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: other or unspecified
89 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Other or unspecified, Oct 19, 2020
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER PULLING INTO MY GARAGE, TURNED VEHICLE OFF - KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION, RESTARTED CAR, BACKED UP, PULLED STRAIGHT FORWARD, MADE SURE WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT, PLACED IN PARK, TURNED OFF IGNITION, KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION. RESTARTED CAR, BACKED UP, PULLED FORWARD AGAIN AND PARKED, FINALLY ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. THANKFULLY I WAS HOME AND WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEY. THIS HAS HAPPED MANY TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE, SOME OF WHICH I HAVE REPORTED ALREADY.
Other or unspecified, Aug 31, 2020
DOOR HANDLES FROM THE INSIDE STOPPED WORKING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 28, 2020
THIS AS HAPPENED 3 TIMES..WHILE DRIVING CAR IT WILL MYSTERIOUSLY STAUL..LAST TIME ON INTERSTATE THEN AFTER HOURS OF SITTING IT WILL START WITH NO CODES AND BE FINE TIL NEXT TIME
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 6, 2020, fire
JULY 3, 2020 CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENGINE REPLACE 2017. LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON NEW MOTOR. 2019 HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP RECALLED. IT WAS INSPECTED AND REPLACED.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 21, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON I 81 IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY VA MY KIA STARTED LOSING POWER, LOWING THE SPEED I COULD DO AND THE RPMS RIGHT IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN AND ACTUALLY BEFORE THEN BUT WAS NEVER AS SCARY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE OR FIND ANY CODES IN THE COMPUTER.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 28, 2020
MY CAR STALLED GOING AROUND 65-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, AND POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION COMPLETELY CEASED. AFTER PULLING OVER I WAITED A MINUTE AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND MY ENGINE HAS A VERY LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM IT, AND IT DRIVES EXTREMELY ROUGH. I NEVER HAD ANY WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THIS, AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES ON MY VEHICLE, AND NOW IT IS THROWING A "P1326" CODE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE OR POSSIBLE ACCIDENT!
Other or unspecified, Jan 9, 2020
AFTER DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT AND PARKING, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER DOOR TO GET MY SERVICE DOG OUT WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE COVER POPPED OFF AND HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE HANDLE ITSELF, BUT THE DOOR HANDLE COVER HAD SNAPPED WHERE THE SCREW FROM THE DOOR IS MEANT TO SECURE THE PIECE TO THE DOOR. WHEN I WENT TO KIA, THEY EXPLAINED KIA HAD ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTICULAR HANDLES BREAKING, AND THE FIX WAS A NEW DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY; HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, KIA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND REQUIRE THOSE AFFECTED TO REPLACE THEM AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, WHICH IS OVER $150 WITHOUT LABOR COST INCLUDED. THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY HAZARD (WITHOUT THE HANDLE, YOU CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE) AND MANY KIA OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE VIA ONLINE FORUMS, AND YET KIA STILL REFUSES TO OFFER A RECALL OR WARRANTY EXTENSION! THE FACT THEY DON'T OFFER A REPLACEMENT HANDLE COVER, BECAUSE IT WOULD CONTINUE TO POSE THIS PROBLEM, AND STATE THE FIX BEING A NEW COMPLETE DOOR ASSEMBLY SHOULD MERIT THEIR EXTENDING A WARRANTY FIX OR RECALL.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 24, 2019
I ALREADY FILED A CLAIM THE OTHER DAY, BUT NOW MY 2013 SORENTO HAS GOTTEN EVEN WORSE! MY CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AROUND 65-70 MPH, AND POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION COMPLETELY CEASED. AFTER GETTING HOME AND CALLING TO REPORT THIS, I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, AND MY ENGINE HAS A VERY LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM IT, AND IT DRIVES EXTREMELY ROUGH. I NEVER HAD ANY WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THIS, AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES ON MY VEHICLE, AND NOW IT IS THROWING A "P1326" CODE. IT STALLED TWICE PRIOR TO THIS WHILE DRIVING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY ENGINE WASN'T RECALLED PRIOR TO THIS WHEN THERE WAS AN ENGINE RECALL ON MY EXACT YEAR AND MODEL FOR ROD BEARING WEAR! THIS IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, AND KIA IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT JUST KEEPS THROWING BANDAIDS ON THE ACTUAL PROBLEM! WHEN IS THIS GOING TO END? ENGINES ARE CATCHING ON FIRE, PEOPLE (INCLUDING MYSELF) ARE STALLING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THEIR FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP! I WANT ANSWERS!! HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? I EITHER WANT A RECALL ON MY ENGINE, OR I WANT A WARRANTY TO COVER THE PROBLEM THEY ARE ALREADY AWARE OF! I REFUSE TO PUT MINE OR MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE KIA DOES NOT WANT TO OWN UP TO THEIR PROBLEM! THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS, WHEN WILL THIS END?! I'M STILL PAYING ON A CAR I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE DUE TO MANUFACTURER ERROR!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER KIA DUE TO THEIR SAFETY VIOLATIONS, AND I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I CAN GET RID OF THIS CAR AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR SAFETY ANY LONGER. I WANT SOMETHING DONE NOW! I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS.
Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2019
MY VEHICLE STARTS HESITATING THAN SHAKES AND STALLS . I WAIT AND START IT UP . IT HAS DONE THIS AND I SEE RECALLS FOR KIA AND STALLING ISSUES. I AM AFRAID I'M GONNA GET INTO AN ACCIDENT
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 25, 2019
HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS OTHER THEN HAVING TO PUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE MOTOR EVERY OTHER DAY AND IT STALLING TO THE POINT OF ALMOST CUTTING OFF WHEN I START TO TAKE OFF. I GOT UP PUT OIL IN THE CAR STARTED MY DAY AS USUAL, RAN ERRANDS AND THE PARKED THE CAR AS USUAL. WENT TO GET IN IT THE NEXT DAY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. STARTED TO DRIVE IT AND IT MADE THE SOUND AS IF IT WAS MISFIRING. LATER THAT DAY HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS PLUGS. SO I CHANGED THE PLUGS AND COIL PACKS AND IT DID NOT CHANGE A THING. STILL HAD THAT NOISE AND WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD IT WILL START SHAKING AND HAVE TO GEAR DOWN. CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY SAID IT WAS PART OF THE 147 RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT SHOWED THAT IT HAD BEEN FIXED IN 2018. I EXPLAINED THAT IT SHOOK WHEN DRIVEN THAT PLUGS AND COIL PACKS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, HAD TO FILL UP ON OIL INSTEAD OF GAS AND THAT THE OIL HAD GAS IN IT. TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 230 OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE IT TOWED. NEXT DAY TOOK IT TOO KIA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE MOTOR LOCKED UP BEFORE THEY COULD DO ANYTHING. FINALLY GOT THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THE MOTOR WAS BAD. IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT COULD CAUGHT FIRE OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BUT YET NOT PART OF THE RECALL SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. NOT ONLY DID KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NHTSA BOTH SAID IT WAS PART OF THE 147 RECALL. I AM WITH OUT A VEHICLE AND STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ONE THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE OR GET FIXED.
Other or unspecified, Oct 11, 2019
TWO LEAKING RADIATORS REPLACED IN TWO YEARS, ANTIFREEZE LEAKING IN THE DRIVEWAY; TWO BATTERIES REPLACED IN TWO YEARS.VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IN ALL INSTANCES. WORKING ON GETTING PROOF FOR LAST YEAR.
Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2019
SUNROOF SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
Air bags, Seats, Other or unspecified, Sep 3, 2019
RECEIVED EXTENDED WARRANTY INFORMATION REGARDING MY AIRBAG LIGHT BROUGHT THIS IN TO HAVE THE CLOCK ASSEMBLY SPRING REVIEWED AND IT WAS REPLACED BUT THEN WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY $2000 TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SEAT CHANGE TO HAVE THE SENSOR GO OFF.
Other or unspecified, Jul 8, 2019
I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW OFF THE LOT BACK IN 2013, THE STEREO STOPPED WORKING IN 2016. I HAD ALL THE FUSES CHECKED AND THEY'RE ALL GOOD, SPEAKERS ARE FINE. THEY SAID THE WHOLE STEREO NEEDS TO REPLACED AND QUOTED ME OVER $500 TO REPLACE IT. ONLY THREE YEARS INTO OWNING MY NEW CAR. IT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST STOPPED. THE LIGHT COME ON AND THE CONTROLS WORK BUT THEY SAID IT'S NOT CONNECTING TO THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 1, 2019
ABS, TRACKSION CONTROL AND HILL CREST LIGHTS WANT TURN OFF...
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 23, 2019, fire
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR KIA STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. WE SLOWED DOWN AND STARTED TO PULL OVER WHEN WE HEAR PIECES OF OUR CAR BREAKING OFF AND SAW A HUGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE. WHEN WE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS SEIZING AND CAUSED THE BEARING TO PUNCH A HOLE INTO THE ENGINE. THE PARTS WE HEAR FLYING OFF WERE ACTUALLY PIECES OF THE ENGINE EXTERIOR, WHICH CAUSED SPARKS AND IGNITED THE FIRE WHEN THE ENGINE OIL STARTED POURING OUT. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND WE HAVE KEPT UP ON MAINTENANCE. LESS THAN 100K MILES. VIN IS NOT PART OF ENGINE RECALL, HOWEVER IT IS CLEAR UPON LITTLE RESEARCH THAT KIA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY DON'T CARE, AND THEY ARE DOING LITTLE TO FIX IT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES WE'RE PUTTING AT STAKE AND THESE CARS NEED OFF THE ROAD. THEY ARE NOT SAFE. PLEASE HELP THE PUBLIC DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Apr 11, 2019
NO NOTIFICATION OF THE FOLLOWING RECALL: MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERSC124 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER15V626 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY KIA MOTORS AMERICA 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."
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2019
COMPUTER NEEDS TO CONSTANTLY BE RESET
Other or unspecified, Mar 8, 2019
SHATTERED SUN ROOF! AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I HEARD I LOUD POP AND THEN THE RAINING DOWN OF GLASS.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 4, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY (APPROX. 70MPH) THE CAR BEGAN TO KNOCK FROM ENGINE LOUD. ALSO THERE WAS A LOT NOISE I CAN'T BEGIN TO EXPLAIN. IMMEDIATELY IT SMELLED LIKE THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. THERE WAS NO ISSUES OR INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. LUCKILY I WAS COMING UP ON A REST STOP AND I GOT IT INTO THE LOT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. OF COURSE I START MAKING CALLS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PULL UP COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR. BUT I HAVE ONE OF THE SOOL VIN #S NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT THING THAT THOUSANDS ARE GETTING HELP WITH. STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CAR. CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR. 2 MONTHS NOW OF BEING TOLD THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.
Other or unspecified, Feb 9, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD AT NIGHT WITH 2 OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND MY SUNROOF JUST SHATTERED. POLICE WERE CALLED AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT A ROCK OR BULLET HIT MY CAR. NO DAMAGE TO MY WINDSHIELD OR FRONT END ON MY CAR. IT WAS LIKE IT JUST EXPLODED.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 2, 2019
I KEEP GETTING ERROR CODES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGH I CHECK WITH OBD2 METER 3 DIFFERENT CODES COME UP 3 TIMES EACH. P0638, P2106, AND AND P2110. I CLEAR THEM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND THEN RANDOMLY IT HAPPENS AGAIN I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I JUST WANT TO BE SURE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M EITHER GOING 25 OR 55 AND ACCELERATING
Other or unspecified, Dec 14, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. SOME GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR AND LARGE CHUNKS WERE THROWN BEHIND ME INTO TRAFFIC.
Other or unspecified, Nov 28, 2018, fire
ON 11/22/2018 MY KIA SORENTO CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. TOTAL LOSS
Other or unspecified, Nov 16, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE MY 2013 KIA SORENTO BEGAN KNOCKING AND LOST OF ACCELERATE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE.