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
981 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Aug 28, 2021
My 2013 Ex Sorento when idling with the A/C on, “Pants” or “pulse” struggling to idle. BUT…. If I turn OFF the A/C the RPM “Smooths out” and is consistent in idling. This began about 2019 March. Current miles: 56,000 and current On maintenance, inspections and oil changes. (Two drivers only) Will there be a recall for this?
Structure, Aug 26, 2021
Paint is Chipping off cat Rapidly and it’s getting worse.
Engine, Aug 23, 2021
Excessive oil consumption. Kia stated this is a known issue but is not "quite to the status of a recall." They said there is no fix to the issue and they cannot diagnose what is causing the excessive oil consumption but can confirm it is not leaking. Both the Kia dealership and general Kia phone support informed me there is nothing they can do and the best suggestion they can provide is to wait until the engine seizes up. They said at that point, I can have it towed to a local Kia dealership or "limp" it to a dealership and it would then be qualified for an engine replacement under a different recall. I asked if I should top it off with oil to prevent the engine from failing while we are driving, and they informed me not to do this "as that will only prolong the issue." I then confirmed with them that the only solution being provided was to continue driving the car and wait until the engine fails while I am driving down the road, potentially with my family in the car which is an extremely dangerous situation. Multiple different Kia reps confirmed that is the only and "best" solution they can provide. The dealership said they see this issue with this engine "all the time and it sucks" but they cannot help me until I bring them a seized-up engine. They also said there is nothing they can do to fix the issue before the engine goes bad. They tried to provide a glimmer of hope by saying, "the good news is there is a 99% chance you will get a new engine because we see major engine issues so often Kia just replaces the engine instead of having us tear it apart to diagnosis the issue because that takes less time and is cheaper." However, they confirmed again they will not and "cannot" fix the car until I bring them a seized engine and continue driving it until it fails. Kia is directly telling consumers to put themselves and their families in harm's way by not fixing a known issue and telling drivers to wait until their engine fails while in the act of driving.
Structure, Aug 18, 2021
I have a 2013 Kia Sorento SX Snow White Pearl. This vehicle has been garage kept its entire life. In spite of this, the paint has begun delaminating above the windshield (just yesterday 08/17/21). Many spots are down to the bare metal. I have never heard of paint doing this on a car....my 20-year-old truck paint is in great condition. I now must get this vehicle painted to avoid rust.
Electrical system, Aug 17, 2021
I have submitted multiple complaints with NHTSA on this vehicle, as well as the dealership. 0n 4/14/2014 I complained that the key won't turn in ignition at intermittent times. Just today (8/17/2021) is the latest time in which pulling into my garage and turning off the vehicle the ignition key would not fully turn off and come out of the ignition. Had to restart the car, put in drive, back up and pull forward, turn steering wheel, place in park and turn vehicle off, then I was finally able to turn ignition and remove key. I've made multiple attempts with the dealership to investigate this problem and the service on Jan. 25, 2021 they verbally recommended replacing the ignition at my expense because it's probably a tooth broken off in the ignition tumbler; however, they could duplicate and are not sure if that would fix problem. My concern is that I'll get stranded somewhere and won't be able to get the key removed from the vehicle or get the vehicle started.
Structure, Aug 11, 2021
Pearl white paint chipping and delaminating on the roof of the cars body
Exterior lighting, Structure, Engine, Aug 9, 2021
Paint peeling and chipping off my car and my insurance stated they will not cover a Manufacture defect…
Engine, Aug 2, 2021
I was driving home from work on the I79 going to Pittsburgh, when I had to switch lanes because of construction my car struggled to increase in speed. As I pressed down on the gas petal all the warning lights on my dashboard came on and my car slowed down, so grateful I was able to pull my car off the highway barely. I turned my car off and waiting, then when I tried to turn it on, it wouldn’t turn over. I called my insurance and requested a jump, but when the roadside assistance arrived, he jumped my car but that didn’t help, he checked my oil and asked about my recent inspection. After all the information and attempts, he researched my VIN and found out it had all the systems of the Kia recall. I am just lucky I was driving the speed limit and made it off the highway lanes even thought I was stuck on the highway off ramp. I think what if I was speeding and had cars following me, then this happened? I would be severely injured, dead, and put others in risk of that danger too.
Engine, Aug 2, 2021
I took my vehicle in to have the oil changed and have a inspection. During the inspection they found that the timing belt cover was just starting to leak. They would need to replace the gasket costing over $1700, then inspect the rest of the components. Thats not even what it is gonna cost if there is more to be done. Under 130000 miles.
Air bags, Aug 2, 2021
I started the vehicle as usual to head home from running errands. I usually watch the warning lights go off. For some reason after the lights went off the air bag light came back on as I was going down the road. I pulled over and turned it off. Waited 5 minutes and started it back up thinking it just needed shut off and restarted. The light again went off for a second and back on all the way home. My normal shop can not work on that component so I have to take it to the Kia dealer to get it fixed and pay to have it checked. Under 130000 miles, this shouldnt be happening.
Structure, Jul 26, 2021
I own a 2013 Kia Sorento with Pearl White paint. It started peeling huge chunks of paint off of the top of my car. There is no reason the paint should just be peeling off, often in huge peeling strips. I am aware of other makes and models with this paint around my production year that have had recalls to fix this defective paint. I believe Kia should be included in this recall. I have included pictures, the last picture is of three average size paint chunks that are coming off daily.
Structure, Jul 23, 2021
Paint delimitation rapidly along top of windshield allowing rust. Safety concern with water damage. No reports to dealer.
Structure, Jul 14, 2021
The paint on my roof is chipping and peeling. I purchased the vehicle used with ±65K miles. After about a year, ±12K miles I noticed some small chipping just above the windshield. I assumed it was normal road debris causing it. Then the paint started to peel back. Just recently a patch about 8" x 6" peeled off. There are other concerned KIA owners suffering the same issues. Now small areas of where the paint chipped/peeled off is starting to rust. The color of the vehicle is Pearl White, which is the most common KIA paint to chip or peel. I purchased a 3 year extended warranty when I bought the car. The dealer I purchased the vehicle from was not a KIA dealer so may not have known about the peeling paint issue with the Sorento and Pearl White paint.
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2021
I continuously am having issues with several light bulbs going out in my vehicle. I have replaced them several times. The headlights, running lights, turning signal bulbs, brake lights, etc. Lights are obviously a very important part of driving, especially at night. I have read complaints from several other Kia owners having the same issue. I am unsure of when the issues started occurring as I purchased the vehicle from the first owner in march or april 2021 and I noticed the issues within a few day of purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle does not have any other issues or warning lights. The light have yet to be inspected.
Other or unspecified, Jul 9, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 KIA Sorento. The contact stated while driving 75 mph, the vehicle started to lose power and the speed decelerated to 55 mph unintendedly. The contact took it to the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the spark plugs, drive belts, and several other unknown parts. The contact stated that approximately 5 months after the repairs the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,332.
Exterior lighting, Jul 7, 2021
Vehicle’s headlights keep burning out, right after replacing them. The headlight wires and bulb connectors keeps melting, causing a potential for fire. I had to replace the headlight wires and connectors 4 times due to this issue. This is a major safety issue and Kia needs to fix this ASAP. Thanks
Engine, Jul 6, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (Engine). The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer for the recall repair however, due to severe rust to the subframe, the dealer declined to provide the service. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle would be repurchased at wholesale value. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.
Structure, Jul 5, 2021
I was sitting in my car before work as I always do. It was running but it was parked. All of a sudden I hear a huge bang that sounds like a shotgun blast. I jump and duck thinking someone is shooting a gun at my car. I then see little shards of glass all over my windshield. I exit my vehicle and see that my sunroof is completely shattered. In the pictures it’s clear it wasn’t from a point of impact (nothing hit my car). Luckily my shield was pulled so no glass got on me and I wasn’t driving. This could have caused me to crash with how loud the boom was. I see online that there’s been several instances of this happening with no recall.
Exterior lighting, Jul 3, 2021
Driver side headlight keeps burning out within 24 hours of being replaced. It has happened 6 times in a row now
Engine, Jul 1, 2021
While on the highway, the engine blew causing a sudden loss of speed and power steeting. The car/engine is currently available for inspection. This is a known issue with the 2013 Kia Sorentos as well as other models. From reviews online, it appears that there is an issue with the crankshaft and oil. For some reason other 2013 Sorentos (and other models) were recalled - this VIN was not. The car was inspected by two independent mechanics (two different companies) and both advised that this is the same problem that was recalled for the crankshaft/oil issue and that I should contact Kia. I contacted Kia and they said this VIN was not re-called. There were no warnings in regards to this issue. The car suddenly lost speed on the highway and I was fortunate enough to be able to glide to a safe area off the highway.
Engine, Jun 26, 2021
for the past year my car has been losing a lot of oil and i've been replacing the oil not thinking much of it until a couple months ago 3 times right after an oil change I lost all all my oil where there was no oil left on the dipstick and no check engine or oil light has come on telling me that my oil is running out. Twice I had to stop on the side of the road and await for friends to bring me oil because i was afraid to ruin my engine. If I wasn't a person that checks oil a lot I'd have no car. Also on this car when I first got the car I had to replace the transmission and I want to check the transmission but this vehicle don;t have a dipstick. I've been checking all the recalls for this vehicle and called the dealership and all they want me to do is bring the vehicle in and charge me money I don't have. I've been reading that oil consumption is a major problem with this vehicle. I'm afraid I may have damaged my engine and Kia is at fault for not fixing this problem years ago and have warning lights for this problem. Monday I'm going to go to the dealership and speak to someone that may be able to help me. Today I replaced the PVC valve as I understand that may be the cause. No oil leaks from the engine and I don't know where the oil is going and I'm afraid the car will lock up and harm my passengers. It first started around 6/2020 but got worse 1/2021.
Engine, Jun 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at various speeds, the vehicle loss motive power without warning. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the roadway and would be able to restart the vehicle a few minutes after failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the Vin was not under recall. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was referred to a local dealer for further assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Engine, Jun 15, 2021
When I first bought my Kia Sorento my car died on me in 2013 in the middle of the freeway while I was pregnant. The car completely shutoff on the freeway. I was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. I took it to the dealer and they could not find anything wrong. Two years later, the engine shut off on me again, this time with my child, husband and mother in the car, I again was pregnant at this time. I took it to the dealership again, and they were unable to find any codes on it. 5 years later, my vehicle died on me three times in one weekend. Again, with my two children and husband in the car. It has now been at a shop for over a week, and they have not been able to find any codes. My safety and my families safety at all times was put at high risk due to majority of the instances of my Kia Sorento engine shutting off was on the free way. No warning lights appear on the dash before the vehicle shuts off and once the vehicle turns on, there are no warning lights that appear/stay on.
Structure, Jun 10, 2021
paint started pealing in 2020 and progressed to many other areas including hatchback and roof
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 9, 2021
The Sorento truck start off by self went I drive more the hour went I brake the truck sout off .