2014 Kia Sorento

What owners report most often

1. Engine388
2. Structure160
3. Electrical system153
4. Other or unspecified147
5. Exterior lighting86
6. Service brakes84
7. Power train72
8. Air bags51

Recalls and investigations

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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: service brakes

84 reports, newest first. Show all

1. Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Nov 8, 2018

   I HAVE A 2014 LX WITH NOTHING SPECIAL OTHER THAN HEATED FRONT SEATS. REGULAR IGNITION, 6CYL WITH ALMOST 148K MILES. ISSUE 1- AT APPROX 100K MY DASH STARTED LIGHTING UP WITH ABS, E-BRAKE, TRAC, AND TPS LIGHTS. EBRAKE AND TPS WERE INTERMITTENT AND ONLY CAME ON AFTER IT RAINED IT SEEMED. AFTER PLUGGING IT UP AND GETTING NO CODES I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER JUNE 2017 AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS NO BIG DEAL BUT IT WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR A SENSOR. HOWEVER, KIA HAD NOT PROVIDED THEM WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO FIX IT. IT'S NOW AUGUST 2018 AND I AM STILL WAITING. ISSUE 2- AT APPROX 130K MILES MY STEERING CONTROLS FOR BLUETOOTH AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING. THE RADIO ITSELF WORKS, BUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SEEK OR ADJUST VOLUME WITH STEERING CONTROLS THE VOICE COMMAND POPS UP. ISSUE 3- AT APPROX 145K CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I CAN TURN IT ON AND SET SPEED, BUT IN LESS THAN A MILE IT DISENGAGES. I HAVE FOUND IF I TURN OFF THE ECO IT WORKS AS IT SHOULD. ISSUE 4 I FOUND TODAY. AFTER GETTING A MESSAGE FROM A RANDOM STRANGER THROUGH MY ADVERTISED BUSINESS ON THE BACK WINDOW I WAS INFORMED THAT I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS EXCEPT FOR THE ONE ON TOP (THIRD). I JUST REPLACED THEM IN JULY AFTER A RANDOM STRANGER TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE OUT. WHEN I GOT THE MESSAGE (AFTER MAKING MY 60 MILE COMMUTE TO WORK) I GRABBED A COWORKER TO COME OUT AND TROUBLESHOOT WITH ME. WE CHECKED FUSES AND THEY ARE FINE. THIRD LIGHT WORKS, TAIL LIGHTS WORK, TURN SIGNALS AND BACKUP LIGHTS WORK. WE TOOK APART THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND PULLED THE BULBS TO CHECK THEM AND THE BULBS ARE STILL INTACT (FILAMENT STILL COMPLETELY INTACT) BUT THE BULBS ARE CHARRED BLACK AND THE HARNESS SOCKET APPEARS TO HAVE GOTTEN EXTREMELY HOT. ALSO THE BOTTOM OF THE BULB IS GLOSSY LIKE IT MELTED.

2. Steering, Power train, Service brakes, Sep 21, 2018

   VEHICLE ONLY STARTS IN NEUTRAL. REFUSES TO GO INTO PARK. ABS SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALWAYS ON BUT THE LIGHT ISN'T. HAD THE CAR CHECKED FOR ENGINE RECALL AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. NEVER ANY MAJOR ISSUES WITH CAR UNTIL THE PAST YEAR. HAVE REPLACED BRAKES AND WHEEL SENSOR AND DOES NOIR FIX PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO SWITCH BETWEEN PARK, NEUTRAL, DRIVE AND REVERSE. AFRAID OF A MALFUNCTION THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOTHING SHOWS ON COMPUTER WHEN RAN. HAVE TO PRESS HARD IN PARK TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING ON ITS OWN. RANDOMLY JUST SHUTS DOWN AND WON'T START UNLESS YOU MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE DOESN'T WANT TO STOP ON A DRY ROAD WITH BRAND NEW BRAKES INSTALLED.

3. Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 17, 2018

   ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AS I AM DRIVING. SOMETIMES, THE SPEEDOMETER MOVES QUICKLY OVER THE INCORRECT SPEEDS SO I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT SPEED I AM GOING. IT'S ONLY A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR WITH 56,000 MILES. ALSO, SAME VEHICLE HAS ISSUE WITH THE GAS TANK DOOR. CANNOT OPEN USING THE SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. MUST USE THE EMERGENCY PULL INSIDE A TRUNK COMPARTMENT.

4. Steering, Power train, Service brakes, May 5, 2016

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE JOLTED THREE TIMES BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A DIFFERENT DAY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE INTO A DITCH. THE BRAKE AND STEERING ABILITY RETURNED AND THE CONTACT DROVE TO ANOTHER LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS ALSO UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND FOLLOWED UP WITH THE DEALERS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.

5. Steering, Service brakes, Mar 10, 2016

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

6. Steering, Service brakes, Aug 4, 2015, crash

   I PRESSED ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR VEERED LEFT AND STARTED TO SWERVE. IT STARTED SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.

7. 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

8. Service brakes, Nov 4, 2014

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

9. Electrical system, Service brakes, Nov 1, 2013

   SINCE BUYING THE 2014 KIA FWD 4-CYL VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD ABOUT 5 INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN THE IGNITION SWITCH. KIA AND HYUNDAI HAD BRAKE SWITCH ISSUES IN MODELS CIRCA 2011 AND EARLIER, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ABOUT WHETHER KIA FIXED THE PROBLEM IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. DURING MY INCIDENTS I HAVE REPEATED THE ABOVE STEPS TRYING TO START THE NON-RESPONSIVE VEHICLE UNTIL IT INEXPLICABLY STARTED UP; TOOK OVER 10 RE-TRIES EACH TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ON MONDAY 11/4/13 ASKING THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR