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
987 reports, newest first.
Power train, Apr 20, 2018
MY CAR HAS 69000 MILES ON IT. WHEN DRIVING A DIAGNOSTIC COMES UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE RADIO TELLING ME THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION MODULE SYSTEM THE SHIFTING NOTIFIER ON DASH DISAPPEARS. THE YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. TODAY WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE CAR WHILE DRIVING WENT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. RPMS ON TAC WENT HIGH CAR SEEMED TO BE STUCK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT IN NEUTRAL. I COST TO A RED LIGHT. SEEM TO CORRECT ITSELF THE SHIFT INDICATOR ON DASH KEEPS GOING OUT. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME A FEE FOR DIAGNOSTIC. I FEEL THIS IS PUTTING MY SAFETY AT RISK. KIA WONT STAND BEHIND THEIR 100K MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2014. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE IT CAME UP A MODULE ERROR CODE. BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE IT.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Apr 14, 2018
AIR BAG LIGHT ON, HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF WHEN IN AUTO MODE WHEN I USE LEFT TURN SIGNAL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NOT WORKING OR WORK IMPROPERLY IE VOLUME CONTROL WILL CHANGE RADIO STATION OR ADVANCE TRACK ON MEDIA BACK UP CAMERA WILL BLACK OUT WHILE STILL IN REVERSE
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 7, 2018
MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I ALWAYS DRIVE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON, REGARDLESS IF IT'S DAYTIME OR NIGHT. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY AND OTHER TIMES THE HEADLIGHT(S) WON'T. I'D ON OCCASION POP OPEN THE HOOD AND USING A CLOSED FIST, HIT THE TOP OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO ON.......NOW IT WILL NOT GO ON NO MATTER WHAT I DO. LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST 2 TIMES I HAD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT MY COST. NOW I READ BLOG PAGES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL KIA MODELS BUT NO SAFETY RECALL HAS EVER BEEN ISSUED. HOW CAN HAVING NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ??
Seat belts, Apr 3, 2018
PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALARM/WARNING NOT INDICATED WHEN FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS NOT BUCKLED. ALARM/WARNING GOES ON ONLY WHEN THE DRIVER'S BELT IS NOT BUCKLED. HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS AS A PROBLEM. I EMAILED KIA ON 3/31/18 AND CALLED KIA TODAY AND THEY STATED THAT THIS FEATURE IS NOT A PART OF THE CAR. THE AGENT DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY RECEIVED MY EMAIL. I HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE AS OO 4/3/18 WHEN I CALLED TO INQUIRE. NOTE: ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 4 YEARS, WE'VE NOT NOTICED THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS BUCKLED. THE OTHER DAY, I ACCIDENTALLY WAS UNBUCKLED AND REALIZED THAT NO ALARM OR INDICATOR TOLD US TO BUCKLE. I READ THE MANUAL AND THERE WAS ONLY INFORMATION ABOUT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT AND WARNINGS. NOTHING ABOUT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS. ISNT THIS A SAFETY ISSUE? SHOULDN'T OWNERS BE INFORMED?
Engine, Apr 2, 2018
MY 2014 KIA SORRENTO EX STARTED LEAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AT 99,000 MILES. THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THE BACK OF MY CAR ARE COVERED IN OIL FROM THE LEAK THAT STARTED WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT LAST YEAR. IT IS THE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT. IT WILL BE A $300 REPAIR. WHEN I ASKED IF THIS WAS A NORMAL ISSUE WITH VEHICLES, HE SAID IT WAS NOT. I WENT TO LOOK FOR A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AND FOUND FORUM'S WHERE OTHERS HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT A SIMILAR ISSUE AT LOWER MILEAGE BUT NO RECALL.
Exterior lighting, Mar 21, 2018
LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. SEEMS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS EITHER HEADLIGHTS REAR LIGHTS OR BREAK LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Steering, Mar 21, 2018
WHENEVER I START THE VEHICLE AND TURN THE STEERING I AM HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE.RECENTLY WHENEVER I TURN THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING I AM HEARING THIS SOUND. IT WAS STATED IN THE APRIL 2018 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS THAT THE 2014-2016 KIA SOUL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM
Visibility/wiper, Mar 19, 2018
SUN ROOF EXPLODED WHILE NORMAL DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HWY 40. HAVE POLICE REPORT #P18013783 FROM RALEIGH, NC POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Structure, Feb 12, 2018
THE RIGHT HAND SIDE PASSENGER DOOR PANEL HAS COME AWAY FROM THE DOOR FRAME AND NOW THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS FIRST REPAIRED BY KIA WHEN I LEASED THE CAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED BUT THEY WILL NOT MAKE THE REPAIR.
Steering, Air bags, Feb 5, 2018
AIR BAG FLASHING ON AND OFF , STERELING HAS A NOISE CLICKING
Power train, Jan 31, 2018
IN LATE DECEMBER OF 2017 I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE UPON ACCELERATION OF MORE THAN 55 MPH. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A SUSPENSION ANALYSIS TO PEP BOYS AT 3124 SEPULVEDA BLVD IN TORRANCE, CA AND THEY EVALUATED MY ISSUE. IT WAS DISCOVERED IN MY FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE WITH 115,000 MILES THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE SHAFT WAS BROKEN AND WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE. AND ALSO THAT ON THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE THAT THE BOOT HAD LEAKED ALL THE GREASE OUT AND THAT ALL THE BOOTS AND THE AXLES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE MECHANICS AT PEP BOYS TOLD ME THAT THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY ON THE KIA'S AND THAT THEY HAVE MORE ISSUES THAN MOST CAR MANUFACTURERS. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT KIA MOTORS HAD HAD A KNOWN ISSUE WITH AXLE PROBLEMS IN THEIR 2014 SORENTOS. KMA HAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE DRIVE SHAFT OF AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP A CRACK IN THE AREA OF THE STUB AT THE WHEEL-END OF THE SHAFT. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER OR, IF THE DRIVER FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL. THE VEHICLES HAVING THIS CONDITION ARE THE 2014 MODEL YEAR SORENTO 2.4-LITER FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE (FWD) MODEL PRODUCED THROUGH MARCH 12, 2013. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN LATE MAY OF 2014 IT IS A 2.4 LITER FWD VEHICLE. I ALSO WENT ONLINE TO CHECK FOR KNOWN RECALLS AND NOTHING CAME UP NOR WAS I EVER NOTIFIED. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS OR OTHER ISSUES THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. KMA NEVER NOTIFIED ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE DRIVESHAFT WILL BE REPLACED. CONSEQUENTLY, I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING MY FRONT WHEEL DRIVE BOOT AND AXLE AT A COST OF $695.00. THIS COST SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID FOR BY KIA
Engine, Jan 30, 2018
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T.
Electrical system, Jan 12, 2018
PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK. THEY DO NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB, THEY ALSO DO NOT UNLOCK USING THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. EVEN PULLING THE HANDLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE DOES NOT WORK, THEY HAVE TO EACH BE INDIVIDUALLY MANUALLY UNLOCKED, WHICH MEAN I HAVE TO CRAWLE IN THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR ACROSS TO UNLOCK FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND THEN INTO THE BACK TO UNLOCK THOSE DOORS TO LET MY 3 KIDS IN. IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT IT WOULD TAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TIME TO SAFELY FREE THEM. THIS IS ALL THE TIME WHEN CAR IS IN PARK, WHEN IT'S OFF AND WHEN IT'S RUNNING. THIS PROBLEM WAS PROGRESSIVE, AT FIRST JUST OCCASIONALLY WOULD NOT WORK, OVER TIME IT HAS HAPPENED MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY AND NOW ITS ALWAYS LIKE THIS, FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS LOCKS HAVE NOT WORKED AT ALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO KIA AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CHARGING ME $150-$300 JUST TO SEE IF THEY LOCKS REALLY AREN'T WORKING, I WILL NOT PAY TO PROVE THIS TO THEM, AND THEY REFUSE TO EVEN WATCH ME DO IT UNLESS I PAY THEM. BURGLAR ALARM ALSO STOPPED WORKING WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED.
Air bags, Dec 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A POSSIBLE FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (FRANKLIN KIA IN FRANKLIN, TN) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Air bags, Dec 26, 2017
I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE THE SURE BAG LIGHT WAS ON. SHORTLY AFTER, I RECIEVED SOMETHING IN THE MAIL FROM KIA ABOUT THE AIR BAG RECAPS SO I TOOK IT IN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY VIN WASN'T COVERED. THEY SAID THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG IS WHAT I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH SO THEY TURNED OFF THE AIR BAGS AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING WITH NO AIR BAGS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE THEY SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. IT'S $1400 AND MY WARRANTY HAD JUST RUN IT OUT.
Power train, Engine, Dec 25, 2017
WHILE REVERISING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOW POWER, WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED FOR ADDITION POWER THERE A CLUNKING NOISE WHICH RESULTED FROM A BROKEN AXLE AND ENGINE MOUNTING POINT ON THE ENGINE ITSELF.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 24, 2017
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND SUNROOF EXPLODED. NO CARS OR OVERPASS NEARBY AND NO OBJECT SEEN OR FOUND TO HAVE HIT SUNROOF. SUNROOF APPEARS TO HAVE EXPLODED OUTWARD AS THERE IS VERY LITTLE GLASS TRAPPED IN THE SUNROOF SCREEN WHICH WAS CLOSED WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. WEATHER WAS A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW AND TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34 DEGREES.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 23, 2017
THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT KIA WON'T OWN UP TO. THE BATTERY IS CONSTANTLY DYING AFTER BEING CHECKED AND IS GOOD. LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT I HAVE REPLACED BREAK LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES IN LAST YEAR. THE AIRBAG PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT GO OFF. THE STEERING PANEL DOES NOT CONTROL ALL FUNCTIONS. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL LEAD TO FURTHER DIFFICULTIES WITH THIS VEHICLE.
Engine, Dec 18, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 14, 2017
THE CAR IS MOVING PROCEEDS TO COME TO A CRAWL AND STOP I HAVE A VIDEO AND THE DEALERSHIP IS CLUELESS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES
Electrical system, Dec 9, 2017
THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN I PRESS THE KEY FOB, I'VE TRIED BOTH KEY FOBS AND THEY HAVE NEW BATTERIES. ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR IS UNLOCKING ALL TIMES.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Nov 16, 2017
IN THE PAST 3-4 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED MY BATTERY TWICE THE 1ST TIME I HAD MY TRUCK ABOUT 2.5YRS SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BUT I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER REPLACING BATTERY WITHIN 3-4 MONTHS BATTERY WOULD DIE I WOULD GET A BOOST AFTER A FEW DAYS SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS OUT OF WACK WHEN I USE LEFT TURN SIGNAL MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF UNTIL I TURN THE TURN SIGNAL OFF, ALSO MY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WILL NOT OPERATE THE RIGHT FEATURE IE I WOULD HIT MUTE BUT IT WILL NOT MUTE BUT ACT AS IF IT IS THE VOLUME DOWN CONTROL AIR BAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER WOULD COME ON EVEN IF NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT
Air bags, Nov 6, 2017
KIA HAS LOTS OF ISSUES WITH THEIR AIR BAGS. FROM CLOCK SPRING TO SENSORS IN THE DRIVER SIDE AND SO ON. COMPANY DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF IT AND COMING UP WITH CRAZY ESTIMATES TO FIX, PLEASE JUST SEE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON GOOGLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IT WITHOUT A CHARGE UNTIL THEY FIX THEIR AIR BAG PROBLEMS.
Other or unspecified, Oct 26, 2017
THE REAR HATCH DOOR WILL NOT OPEN.
Visibility, Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEV KIA OF FRAMINGHAM IN FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS WHERE IT WAS ASSUMED THAT A ROCK MAY HAVE STRUCK THE GLASS AND CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.