold and continues until the engine reaches temperature. It did not do this previous to the update. It is a safetey hazard and almost caused a collision. The throttle response was sluggish, it hunted for gears and as a result I was unable to safely merge into traffic endangering myself and other drivers.

Just bought this from a private seller last week and was driving to work. The engine suddenly caught fire and the car essentially exploded and melted.

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On xxx, the 2. 4l theta ii gdi engine on our 2014 kia Sorento (current mileage: 160,000) catastrophically seized without warning while my [xxx] was driving at interstate speeds at night. This caused an immediate and sudden loss of power, power steering, and braking assist, creating an extreme traffic hazard. No one was injured and the driver was able to safely coast to the shoulder, but it created a highly dangerous situation on a busy interstate. We had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who pulled the starter and confirmed a total mechanical engine seizure. The vehicle was then towed to a kia dealership. This vehicle has suffered from the well-documented theta ii factory manufacturing flaw where debris destroys the connecting rod bearings, leading to high oil consumption and sudden highway seizure. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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On xxx, the oil warning light was illuminated in our 2017 kia Sorento sxl and that the vehicle was leaking oil. We brought the vehicle to an independent repair facility (tire kingdom, cairo, NY) for diagnosis on xxx. The repair facility provided an oral assessment with photographs indicating a suspected rear main seal leak. The engine was dry on the top but excessively wet between the engine and transmission, consistent with a significant oil leak in that area. We were advised that the vehicle could be driven in short intervals of approximately 25 minutes, provided that oil levels were closely monitored and topped off as needed. On xxx, we began driving the vehicle to transport our daughter to a train station 25 minutes away. Halfway through the trip, the vehicle began producing a metallic noise from the engine compartment. We immediately pulled over safely and turned off the engine. After stopping, we discussed next steps and then attempted to restart the vehicle. The engine started but immediately produced a severe mechanical rattling noise. It was shut off within approximately one second of startup. The vehicle was not driven further. The vehicle was then towed to romeo kia in [xxx]. Kia performed a diagnostic assessment and determined that the engine required complete replacement, with an estimated repair cost of approximately $10,000. This vehicle previously had a remanufactured engine installed in 2023 following a prior catastrophic engine failure. Between installations, the vehicle was maintained in normal service and was not overdue for scheduled oil changes at the time of this incident (27 days to go). At no point prior to the failure event was there clear indication of immediate catastrophic engine failure beyond the initial oil warning and leak condition. The failure progressed from a diagnosed external oil leak to immediate mechanical failure upon restart, requiring towing and full engine replacement. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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Car losing power.

(transmission and motor) I had taken my car to the dealership on xxx for recalls and all the signal were fine before going there. They took my car back to do the recalls and my son and I waited . Once they were done we left closer to closing time is noticed there was a burn mark on my dash board that wasn’t there before the recalls. Going forward on the way home. We were waved down by a man stating that my signal and brake light weren’t working . So that next day we took my car back to the dealership to see what happen, why all the sudden different alerts were coming up. They had the same mechanic relook at the car and a when finish 31/2 hour latter was told I needed a new transmission, costing $7384. 94 which I don’t have . They charge me $179. 00 just to confirm what they said about needing a new transmission. I was devastated and confused why I wasn’t told that the day before. So a few days later I took it to another machanic to see if the could see why the lights weren’t working and he ended up putting new bulbs in and got them working but also he put it in a diagnosis machine 2 of them and couldn’t get a reading at all and said I should take it back to find out why he couldn’t get a reading. I was so frustrated at that point I just was upset! I then had a friend of the family mechanic look at it and he said it wasn’t the transmission it was a knock sensor that I needed so I ordered it. When I called him to install the knock sensor he was too busy to do it and it had already been a whole month of waiting so I reached out to a place in cumberland ri to see if he could install the knock sensor had it towed there and he kept it for three days and said it was a transmission computer and he tried two of them and neither of them worked and charged me $150 for that I was humiliated and crying , I went there to have my car towed home seen him while waiting for the tow truck to come he said I needed a new transmission and now a motor, crying again. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia).

Bought car from carmax. Engine knock sensor went bad and engine is knocking. Kia states engine is not origional and was taken from a junk yard, both kia and carmax are refusing to fix eventhough I am doing payments and it is a known kia issue for this car. Kia charged me 350$ to run test and cleared the light but informed me my engine is going to blow. Carmax is refusing to do anything but still wants us to pay the 9k we owe on the car eventhough its broke.

My 2019 kia Sorento suddenly began making loud knocking noises from the engine and immediately lost all acceleration while I was driving with my children in the car. The vehicle would not respond when pressing the gas, and the check engine light came on. This created a terrifying situation because I had no power to merge or move out of traffic, and I had my [xxx], [xxx] and [xxx] children with me. The engine now knocks severely and has almost no power at all. The oil level is full, so this is not due to low oil or lack of maintenance. This appears to be a sudden internal engine failure consistent with known kia engine defects involving rod bearings, timing issues, and loss of compression. I am reporting this because the vehicle is unsafe to drive and put my children at risk. Kia is refusing to cover the engine failure even though this matches the same symptoms seen in other kia engine recalls. I am extremely concerned that this defect could have caused an accident or left us stranded in a dangerous situation. I need this investigated as a serious safety issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Previous warranty repair for a failed fuel injector (ro #1103175) resulted in severe gasoline dilution of the engine oil. The vehicle now vents raw fuel vapors into the cabin (fire hazard) and hesitates/jerks when braking at stoplights (stall/crash hazard). Kia corporate has refused to communicate for over two weeks while the dealer holds the car.

Took 2016 kia Sorento April 22nd to kia services eastgate batavia OH 45103 to have all recalls fixed, few weeks later engine blew, kia services replaced engine then had to replace my battery because they had to for a month and my good battery was now a total loss, replaced my battery then my car started jerking and won't start unless in neutral, now they say my inhibitor switch needs replaced when I never had any issues in the past with shifting and they wont fix it because they claim its not their fault.

Hello. I just started smelling gas fumes when my car has been running. I see no drips , etc. It happens everytime I drive it to the point where someone pointed it out to me. I had a new engine put in by kia for my old engine "going to sleep" about 4 years ago. I have been told that this is a on going problem with the model I have. I want to know what I should do at this point. Im [xxx] and [xxx] so I dont have the money to take it all over the place if this engine issue is covered. Could you please let me know and how to proceed? [xxx] [xxx] cell [xxx] thank you for any help ps. . . . You should have record of kia replacing the engine on file??? is this a warranty issue since I do have a newer engine? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My wife and I were driving when I tried to stop and the brakes failed. Within seconds the vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment. I had to slam the transmission into park cause the doors would not open. When my wife tried to escape out the passenger side the flames came into the cabin towards her. I then opened my door and then had to help my wife escape out the driver's side door. Within minutes the car was engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived and it took a while to extinguish. The vehicle is totaled.

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The contact owns a 2016 kia Sorento. The contact stated that after the vehicle was parked and turned off for approximately an hour, the vehicle was restarted and there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact continued driving and the knocking sound increasing in volume and frequency. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be repaired. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that since the vehicle was not repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 22v703000 (trailer hitches); the dealer was unable to repair the engine ffailure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

For 1 week the check engine light came on today 6/13/26 the oil light came on at 55 mph when pulling up to a stop sign the oil light went off when back up to speed the light came back on at 55 then the car engine shut off completely costed to drive way and turned in.

The vehicle is suffering from a chronic, cascading powertrain and fuel management defect that has resulted in a critical safety hazard: sudden engine stalling. Over the last 17,000 miles, the vehicle has experienced three severe engine/emissions failures that the manufacturer has been unable to permanently resolve. At approximately 30,000 miles (on 29-Jun-2025), the engine suffered a severe cylinder 3 misfire (code p0303). At approximately 39,000 miles (on 02-Jan-2026), the unresolved fuel issue caused a failure of the catalytic converter (code p0420) and an evaporative emission system leak (code p0456). At 47,000 miles (current event), the fuel delivery system failed completely. The engine began running excessively rich (code p2178), causing the engine idle to drop dangerously low (code p0506). This defect caused the vehicle to suddenly stall out, resulting in a complete loss of motive power and leaving me stranded. Because the manufacturer's authorized repair facilities have only addressed the symptoms rather than the root cause of the fuel system failure, the vehicle repeatedly loses power and stalls without warning. This poses a severe safety risk to myself and other motorists, especially when operating the vehicle in traffic or at highway speeds.

2015 kia Sorento fire on the 7th I was drive lost brakes and steering and as soon as I stop to get out to check the whole truck went up in flames.

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My 2015 kia Sorento is experiencing a catastrophic structural failure of the exhaust system where the front manifold catalytic converter has internally collapsed this is a severe safety hazard because the physical blockage of the exhaust flow creates massive engine backpressure stalling when trying to drive even a small hill on highway, risking sudden engine stalling, unprompted deceleration, and power loss at highway speeds, which increases the risk of a crash. Furthermore, the blocked exhaust gases generate extreme temperatures under the hoods if it's running hot presenting a distinct vehicle fire hazard. I have maintained this vehicle and had all previous safety campaigns addressed, including a complete engine replacement and the required engine control software updates. Despite these recalls being fully completed, the vehicle has still suffered this severe exhaust system failure. The check engine light was on, and diagnostic scanning shows fault code p2096. I thought it was my transmission but a professional dealer assessment confirmed a manifold catalytic converter," "contamination of honeycomb on front of rear catalytic converter," and severe "contamination on the O2 sensor. "he could not fixed an oxygen sensor replaced had to be fixed by someone else abrasive ceramic dust from the melting manifold structure is actively being drawn back into the engine cylinders, threatening to destroy the newly replaced engine that kia replaced but . This failure mirrors the exact physical mechanics and safety risks outlined in kia's previous safety campaign sc176 (NHTSA campaign 19v-120). Despite experiencing the identical defect and safety threat on a fully updated vehicle, my VIN was excluded from the recall I am filing this complaint because this known safety defect poses an active threat to my safety. My husband was a 100% disable vet who passed in April 2025,I can'a afford to have this same item repaired that kia suppose to have repaired,please help me.

The head gasket blew. This car has been meticulously maintained. All maintenance records with kia dealer. I hear there is secondary engine problems related to the 2013 kia Sorento. I have all maintenance records as well as the dealer.

My 2015 kia Sorento is experiencing a catastrophic structural failure of the exhaust system where the front manifold catalytic converter has internally collapsed and broken apart. This is a severe safety hazard because the physical blockage of the exhaust flow creates massive engine backpressure, risking sudden engine stalling, unprompted deceleration, and power loss at highway speeds, which increases the risk of a crash. Furthermore, the blocked exhaust gases generate extreme temperatures under the hood, presenting a distinct vehicle fire hazard. I have proactively maintained this vehicle and had all previous safety campaigns addressed, including a complete engine replacement and the required engine control software updates. Despite these recalls being fully completed, the vehicle has still suffered this severe exhaust system failure. The check engine light was on, and diagnostic scanning shows fault code p2096. A professional dealer assessment confirmed a "collapsing manifold catalytic converter," "contamination of honeycomb on front of rear catalytic converter," and severe "contamination on the O2 sensor. " an oxygen sensor replaced in December 2025 has already been destroyed by the upstream ceramic debris. Abrasive ceramic dust from the melting manifold structure is actively being drawn back into the engine cylinders, threatening to destroy the newly replaced engine. This failure mirrors the exact physical mechanics and safety risks outlined in kia's previous safety campaign sc176 (NHTSA campaign 19v-120). Despite experiencing the identical defect and safety threat on a fully updated vehicle, my VIN was excluded from that specific campaign, and kia corporate has flatly denied goodwill assistance. I am filing this complaint because this known safety defect poses an active threat to vehicle control and occupant safety. I've attached the current repair assessment, and can provide the assessment of the previous replacement of the O2 sensor when warranted.

The vehicle's original engine suffered severe oil consumption and a blown head gasket, which contaminated the exhaust system. The kia dealership replaced the engine under warranty but refused to replace the damaged catalytic converter claiming it wasn’t a part of the warranty even though it was consequently damaged. The dealership explicitly stated the vehicle should not be started or driven due to the blocked exhaust, but then did repair and release after I pushed for the catalytic converter replacement. They said I would have to follow up with kia corporate. They released the unsafe vehicle anyway and I have been following up with kia customer service for 2 months to request a cat replacement. While driving, the blocked exhaust caused a severe rattling noise, immediate engine overheating, and complete mechanical engine seizure. The engine completely cut power and locked up while in motion, creating an immediate crash hazard on the roadway. The vehicle is now completely inoperable and will not turn over. This is a severe safety defect where a known blocked exhaust system directly caused catastrophic engine failure while operating.

The contact owns a 2026 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, the check engine warning light started flashing and the vehicle entered limp mode. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended while driving to the residence. The contact stated that the following day, while driving 75 mph with an 18-wheeler behind the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated, shuddered, and jerked. The check engine warning light was consistently illuminated, and the message "engine management system - follow up check required" was displayed. Additionally, the mobile app displayed the message "engine issues" with dtc: p030100. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted while driving to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with cylinder injector failure. The dealer replaced the cylinder injector; however, the failure recurred while driving 30 minutes later. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted, and the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle failed to exceed 25-30 mph and was taken to the dealer. The dealer had not yet provided the result of a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the latest diagnostic report submitted by the dealer on June 22, 2026, stated that the vehicle was diagnosed with a gasket failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.

For an unknown reason when driving on the highway in heavy traffic the engine started to shake violently causing us to immediately pull over and when we opened the hood the engine was shaking violently. This was a dangerous situation because during this time the engine was not very responsive to input. No warning lights came on at all.

See all problems of the 2025 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Was in for service on recalls 2 weeks ago may 2026. . . Dealer did not fix shift solenoid recall. . Stated bcu need replaced. . . Driving may 28 26 without warning no lights anything lost power while driving and engine and or transmission failed. . Lost oil. . . Metal shavings in dipstick oil. Oil on skid plate cover. . 3. 3l v6 2016 kia Sorento lx was able to get off road without crashing.

The vehicle suffered a sudden, severe engine malfunction/misfire while in operation, presenting a serious safety hazard on the road. Following the incident, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership service center (repair order #xxx), where technicians verbally confirmed that the engine requires a complete replacement due to internal mechanical failure. The catastrophic mechanical failure of the engine directly caused consequential damage to the emissions system, entirely clogging the catalytic converter with unburned fuel/debris. Despite the clear link to the known, systemic defects inherent to the theta ii engine line—which is subject to active federal consent orders, safety recalls, and lifetime warranty extensions—both the dealership and kia corporate are refusing to honor the 8-year/80,000-mile federal emissions defect warranty. The manufacturer is attempting to use the catastrophic failure of their own defective, recalled engine line to evade their legal environmental and safety warranty obligations, leaving the consumer stranded without alternative transportation. This represents a systemic effort by the manufacturer to deflect liability for documented powertrain safety failures onto individual consumers. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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Engine is burning oil at a significant rate, when I get my oil changed at the dealers recommendation it is extremely low. I have to replace the oil regularly between oil changes, and there is an exhaust smell. Also lagging when I hit the gas.

My 2019 kia Sorento equipped with a theta ii engine entered limp mode and displayed a flashing check engine light along with an active p1326 diagnostic trouble code. The p1326 code is a proprietary kia/Hyundai specific code that can only be generated when the knock sensor detection system (ksds) software update is present on the vehicle. This software was developed and distributed by kia specifically to detect theta ii engine bearing failure and rod bearing wear before catastrophic engine damage occurs. The presence of the p1326 code is confirmation by kia's own proprietary detection system that this engine is experiencing the exact failure pattern associated with the theta ii engine defect. The vehicle was towed to an authorized kia dealership. The dealership refused to perform a btc test or enter the vehicle into techline, citing that the VIN does not appear in the theta ii settlement database. Kia America customer care has also denied coverage. The vehicle remains inoperable. Safety risk is significant. The theta ii engine defect has been directly linked to engine fires in kia and Hyundai vehicles. Limp mode and sudden loss of power while driving creates serious risk of accidents, injury, or death to the driver and other motorists. The 2012-2019 kia Sorento is a model year range specifically identified in theta ii multidistrict litigation. Kia's own ksds software flagging a p1326 code on this vehicle while kia simultaneously denies any defect-related coverage is contradictory and raises serious safety concerns for owners whose vins were excluded from settlement but whose vehicles are exhibiting identical failure symptoms.

The car is consuming oil under the 3,000 mile mark.

The vehicle involved is a 2019 kia Sorento with approximately 111,000 miles. Over the course of ownership, the vehicle has experienced numerous unresolved mechanical and safety-related issues, including ongoing fuel leak concerns, excessive oil consumption/loss of oil, rough shifting, shift solenoid problems, rattling noises, shaking/vibration while driving, and repeated drivability issues. The primary safety concern at this time is a suspected fuel leak that multiple independent mechanics have identified. I have been told by at least three separate mechanics that the vehicle appears to have a fuel leak. During my most recent oil change at valvoline, the technician expressed concern about the safety of driving the vehicle in this condition and warned me that driving a vehicle with a fuel leak could be dangerous. I previously brought the vehicle to kia dealerships multiple times while the extended warranty was active and specifically requested inspection for the suspected fuel leak. On at least three separate visits, I was informed by the dealership that they could not find or confirm a leak. Because the issue was never resolved or properly diagnosed while under warranty, I am now out of warranty coverage and facing potentially dangerous and costly repairs. This issue has placed my safety and the safety of others at risk due to fear of possible fire hazards, stalling, or sudden vehicle failure while driving. Because of these concerns, I have significantly reduced driving the vehicle and currently do not feel safe operating it regularly. This has created substantial hardship because this is my only vehicle for work and daily life. Additional unresolved issues with the vehicle include: - persistent rough shifting and shifting hesitation - shift solenoid issues - ongoing excessive oil consumption/loss of oil with no confirmed source - constant rattling noises - excessive vibration/shaking while driving - ac system failure around 60,000 miles - electrical seat failur.