NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Kia Sorento. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I had 2 HECU repairs done on the vehicle per the recalls. A year after the ABS, Anti Skid and Low tire warning light indicator came on suddenly and there was a "burning odor" noted. I went to the dealership immediately and they were unable to take a look at it for almost 1 week. I took the vehicle to a brake shop and they identified the ABS was on even when the vehicle was turned off. They stated this could cause a fire, but they weren't able to repair as KIA vehicles have require programming when the system is installed/modified. The brake shop strongly encouraged me to remove the fuse for the ABS to decrease the risk of fire, part away from other vehicles and structures--which I agreed to. I made an appointment with the KIA dealer for their next available date...which was 10 days out. At the service desk I explained everything and told them the fuse was not in due to the risk of fire. 1 1/2 hours later they called to tell me the issue was that the fuse was not installed!! I restated what I told them originally...they said they needed the fuse to troubleshoot the issue. They then informed me they did not have any fuses---which seems to be an issue. I called the brake shop and they gave me 2 fuses and I took to the dealer. The dealership evaluated and said the ABS module was defective and since the car was out of warranty, I would need to pay for the repair. I asked about the recall, but was told that KIA would not pay for it. I paid for the part, they ordered it...and the first new ABS was installed and was defective, they ordered a second ABS and it can in defective as well. The 3rd ABS arrived almost 1 week later and fortunately this was good. Since most of our travel is on I-95 or turnpike the ABS could have locked up and caused the vehicle to stop instantly as I have been told. This could have causes a severe accident. Given that 2 new ABS Modules were delivered...this indicates that KIA has a further issue with their brake systems.
The contact's wife owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was at a complete stop, the vehicle stalled upon the depression of the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that an abnormal knocking sound was coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that his wife and daughter were able to push the vehicle into an abandoned parking lot and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it remained in their possession unrepaired. The contact notified the manufacturer and was informed that the recall would not be honored. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
While I was driving on the highway, my engine suffered a catastrophic failure without any warning. Luckily I was close enough to an exit so I was able to pull off to safety. When I stopped, fluids gushed out of the engine compartment and there was white smoke everywhere. One of the hoses to the engine had completely ruptured. I had the vehicle towed and have had it looked at by three different mechanics who came to the same conclusion - that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced, but they couldn't figure out what caused the failure.
Paint is peeling around front window. Sounds like this is happening a lot.
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle a fuel odor was present inside the cabin. Days later while the vehicle was parked with the engine idling smoke and flames were present coming from the engine compartment. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact indicated the vehicle was previously serviced under a recall in which the engine was replaced. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 124,000.
SNOW WHITE PEARL PAINT PEELING FROM LEFT AND RIGHT HINGE PILLARS.
The pearl white paint on my 2014 Kia Sorento is delaminating from my hood, roof and side pillars. I have an estimate of $2772.50. I have more pictures and a copy of the estimate but was unable to upload more file.
uncontrolled acceleration
While driving on the road , sliding sunroof glass just cracked and shattered with loud sound. There was no prior damage to the sunroof nor any debris from the road that hit the car or the sunroof at the time of incident. My daughter was driving the car and was lucky that no she did not get any injuries as the sunroof shade was closed and all the shattered glass fall on the shade and not inside the car and on her face and the body.
2014 pearl white Kia sorrento is peeling paint everywhere. It shouldn’t be doing that and it’s an inferior paint that seems to be a major problem.
Engine issues like all the others reported but they state no issues per my vin which the issue so am having is the same as all those other engine issues of same make and years
I purchased a 2014 Kia Sorento on March 15, 2022. On April 1, 2022, after 2 weeks of normal driving, I was driving the car to the Kia dealership for them to inspect the smell of gasoline fumes, and suddenly, the oil light and engine light turned on, so I pulled over. I saw smoke coming out of the engine so I ran out. Then flames appeared and engulfed the vehicle while I waited for firefighters to arrive. Luckily, no one was hurt. Insurance is currently investigating the cause.
Pearl white paint is peeling on the hood, roof just above windshield and side molding next to the windshield. Small chips quickly turn into large areas from rain. All areas were small when I purchased the vehicle in Summer of 2021.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the engine bearing needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000. Consumer was unable to find a dealership to evaluate my engine and determine the source of failure. They have so many KIAs to assess and they have all said they are taking no more vehicles. Consumer did receive a limited warranty extension letter (on 7April22) to 150,000 miles for the oil pressure switch leaking. Vehicle has been losing oil for quite a while now.
Paint is peeling off of door.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while stopping at a red light the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Headlights automatically turn off while driving.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V519000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, while driving 25 MPH and attempting to make a U-turn, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact pushed the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of a bystander. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer sent a claim to the manufacturer and was awaiting a response. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving and had come to a complete stop, the vehicle stalled upon depression of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. His wife was able to restart the vehicle and pull off to the side of the roadway. The contact was called to the scene, where he was unable to restart the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a claim was filed; the claim was later denied. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Total engine failed at 105000 miles. Rod Bearing Failure is what was the diagnosis. We were complaining since 38000 miles of the engine not sounding right and each time a technician certified by Kia told us that nothing was wrong. It seized up while after a brief stop on the side of a road. Kid and wife were in the car and were able to coast it back to the side of the road out of traffic. Total engine replacement is required and this same type of issue is on the 4 cylinder model of this engine that has been recalled, but not 6 cylinder model.
No matter what bulbs you put in the headlights they do not shine bright enough or far enough for you to drive safely at night. We have stopped driving the suv at night because the only way to have enough light to see the road is if they are on bright then they bright light oncoming traffic.
Feb 27, 2022 is when it was observed by this writer. Now questioning what was stated when the SUV was purchased as a CPO in regards to paint. The paint on the car is delaminating. I piece came off and got stuck on the diver side window. Concerned that a piece could come off the SUV and get stuck on the windshield obstructing the drivers visibility.
On 2/15/22, I accelerated to pass another car while driving home from work. As soon as I accelerated, my car stopped running. I coasted to the next turnoff from a busy street (about 1 block) and stopped at the curb in a residential area. The control panel/dashboard was completely dark, then suddenly lit up again. I tried to start the car but couldn't because I was unable to depress the brake. I waited a few minutes and tried again and a small amount of smoke came out from under the hood. In a minute that went away. At this time, I was very near my house and walked home. When I got there I called the Kia dealership (local) and described what happened. They asked if there had been a 'check engine' or other warning message before this happened and I told them there had not been. I said I guess I would have to have the car towed in to them to see what was wrong. I was told they would call back. While waiting for someone to call back, I walked back to my car. (All of this took less than 10 - 12 minutes.) As I turned the corner I saw police cars and a firetruck where my car was parked. The fire had been put out and there was only a shell of the car left; the entire motor and everything inside was destroyed. Later, my insurance company declared it a total loss. A neighbor saw flames and had called the fire department. There was some damage to the neighbor's yard - grass and shrubbery. The police called a wrecking service to tow the car. It was later picked up by my insurance co. No one was injured, thankfully; but I can only imagine what would have happened if I had made it home and parked in my garage. The local Kia dealership never called back. I called a week or so after this happened and was told they would have someone call me and no one called (again).
2014 sorento- exterior lights very dim. Dangerous and hard to see they go out weirdly often and randomly. replaced lights and driver side turn signals now not working or the led strip lash out as well. Pearl white paint is chipping/peeling on hood and pillars. Emailed kia support have not heard anything back.
CHECK THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT If this occurs, Kia’s system is designed to illuminate the airbag warning light on the instrument panel to alert you of a potential problem with your airbag system so that you can have the system inspected and repaired as soon as possible. The passenger’s front airbag is a ‘low risk deployment’ airbag that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, meaning it has a reduced deployment strength for occupants in close proximity to the air bag. Despite being a low risk deployment airbag, if the airbag warning light is illuminated and the vehicle continues to be driven without being repaired, the front passenger airbag will deploy in a frontal impact regardless of whether the seat is occupied or not.
On 2/4/2022 a member of my family was driving the vehicle and the vehicle started making knocking sounds without any warming lights so the car was immediately pulled over. The car was then towed to Homestead auto in Eagan, MN and they told us that the oil pressure switch failed and all of the oil drained out of the car and the engine needed to be replaced. The Kia dealership in Bloomington MN was contacted via phone and they did not have an engine and would not be able to get one for 2-3 months. I then called other auto part and repair places to find an engine and a reasonable bid for the service to replace the engine. The engine was replaced on 2/25/22 by ATR Repair. In April we received a letter from Kia stating that Kia was extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for repairs that may be necessary to address an Oil Pressure Switch leak in 2014-2018 MY Sorento vehicles from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles. We then submitted all of the invoices, inspection notes form the Kia dealership in Inver Grove Heights, and credit card statements proving payment to Kia with a claim request for reimbursement for the engine replacement in the amount of $8,519. The request was denied in August. Not only is the situation of the oil draining out of the car without warning extremely dangerous, the financial impact to our family is also significant and unjust.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle and depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine emitted abnormal rattling sounds. The contact noticed smoke coming out of the exhaust. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated upon verifying the engine oil level, he noticed that it was significantly low. The contact refilled oil in the vehicle. However, the oil level was significantly lower two days later. The contact was able to drive the vehicle. However, the failure had been reoccurring and the vehicle was overheating. The contact an independent mechanic diagnosed that oil was leaking through the engine and out of the exhaust pipe. The contact diagnosed that the failure was associated to Kia Technical Service Bulletin Number: SC147. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
1. My headlights tends to keep going out, I’ve replaced them 3 times since getting the vehicle. The most recent change was a month ago. Also my car keeps making this weird humming/ purring sound which started 3months ago and is very unsettling. I had to get a new engine last February after my car cut off on me and the kids heading to my family out of town.
The paint started peeling off of my car. My car is almost always parked in my garage, especially since I began working from home in March 2020. It is rarely exposed to the elements. Nothing hit or bumped my car. All of a sudden, a huge patch of paint is missing.
1) After a period of approximately a month following an oil change I am losing oil. I constantly am having to replace / add oil. About a quart every 3000 to 3500 miles. I have been unable to detect any leaks nor do I think the head gasket is blown - no smoke in other words. Yes there is a oil low warning light that illuminates. and the other major issue is... 2) I have paint peeling off my car a 2014 Kia Sorento pearl white in color. It is peeling off the window angles on the front doors. I believe firemen refer to these as the A-posts. It is also peeling across the front top where the front windshield meets with the top of the cabin. It is also peeling across the front hood where the hood meets the grill. I have approximately 109k miles on the car at this writing.
The problem with my car is the peeling of the paint, it started happening in the front hood then it’s on my over my windshield by the roof and on the driver side also peeling never seen this on any car that I’ve ever owned I’ve also seen a lot of Kia‘s on the road with the same problem are you guys doing anything about this problem I’m sure I’m not the first one to report it
The headlights keep blowing. This is not safe nor normal.
For several months I have been adding 1 quart of oil to my 2014 sorento bi-weekly there is no evidence of an external leak, residue or smoke coming out exhaust. When I don’t add the oil the car stalls, shutters and makes sound during acceleration. I have taken in to dealership but they could not see any issues.
While pulling into my driveway, my car completely died. Shut off and steering wheel stiffened. Was able to restart it and it presented a check engine light and a knocking noise. Took it to Kia dealership and was told the engine needed to be replaced. I was quoted $15,000 for a new engine/9,000 for used. This repair is not covered in the Kia engine settlement. Vehicle is up to date on maintenance and have proof of prior maintenance. Car was brought into a mechanic within days of the knocking noise and check engine light and now it is not drive-able for fear of engine fire or explosion.
Although no warning light, we heard a slight knock with the engine over the course of a couple days, intermittently. Called the dealer to schedule appointment. Very next day knocking significantly louder and undriveable, so had towed. Engine now needs to be replaced at 135,000 miles. Not covering because oil changes done outside of dealership.
Paint chipping/flaking off driver side pillar...over 4-5 inches in length
Multiple electrical issues throughout the car that come and go. The door locks will stop operating when using the key FOB and lock/unlock switch on the driver and passenger doors, the only way to unlock them is manually. Window operating switch at all four doors stops working. The control buttons on the steering wheel are malfunctioning (volume up button decreases volume, volume down button activates voice control). The digital fuel range number does not match up analog indicator (digital will read ~150miles range, analog will indicate 1/8 full tank). Low-beam headlight bulbs individually burn out well before expected lifetime, I have replaced each one twice in the last six months. All of these issues are available for inspection. Safety is at risk because multiple fluctuating electrical issues could mean a fire risk. I have not had these problems reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center yet. Vehicle and components have not been inspected. There have been no warning indications prior to or during electrical problems.
Paint Delamination. Based on my research, a lot of Kia Sorento White Pearl color owners are experiencing paint delamination in a specific location on both sides of the front glass, we are no exception.
Paint is delaminating on both passenger and driver side columns , around windshield, and hood. Paint is peeling after heavy rain and rock impact on freeway. Color:Pearl White. Inspected by autobody shop, state delaminatiom and entire car needs repainting to prevent future issues.
104K miles and motor seized up. Engine oil is fine, all fluids and proper maintenance done. Motor begins ticking as soon as the car is put in drive. Per mechanic the motor is getting ready to blow. I expected more from this vehicle as it has been very properly maintained. No fluids leaked, just lost power and started the moaning and clicking noise.
Head lamps stopped working on low beams when driving at night, high beams still work, no warnings were indicated and lights still will not work.
Constant issue with the 3 doors staying locked. Must manually push on the plastic mechanism to unlock the door from the inside. Using the inside door knob will not unlock the doors which is a major safety hazard. I have taken it to the dealer 3 times and they can not duplicate the issue. It started out happening intermittingly, but now it is constant. The only door that works is the driver side. I took it to a local repair shop and he said it "could" be every door needs a new actuator. Very expensive repair. This should be a recall item ASAP. Low quality product failure. There are no warning lights.
03/23/2022 11:06:18 3/23 Yes, I still have concerns and I have told Kia numerous times to email or text me but instead they conveniently call while I'm at work 7am-4pm so I can't answer the phone. Due to the continuous oil burning issue that Kia refuses to fix or address eventhough I have agreed to pay, the mechanic now says there's a knock sensor issue which makes it unsafe to drive. I have reached out to Kia for months now, with still no resolution in sight.. If this case is above your pay grade or administrative power, please direct my case to someone who can assist in a speedy and competent manner. A very disappointed customer. 03/15/2022 12:24:02 3/14, 5th message- car needed to be taken to Goodyear due the following:This is the recall (see attachment) that hasn't been fixed on my Kia Sorento yet which can cause other issues - knock sensor such as the ones (stalling) 3/13. 03/13/2022 18:03:52 4th message 3/13/2022 Interesting never received a Thursday or second call from rep Ronee as promised in a previous email. My senior citizen 2 time cancer survivor mom attempted to drive my car to return it to me in Vegas when an hour out of Tucson it stalled as oil light came on. Previously Royal Kia had promised to put extra oil in car so if this happened again, oil could be put in, no oil was in car. Everyone associated with Kia in this case has consistently been inconsistent not fulfilling promises made, plus me and my family just continued to be in convenience by Kia. Demanding a 1000 mileage a month oil consumption test during a pandemic when I work in North Vegas before service is ridulous, unrealistic, and unsafe. Transparency and assistance would be appreciated, but due to Kia's prior action and incompetence, I'm not hopeful. When calling, usually businesses leave a voice-mail, I have no such record from you. Not a satisfied customer. Pics of docs at https://photos.app.goo.gl/YauPabwvPoXzs7z87
I was informed to report the incidence of paint chipping on this form, although it is not a safety risk. From the images I upload you can see 2 years ago (4/23/2020)there were a couple of small areas of paint chipping where the windshield meets the roof of the car. These areas to my knowledge had no previous damage to them. There are/were a couple areas where there were minor dents (not pictured) which over the years began to peel as well. However just in the last few months (mainly over the winter) those small areas and new areas of peeling have started and grown at an enormously fast rate. I'm afraid to bring my car to a car wash now as it may chip more paint away. When doing research about this model and year trying to find out how to fix this problem I found a forum called Kia-forums.com as well as a facebook group all about the snow white pearl peeling and chipping delimitation problem. While not a safety risk, this is a risk of rust becoming a problem and something I'm very concerned about not only because I plan to keep this car for a long while but if I decided to sell it or trade it in my car is now going to sell for less. As an 8 year old car I understand wear and tear is natural but this is not a natural occurrence and I hope Kia will find a way to recall these cars and fix the paint delamination problem.
I own a 2014 Kia Sorento that the peeling is rapidly peeling off ( or what the body shops call Delamination ) . My paint began peeling in a tiny spot I thought was a chip from a rock but rapidly began peeling all over. The vehicle is hand wash and the peeling continues, any water pressure continues to peel the paint including natural weather rain conditions. Mileage of vehicle is 113,000. This is very upsetting as you can wash the vehicle weekly or as needed as it would in race the delamination.
I was driving on the high way and took an exit. I started to smell something from my car so I turned it off at a stop light. I looked briefly at the dash but no lights where on. Then I saw smoke coming from the hood of my car. So I put my emergency flashers on and got out within seconds of getting out the smoke turned to flames so I called 911. Entire front of my car was in flames and a couple small explosions happend I believe the first one was the air bags but the second sent my hood flying upwards. My entire inside of the car was chard by the time the fire rescue showed up. There was a line of traffic behind me that stretched close to a mile since it was during traffic night. I didn’t have enough time to pull the car over safely without the risks of being inside the car while it had fully ignited. The fire men had to get people and cars away from my car. I don’t know what failed or what happens but the fire started from under the hood. The car is pretty badly burnt so I don’t think there’s a way to examine anything. It is a total loss. Upon googling I’ve noticed a few more reports of Kia 2014 Sorentos catching fire. I don’t know which component caused it so I can’t say if it had been examined at all. It also happens extremely fast and I didn’t have any warning as to a fire breaking out. If I had stayed in the car to drive it to a safe clearing I would have been caught in the blaze. The only light that came on was tier pressure, which had come on a few days prior. No other warning lights came on. Not even during when the smoke appeared. The only thing that warned me was a strange odor right before I saw the smoke.
I have a pearl white 2014 kia sorento with 46000 miles on it and the paint is peeling off my car
Paint is falling off in chunks for no reason. This poses a risk to other drivers who may be negatively impacted by chunks flying off of the vehicle.
Paint delamination at multiple locations from manufacturing defect(s) not man made or acts of nature damage
Paint is just falling off the vehicle