2013 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls

I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD ONLY 5 MILES ON IT AND HAD NOT BEEN TEST DRIVEN PRIOR TO ME. I NOTICED A VERY SLIGHT VIBRATION FROM 0MPG TO 10MPG, AND ASKED THE SALES ASSOCIATE IF THAT WAS NORMAL. HE SAID IT WAS FINE AND WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY FURTHER ISSUES WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS AND DID NOT NOTICE THE VIBRATION AGAIN DURING THE TEST DRIVE. AFTER I SIGNED THE FINANCIAL PAPERS AT 11PM AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAD OFFICIALLY CLOSED FOR THE DAY AND GOT INTO THE CAR TO DRIVE HOME, I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WHIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462895 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE RETURNING FROM VACATION AND ABOUT 35 MILES FROM HOME ON THE INTERSTATE THE GLASS ROOF ON MY 2013 SORENTO SX MOON ROOF (GLASS TOP) SHATTERED. WINDOWS WERE UP AND A/C WAS ON -80DEGREES AND SUNNY OUTSIDE. HAD CROSSOVER 21 DAYS AND 1640 MILES ON CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,640 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466987 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN SLOW TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DIED WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE CAR. IT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY START, BUT AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE ENGINE KICKED OVER. I DROVE IT OFF THE FREEWAY AND HAD IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALER. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A WEEK THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY "CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" SO THEY WON'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THERE IS NO "CODE" FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE IF THE ENGINE DIES ON THE FREEWAY. IF KIA CAN'T DETERMINE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469054 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE ON VACATION (JUNE 15) WE WERE TO STOP BY THE DEALER AND GET OUR NEW TAGS. ON I77 AT MILEAGE MARKER 33 IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND WASN'T ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT (NOBODY WOULD LET US GET OUT OF THE LANE WE WERE IN) TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE .WE ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING. I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO CREATE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. NO MATTER WHAT I DID I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED AND IT CAME TO A COMPLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 778 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470486 at NHTSA ↗

4 CYL ROUGH IDLE AT STOP LIGHT AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. NOTICE WHEN DROVE NEW CAR OFF LOT. ASSUMED IT WAS NORMAL. HAD TO MAKE A LONG TRIP. AFTER RETURNING FROM TRIP HAD CAR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD UPON IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND WOULD BE FIXED --NO DEFINITE TIME. SERVICE REP WAS CORNERED AND SAID COULD BE 30-60 DAYS. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO CALL DEALER AND WRITE AN EXTENSIVE NOTE--SEEMED TO GET STONEWALLED BYG BEING TOLD--WORKING ON IT AND WILL LET YOU KNOW. FINALLY ON AUG 16 TOOK CAR IN AND HAD A "COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT FOR ROUGH IDLE". MUC…

Owner-reported narrative. 127 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471452 at NHTSA ↗

WE LEASED A 2013 KIA SORRENTO ON 8/11/2012. VEHICLE HAD 4 MILES WHEN PAPERWORK WAS DONE. ON 8/25/2012 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON 8/26/2012 THE ENGINE REVVED TO 6,500 RPM WHEN WE WERE GOING 20 MPH. THERE WAS A LARGE BANG. I TOOK IN TO THE DEALER ON 8/27/2012. I WAS TOLD A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AFTER 2 DAYS OF "DIAGNOSTICS". WE NOW HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST AS LONG AS WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. I AM TOLD IT WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL AT LEAST THIS WEDNESDAY. I FRANKLY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN TAKING THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 584 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473691 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, HE FELT A SHIMMY THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT EXACT REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400. ...UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE IN A ROUGH MANNER. WHEN AT A STOP. UPDATED 10/25/12

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477374 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT PORTION OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY KIA SORENTO 2013 EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING COMING TOWARDS THE CAR THAT COULD HAVE HIT THE SUNROOF. THE DAYS WAS APPROX 90 DEGREES AND THE CAR HAD BEEN HOUSED IN AN INTERIOR GARAGE ALL DAY. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I DID NOT GO THROUGH AN UNDERPASS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, MY SPEED WAS APPROX 50 MPH. THE SUNROOF WAS PARTIALLY OPEN AT THE TIME. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD SOUND THEN SHARDS OF GLASS EVERYWHERE. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND DID NOT SEE …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478778 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-10-06 (October 6, 2015)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "Park" without the brakes being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

Consequence: Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC124.

Reported: 2017-03-31 (March 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.

Consequence: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2018-12-19 (December 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.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 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.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.