2013 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 981 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 23 involved a crash and 44 involved a fire. 33 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineDec 2, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Campaign 20V750000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 6, 2015
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "Park" without the brakes being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC124.
Campaign 15V626000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
60 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jun 4, 2019
MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
Air bags, May 16, 2019
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON
Air bags, Feb 20, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT ON
Air bags, Structure, Jan 2, 2019
TAKATA RECALL ON BACK LOCKS. LOCK JAMMED ON BACK DOOR. DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUT.. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH KIA DEALERSHIP HONORING A RECALL THAT I THIN SHOULD INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR FRONT LOCKS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT WAS REPAIRED. NOW THE BACK LOCKS ON THE BACK DOOR IS DOING THE SAME THING. THIS IS A DANGER TO MY GRANDCHILDREN WHO SITS IN THE BACK OF MY CAR. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE ASKED KIA CHECK THE AIR BAG, BUT TOLD MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE LIST. AND THAT MY LOCKS ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THESE ARE ALL MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.. THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT "OFF" APPEARS.. THE VEHICLE WAS /IS STATIONARY WHEN THE BACK DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK, ALTHOUGH RESONDS TO KEY PAD SOUND AS THOUGH UNLOCKED, THE DOOR REMAINS LOCK. ALSO, WHEN DOOR IS UNLOCKED ON THE INSIDE, DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. CAR IS STATIONARY.
Air bags, Nov 9, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Air bags, Sep 12, 2018
IN EARLY MAY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON FOR NO REASON. MY 2013 KIA SORENTO WAS IN PARK. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE SERVICE CODE SCANNED. THE CODE CAME BACK SAYING THE PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT MAT AIRBAG SENSOR WAS THE ISSUE. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THAT THE MAT COULD MALFUNCTION IF IT GOT WATER ON IT OR IF ELECTRONICS WERE PLACED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. I INFORMED THE SERVICE CLERK THAT NEITHER SITUATION WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME OR ANYTIME BEFORE THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SERVICE CLERK SAID THAT KIA RECOMMENDED RESETTING THE CODE, AND HE HOPED IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR ALMOST 4 MONTHS. FAST FORWARD TO LAST WEEK. THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR NO REASON. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. MY PASSENGER SEAT HAS NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH WATER OR HAD ELECTRICAL DEVICES RESTING ON IT. I TOOK MY SORRENTO IN AGAIN AND HAD THEM READ THE CODE. IT CAME BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT. MY CAR IS ONLY AT 83,000 MILES, AND WAS AT 79,000 WHEN THE LIGHT FIRST CAME ON. THEY QUOTED THE REPAIR COSTS AT BETWEEN $1500 - $2000. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT KIA, TWO TIMES, THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OPTION ON THEIR WEBSITE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THEY HAVE HAD AIRBAG-RELATED RECALLS WITH SEVERAL OTHER KIA MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR, BUT THE SORENTO IS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THEIR AIRBAGS WHEN THEY GO OUT AT LOWER MILEAGE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH THIS MATTER? IF I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM, SO ARE OTHERS. SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING ON VARIOUS INTERNET SITES. PLEASE HELP! THEY SAY MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE LIGHT ON.
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Sep 11, 2018, fire
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND CAR COUGHT FIRE. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CAR NEXT TO US WHO SIGNALED TO PULL OVER WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TOAST.
Air bags, Sep 5, 2018
AIRBAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS THE OCD MAT SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG
Air bags, Aug 20, 2018, crash
CLOCK SPRING BROKE AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 7, 2018, fire
MY CAR 2013 KIA SORENTO BURNT UP !!
Air bags, Jul 2, 2018
AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF; I'M TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW OCS MAT WHICH REQUIRES A WHOLE NEW PASSENGER SEAT OVER 2,000. WHY ISN'T THIS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUF TO REPLACE? 5 MONTHS PAST THE 5-YEAR WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T GIVE ME ANY DISCOUNT. IN MY OPINION, THE LIABILITY SHOULD FALL ON THE MANUFACTURER FOR ITEMS LIKE THIS AND NOT THE CONSUMER (FEEL MORE LIKE A SUCKER).
Air bags, Jun 8, 2018
THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAS BECOME ILLUMINATED DUE TO A SENSOR FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND DISCUSSED AMONG KIA OWNERS. THE FAILURE OF THE SENSOR CAUSES ALL OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. WITH THE RECENT RECALLS TO OTHER KIA AND HYUNDAI MODELS, THIS MODEL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THIS MODEL.
Air bags, Mar 5, 2018
SRS
Air bags, Feb 26, 2018
INTERNAL SHORT IN THE OCS MAT SENSOR LOCATED IN MY PASSENGER SEAT WHERE THERE IS RARELY ANYONE SITTING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT DISABLES MY ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. IT'S A $2100 REPAIR THAT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE FOR KIA.
Air bags, Feb 21, 2018
MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND WHILE HAVING A RECENT RECALL FOR SOMETHING ELSE TAKEN CARE OF THEY FIXED THE ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG. IT IS NOW ON AGAIN AND I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND PASSENGERS NOT KNOWING WHAT THE ISSUE REALLY IS. I WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT WEEK TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS NOT GIVEN ANY IDEA OF WHETHER THIS WOULD BE MY EXPENSE OR KIS'A.
Air bags, Dec 15, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ITS REAR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND LOWER BACK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Air bags, Dec 13, 2017
TAKATA RECALL- THE MERCEDES DEALER WHERE I LIVE (LANCASTER, NY 14086) HAS BEEN WAITING 2 YEARS FOR PARTS. COLD CLIMATES ARE BEING SERVICED LAST IF NOT AT ALL. I ALSO HAVE A HOME IN CAPE CORAL FL. WHERE I PLAN TO EVENTUALLY MAKE A PERMANENT MOVE. THEY ARE SERVICING THE HOT. HUMID CLIMATES FIRST. UNTIL I MAKE MY MOVE PERMANENT MY MERCEDES WILL REMAIN IN NYS. I RUN THE RISK OF NOT HAVING REMEDIED THE RECALL WHEN I DO MAKE THE PERMANENT MOVE. I FEAR BY THEN I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED IN FL. DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF PARTS. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR. WAS IT NOT THE DEALER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL ME OF THE RECALL WHEN I WAS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE? ( I DID NOT PURCHASE FROM A AUTHORIZED MERCEDES DEALER, JOE BASIL RESALE WAS THE SELLER.) I MAY HAVE RECONSIDERED MY PUCHASE IF I KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL AND IT'S SPECIFIC ISSUES IN RELATION TO MY PENDING RELOCATING. FORTUNATELY, NOTHING HAS OCCURED AT THIS POINT BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
Air bags, Oct 11, 2017
WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING IT TURNS OUT THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND VARIOUS YEARS. THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY UNLESS IT IS FIXED.
Air bags, Sep 23, 2017
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A SUMMER ROAD TRIP, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST REACHED 100,000 MILES AND IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. AT THE END OF THE TRIP, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND PULLED A CODE RELATING TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR MAT. THEY INSPECTED ALL THE CONNECTIONS AND DETERMINED THAT A CONNECTION MUST HAVE COME LOOSE AND RESET THE AIRBAG LIGHT. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ONCE AGAIN ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. IT WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THIS TIME A THOROUGH INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AND THE DEFECT WAS SAID TO BE WITH THE AIRBAG SENSOR MAT AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PAST THE 60,000 MILE ELECTRICAL WARRANTY. THE ONLY OPTION FOR REPLACEMENT WAS TO PURCHASE A BRAND NEW SEAT, WITH SENSOR, AT THE COST OF THE OWNER, FOR $2200. THIS DEFECT IS COSTLY TO THE OWNER, ESPECIALLY ON A "LIKE-NEW" VEHICLE, AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THIS DEFECT PREVENTS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Aug 1, 2017
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON CODE B1361
Air bags, Apr 27, 2017
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. DEAL ADVISES THAT IT IS A SENSOR AND THAT IT IS OVER $400 TO REPAIR. HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2013 KIA SORENTO. VEHICLE IS JUST OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE (3,000 OVER). VEHICLE AS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Mar 6, 2017
THE ELECTRICAL WIRE TO THE LIGHTS BURNED AS WELL AS THE CONNECTOR THE BATTERY WILL NOT STAY CHARGED NOTHING IS ON AT THE TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. THE DOORS RANDOMLY LOCK BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE AND THERE'S A SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IT A HAZARD TO DRIVE
Air bags, Feb 25, 2017
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON IN SEPT 2016. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR THAT HAD GONE BAD. THEY STATED THAT IT COULD KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING OR CAUSE IT TO DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY STATED THAT I COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE SENSOR TO GO BAD INSIDE THE SEAT! THE PART W/ LABOR COST OVER $1500 TO REPLACE. NOW 5 MONTHS LATE (FEB 2017) I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN.
Air bags, Feb 9, 2017
CAR AT 72,000 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONSTANTLY. DEALER INDICATES PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR. ODDLY, THE OTHER LIGHT ABOVE THE CONSOLE THAT INDICATES PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF CORRECTLY SHOWN OFF WHEN NO ONE IS SEATED IN PASSENGER SEAT, AND ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED. RESEARCH FROM VARIOUS ONLINE SOURCES IS INCONCLUSIVE IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT GIVEN THE CURRENT ERROR CODES OF B1674 AND B1767. EXPENSE TO REPAIR IS EXCESSIVE, IN MY OPINION, AT A COST OF $1,800 FOR THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR (ROUGHLY 1/5 THE VALUE OF THE CAR).
Air bags, Nov 15, 2016
I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE OVER $2100 TO FIX. AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THIS DEFECT.