2014 Kia Sorento problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (265) · Structure:body (130) · Exterior Lighting (63)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Sorento model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
499 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2023-09-25 · campaign 23V652000 · 1,730,192 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: 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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2021-05-10 · campaign 21V331000 · 440,370 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: 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.
Risk: An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2020-08-27 · campaign 20V519000 · 440,370 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: 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.
Engine 2018-12-19 · campaign 18V907000 · 71,653 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2017-03-31 · campaign 17V224000 · 618,160 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft 2013-08-13 · campaign 13V356000 · 9,345 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (261)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-08 · CS2312_TSB_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Engine 2026-03-18 · WTY026_TSB_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: warranty extension campaign: oil pressure switch (ops) replacement (wty026 revision 2) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides informa
Structure:body 2026-02-19 · TSB_CS2312_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Structure:body 2025-12-18 · TSB_CS2312 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin provides information to install a theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector on certain 2010-2022my kia vehicles outlined on page 19, which may not have bee
Engine 2025-12-18 · WTY039_TSB_R7 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: engine sub assembly inspection/replacement (wty039 - revision 7) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information associated with t
Structure:body 2025-12-17 · CS2312_OWNR · Other
customer satisfaction campaign: owner notification (cs2312) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting customer satisfaction campaign. a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made available to owners of eligible kia model vehicles free
Showing the 6 most recent of 261 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-05 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 184,000 mi“the contact owns a 2014 kia sorento. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking abnormally and the engine seized, causing a crackling sound and a fuel leak. the contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was taken to an independe…”
2026-09-26 · Power Train“driving down the road and all of a sudden the red oil pressure light appeared then the engine light appeared. the car engine power then reduced and ultimately ended up stopping, turning the car off. the car now has a loud ticking and knock coming from engine. from previous recalls i see that this is a common problem on these cars. this was without …”
2026-09-16 · Engine · 204,000 mi“the contact owns a 2014 kia sorento. the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. there was no warning light illuminated. a local dealer was contacted, and the contact was advised to continue driving the vehicle until the engine was blown. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was …”
2026-09-14 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“took car in to get recalls fixed and they did not repair the vehicle and my car caught on fire…”
2026-09-08 · Power Train“the contact owns a 2014 kia sorrento. the contact stated that while driving, the engine suddenly seized in the middle of traffic. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with crankshaft failure. the vehicle was then towed to a d…”
2026-08-28 · Service Brakes“i am filing an official safety complaint against the manufacturer for refusing to perform federally mandated safety recall repairs on my vehicle. my vehicle is impacted by critical safety recalls involving high-severity fire risks, specifically the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) electrical short circuit risk. corporate customer care and…”
2026-08-11 · Power Train“2015 kia sorento v6 engine failed and seized. vin was not included in kia extended warranty offered for this year and engine. …”
2026-07-28 · Unknown Or Other“i am submitting this complaint regarding what i believe is a premature paint defect on my kia vehicle that has resulted in exposed bare metal and the development of rust on my vehicle. the factory paint has begun peeling and chipping away without any collision, misuse, or abnormal wear. as the paint has separated from the metal surface, it has expo…”
2026-07-24 · Power Train“see attached document for complaint.…”
2026-07-23 · Unknown Or Other“this is a follow up of nhtsa case# 1840444. complaint description: vehicle exhibited active can-bus communication timeout code dtc c1642 targeting the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu). following the official technical safety guidelines established under nhtsa campaign 20v5…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.