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.
Visibility, Nov 10, 2013
SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON I-35 NORTH. WE HAVE KIDS ON BOARD WHILE THAT HAPPENED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN FIRE WHEN IT HAPPENS. WE CAN PROVIDE YOU THE PHOTOS. *TR
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
Visibility, Structure, Oct 30, 2013
THE TWO REAR, FIXED WINDOWS LEAKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A TOUCHLESS CARWASH. THE DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND ARE HAVING A GLASS EXPERT INSPECT THE TRIM AND SEAL. THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKS IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 30, 2013
THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS A SMALL RED LINE WHICH IS INVISIBLE IN EITHER SUNLIGHT OR WITH DRIVER WEARING SUNGLASSES. THERE IS NO WAY TO SEE WHAT MY SPEED IS. ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM SETTING CRUISE CONTROL AS I HAVE TO REMOVE MY GLASSES, TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD, TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING IN ORDER TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON KIA SORENTO FORUMS. PLEASE REQUEST KIA COME UP WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO CHANGE THE COLOR OR INTENSITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE. *TR
Power train, Oct 29, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V356000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE PART NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Visibility, Oct 28, 2013
CAME OUT TO FIND THAT OVERNIGHT THE PIECE OF GLASS ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND BETWEEN THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED ENTIRE WIDTH OF WINDSHIELD. THERE ARE NO ROCK CHIPS AND CAR WAS NOT MOVING. CAR IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. READING ON THE INTERNET, I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A TENSION FRACTURE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES OF THIS REPORTED FOR THE KIA SORENTO WITH THE SUNROOF ITSELF SHATTERING. (THIS WAS NOT THE SUNROOF, BUT THE GLASS PIECE IN FRONT OF IT.) *TR
Power train, Oct 7, 2013, crash
AFFECTED PART IS THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE DRIVESHAFT. A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM, AS I WAS EXITING MY VEHICLE (WHICH WAS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK), IT STARTED ROLLING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN AS I WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A LARGE BUSH AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS 09 LEFT T-BONE. THIS RESULTED IN $3510.21 IN REPAIR FEES. WE INCURRED AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF $1000 FOR OUR DEDUCTIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND READY FOR PICK UP UNTIL THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 3RD. I CALLED KIA TO SCHEDULE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE DRIVESHAFT ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4TH. MY COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS KIA DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE ON BACK ORDER FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS. KIA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN AS RESPONSIVE AS I WOULD LIKE. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SINCE I HAVE ALREADY HAD ON ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE AFFECTED PART. I WAS TOLD TO CALL THEM THIS MORNING AT 7:30 AM TO ARRANGE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I CALLED, LEFT A VOICE MAIL, AND MY CALL WAS NOT RETURNED IN WHAT I THINK IS A TIMELY MANNER. AFTER 4 HOURS, I CALLED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD I CAN ONLY SPEAK WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHO STARTED THE CLAIM. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR HIM TO CALL ME BACK. THIS IS PROBABLY MORE INFORMATION THAN IS NECESSARY, SO TO SUM UP MY COMPLAINT: THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND AN ISSUED RECALL, BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS TO REPAIR IT. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 26, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NEEDLE WAS THE WRONG COLOR AND IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180.
Structure, Sep 12, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE LIFT GATE BY PRESSING THE CLOSE BUTTON, BUT WHEN IT CLOSED IT OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT MANUALLY BUT THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 525.
Electrical system, Sep 9, 2013
CPSC:X1380106A. 2014 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATED THE CONCERN IS NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE ELECTROLUMINESCENT SPEEDOMETER IN THE DAYLIGHT. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW FAST HE WAS GOING. THE SUNLIGHT GLARE MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND IT REQUIRED HIM TO TAKE HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR UP TO FIVE SECONDS.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 31, 2013
WHEN DRIVING THE SORENTO SX WEARING SUNGLASSES, THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE. YOU CAN'T READILY CONFIRM THE VEHICLE'S SPEED. YOU HAVE TO TILT YOUR HEAD AND PEER UNDER OR OVER THE SUNGLASSES TO SEE THE NEEDLE WHICH IS TOO DARK AGAINST THE BLACK BACKGROUND. THIS MEANS YOUR EYES ARE OFF THE ROAD FAR LONGER THAN THE TYPICAL GLANCE NEEDED WITH TRADITIONAL SPEEDOMETERS. THIS DESIGN FLAW WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LEAD TO UNNECESSARY ACCIDENTS, INJURY AND DEATH. *JS
Air bags, Aug 4, 2013, crash
THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN WE HIT A CAR BROADSIDE AS THE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF US. THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT NONE OF OUR AIRBAGS DID. *TR