What 978 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI 11609330

Coolant, oil compression, runs hot, to over headlights need replaced frequently

NHTSA ODI 11604332

I was driving on the freeway in traffic with my 3 children returning home from a holiday weekend vacation, it was high 90's so the A/C was running and I had devices charging on the ports. We were 1.5 hrs into our drive and the vehicle failure came out of nowhere. Car has been in good condition and normal operation previously. Suddenly the entire dash flashed, flickered off then came back on with check engine light illuminated and battery symbol also on (very faintly), felt a minor kickback and car started slowing down until it stopped. I was able to get over and pull off to the shoulder to avoid incident but this could have easily turned into a very bad crash with a less experienced driver behind the wheel or if we had been going faster. Prior to this happening there was no warning of an issue with the vehicle - temperature check was in center between C and H, oil pressure was normal, no warning lights on dash, plenty of fuel and car was not due for an oil change for another 40 miles. Once I pulled over and stopped, turned off the car, it would not restart. Not enough power to turn over the engine. We had to call AAA and have the car towed home 35 miles. I had the vehicle towed to the Kia dealership and they are stating that it is not covered under a current recall or warranty extension and are seeking over $12,000 to replace the engine. I feel like my vehicle 2014 Kia Sorento SX V6 with 3.3L engine needs to be looked into for recall and warranty extension on the engine.

NHTSA ODI 11601613

Was driving to the store for groceries with my 2 young children, when my car just stopped accelerating and the engine seized up on a local road. Had noticed a ticking and knocking sound when accelerating a few prior and a weird sound coming from the suspension but it was dismissed by the dealer. Had the vehicle towed to my home and had to tow to dealership as it would no longer turn over at all. Received a recall notice but apparently it doesn't apply to my vehicle because I had oil, coolant and no leaks anywhere. Only had 127,000 mold and this is the 4th issue I've had with this vehicle. 1st was rats chewing all my wires, 2nd was the rear differential, 3rd fuel pump, and now this.

NHTSA ODI 11600340

I own a 2014 KIA Sorento 2.4L LX FWD. I have been experiencing a problem with my car for about two years. This usually occurs when driving up a hill and the transmission downshifts and I experience a jerk, either from the transmission or engine and the rpm drops to zero. The transmission will not shift from the last shift point. Most times it will be in the drive for final gear. You can increase the vehicle speed by pushing the accelerator all the way down. We were coming back on vacation two years ago and was driving in the left lane on an interstate. I experienced the symptoms and the rpm dropped to zero. No downshift or up shift. I managed ti find an opening in traffic to get over in the right hand lane and exit. Once I came to a stop, I tried to accelerate but engine struggled. I turned off the engine and was able to restart the engine and it operated properly. Had rom, transmission shifted properly. This was an unnerving situation. I felt very fortunate that I did not have to evade a dangerous situation on the interstate since the transmission would not shift and I could press the accelerator to the floor to gain a little extra speed. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11594864

Have already applied several times about my engine and what happened started out with crank sensor going out and cause my engine crash and stop running should have paperwork did on March 2023 applied several times still no request back from any company need hear from NHTSA not yet would like to no what was the results never heard back thank you

NHTSA ODI 11591479

I took my Kia to Thomas Kia on April 12, 2023 and paid a total of $3321.93 for an oil change, fuel injection flush, engine oil flush, drive belt, oil pressure switch, front valve cover gasket, passenger brake bulb, high pressure ac line, cooling system flush, 6 spark plugs and plug assy-spark. I could not drive the car almost three months later I took my Kia back to Thomas Kia and was told it had a bad spark plug, a blown head gasket, oil leak into the cooling system and that would be an additional $6500. Are there any recalls that can help me?

NHTSA ODI 11591421

My oil keeps running out. Had this problem for over six months. Took to the dealership but keep getting the run around. They said, it wasn’t a recall for that but it’s been reported that certain vehicles was having this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11590739

My Grand daughter' car. May 9th 2024 discovered engine oil is in the engine coolant system. KIA tech says it a blown head gasket or the threads that were machined into bolt holes in the engine block for the head bolts are pulling out. Safety hazard, engine could have failed on interstate or in traffic and posed a threat to driver and others traveling on roadway. No warning of any type.

NHTSA ODI 11589466

Engine failure similar to other Kia Engine Class Action Lawsuit

NHTSA ODI 11585900

While driving car it suddenly lost acceleration. RMP's wouldn't go above 1.5. Speed wouldn't go above 20MPH. Check engine light came on. Was going up a hill with lots of cars behind me and suddenly could barely move. Made it to an Advance Auto and they ran diagnosis on the check engine light and it came up with 2 different codes, relating to fuel system and crankshaft. When I got the vehicle to my local mechanic they saw the codes also, and that the car had gone through 4 quarts of oil. I wasn't at the mileage for an oil change yet, so not sure why oil was almost gone. Mechanic did and oil change and issue was still not fixed. Stating engine needs to be replaced. I have several other people with Kia's who have also recently expirenced massive oil consumption and engine dying. Car was running fine prior to just going into "limp" mode randomly. However I have had a battery issue with this vehicle since day one of purchase. I have been to several mechanics including a Kia dealership with no one being able to pinpoint what is draining the battery. I have had to replace the battery 6 times in 3 years, with my vehicle being dead every other day and sometime every day from Oct-Mar.

NHTSA ODI 11584271

My car started overheating, then started a clicking noise and smoking. Took it to the Jackson, MI KIA dealership. Service Tech said I have a blown head gasket, but KIA discontinued the V6 motor, so I can’t get a new motor. I searched online, found out the V6 motor was discontinued because of this very issue. There was a class action lawsuit/settlement, but it was before I purchased this vehicle. What if anything can be done ? I feel duped. None of the salespeople told me about this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11583447

BLOWN HEAD GASKRT DUE TO HEADBOLTS BOLTS STRIPPING UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, 116,000 MI.

NHTSA ODI 11582322

Multiple reports of; Codes P0171 System too lean bank 1 P0138 O2 sensor circuit high (b1s2) P0087 Fuel pressure too low P0036 B1S2 *** frequent fuel pump and fuel injector replacements/ services due to defects in the system. Causing major damage in other systems including engine.***

NHTSA ODI 11581569

My 2014 kia sorento its knock sound from engine

NHTSA ODI 11581593

The HECU fuse in my Kia has the risk of starting an engine fire. It is currently part of a recall. I have checked this with your organization using my VIN number. I am unable to drive my vehicle due to the potential risk for me and passengers. This has made life extremely inconvenient. Even going to work has been difficult because I've had to rely on other modes of transportation. Kia has been unable to provide a replacement part, even though the recall was first announced over 6 months ago. I am unable to sell my vehicle because of this recall as well. We are expected to not use our vehicles but Kia is not providing a replacement part in any sort of a timely manner. They need to move their focus from the new vehicles to fixing these before someone is seriously injured.

NHTSA ODI 11579345

Kia Dealers has diagnosed that vehicle has had a Catastrophic Engine Failure Was driving and vehicle just died almost got rear ended etc.... due to engine failure never received notices of this engine issue Start reading and it states at any giving time engine can seize At this point Kia dealer give me the round around there is a recall for engine failure it was checked by Kia dealer know no one can give me an straight answer and I need at least a rental vehicle until this gets solve and they don't want to honor that But they were real quick to call me to charge me $205 dollars for full diagnostic of vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11578830

Engine failed on the road. Lost acceleration. Had it in dealer for knocking and loss of acceleration but found nothing. Dealer said drive until failure or warning lights. One Week later it failed on the freeway. Now dealer says blow bearing bolt/rod and engine will be $16,000 to replace. We have only ever serviced this car at Dealers and bought it new. Dealer says Engine is not covered but read this is a KNOWN issue with the engines.

NHTSA ODI 11578350

While driving on the highway, I noticed my temperature gauge went all the way to hot, but then it went back to the middle. It did this 2 or 3 times before I reached my destination. On the way home, it did this, again. Except, the gauge went up to hot and stayed there when I was about 3 miles from home. Once the engine cooked, I checked for coolant and realized it was empty - as was my oil (even though I had an oil change in October). I refilled the oil and coolant only to have the coolant run out from the bottom of the engine. I took the car to a radiator repair shop and was told the from head gasket had blown. He said I would need a new engine. A second opinion yielded the same answer. The engine light never came on and the car never overheated. The car has approximately 116,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11577801

The contact’s girlfriend owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the engine overheated. The contact pulled over and checked the vehicle. The coolant reservoir was low on coolant, the engine oil level was low, and there were metal shavings in the oil. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,842.

NHTSA ODI 11577310

My car shows that it is running hot but there is no leaks. I took my car to the mechanic and changed the radiator and the thermostat thinking that was the problem get my car back and my car is still running hot so I take it back to the mechanic and he inspects my engine again and that's when he tells me that the screws in my engine are not tight like they are supposed to be and that at some point there was a recall for my car due to the engine over heating I tried calling kia and they weren't any help

NHTSA ODI 11576942

Car started overheating and was using excessive amounts of oil. When trying to run my heat the smell of the coolant was coming into the cabin in which myself and my children could have inhaled it. I took it to my local Kia dealership and was informed after diagnostics that it was leaking both oil and coolant from the same spot, the head gasket is leaking, and the cylinder head bolts are stripped. In all a whole engine replacement will need to be done on 3.3 V6 GDI Lambda Il

NHTSA ODI 11577027

The kia Sorento has been very well serviced and maintained. On 3/8/24 while driving on the hwy the temperature began to rise. The vehicle was immediately pulled over and shut down. After letting the vehicle sit for approximately an hour to let engine cool my mechanic arrived and inspected it and found metal shavings in the oil and vehicle was started after inspection it is knocking. I've gone online to your website ran the VIN number and it says that this particular vehicle has no recall but this exact year model Sorento has had two different recalls on the same engine that I have in this vehicle for exactly what my vehicle just did. My vehicle only has 78,000 miles on it and I have all service records for it. I'm wanting to know why the other engines of the exact same year make model were recalled for exactly what my engine just did and this one wasn't the vehicle is long at a warranty and a used engine for this vehicle cost almost $4,000 I truly believe that this engine is defective just as the others were for there's no reason for this engine to do what it did with the service and maintenance that I maintain on the vehicle with only 78,000 miles. Any information or help you can give me for this inquiry would be greatly appreciated thank you for all you do.

NHTSA ODI 11576386

This is regarding recall #23V652.The manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall since 09/25/2023 in a timely manner. This put myself and family member at risks everytime we operate the vehicle. KIA advised us to park it afar to avoid fire hazard. However, my car has already been broken in once so I am too traumatized to park it far away from my house. This is a serious safety concern that should be promptly addressed.

NHTSA ODI 11575880

Engine lost power. Analysis indicates the catalytic converters failed and need replacement. The engine and catalytic converters were replaced June 2022. This power loss occurred on major interstate, which could have resulted in death or serious injury. Defective products still being used. Per the dealer, the replaced parts have a warranty of 12 months or 12,000 miles. They know these issues exist and persist, putting lives at risk. We did have an engine light come on a few moments before the engine failed.

NHTSA ODI 11575602