Equipment Problems of Kia Motor Sorento - part 2

Upon normal driving the vehicle suddenly lost power and would only go around 20 to 30 mph. This has happened twice in the past week. Very slow acceleration from a stop and had to actually pull off the road into a parking lot to let traffic pass. Took it to dealer and they said there were no active codes or anything visually presenting and they could do nothing to remedy the problem. My wife uses this vehicle in her work sometimes and has to drive sometimes 30 to 40 miles on her job and if this happened suddenly on an interstate it could be catastrophic. I'm afraid to let her drive it. No check engine or other warning lights come on. The vehicle has 58xxx miles and I hope I'm not being given the run around till the warranty expires. I notice there was a recall on this type of vehicle for this exact thing happening on 2022 models manufactured before August 2022 which ours was, taking delivery on 1/31/2022. It has the 2. 5l turbo gdi engine as in the recall but is awd.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

I am writing to bring to your attention a concerning issue regarding the instrument panel of the 2016-2020 kia Sorento. My car - 2017 kia Sorento. In approx. 2021, I noticed a small 2 cm crack resembling a razor blade cut on my instrument panel (part number: 84710-c5000wk, also 84710-c6000wk and 84710-c6001wk). At the time, I did not find this defect alarming as it was minor and located far from the airbag area. However, over time, the situation has deteriorated significantly. The small crack has now developed into three substantial cracks measuring between 6 to 8 inches, with some of them encroaching upon the airbag area. I am increasingly concerned that these cracks may impact the airbag deployment mechanism and potentially result in fragments from the panel flying out during a collision, an issue that has been documented in other vehicle brands in the past. After conducting some research, I found that this problem appears to be common among the kia Sorento models manufactured between 2016 and 2020. Numerous sources online indicate that these dashboard cracks pose a safety hazard. I have made attempts to address this issue directly with kia. However, I was informed that the initial inspection fee is $150, and the estimated cost for part replacement and installation is approximately $3,959. This amount is quite significant. I urge your organization to investigate this matter further and consider providing a remedy for affected customers. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Code p0014 indicates that the bank 1 exhaust camshaft position timing was advanced beyond limits for a pre determined period of time.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

The passengers window will not roll down the sound of clicking you can hear though when switch pushed this is a very common ongoing issue via kia Sorento community thread that goes back over 7 years it’s never addressed or serious it seems for the services dept of several member’s experience to find the cause leading to ongoing hassle and inconvenience for those with one dealer hours away and the vehicle as new brand new only 3k miles as mine! it’s a safety issue to say the least children on board.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Paint is peeling. Only have 100,000 miles. Paint is peeling off badly.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

The vehicle is hesitant during acceleration and linger in one gear. When try to move from a stop have to remove foot of the gas and back again with a pause before it will accelerate, only to start jerking.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

The ac condenser has failed. Kia said the condenser is damaged in the far corner of the condenser where it meets the rubber. They said the warranty would not cover the repair but could not explain the damage. I have reviewed a webpage where many kia Sorento owners had this issue. The techs all said the same thing: the rock-damaged condenser and warranty won't cover the cost of almost 1500 dollars. Now, they are stating a rock didn't damage it, but there is unexplainable damage, and they won't cover any costs. The vehicle is a 2022 with 29,000 miles.

My oil level in my car keeps going low. Service department at kia states they cannot find another problem. I’ve had regular oil changes. I met someone at the dealership experiencing the same problem.

I was at a stop sign waiting for my turn to go and I got hit from behind.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Driving down the road and the sunroof exploded. No other cars were around me so no project was thrown from another vehicle. Took the vehicle to the dealership. The service tech confirmed nothing was thrown and it appears the glass imploded from the inside. We are over 60,000 so not covered by warranty. He stated he would send through to kia to see if they would replace and was rejected. Was told to take it some place else to get it fixed. Contacted a local auto glass, they will not even touch it. Contacted another, the entire panoramic roof must be replaced even though it was only the front moving part that shattered. I am out $1,300 and a vehicle until the glass arrives which I was told will take weeks. Searching the internet I see there have been numerous complaints of this issue. Something needs to be done. No there was no crash, but very easily could have.

I was driving my daughter to school and heard 2 popping noises under the car. The car started smoking as I was driving. I pulled into the parking lot and the car wouldn’t stop. I pressed the break multiple times before it eventually stopped. The car was completely smoking from the hood and then caught fire as I got me and my children out of it. The fire department came and successfully put the fire out after about 30 minutes of continuous flames. It was a total loss.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

While driving my 2025 kia Sorento on the highway, I noticed a coolant leak and an overheating warning. I immediately pulled over, and the vehicle was towed to a kia dealership for inspection. After diagnosing the issue, the dealership claimed that small pebbles had damaged the radiator, leading to the coolant leak. They stated that this was considered an accident, not a defect, and therefore was not covered under warranty. Why this is a concern: after researching online, I discovered that many other kia owners are experiencing the same issue, suggesting that the radiator may be vulnerable to road debris due to poor design or insufficient protection. A radiator should be durable enough to withstand normal highway driving conditions. A failure like this could cause engine overheating and sudden breakdowns, posing a serious safety risk to drivers and passengers. Request for investigation: since this issue is affecting multiple kia Sorento owners, I believe it should be investigated as a possible design flaw. If the radiator is too fragile to handle everyday road debris, kia should issue a recall or technical service bulletin (TSB) to address the defect and ensure driver safety.

We have received the security update for the ignition system over a year ago for the recall. Even with this recall fix our vehicle was still stolen, so this solution clearly didn't work.

Car paint peeling.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Battery does not stay charged. I purchased the vehicle on 24aug24. On 08feb25, I began having trouble with the 12v battery. The battery died and kia roadside was called to jumpstart. The local kia dealership replaced the 12v and tested the system. Everything checked out ok. I picked up the car on 10feb25. On 03mar25, I called kia roadside to jumpstart the dead 12v battery, again, and took the vehicle back to the same local kia dealership. The dealer has been unable to correct the problem even with the help of kia corp.

As I was driving on the highway, my car began to lose speed. I attempted to accelerate but nothing happened when I pushed the gas pedal. There were no weird noises or rpm changes as if revving. I pulled onto the shoulder and slowed to a stop. If there had been more traffic on the highway I would not have been able to get to the shoulder without causing an accident. There were no warning signs or indicator lights before the loss of ability to accelerate. When I restarted the car, an "engine control" system warning appeared on the screen. I continued driving, staying in the right lane with hazard lights. The same thing happened a few more times on my drive home. I would lose the ability to accelerate, pull over, turn off the car, wait a moment, turn it back on and drive until it happened again. The car has not been expected yet but I have noticed small oil puddles when parked, which hadn't happened before this incident.

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.

Hi, my car has increased oil consumption. Every week, iam toping off the oil, 1 qrt every week now. I brought this to kia's attention, had the test done as they suggested. They offerred me only this: a/c evap clean, coolant fluid exchange, spark plug replace, 3 pt induction svc, which doesnt fix the problem. I also wanted the existing recall to be adressed, but they ignored.

Oil leak from under vehicle.

I was driving on the highway, and all of the sudden the car started losing power, it would not respond to the accelerator pedal. It slowed down to 10-15 mph and would not go faster. I was lucky that the drivers behind me were able to slow their cars without hitting me.

Vehicle has frequent oil consumption issues. It’s burning oil way too fast and causing a potential issue with the engine. According to the staff at the car shop, there is no way to fix it. You have to just kind of deal with it. It seems to be a defect that has not been addressed and is only for first owners. Bought my vehicle from a dealership and apparently this isn’t covered. This is a lemon and it’s clearly unknown issue based on the workers at the car shop that have not been addressed and is causing an issue with my engine.

The check engine light has come on. The vehicle has stalled or loss power while driving 3 times with the last week. Once at 70 mph and the other 2 at 35 mph. Still very concerning on how to control when this occurs!!.

The vehicle experienced multiple critical mechanical failures, including defective injectors, transmission issues, and a malfunctioning differential. The dealer repaired some of the previous issues, such as the differential in August 2024 and the transmission in October 2024 (which required three weeks of repair). However, they refused to repair the defective injectors, even after the NHTSA issued an alert on September 1, 2024, regarding injector problems. I was never notified of this alert. On January 8, 2025, while driving with my family, the vehicle suddenly stalled without any warning, creating a dangerous situation on the road and putting our safety at significant risk. This resulted in additional expenses, including towing costs ($300) and alternative transportation by taxi ($150). I had to pay $1,851. 98 out of pocket to repair the injectors with an independent mechanic after the dealer refused to cover it. There were no warning lights or messages before the sudden stalling incident. These issues have been partially inspected and addressed by the dealer and independent service centers, but the recurring failures persist, posing ongoing safety risks.

The forward collision system warning system the warning that it's not working stays on for a couple of days then goes off but then it comes back on. My other problem is the pearl white paint is peeling off the hood and roof of my Sorento. Kia said not their problem because it has 80,000 miles. I have read thousands of complaints about this problem. There seems to be a problem with the paint they are using.

The rear camera on my 2016 kia Sorento no longer works. Over the past year, the camera images have been getting blurry and smaller. Now, there is no indication or warning of cars or people behind my vehicle, which is a safety concern. I found online that there is a recall on the rear camera for this model, but the dealership claims they haven't been informed. I'm worried about the safety risks this presents.

I am experiencing a serious issue with my 2018 kia Sorento awd related to the awd coupling. During normal driving, the vehicle does not perform as expected, and the awd system feels compromised, making the car unsafe and unreliable. While the vehicle doesn’t stall, it struggles to function properly, which is a major concern. I took the vehicle to the dealership, where they diagnosed the problem as a malfunctioning awd coupling. However, they informed me that this issue is not covered under warranty or any recall program. This response is both frustrating and concerning, especially since awd functionality is a critical part of the Sorento’s design and intended use. After researching, I found that many kia Sorento owners have reported similar problems with the awd coupling, indicating that this may be a widespread issue across multiple model years. If this is a known defect, it is troubling that kia has not offered a recall or extended warranty to address the problem. Customers should not be left to bear the financial burden of repairing what seems to be a common and significant defect. I am requesting further clarification and assistance. I need to understand why this issue is not covered, particularly if it affects other Sorento vehicles as well. If this is a systemic problem, kia should take responsibility to resolve it fairly and promptly. The awd system is essential for safe driving, and as a loyal customer, I expect kia to stand behind its product and ensure my safety and satisfaction.

Paint delaminating in multiple areas on the vehicle both risers, hood and roof.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

I have a 2014 kia Sorento 4dr lx awd with snow white pearl exterior paint. I bought the vehicle new with 91miles on it from the dealership in mentor ohio. The vehicle has always been in my garage when not driving. Just before christmas I noticed a small (dime size) piece of paint missing from my drivers side pillar then a few days later on the passenger side pillar almost half the paint was gone! I took my car to the dealership and they told me that they were going to log the complaint and took my VIN and said it was probably from a stone chip in the paint? what? a stone chip does not cause almost all of the paint to flake off???? I worked at a car dealership in the service department for years and this is not from a stone chip - its a paint defect. I'm not sure if this letter will do anything but just wanted my paint problem noted as I've seen many other complaints about the same issue. Thank you [xxx] , OH information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Coolant system not functioning properly replace thermostat and worked a day then back to overheating. Engine overheating with new oil and filter also shakes badly car does not shut of when ignition is pressed the first time have start the car then shut it off again.

A crack on my dashboard by the airbag above glove box. I use a windshield screen and armor all it to protect it I’m afraid if there’s an accident the airbag will not work as designed and it could cause injury or death kia said after 5 years it’s normal wear and tear I bought car new oct 2019.

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a serious safety issue with my kia Sorento 2014. While driving on the interstate with my family, the vehicle suddenly began to slow down without warning. We were able to move to the shoulder, but this incident put our safety at significant risk as we were on a busy highway. We initially suspected brake failure, but after having the car towed home and inspected, we discovered that the motor/engine had completely failed. This failure also impacted the electrical system, leaving the car completely immobile. It has been confirmed by a mechanic that the engine is at fault. However, local dealers and mechanics were unable to inspect it further due to a lack of necessary equipment. As of now, the component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or any other authority. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure, and the vehicle showed no signs of issues leading up to the incident. We purchased this car in 2023, only to find out later that kia had issued a recall for this issue in 2021. This recall was never disclosed by the dealership, nor was it listed on the carfax report. Due to the recall predating our purchase, kia has refused to provide any assistance or compensation, leaving us with an inoperable vehicle and significant financial strain. As a low-income family on a fixed budget, this situation has been extremely challenging. We kindly request your assistance in investigating this matter and helping us find a resolution. Thank you for your attention and support.

Spare tire jack collapsed when jacking up the vehicle. I don’t think the jack is rated for a phev Sorento.

I am having issues with delamination and paint peeling off, on my driver's side pillar. The paint is the pearl white.

The inhibitor switch won’t let me take my car out of park.

The car is snow white pearl and the paint is delaminating from the car in a large area and is growing. There was no impact or damage to the affected area. This is on the exterior of the car on the passenger side pillar next to the windshield. This seems to be happen to a lot of kia/hyundais in that are white.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.