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

On 3 separate occasions, while idling, the engine will sputter as if it’s about to cut off. The rpm will rise and fall and the engine will rev up and down and finally it will quiet down. Once the light is green, it is able to drive as normal. At the next light the same thing happens and the engine revs up and down sounds like it’s about to die. At a certain point the car will lose propulsion,(hard to notice at first when it’s stop and go traffic) even with the pedal all the way down, making it difficult to drive at a safe speed. The car will operate this way in a very limited capacity w stuttered propulsion for a minute or two then a warning symbol and alarm sounds letting me know there is a safety issue with the hybrid system and to stop safely. The car then becomes completely unresponsive and you must stop immediately and shut the car off. Once restarted the car jolts back up and operates somewhat normally.

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Incident #1: [xxx] the vehicle would not accelerate after coming to a stop at an intersection. The vehicle would not exceed 20 mph with oncoming traffic from both the east and west as I was turning west from a north bound road. On coming traffic was traveling between 45 and 50 mph. I was clearly nearly broadsided. The car displayed flashing lights on the dash as I was attempting to accelerate. Depressing the accelerator did not increase my speed. The car kept at a 20 mph speed for the 1/2 mile I traveled to pull off the road in a safe location, causing traffic to be disrupted until I could pull off the highway I had the car towed to the kia of round rock dealership November 17th. The car remained at kia until December 3rd where they were unable to duplicate the problem. I requested the problem be referred to kia in California. Kia of CA was totally unresponsive when the problem could not be duplicated. Incident #2 [xxx] vehicle failed to respond to accelerate after stopping before attempting to enter a four lane highway. (no traffic was visible. ) the car would not accelerate more than 20 mpr, the speed limit was 55 mph. For the 1. 5 mile trip home, I turned on my hazard lights, kept to the right and flagged traffic around me. The car never exceeded 20 mph. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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Kia refuses to perform a u. S. Safety recall due to my being active duty u. S. Military stationed overseas. The affected vehicle is u. S. -spec and registered to a u. S. Address. The recall (sc250) involves sudden loss of drive power and is a major safety defect. Kia has refused to authorize parts or repair overseas, putting me and my family at risk.

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My 2017 kia Sorento is experiencing significant engine issues, including excessive oil consumption and ongoing oil leaks. The kia dealership initially told me I qualified for an oil-consumption test that could result in a free engine replacement if the results met the criteria. After inspecting the vehicle, they refused to perform the test because they said it was ‘leaking too much oil,’ charged me $600 for a gasket, but the vehicle still leaks and burns oil. Now the dealership claims the engine is not covered and wants $5,000 for a replacement, despite previously stating testing could qualify me for a free engine. This appears to be a common issue with kia gdi engines and a safety concern due to risk of engine failure and fire. I believe kia is improperly denying required testing and coverage, and I request NHTSA review this pattern. I included the invoice fr the gasket repair and pictures from the oil change I got last week showing pictures of it still leaking oil despite the repair at kia.

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While driving, my vehicle developed engine knocking, lost power, overheated, and produced smoke from the engine compartment. Shortly after, the engine seized and the vehicle will not start. An authorized dealership diagnosed the failure and recommended a complete engine (long-block) replacement, indicating catastrophic internal engine damage. This failure appears consistent with known theta ii engine bearing defects. The manufacturer is refusing coverage by stating the owner did not bring in the car for the recalls. The recall was preventive monitoring software (ksds) and did not repair or prevent the underlying mechanical defect that caused the failure. This is a safety concern, as the failure caused loss of power and overheating, creating risk of fire or accident.

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For about 23,000 miles our mechanic has mentioned that the engine is burning oil. The exhaust pipe is covered in black soot. I monitor the oil level and it is always low even after oil changes with no oil leak. This has been provided to kia with no remedy. Recently our Sorento was in a busy highway and the check engine, oil and battery lights came on and the car went into limp mode. We had the vehicle towed to kia chula vista and the engine will be replaced by them. My concern is that the catalytic converter will soon fail and the engine issues need to be addressed for all of these makes/models before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.

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My vehicle has an ongoing acceleration problem that feels like the engine and transmission are not communicating correctly. There are times when the vehicle will not accelerate even though the rpms increase. Instead of picking up speed, it feels like the engine is pulling the vehicle back. This creates hesitation and uncertainty about whether the car will respond when I press the accelerator. This happens most noticeably at lower speeds (around 30–40 mph, often near 30 mph), where the rpms may rise on their own even if I am maintaining steady pressure on the gas pedal. It also occurs when I need to accelerate quickly — such as merging onto the freeway or joining the flow of traffic — and the vehicle feels like it resists gaining speed. Even when I press the pedal gradually and correctly, the vehicle struggles to accelerate and the engine revs without the car moving forward as it should. I reported this to the dealership. They ran diagnostics and told me no issues were detected. They also stated they cannot take action unless they can re-create the problem themselves. Because this does not happen every time, recreating it on command is very unlikely, leaving me without a solution. This is a safety concern because hesitation or failure to accelerate properly during merging or crossing traffic increases the risk of collisions. The problem remains unresolved.

I was driving our 2017 kia Sorento 2. 4 liter, on I-94 in detroit, mi when suddenly, the vehicle would not go over 50 mph when the engine suddenly lost power on Friday 11/28/2025 . . We towed the vehicle to the auto repair shop a few days later. On Tuesday 12/9/2025 the auto repair shop contacted us and said that their was plenty of oil in the vehicle but cylinder 3 misfired and there is a loss of engine compression. Auto shop says cylinder 3 failed and now only 3 cylinders are now working on the 2017 kia Sorento now mileage is now 94, 971 miles. I have not taken it to the dealer yet because even though there was a class action lawsuit, the auto repair shop has informed us, as well as other information online, that the dealer will sometimes try to avoid replacing the engine. I did contact the dealer on 12/10/2025 and informed that we do have maintenance records and have the vehicle towed there this weekend, however, my initial conversation with the service rep did not sound promising to date.

I am reporting a safety defect on my 2013 kia Sorento (VIN: [xxx] ). Before the failure, the vehicle began experiencing sluggish starting, sputtering during acceleration, stalling when stopped at traffic lights or stop signs, a noticeable fuel odor, and eventually a check engine light. These symptoms increased over several days, and once the check engine light illuminated, we had the vehicle towed to a kia dealership for diagnosis. At the dealership, the problem was confirmed and reproduced by their technicians. They diagnosed: •fuel leakage from the high-pressure fuel pressure regulator •fuel contamination in the engine oil these components and diagnostic findings are available for inspection upon request. This issue poses a significant safety risk. Fuel leakage and fuel-in-oil contamination increase the potential for an engine fire, and the hesitation, sputtering, and stalling at intersections present a risk of unexpected loss of power in traffic, which could result in a collision. The vehicle previously had its engine replaced under a kia recall in 2020, and the current symptoms are consistent with known kia engine and fuel system defects addressed in past recalls and technical service bulletins. The vehicle has been inspected only by the dealership so far; it has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Kia consumer affairs has been contacted and is reviewing the case. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue as a potential defect trend involving the high-pressure fuel system on this model, especially in vehicles with prior recall-related engine replacements. Documentation from the dealership, including the diagnostic report and repair estimate, is available upon request. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Beginning at approximately 750 miles on a brand-new 2025 kia Sorento hybrid ex, the vehicle experienced a flashing check engine light accompanied by severe shaking while driving, rough idling, loss of power, and loud engine/exhaust noise. The vehicle became difficult and unsafe to operate due to the vibration and reduced drivability. These symptoms appeared suddenly on November 22, less than three weeks after purchase. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on November 24. Their technician retrieved diagnostic codes p0300 (random misfire) and p0304 (cylinder #4 misfire) and identified a failed ignition coil on cylinder #4. The coil was replaced, and the dealership reported the issue resolved. However, less than 24 hours later, with the vehicle still under 800 miles, the exact same symptoms reoccurred: heavy shaking while driving, vibration while idling, loss of power, and unstable engine operation. This indicates the underlying issue may be more serious than a single coil failure. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership, and the vehicle is currently back in their possession for further inspection. A loaner vehicle was issued because the vehicle was not safe to drive. The sudden shaking, engine misfire, and loss of power created a significant safety risk, especially if this failure were to occur at highway speeds or while turning across traffic. Given the extremely low mileage and recurrence immediately after repair, this may indicate a broader defect affecting engine performance or ignition components in this model. The vehicle remains available for inspection by NHTSA, the manufacturer, or investigators.

Lost motor power while driving. No warning light before engine failure.

1. Vehicle information make: kia model: Sorento model year: 2019 VIN: [xxx] approximate mileage: 87,000 miles 2. Incident details complaint title: critical oil pressure sensor/switch leak leading to oil warning light, rapid oil loss, and safety risk narrative: I am submitting this safety complaint regarding a critical oil leak on my 2019 kia Sorento, currently at 87,000 miles. The leak originates specifically from the oil pressure sensor (switch). Symptoms and diagnosis: 1. I observed a significant amount of engine oil leaking onto the ground where the vehicle was parked, indicating a substantial loss of lubricant. 2. The oil pressure warning light has been illuminating intermittently on the dashboard, confirming that the engine's oil pressure or level has dropped to a critical point. 3. A dealership/mechanic officially diagnosed the issue as a severe leak at the oil pressure sensor. Safety concern and precedent: the rapid and severe loss of engine oil creates an unreasonable risk of sudden engine failure/seizure while driving, which is an extreme safety hazard. Additionally, oil leaking onto hot engine components poses a potential fire hazard. I note that kia has previously issued safety recalls and/or substantial warranty extensions for this exact type of oil pressure sensor/switch leak on other kia models and earlier model years of the Sorento. This defect appears to be recurring in the $\text{2019}$ model year, suggesting the core safety defect has not been resolved for this vehicle group. I request that NHTSA investigate this specific issue in the 2019 Sorento and mandate a proper safety recall to replace the faulty component and eliminate the serious risk of engine failure and fire. 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 rate of almost one quart per week. The engine can be felt shaking when driving. The engine light came on and states there is a p0303 cylinder 3 misfired detected.

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Check engine light came on, oil light came on after, vehicle stalled on expressway. Engine is knocking.

Vehicle: 2016 kia Sorento, VIN [xxx] incident date: November 13, 2025 incident location: durham, nc (3828 guess rd) cause of loss: engine fire, confirmed by durham fire department report (incident #253663) as "originated from under the hood. " technical narrative & symptoms (critical for liability): I am filing this complaint to report a catastrophic vehicle fire that I believe is directly linked to multiple acknowledged manufacturing defects that create a fire risk in kia vehicles. Abs/traction control light warning (direct fire risk symptom): immediately prior to the loss, the abs and traction control warning lights were constantly illuminated. This is a known precursor symptom for the defective hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) or abs module short-circuit, which has been cited in numerous kia fire recalls (e. G. , NHTSA 20v019, 20v519). The fire's origin under the hood is consistent with this component failure. Prior engine failures (systemic defect history): this vehicle has a history of catastrophic manufacturing defects: the engine assembly was replaced in 2023 due to the known theta ii rod bearing failure. The knock sensor was replaced in September 2025 as part of the ksds product improvement campaign, demonstrating the vehicle was still under active service for critical engine monitoring defects just weeks before the fire. Potential tow hitch wiring fire risk: the vehicle was fully engulfed, but the fire may also be linked to the defect cited in NHTSA recall 22v703 (tow hitch wiring harness short circuit, which also poses a fire risk). I require a full investigation into this defect leading to compensation for the total loss of the vehicle and consequential damages. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Started the car and heard a knocking sound. No check engine or low oil light on the dash. Dealership said the bearing clearance test was too great, causing the connecting rod to knock inside the engine. Dealership said I need an engine replacement. Engine is 3. 3l lambda ii engine which has been reported to have this issue.

Engine has a leak, the engine oil sensor was defected ,front axel leak and needs replacement.

Fourth time we've had the car go into limp mode. Now at the dealer for third time. Driver was driving and the car went into limp mode after activating the cruise control follow function. Husband was behind in our Toyota tacoma truck and was able to pick her up with California highway patrol to get off the highway into a parking lot to tow her. No warnings, no messages on the dash. She was unable to accelerate to highway speeds and was capped, and felt that there was very little to no predictable responsiveness in the car's acceleration. Car now at dealership.

When start up there’s a clacking sound then it goes away, while the vehicle is warm you hear the clacking while driving vehicle.

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I am reporting a serious defect involving my 2017 kia Sorento 2. 4 liter gdi engine (VIN [xxx] ) at approximately 84000 miles, while still under the powertrain warranty, I brought the vehicle to the dealership from which I purchased it (hutchinson kia in macon GA) due to engine hesitation and abnormal performance. I was initially told the engine might need replacement, but the dealer later claimed the issue was only a relay/software problem and performed a software update (likely the ksds knock sensor update) at approximately 94000 miles, the engine suffered a sudden catastrophic failure while driving on the interstate, the failure was abrupt and created a dangerous situation in traffic. The vehicle is now inoperable. The engine is equipped with the theta ii gdi engine, which has a documented history of bearing and connecting -rod failures, fires and sudden engine seizure. Kia is refusing to cover the failure, even though the symptoms began during warrantly and the ksds update was reportedly completed. This appears to be consistent with the widespread theta ii engine safety defect previously investigated by NHTSA. The sudden failure of the engine posed a significant safety risk to myself, passengers and other motorists. I am requesting the NHTSA review the incident and evaluate whether kia is properly honoring required safety-related engine replacements for thet ii gdi equipped vehicles. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Mixing coolant with oil engine failure.

My vehicle has a slow speed pick up and I’m getting code p0018 and has very rough idling !.

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Around 140k miles the engine started to randomly overheat. We changed the serpentine belt as well as all hoses. The engine then started to burn large quantities of oil. At 142k miles it failed all together and we are now looking at having to purchase a new engine or a new vehicle. After doing some research I read that this was a common issue with the 3. 3l v6 motors and felt the need to provide my case as well.

My 2016 kia sorrento consumed all oil resulting in engine (3. 3l lambda ii) failure within 72 days (3,442 miles driven) of kia dealer service department complete inspection and service (including oil).

I am reporting a serious engine defect in my 2017 kia Sorento. The has failed and presents an ongoing safety concern. The issue is while driving on the interstate, the vehicle began shaking violently, started making a knocking noise and the check engine illuminated. The rpms also began spiking so I slowed down and got off at the next exit. Now every time I start the vehicle it continues to shake, knock and cannot accelerate properly -- the rpms climb as high as 5000 with very little power. This is a clear safety hazard and makes the vehicle unsafe to operate on public roads.

We financed this 2014 kia Sorento lx awd from a used car dealer, and there has been nothing but problems with this vehicle. From the water pump, to insanely high oil consumption. I have verified that it is not leaking. Gaskets have been replaced, filters have been replaced, O2 sensors have been replaced, the water pump housing unit, impeller and pulley have been replaced, spark plugs have been replaced and their boots, fuses have been replaced and renewed, even the brake light switch has been replaced. The coolant thermostat has been checked and it is functional, the map sensor is functional, the catalytic/exhaust manifold has been replaced, the in tank fuel pump/fuel sending unit has been replaced and the hpfp has been replaced and this vehicle still wants to consume oil like crazy and is flirting with deaths door step. It goes through fits of loss of power during acceleration in times when it really matters most, like trying to pass a vehicle. So most of the time I dont, because its not safe to try to pass vehicles and suddenly lose power and end up in a collision. I have checked all 6 recalls that have been opened and closed on my vehicle and part of me wonders if they were falsely closed. One of them indicates I should have had a partial, if not whole engine replacement at some point and I still have a VIN original engine in my vehicle. I have had this vehicle in my possession since August of 2025, and have done nothing but pour money into repairs on it, and I still feel like its going to leave me stranded on the side of the road. Kia needs to make good on their own warranty with as many issues as this year and model of vehicle that it has, and reinvestigate this vehicle. I believe the recalls on this vehicle were closed by a shady mechanic. Mind you, before it bought this vehicle, I had a mechanic look over it with an obdii and no codes popped, none were stored and to this day, there still are none, but this engine is not behaving the way it should.

The contact owns a 2025 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 60-65 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 20 mph and the vehicle went into limp mode. The contact stated that the message “vehicle speed restricted to 20 mph” was displayed. The failure had occurred four times while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to identify or duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.

The contact owns a 2019 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that an oil consumption test needed to be performed and instructed the contact to return after driving 1,000 miles. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be returned to the dealer on multiple occasions due to exceeding the 1,000-mile interval. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

The car was running as normal and then randomly it started kind of rough and seemed like maybe just cold. But I had my mechanic take a look, and he said that when he started it, which was the next day that it made a loud knocking sound upon start. On the 30th I had it towed out to west hills kia in bremerton. And they reported back that the engine needed full repair. I only owned this car one year and before me it was reportedly well maintained. I maintained it well also! kia is denying all recall, but it’s a 2016 kia Sorento. It’s within the one or two years that the recall doesn’t cover??? the brake lights also work and always one of them is not working. It is not exclusively one or the other but the bulbs keep burning out. I need to know what to do to get this engine fixed, and it should fall under the bad engines that kia’s have!.

The contact owns a 2014 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power, and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that there was oil leaking out of the exhaust, accompanied by an abnormal sound and odor. The contact stated that the front driver’s side air bag was intermittently inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the engine, power train control module, brakes, and several other unknown electrical parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

2022 kia Sorento x-line sx premier model (89435 miles) 2. 5 l turbo gdi is going into limp mode when trying to accelerate. The (a) auto stop indicator illuminates. Pulled car over, placed in park, turned off, restarted after waiting about a minute, no warning lights, car drives and acceleration is normal. About one year ago, car experienced the same problem, took to dealer for diagnostic troubleshooting, the battery was suspected and replaced, issue persisted, the codes indicated either low pressure or high pressure fuel pumps, the low pressure pump was replaced, after further drive testing by the dealer issue was still present, the high pressure pump was replaced and the issue was resolved. Fuel pumps were replaced under warranty. Kia dealer said that kia engineering believes the issue is possibly heat related, I live in phoenix, az. Summertime temperatures exceed 100 degrees in summer some days exceeding 110 to120 degrees. A month ago September 2025, the car experienced limp mode again this time with check engine light, problem was identified with faulty low pressure fuel pumps gasket which was replaced. The limp mode has been experienced again 5 times in last month, twice today. Ambient temperature in 80s. This is a significant problem that could lead to a possible accident if the car fails to accelerate properly. My wife is afraid to drive the car until the failure mechanism is identified and is properly repaired.

Car is burning more oil than it should. We fill up oil multiple times between oil changes. When checking oil it has a burnt smell to it.

Car started shaking, white smoke out of tail pipe, abs/tcs lights went on. Oil on spark plugs my wife was stuck on side of interstate.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21v331000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the engine seized. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road, and the vehicle failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was towed to the residence. A mobile mechanic arrived at the residence to inspect the vehicle and removed the serpentine belt, but was unable to crank the engine. However, no cause for the failure was found. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that, as per the manufacturer, proof of all oil changes performed on the vehicle was needed since the vehicle was purchased, and if the proof was not provided, the vehicle would not be repaired under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

Engine intake gasket oil leak.

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