Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Kia Motor Sorento - part 2

I bought a kia 2020 from long lewis 3 days after I got it the check engine light come on, I called and told them, then around the 5th day black smut started covering the back of the SUV, and I was smelling a burnt oi; and antifreeze smell, took it to a shop and they pulled the codes and one code was p045600 and another was p074100 then airbag codes, not even a month it started jerking they told me to bring it in so I did, he said they cleared the codes and was gonna fixed the evap, I asked about the torch converter and he said that must've been a code from the history but it wasn't, it did have a history of the code though, and I asked about the black smut on back of the vehicle he said nothing they can do about that and said fixing the evap may fix it, but sometimes it smells like it's on fire, and jerks.

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The contact owns a 2017 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while coasting to a stop light, the check engine and traction control warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and stopped driving as needed. During the failure, the vehicle had not shut off. After turning it off and restarting the vehicle, the failure failed to self-correct. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.

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I am filing this complaint regarding a suspected safety defect involving the theta ii engine in my 2015 kia Sorento. The vehicle developed progressive engine failure symptoms including: engine knocking and abnormal mechanical noise loss of power while driving misfire conditions excessive oil consumption progressive deterioration of engine performance these symptoms began at approximately 150,000 miles and worsened over time. Given the documented history of theta ii engine failures involving rod bearing defects, sudden engine seizure, loss of power, and fire risk, I believe my vehicle is experiencing a progression of the same known defect. 2) safety risk to driver and public the engine condition created serious safety risks, including: potential sudden engine failure while driving loss of power in traffic or at highway speeds increased risk of collision potential fire hazard associated with theta ii engine failures despite these risks, kia and its authorized dealership advised me to continue operating the vehicle. I was explicitly told to “drive it until it fails. ” this guidance was given despite kia’s documented knowledge of theta ii engine defects and associated safety hazards. 3) manufacturer response and denial I reported the engine failure to kia and its authorized dealership. Kia denied coverage, stating: the vehicle had “too many miles,” and the failure was allegedly “not rod bearing related. ” however, kia and the dealership refused to provide: complete diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) technician notes or inspection reports compression or leak-down test results oil analysis or evidence proving bearing failure was ruled out without this information, kia’s conclusion that the failure is not related to the theta ii defect is unsupported and unverifiable. 4) concern of misdiagnosis and defect misclassification based on the symptoms and known theta ii failure patterns, I believe kia may be misclassifying a progressive bearing-related engine failure as a non-covered.

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I was driving down a very busy road and with no warning my car lost power. It would turn over but not start back up. I was stuck in the middle of a busy road way causing traffic’s to back up. I had to call the police to sit behind me so I wouldn’t get hit from behind.

The vehicles is showing all this codes p0340, p0365, p0780, po010.

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I was driving my car on [xxx] and my car suddenly lost power and when I pressed the gas pedal the rpm quickly increased but the car was hesitating between gears and not engaging. Shortly thereafter a malfunction code showed up on my car screen along with an engine warning indicator. The code was dct p193b79. That code indicates a high pressure electric oil pump performance issue pointing to problems with the 8wdct; the same issue and symptoms associated with the recall bulletin for the 2021 kia Sorento transmission. When I brought it to ken gariff kia in phoenix arizona they stated there is no such recall for my vehicle with this problem and that since I have 76000 miles on the car it is not covered. I feel that this repair falls squarely within the scope of the recall for the kia transmission and would like it replaced at the manufacturers expense. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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While driving, have had the engine of my 25 Sorento hybrid stop working. An emergency notice comes on the screen (see photo) stating to pull over safely. The hybrid system error message has come on 4-5 times in the last month. The vehicle will not drive more than 15-20 miles per hour and has virtually no acceleration making it very dangerous to drive in or around high speed/traffic areas. Took it to a local kia dealership where I was told nothing was wrong and their only guess was that it was related to the battery and cold weather. The same messaged/incident has happened 2x since bringing it into the dealership. With the most recent being 1/22/26. Problem first arose on 1/9/26. There are dozens of reports of this in online threads over the past few months with kia hybrid engines.

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Formal complaint – repeated engine failures and unacceptable service delays vehicle: kia Sorento 2014 VIN: [xxx] purchased: fall of 2021 current issue: vehicle in service at kia of lincolnwood since January 9, 2026 dear kia consumer affairs and legal department, I am writing to formally document my severe dissatisfaction with the repeated engine failures in my kia vehicle and the complete lack of communication and urgency from both kia of lincolnwood (6750 n Lincoln Ave, lincolnwood, IL 60712) and kia's consumer support channels. This has caused significant financial hardship, disruption to my family and work, and eroded any trust in the brand. I purchased this vehicle approximately 5 years ago through carmax. Within that time, the engine has died or stalled three times: the first failure occurred about one year after purchase, stranding me at 11:00 p. M. In rural wisconsin during winter with my three young children in the vehicle. The second incident happened in downtown chicago (river north), just one hour before I needed to depart for a work event in champaign, IL, requiring a tow and last-minute rental arrangements. The most recent failure occurred at approximately 4:30 a. M. After leaving my music studio, necessitating another tow and a $50 uber ride home. Eleven months ago, kia of lincolnwood replaced the knock sensor under a one-year recall warranty. Despite this, the engine issues persisted. On January 9, 2026, I brought the vehicle to kia of lincolnwood for the third major engine-related failure. It has now been in the shop for nearly six weeks with no meaningful updates on diagnosis, repair timeline, or resolution. I have called the dealership at least ten times seeking callbacks from my assigned service advisor (max) or any team member. In each instance, I was either hung up on, placed on hold for over an hour, or promised a return call that never came. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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The contact owns a 2019 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

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Car is in shop 3rd time 2020 Sorento with 2. 4l thete ii gdi engine. In may e went in p1326 code of death, knocking and blinking light. They put a band aid on. Back in September more issues, oil gasket valve cover and 4 spark plugs. Another bandaid, westarted seeing oil, I thought we were nuts because it was just fixed. Check engine light cane on, read 4th spark plug shot that they put in on 9/25. Tatvfirst rried sating 300 for plug and done. Then day after head mechanic says we need a new engine but all receipts not available. They're not filing a claim for an engine, these engine are blowing up and failing everywhere they just haven't gotten to year 2020 yet in law suits or settlements. When p1326 originally happened we were on the highway and it just decellateared and loud knock! luckily we were okay and got over fast. With each issue car was immediately brought back to the kia dealer, the sane dealer I bought the car new off lot in 2020.

The contact owns a 2011 kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a rattling sound coming from the vehicle with smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was unable to restart. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v877000 (engine). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine block had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 189,711.

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It need to fill the oil ever two to three weeks - oil consumption? now this morning it has the a lot of oil in the ground - I won’t drive the car.

Car stalled several times including as I was turning through an intersection. I took my car to kia ganley if boardman 7870 market street bdmn two, youngstown, ohio 44512. I met w/gerry who I explained the concerns with car stalling reminding him it had been almost 2 years since the jnick sensor issue was detected. So why am I expected to keep driving a dangerous vehicle without the repair needed??!!!! also asked about light assembly replacement delay (per recall) since I'm replacing the turn signal & brake bulbs 5-6 times a year while awaiting a replacement. Assembly.

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Oil is leaking from my car. The dealership said I would need to replace the engine. The car is only 6 years old.

The engine is burning oil despite all maintenance being up to date and having fewer than 80k miles. Kia of duluth service center checked the oil and said levels were good on 12/31/25. Fewer than 30 miles were driven and it was brought back to the dealership service center on 1/2/26 and diagnosed with total engine loss due to oil starvation. The extended warranty company (jm&a) are denying coverage because the engine failure is due to lack of oil. They have inspected the vehicle. No warning lights ever came on and this is the second time that this issue has been addressed by kia of duluth. The engine could have easily overheated and caught on fire or lost power on the road.

Currently at a kia dealership for the 3rd time since the end of December. While driving the electric refuses to switch to gas after the battery drains, it is a hybrid. Maxes out at 18 mph and then an alarm goes off for hybrid system error. First two time check engine light also came on. Have had vehicle towed to kia dealerships all three times. Never the same thing repaired or replaced but problem stops for a few days to two weeks and then happens again. They vehicle has been examined and the issue has been replicated or examined by the canton kia dealership in canton, mi two times. Currently at taylor kia toledo, OH. This is a safety issue due to the lack of speed and acceleration. So far I have been in relatively low speed areas but what if it happened on the expressway or in heavy traffic. I normally have my kids in the car and now feel that my vehicle is unsafe and I have only had it 11 months.

My 2008 kia Sorento parked inside a garage for 2 days, not running, not idling, without the key in the ignition, all of a sudden cut fire by itself, consuming the entire engine compartment and part of the front seat, and also caused substantial damage to the the garage. Filed a claim with kia which denied responsibilities. The incident occurred in December 26, 2025, and was waiting for kia decision before further action.

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Excessive oil consumption.

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While driving at low speed and turning, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power accompanied by engine knocking. The engine stalled and would no longer operate normally. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic, who found metal fragments/shavings in the engine oil, indicating internal engine damage. The engine is now inoperable and has effectively failed. There were no warning signs prior to the failure other than the knocking noise immediately before the loss of power. This failure occurred suddenly and without driver input. The sudden engine failure caused a loss of propulsion while the vehicle was in use, creating a potential safety hazard for occupants and surrounding traffic. The vehicle required towing due to engine failure. Kia consumer assistance was contacted regarding the engine failure. I was informed that no recalls apply to this VIN and that the vehicle is out of warranty. Kia consumer assistance stated they would not inspect or document the engine failure unless I paid out of pocket.

Driving home from work car started making a slapping noise, no engine light on. I stopped and the motor shut off and spit out oil. Found out that a connecting rod had broke off and went through the oil pan. Now the car needs a new engine with only 166,000 miles on a 2017 kia Sorento. The car has had all maintenance done on it.

To whom it may concern, I had a horrible experience with my 2020 kia Sorento and I can't seem to get anyone to respond to me. This very upsetting. My VIN number is [xxx] , my vehicle only had 75,000 miles on it. I kept up with all maintenance, oil changes, checking oil on a regular basis, checking all fluids, including antifreeze, brake fluid as well. I was driving on a clear day, no snow, no rain, no traffic, country road. I was going about 35 mph and all of the sudden every light that I could possibly think of came on my dashboard, within 30 seconds of that I heard a very loud pop and smoke barreled in through my vents. Obviously the smoke made it a struggle to breathe and definitely is not good for mine or my children lungs. I immediately pulled into the first driveway I seen. This took 5 seconds from the loud pop and the smoke through the vents, actually not even 5 seconds. I jump out of my car and see a fire under my hood. I immediately run up to the house of the driveway I pulled in. Fortunately, the man of the home, seen what was happening, ran to his garage, got a fire extinguisher and put the fire out. I look under the car. I seen something very shiny lying on the ground, right under where the fire was. It was piston cylinder piece this explains the pop, the fire and nearly every fluid that was in my car now on the ground. Oil, antifreeze and brake fluid were all now spilled in this man's driveway. I called kia and reported the incident, they stated there were no recalls on my vehicle, according to the VIN number. They also stated the year 2020 did not have recalls, like the years leading up to 2019, stopping at 2020 and then resuming at 2021. Elizabeth from kia America corp made promises she didn’t keep by stating they would tow my car to kia dealership and give me a rental. She promised to make it right and was caught lying, she never contacted the dealership. Elizabeth’s phone number [xxx] . Please help me, my kids and I need a vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (.

I wanted to add to a previous claim I had already submitted, I found an item that had fallen out of my engine, I don't know if I can submit a picture on here but I will try.

I have placed below what I have sent to kia company.

I was driving 2 minutes away from my house and all of the sudden every warning light on the dashboard came on, billowing smoke started coming through the vents. I immediately pulled in a random driveway, as I was turning I. I heard a loud pop. I shut the car off immediately, jumped out. As I looked at the front of my car, flames were coming from the bottom front. I ran up to the house, the man of the house came out with a fire extinguisher. He put out the flames underneath, asked me to pop the hood, I did so and he put out the flames underneath the hood. As I was waiting for a tow truck, I seen a shiny object at the bottom of the vehicle, I pulled it out. It was a wrist pin from the engine. I also noticed a ton of fluids poured out in the man’s driveway. I had the vehicle towed home and contacted kia and my insurance company. My case was escalated to kia corporate and elizabeth barooni contacted me. She promised to tow my vehicle to the dealership of my choice, get me a rental car, pay any out of cost expenses and repair the vehicle. The vehicle only had 75,000 miles on it. After all her promises, she never contacted me again. I have tried to contact her and a kia number called me, I answered they hung up on me. I called the number back and it was james hope, an employee who works at kia America corporation. They have not returned my call since around christmas. I also contacted geico, my insurance company, they sent out a adjuster, they denied my claim. They stated that all of this was caused by mechanical failure, they put on the claim that kia is known for these issues and they will not cover it. I still remain without a vehicle and kia corporate has completely ignored me after making promises to help.

On December 21, 2025, my vehicle experienced abnormal knocking/ticking sounds coming from the engine while driving on the interstate (60 mph), and it was difficult going up hills. The check engine light was intermittingly blinking, and there was a strong burning smell. The vehicle was taken to autozone and the code displayed p0304 indicating a cylinder 4 misfire. The spark plugs were replaced. However, the knocking sounds, blinking check engine light, and smell of burning happened again, and I took it pepboys on December 26, 2025. After testing, they indicated that the fuel injector was cracked and fuel was found in the engine oil. I had aaa tow the vehicle to cochran kia [xxx] ). The dealership indicated that they would not be able to look at the vehicle until December 29, 2025. The dealership verified that the check engine light was still on and the motor was misfiring badly. They then checked cylinder #4 with a borescope and found that the valve had a crack in it and that the engine would need to be replaced. There was also damage/scoring to the piston and cylinder wall. The dealership corresponded with kia (case #25769914), kia however indicated that there was no powertrain warranty and that this would not be covered under pi1803 and indicated that only applies to bearing failure, and that dealership should provide me with cost estimate to replace the engine. My vehicle has been properly maintained, and I provided the dealership with the additional requested maintenance records on February 14, 2026. I reached out to kia customer care and they indicated to get the engine replaced under the warranty from the settlement, I had to work with the dealership. I contacted the dealership again on 3/12/26 and they said they can't do a warranty replacement because the warranty only covered if it was the rod bearing. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Head gasket leaking, yes causes engine to overheat. Radiator looses coolant and backs up into overflow. Makes heat and ac flow coolant fumes into vehicle. No longer clear air. Not yet. Still researching. Independent mechanics shop. No there was no warning when the vehicle overheated.

Unknown however multiple times the front end of the vehicle starts shaking when I try to break up especially on the highway. The dealership claimed to have repaired it once and shortly after it happened again. When I took it in they first looked and said the parts was ordered but nothing was done then came back and said OH yes it was done then refused to fix it without a charge so I had to pay to repair it since I feared that the brake would give out if I drive it. The other issue was the check engine light just popped up check engine while driving on the highway, when I take it in they are stating that I may have left the gas tank open which is absolutely false. They cleared it but could not or neglect to explain why it was on. All these incidents occur while on highways never in the general local areas.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

A failing alternator caused me to take my kia into a mechanic for oem replacement. The mechanic informed me that the engine rattles. I got to talking with the mechanic and told him that my car has been experiencing high oil consumption with no 'low oil' warning light on the dash and ive checked my oil periodically between changes and have found the dip stick bone dry multiple times. A year later, my alternator failed again and was replaced with another oem part. The same mechanic told me that the engine is still rattling (I hadnt gotten it fixed/diagnosed because I am low income) and that he found out there had been a recall for kia sotento engines with my vehicle date range. Upon research, I find thousands of people on different platforms are also experiencing high oil consumption and there was actually a recall. When I checked my VIN, my vehicle was not part of the recall. There seems to be a high number of consumers who have the same issue, but are also not included in the original recall and we are all being told that unless we pay for a new engine out of pocket, there's nothing that can be done. High oil consumption with no warning light is dangerous. How is it possible that only half of the vehicles with the same defect are eligible for a recall/repair and the rest of us are s. O. L? I am the second owner of this vehicle and purchased from a used lot, however kia knew about this defect before I purchased the vehicle from the used lot. The used car dealership no longer exists so I can't even ask them if kia made them aware (which they potentially did not since my VIN isn't considered eligible anyways) this issue needs to be rectified for the thousands of consumers/customers that are experiencing this problem and I strongly suggest a new investigation be conducted for the remaining vehicles that were manufactured in the same time frame as the vehicles that are covered. My vehicle has only 90k miles on it!.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a small oil leak on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact checked the oil level and added a quart of oil to the engine. The vehicle was driven approximately 50 miles. The contact parked the vehicle and checked the oil level again. They noticed that the oil level was low and added another quart of oil. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven another 15 miles, and the contact stopped at the grocery store. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the contact noticed a clicking sound, as if the engine was attempting to start. The contact continued, stating that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with complete 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 contact was informed that there was no warranty on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 151,025.

I was driving and heard a loud noise. The car started to hesitate and was making a knocking noise. I pulled over and had it towed where I was told it was a rod bearing failure and I needed a new engine. It had 130,000 miles. I have been reading online and found a lot of vehicles with the same engine as mine where this has happened and there are no recalls. Engines size 3. 3l v6. Right now the car is sitting. I still owe on it and can’t afford to have it fixed. The oil was changed regularly. It was changed four weeks before this happened. No warnings.

Was driving on dallas north toll way when my vehicle lost acceleration. Had to pull over and engine started smoking and lit a flame under the hood. Car is now at clay cooley kia in irving, TX. Car has been there for over two weeks and I still have no answers or information regarding the plan to fix it. Major dealership delay and all they keep saying is “waiting on a kia engineer to come out but we don't have a date. ”.

The engine suddenly failed while I was driving on the highway. The vehicle lost power without warning, which created a dangerous situation. I had to pull over and have the vehicle towed.

2019 with 56,000 miles and the oil pressure sensor and the fuel pump need replacing. Both items should be considered part of the powertrain but of course they’re not. Called corporate but got the “there is no recall” monologue from their representatives. Needless to say, I won’t make the same mistake with my next purchase.

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.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

At 79,000, the engine started running very rough. I took it to the dealer. It’s got a cylinder that won’t fire. I have an extended warranty( big $!) but I’m getting the runaround from kia. It’s been almost 3 weeks. They’re dragging their feet because they know these theta ii engines are junk! I’ve maintained my own vehicles my entire adult life, and I don’t drive crazy either. It also had a knock sensor recall, which most likely kept this issue from being a recall.