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: engine
512 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Apr 3, 2013
ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, CHECKED OIL TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN AND NOISE CONTINUED. DROVE HOME APPROX 150 MILES FROM VISITING OUR SON AT COLLEGE. AFTER ARRIVING AT HOME ENGINE STILL MADE NOISE. TOOK INTO DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND TODAY WAS INFORMED WE ARE NEEDING A NEW SHORT BLOCK ENGINE AND IT'S ON BACKORDER FOR A WEEK AND A HALF. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER, SINCE I AM MAKING CAR PAYMENTS AND DON'T HAVE THE VEHICLE. IT WORRIES ME WHAT IS YET TO COME WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE REASON WE PURCHASED IT TO BEGIN WITH WAS THE WARRANTY, BUT HAD WE KNOWN WE'D BE USING IT 7 MONTHS INTO OWNING THIS KIA I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED IT TO BEGIN WITH. I DO WANT TO SAY THE DEALERSHIP WE ARE DEALING WITH ARE EXTREMELY HELPFUL WITH A LOANER CAR, ALTHOUGH IT'S A SEDAN AND NOT WHAT I PURCHASED. SO THEY ARE DOING THEIR PART AND I APPRECIATE THAT FACT. *TR
Power train, Engine, Mar 17, 2013
ON 9-3-12 BOUGHT A NEW 2013 KIA SORENTO WITH THE BASE 4 ENGINE. NEXT DAY NOTICED A VIBRATION WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE. THE CAR SHAKES. NOTIFIED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DEALER NOTICED CONCERN BUT COULD NOT ADDRESS. NO APPLICABLE SERVICE BULLETIN. IN DECEMBER DEALER NOTIFIED ME OF A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. DEALER INSTALLED A NEW TENSIONER AND ALTERNATOR PULLEY. CHANGES DID LESSON THE VIBRATIONS. BUT AN UNACCEPTABLE VIBRATION STILL EXISTS WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE. THE VIBRATION DISAPPEARS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN N WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE. *TR
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
WE PURCHASED 2 KIA VEHICLES ON 12-8-2013, ONE BEING THE 2013 KIA SORENTO AWD 4-CYL-GDI. WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO RETURN ON MONDAY TO TURN IN THE OTHER TRADE. WE QUESTIONED THE SALESMAN ABOUT THE ROUGH IDLE AND LOUD NOISE THAT IT MADE AT STOPS BUT HE SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND IT WOULD WORK ITSELF OUT AFTER A BREAK-IN PERIOD. THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE LIGHTS STATED TO FLICKER, I TOLD MY WIFE TO GIVE IT GAS AND THEN IT STOPPED..UNTIL SHE LET OFF THE PEDAL. WE SUBMITTED AM INQUIRY TO KIA THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND BY THE NEXT DAY WE WERE CONTACTED BY A REGIONAL REP. WE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN AND THEN I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE...TO WHICH I QUICKLY LOST THAT WARM FUZZY FEELING OF A NEW KIA OWNER! WE LEFT OUR VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR DAYS UNTIL WE HAD ENOUGH, WE WERE FIXING TO HAVE TO PAY A NOTE ON A VEHICLE WE DIDN'T HAVE! WE CALLED AND PICKED OUR VEHICLE BACK UP, WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACK-ORDER FROM KOREA. WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED FROM A REP OUT OF GEORGIA NOW AND WE JUST KEEP BEING TOLD TO BE PATIENT. I AM NOT HAPPY AT ALL AS WE PURCHASED TWO NEW VEHICLES AND WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS. HAD WE LEFT OUR VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP (WHICH IS WHAT THEY WANTED WHILE WE DROVE A NASTY RENTAL) WE BE OUT FOR AT LEAST A MONTH AS THE PARTS AREN'T SCHEDULED TO BE SHIPPED UNTIL THE 21ST OF JANUARY! WE HAVE NO IDEA OF OUR LEGAL RIGHTS IF ANY, AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE. KIA OFFERS NOTHING MORE THAN A STINKY RENTAL CAR AND PLEASE BE PATIENT....THE SERVICE MANAGER HOWEVER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN WONDERFUL..UNLIKE THE SALES MANAGER! *TR
Power train, Engine, Dec 19, 2012
2013 KIA SORENTO 4 CYLINDER. WHILE AT STOP LIGHT ENGINE REVVED UP AND LUNGED FORWARD. APPLIED HARDER BRAKE UNTIL STOP LIGHT TURNED GREEN. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP FOR TWO DAYS SO FAR WAITING ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES NEVER HAD TO REPLACE AN ALTERNATOR BEFORE AND NOT IN STOCK, WAITING FOR OVERNIGHT SHIPPING FOR TWO DAYS. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER DEFECTIVE PARTS, BUT WILL FIX AND SERVICE VEHICLE WHEN PARTS ARRIVE. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 15, 2012
A DAY AFTER I PURCHASED A NEW KIA SORENTO EX GDI 2013 (9/25/2012), I NOTICED THAT IT HAD ROUGH IDLE AT STOP. I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE ROUGH IDLE ISSUE NEXT DAY, HOWEVER AFTER 4 DAYS OF TROUBLESHOOTING BY MECHANIC WITH KIA SUPPORT ENGINEER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. TSB#122 (ECM SOFTWARE UPGRADE) WAS ALREAY APPLIED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. EVEN TODAY, I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS 2800 MILES. *TR
Engine, Nov 12, 2012
ENGINE IDLES ROUGHLY. *TR
Power train, Engine, Oct 19, 2012
THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHENEVER IT'S IDLING IN DRIVE AND WHILE YOUR BRAKED. . I TOOK TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM TO BRING IT IN. I BROUGHT IT IN THEY HAD IT FOR 20 MINUTES AND SAID ITS ALL SET. WELL LET ME TELL YOU IT'S NOT FIXED! I CALLED AND OLD HE DEALERSHIP AND NOW I HAVE TO BRING IT IN AGAIN. THE VIBRATION ONLY GOES AWAY IF WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AND PUT THE SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL. *TR
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Sep 28, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, HE FELT A SHIMMY THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT EXACT REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400. ...UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE IN A ROUGH MANNER. WHEN AT A STOP. UPDATED 10/25/12
Engine, Aug 19, 2012
4 CYL ROUGH IDLE AT STOP LIGHT AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. NOTICE WHEN DROVE NEW CAR OFF LOT. ASSUMED IT WAS NORMAL. HAD TO MAKE A LONG TRIP. AFTER RETURNING FROM TRIP HAD CAR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD UPON IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND WOULD BE FIXED --NO DEFINITE TIME. SERVICE REP WAS CORNERED AND SAID COULD BE 30-60 DAYS. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO CALL DEALER AND WRITE AN EXTENSIVE NOTE--SEEMED TO GET STONEWALLED BYG BEING TOLD--WORKING ON IT AND WILL LET YOU KNOW. FINALLY ON AUG 16 TOOK CAR IN AND HAD A "COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT FOR ROUGH IDLE". MUCH BETTER, BUT ONLY A FEW MILES SINCE RECALL NOTICE AND FIX. I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL RECALL NOTICE-- I FEEL THAT KIA CORPORATE INTENTIONALLY DID NOT DIVULGE THIS PROBLEM TO AUTOMOBILE SAFETY OFFICIALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTINUING TO SELL THE 4 CYLINDER SORENTOS-POOR DECISION. *TR
Engine, Aug 13, 2012
WHILE ON VACATION (JUNE 15) WE WERE TO STOP BY THE DEALER AND GET OUR NEW TAGS. ON I77 AT MILEAGE MARKER 33 IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND WASN'T ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT (NOBODY WOULD LET US GET OUT OF THE LANE WE WERE IN) TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE .WE ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING. I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO CREATE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. NO MATTER WHAT I DID I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED AND IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. PEOPLE WERE GOING AROUND US ON BOTH SIDES BEEPING THEIR HORNS AND OTHER GESTURES. AFTER FOOLING WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IT STARTED BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT STARTED TO MISS AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF STALLING WHEN I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN FINE. I THEN PUT IT IN LOW GEAR AND IT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, ONCE I GOT SOME SPEED (DID NOT LOOK AT THE SPEEDOMETER TO SEE HOW FAST I WAS GOING) I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE AFTER THAT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH WHEN IN NEUTRAL AND WHILE IDLING WHEN IN GEAR (VARIES WITH NO RHYME OR REASON). THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT KIA KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND WERE WORKING ON IT. THEY SHOULD HAVE AN ANSWER WITHIN TWO WEEKS. IT IS AUGUST 13 AND THAT WAS JUNE 15. ON AUGUST 7 IT HAPPENED AGAIN...HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS AT TIMES, VEHICLE MISSING, STARTING TO STALL....I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP EACH TIME A PROBLEM HAPPENED...SO FAR ALL I GOT IS LIP SERVICE. CALLED SEVERAL HOURS AGO (TALKED TO THE SALESMAN) SAID HE WAS WITH A CUSTOMER AND WILL GET BACK TO ME. NO RESPONSE FROM HIM SO FAR. I AM AT A LOST AS TO WHAT TO DO MY WIFE IS SCARED AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I AM WORRIED THAT I MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR EVEN WORST. *TR
Engine, Aug 3, 2012
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN SLOW TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DIED WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE CAR. IT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY START, BUT AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE ENGINE KICKED OVER. I DROVE IT OFF THE FREEWAY AND HAD IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALER. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A WEEK THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY "CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" SO THEY WON'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THERE IS NO "CODE" FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE IF THE ENGINE DIES ON THE FREEWAY. IF KIA CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 24, 2012
I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD ONLY 5 MILES ON IT AND HAD NOT BEEN TEST DRIVEN PRIOR TO ME. I NOTICED A VERY SLIGHT VIBRATION FROM 0MPG TO 10MPG, AND ASKED THE SALES ASSOCIATE IF THAT WAS NORMAL. HE SAID IT WAS FINE AND WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY FURTHER ISSUES WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS AND DID NOT NOTICE THE VIBRATION AGAIN DURING THE TEST DRIVE. AFTER I SIGNED THE FINANCIAL PAPERS AT 11PM AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAD OFFICIALLY CLOSED FOR THE DAY AND GOT INTO THE CAR TO DRIVE HOME, I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WHILE IT IDLED AND I WAS SPEAKING TO THE SALES ASSOCIATE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE VIBRATION WAS VERY NOTICEABLE. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD THE ASSOCIATE AND HE SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE FOLLOWING DAY TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. HE SAID IT'S UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE MAN TOLD MY HUSBAND IT WAS LIKELY JUST THAT IT NEEDED TO BREAK-IN SINCE IT ONLY HAD A FEW MILES ON IT. THEY RAN TESTS ON THE CAR AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. THE MAN SUGGESTED WE TAKE IT FOR A LONG DRIVE AND PUT A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES ON IT AND SEE HOW IT WAS RUNNING AFTERWARD. WE DID SO AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT GET BETTER. WE BROUGHT IT IN THE NEXT DAY TO BE INSPECTED AGAIN AND THE SERVICE MEN TOOK IT FOR A SHORT DRIVE TO SEE IF THEY COULD REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY NOTED THEY DID. OUR SALES ASSOCIATE TOLD US HE LOOKED INTO THIS VIBRATION PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT KIA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WERE WORKING ON A FIX FOR A COMPUTER CHIP THAT WAS AFFECTING THE 4 CYLINDER 2013 SORENTOS. HE TOLD US KIA DID NOT HAVE A TIMEFRAME FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM BUT IT SHOULD BE SOON, BUT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL 4 CYLINDERS THAT THEY ARE MAKING. *TR