2014 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 987 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 23 involved a crash and 46 involved a fire. 24 people were injured and 1 person died.
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
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideMay 10, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 21V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideAug 27, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 20V519000 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, axle assembly, axle shaftAug 13, 2013
Kia Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2014 front wheel drive Sorento vehicles manufactured January 7, 2013, through March 12, 2013; and equipped with 2.4 liter engines. Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture.
A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, it may roll away. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 . Kia's recall number is SC099.
Campaign 13V356000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
406 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Jul 30, 2015
WHILE DRIVING AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED, A NOISE DEVELOPED, SEEMED TO COME FROM THE FRONT OF CAR, PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE SOURCE. SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, QUIET AT IDLE, MORE LIKE A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN REVING THE ENGINE ABOVE IDLE RPMS. NO CODES OR WARNING LIGHTS VISIBLE ON DASH BROUGHT TO KIA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS.. WAS TOLD THE COMPLETE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM. WILL BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. I TRAVEL BY CAR EXTENSIVELY LONG DISTANCES, FORTUNATE IT DIDN;T HAPPEN ON ONE OF MY TRIPS. THIS HAPPENED WHILE SUMMERING IN MASSACHUSETTS. MY HOME IS IN FLORIDA.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 24, 2015
AUG 5 2014 WAS DRIVING HOME ENGINE JUST STOPPED, WHICH MAKES BRAKING AND STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. GOT ENGINE STARTED AFTER A FEW TRIES ,DROVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. CALLED KIA, HAD TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES OR PROBLEMS. MILEAGE 9500. ON JAN 7 2015 CAR WOULD NOT START IN PARKING LOT AT WORK. MANAGED TO GET STARTED, DROVE 500 YARDS AND ENGINE QUIT AT A STOP LIGHT. RESTARTED ENGINE, STARTED UP A HILL AND AFTER 500 YARDS OR SO ENGINE QUIT AGAIN. RESTARTED AGAIN CONTINUED HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON JAN 7 2015 LEFT WORK, ENGINE QUIT AGAIN. RESTARTED AND CONTINUED ON. AFTER 8 MILES ENGINE QUIT WHILE TRAVELING UP A SLOPE ON SNOW COVERED ROAD. CAR SLID BACKWARDS INTO A DITCH. RESTARTED AGAIN, PULLED THE CAR FROM DITCH, CONTINUED ON. AFTER A MILE, ENGINE QUIT AGAIN. RESTARTED AND CONTINUED HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT . MILEAGE 14000. CALLED KIA UPON ARRIVING HOME. THEY ARRANGED A LOANER CAR FOR US AND WE TOOK SORENTO TO LOCAL DEALER AGAIN. DEALER PUT 30 MILES ON CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT AND CHECKED COMPUTER FOR CODES. NONE FOUND. KIA ENGINEERING INSTRUCTED THEM TO CHECK ALL GROUNDS. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. KIA ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY SENDING A DATA RECORDER TO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION ON CAR FOR 30 DAYS TO MONITOR SYSTEMS. HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO DATA RECORDER CAN PICK UP THE PROBLEM. ONLY PROBLEM IS WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT. KIA DOES NOT SEEM CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT OUR WELL BEING OR ANYONE ELSE'S SHOULD WE BE IN OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. KIA ACTUALLY TOLD US THEY WERE NOT WORRIED ABOUT HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS. MIND YOU WE LIVE IN NORTHWEST PA. THE WEATHER IS LESS THAN HOSPITABLE MUCH OF THE TIME DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. *TR
Engine, Jan 14, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Engine, May 6, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD ROAR EXTREMELY LOUD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BLOCK IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.
Engine, Mar 10, 2014
ON JANUARY 2014, I BOUGHT A KIA SORENTO, 2014. ON THE SAME DAY I NOTICE A STRANGE NOISE ON THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MEDINA AUTO IN CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO (DEALER) AND THEY SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE GDI MOTOR TYPE. I TOOK THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES BACK THE DEALER, WITH THE SAME FEEDBACK. "THE NOISE IS DUE TO THE GDI MOTOR TYPE". MY WIFE TOO THE CAR BACK TO MEDINA AUTO FOR IT FIRST OIL CHANGE AND I AGAIN ASK TO CHECK THE STRANGE NOISE ON THE ENGINE... THEY IMMEDIATELY SAID TO HER THAT THE NOISE WAS BECAUSE THE ENGINE TYPE (GDI). THEY CALL MY WIFE TO PICK THE CAR AS IT WAS READY. I WENT WITH MY WIFE TO THE DEALER TO PICKUP THE CAR, BECAUSE THAT NOISE WAS NOT RIGHT. WHEN I GET TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. THE NOISE IS DUE TO THE GDI ENGINE TYPE. I REQUEST THAT BEFORE I TURN THE CAR ON, A MECH TECHNICIAN BE WITH ME AND THAT HE PERSONALLY CONFIRM THAT THE NOISE WAS THE GDI. WELL THIS TIME THEY FOUND THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS BAD AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED... IF IT WASN'T FOR ME, THAT I PUSH THEM TO RE-INSPECT THE NOISE, MY WIFE COULD IT BE DRIVING THE CAR AND I WONDERING WHAT COULD IT HAPPEN TO HER.. AFTER REQUESTING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT WITH A NEW CAR AND SINCE I NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES MEDINA AUTO OF THE NOISE, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CAR WITH A NEW UNIT AND ONLY OFFERS TO FIX THE ENGINE. I AM WRITING TO YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I AM LISTENING TO THIS SITUATION WITH THE KIA SORENTO 2014. ANY NOISE FOR THE KIA IN THE ENGINE IS THE GDI... WHAT COULD IT HAPPEN TO MY WIFE AND KIDS IF THE ENGINE STOP RUNNING OR CRANK WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT? THERE IS SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH THE KIA SORENTO 2014, AND THE DEALERS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE FAILING IN IDENTIFY THE SITUATION THAT COULD POTENTIAL CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT... EVERY NOISE IN THE ENGINE IS THE GDI FOR KIA, THE DEALERS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS..... *TR
Engine, Feb 14, 2014
I JUST BOUGHT A NEW KIA 2014 SORENTO. THE ENGINE ROARS AND NOW I AM GETTING A BURNING SMELL. *TR