What 977 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and made an abnormally loud noise. The vehicle then lost motive power with several warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a friend's residence where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine And Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.

NHTSA ODI 11479422

A week ago my fiancée and I were driving down the highway when I noticed the vehicle overheating…the thermostat was at H and fluctuating. We pulled over let the engine cool and read that if you turn the heat on this will pull heat away from the engine to allow you to get somewhere safe. No warning lights were illuminated and no reason to know that my engine had overheated…I only noticed by happenstance when I was checking my speed. As we were headed to the nearest exit driving approximately 60-65 mph the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. All warning lights were on and a ticking/knocking noise could be heard. I lost my brake and power steering and rapidly began to decelerate. We were lucky I was able to cost to the nearest exit and pull into a gas station. The car stopped on its own barely hitting a fence. I check underneath the car and it was pissing fluid of some sort. I checked the oil and it was completely bone dry. It should be noted I still had 2000 miles before my next oil change. I never received any indication I was low on oil or that anything else was wrong. This is a 2013 with 100,000 miles on it. If my understanding is correct the engine is seized and will need to be towed to a dealership to have it looked at. I am baffled that I had no indication something was wrong. No engine light illuminated to notify me of an issue.

NHTSA ODI 11476808

The car engine locked down and i need assistance with Change /repair

NHTSA ODI 11476495

I was never notified about the theta II recall and I always service my car when it needs to be done. I had my routine oil change done before I left for vacation. I came home and when I was driving my vehicle on the highway the engine just stopped. Now the engine will not start. Brought it to the mechanic and was told the engine seized. How can this happen the vehicle is only 9 years old. Shouldn't this have been replaced from the theta II recall? I Shouldn't have to pay for this repair. I feel like this should be covered under that recall. Please help me with a response ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11475876

I was driving 75MPH on I85 in charlotte, NC, middle lane and my car went dead, all warning lights came on but I lost all function of vehicle, no ability to accelerate power steering went. I was rapidly decelerating and boxed in my semi trucks. I eventually get off the road but almost hit back end of trucker to be able to get between vehicles and to the side. I turned off the car. Then turned car back on. I was a 2 miles from my destination and my exit was in sight. I decided to continue to destination to get off dangerous road. I made it to destination , then went to an autozone (after finding the mechanic was closed) to check battery/alternator. The battery was dead and so I replaced it. I got back on the road. Drove 5 miles and started to hear a flapping type noise (like a playing card in a bike spoke) I thought maybe something wasn't tightened after battery change or something fell into engine area. I pulled off at next exit to a gas station. I was apparently in a really bad part of town so 2 men in utility work trucks stopped to help me. Nothing was loose or in visually in the engine, the visible belts seemed fine, oil level good, but the engine was shaking pretty good and when I reeved the engine there was a bad rattling sound. But it was not a safe location for me to stay so they suggested I go up a couple exits. I did get back on the highway went about 40MPH and the noises continued and increased in intensity , it sounded like something was coming loose and about to fall off and then a noise that sounds like metal scraping started. I was about to pull off to side of road but before I could the same thing happened from before. Vehicle stopped running, all indicator lights turned on but everything else turned off, no power to vehicle little control. I pulled off and car would not restart this time. Mechanic diagnosed next morning and said complete engine failure and metal shavings in the oil. I had an oil change 5 days prior synthetic high mileag. (123,000m)

NHTSA ODI 11474326

The Kia Sorento (engine) stalled while driving. It happened moments after being stopped at a red light. Both the air conditioner and Eco Mode were ON at the time. I was able to coast/steer to a parking lot to shut the car off. After about five minutes I was able to start the car and drive home (AC and Eco Mode OFF).

NHTSA ODI 11469323

On 4/29/22 @ 215 pm whilst deselorating for an off ramp from I-57 in Mattoon IL to enter onto RTE 16. The car made a huge search and a loud knocking near could be heard from the engine compartment. The cabin began to have smoke enter from the air vents. No warning lights where illuminated on the driver's control panel. The noise stopped and the car resumed it regular forward motion. Yet large amounts of smoke could be seen coming from the rear of the car. A min or two later the car smoke got more intense and the cabin and all the drivers warning light illuminated. The car stalled and engine and steering and breaks failed to function. The car coasted to a bit and then had to be pushed off the the busy highway. A security guard from the hospital has seen the smoke coming from the car and when I opened the lock on the hood a huge cloud of smoke rose up he yelled for me to get out of the car as it was going to catch fire. I exited the car and stepped way back from it as he told me to do. He got the smoke to stop. And then looked at the cars engine compartment and said this smells very bad. He pulled the oil dip stick to check it and it smelled of gasoline. He said not to stay in the car but to await the tow truck on a lawn many feet away as he was worried it might catch fire again. The car was towed at my expence ($282.00) to a mechanic who looked at it an said we got very lucky had it not been for that officer the whole car would have caught fire. He stated the engine is seized up and needs a total long block replacement. Total cost to fix it about $5000.00 rough estimate.

NHTSA ODI 11462899

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the vehicle decelerated. During the failure, the check engine warning light was flashing continuously. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer who diagnosed the drive belt was faulty and a tune-up was needed. The drive belt was replaced and a tune-up was performed however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 144,000.

NHTSA ODI 11461174

The engine malfunctioned. A ticking noise in engine while driving, engine stopped . Placed my life and grandsons life in danger. Died right on the road.

NHTSA ODI 11459663

I was driving down the highway and without warning my car began to stall and would not take the gas. I was able to drift off the highway to a mechanic shop. He put the vehicle on 2 separate computers and nothing registered but the engine light was on. After 2 hours of sitting the car drove normally. The Kia dealership in Danville, VA reported no recalls (I've only had the car for 2 years). While driving to the dealership the car did the same thing. I had it towed to a certified mechanic. The mechanic said that it was the engine but he did not do engine work. My car is now sitting in my driveway, after being towed 4 times. I am making payments on a vehicle that I cannot drive. The safety issue is that there was no warning that the car is about to break down! I am driving on the highway with vehicles going 70 mph and the vehicle stops working properly. There are too many engine recalls for this year, make, and model and I find it disturbing that my VIN is not on the recall list. I just bought the vehicle 2 years ago but they are saying that this vehicle was not on the list. I am disturbed, disgusted, and disappointed. My children were in the car with me when this happened! We could have been hurt or killed!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11453572

smoke coming from engine compartment

NHTSA ODI 11451117

My engine started knocking and suddenly locked up.Had to get it towed to the repair shop. The mechanic said it was clogged oil passages from metal shavings that caused the restriction and I had to pay 4970.35 dollars for a engine replacement

NHTSA ODI 11448030

My 2013 Kia sorento got recalled for an engine filling/Engine knocking. Back in 2019 so i toke it to the dealer and there's was not issues at the moment until 2021, i was driving on the highway and the car turned off. I lost power to the brakes and the steering was very hard to turn. The engine light started flashing so i pulled over and called the tow truck to take it to the kia dealership. Next day they called me and the engine was valid for the recall but they told me since it's a rebuilt car the car is not valid for a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11445242

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle was running rough. The contact thought she had bad fuel. The contact stated after restarting the vehicle, it seized. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who confirmed that parts were not available. The dealer diagnosed there was a loss of compression in cylinders #1 and #2. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and determined that the failure was due to the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11441325

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 74 MPH, an abnormal knocking noise began to emit from the engine as the check engine and ABS warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle suddenly lost power as the contact began to smell smoke in his cabin. The contact immediately pulled over and once the engine was turned off, the engine became engulfed in flames. The contact exited the vehicle and called the authorities to his location. The fire was extinguished by the fire department; a police report was not filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries as a result of the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was destroyed. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

NHTSA ODI 11439909

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contacts husband stated while driving approximately 45mph when smoke came from the engine compartment. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing an engine replaced. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with, NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (ENGINE) however was refused recall repair. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11438427

While exiting the interstate highway the electrical system and engine stopped working as I approached the intersection. After getting the engine started again we learned that the piston rods were shot and the engine was no good. The vehicle had 120,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11438137

Vehicle caught on fire, beginning in the engine compartment. No warning indications showed on the instrument panel. Driver and two children were able to exit the vehicle and notify the fire department. The fire investigator believes the fire started in proximity of the alternator. The engine has been replaced under warranty by Kia twice.

NHTSA ODI 11434812

The vehicle was driving smoothly than all of a sudden the engine steamed and died on the side of the high way. It make a knocking sound before it died out. Brought it to a dealership and they told me the engine, started and spark plugs are toast. Being 2nd owner it no longer covered under powertrain warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11430912

Excessive oil consumption. Kia stated this is a known issue but is not "quite to the status of a recall." They said there is no fix to the issue and they cannot diagnose what is causing the excessive oil consumption but can confirm it is not leaking. Both the Kia dealership and general Kia phone support informed me there is nothing they can do and the best suggestion they can provide is to wait until the engine seizes up. They said at that point, I can have it towed to a local Kia dealership or "limp" it to a dealership and it would then be qualified for an engine replacement under a different recall. I asked if I should top it off with oil to prevent the engine from failing while we are driving, and they informed me not to do this "as that will only prolong the issue." I then confirmed with them that the only solution being provided was to continue driving the car and wait until the engine fails while I am driving down the road, potentially with my family in the car which is an extremely dangerous situation. Multiple different Kia reps confirmed that is the only and "best" solution they can provide. The dealership said they see this issue with this engine "all the time and it sucks" but they cannot help me until I bring them a seized-up engine. They also said there is nothing they can do to fix the issue before the engine goes bad. They tried to provide a glimmer of hope by saying, "the good news is there is a 99% chance you will get a new engine because we see major engine issues so often Kia just replaces the engine instead of having us tear it apart to diagnosis the issue because that takes less time and is cheaper." However, they confirmed again they will not and "cannot" fix the car until I bring them a seized engine and continue driving it until it fails. Kia is directly telling consumers to put themselves and their families in harm's way by not fixing a known issue and telling drivers to wait until their engine fails while in the act of driving.

NHTSA ODI 11430231

Paint peeling and chipping off my car and my insurance stated they will not cover a Manufacture defect…

NHTSA ODI 11428364

I took my vehicle in to have the oil changed and have a inspection. During the inspection they found that the timing belt cover was just starting to leak. They would need to replace the gasket costing over $1700, then inspect the rest of the components. Thats not even what it is gonna cost if there is more to be done. Under 130000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11427388

I was driving home from work on the I79 going to Pittsburgh, when I had to switch lanes because of construction my car struggled to increase in speed. As I pressed down on the gas petal all the warning lights on my dashboard came on and my car slowed down, so grateful I was able to pull my car off the highway barely. I turned my car off and waiting, then when I tried to turn it on, it wouldn’t turn over. I called my insurance and requested a jump, but when the roadside assistance arrived, he jumped my car but that didn’t help, he checked my oil and asked about my recent inspection. After all the information and attempts, he researched my VIN and found out it had all the systems of the Kia recall. I am just lucky I was driving the speed limit and made it off the highway lanes even thought I was stuck on the highway off ramp. I think what if I was speeding and had cars following me, then this happened? I would be severely injured, dead, and put others in risk of that danger too.

NHTSA ODI 11427507

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (Engine). The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer for the recall repair however, due to severe rust to the subframe, the dealer declined to provide the service. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle would be repurchased at wholesale value. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.

NHTSA ODI 11423597

While on the highway, the engine blew causing a sudden loss of speed and power steeting. The car/engine is currently available for inspection. This is a known issue with the 2013 Kia Sorentos as well as other models. From reviews online, it appears that there is an issue with the crankshaft and oil. For some reason other 2013 Sorentos (and other models) were recalled - this VIN was not. The car was inspected by two independent mechanics (two different companies) and both advised that this is the same problem that was recalled for the crankshaft/oil issue and that I should contact Kia. I contacted Kia and they said this VIN was not re-called. There were no warnings in regards to this issue. The car suddenly lost speed on the highway and I was fortunate enough to be able to glide to a safe area off the highway.

NHTSA ODI 11423139