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

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would jerk. The check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent dealer, where it was diagnosed with an unknown engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to cost. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, black smoke was seen coming from under the hood, and the contact managed to pull over to the shoulder of the road, safely exit the vehicle, right before the engine caught on fire. The local fire department arrived on scene to extinguish the fire. The contact sustained PTSD; however, no medical attention was sought. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard and deemed a total loss by the insurance provider. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown NHTSA Campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11733577

The car engine started on fire while I was driving after all the recalls were fixed and new engine installed. The car was completely destroyed the whole engine compartment was completely burned. Kia says it was an oil leak but that’s not true the car oil change was done regularly and was serviced within 3 months of the engine fire. I also had this vehicle parked inside my garage for 5 years and not a single drop of oil in the garage floor. Kia is also refusing to send me a full report of their findings from the fire inspection. Kia adjuster is acting in bad faith by not providing the fire report. The car engine was replaced new due to an earlier recall and within 10,000 miles the new engine caught fire. They don’t want to be liable for this engine fire but cars don’t just burn without any reason. The refusal of KIA adjuster to release the findings in the fire inspection is very concerning to other people driving this vehicle in the public. Where engine fire can cause their deaths and their families deaths. This is a safety problem

NHTSA ODI 11698658

Unknown

NHTSA ODI 11674829

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH the check engine light suddenly illuminated and the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power and reduced speeds. Smoke and flames were also present coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road before it stalled. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was later towed to the home. Fire report information was unavailable. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 147,000.

NHTSA ODI 11646281

Kia smelled of electrical burning/fire after driving. burning smell permeated into dwelling. Notified KIA Customer Care Center at 1 (800) 333 4542. Case [XXX] initiated day of engine burning/fire [XXX]. No response from Kia. Called to inquire on update January 16th, 2024. Spoke with Mary. Mary had no update. Asked to speak with her manager, She transferred me and call dropped. Unprofessional conduct with life-threatening Kia engine bomb sitting in my driveway. Initiated complaint on Kia's website and another case number was generated - [XXX]. Tried calling back to no avail. Call dropped five times. Initiated this NHTSA complaint immediately after last call dropped by Kia. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11565841

Replaced engine 1/31/23 had open recall per 21v331was not repaired even though they wasn’t suppose to return vehicle according to recall. They said It would be safe to drive.Said they had no remedy to fix they would call me. Few days car stalls alternator was hanging had to replace. They didn’t replace properly. With in a month cars brakes were acting weird took in for diagnostic back brakes no remedy. Call Kia still no parts for recall. Sept 11,23 was pulling off expressway during 5 o'clock traffic my brakes locked up I had no control. Towed to Kia they wanted 75. to look at it then 2700. to fix the brakes. And stated I had no brake fluid. Which was just checked. They said recall did not cover the repairs Neither the engine recall nor the brake, hecu, abs, stability control recall. I contacted Kia they told me they would get back to me. As of Oct.31,23 they had not done any repairs or response from Kia. So I traded my car back to Kia so I would have a vehicle for school and work. I’ve tried to get reimbursement from Kia. For rental car etc. And keep getting the run around. I have towing, rental, and repairs that they are refusing to reimburse me. I drove the recalled vehicle for 9 months and could have been killed myself, my daughter, as well as others. Kia could care less! I traded vehicle 10/31 the recall was cleared on my 2014 Sorento on 11/4 according to Nhtsa.gov 3 days they clear it so they could sell it. I m really disgusted with Kia. I’m out thousands of dollars for their neglect. They couldn’t repair the recall for longer than 9 months for me . But as soon as I trade it to them it’s repaired or they are lying just so they can sell it. Just like when they sold it to me with 2 open recalls without telling me it had them. What do I need to do? Suggestions? I do have more receipts and documents

NHTSA ODI 11553665

ENGINE FIRE, NO WARNING, VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND OFF WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE

NHTSA ODI 11549694

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while parking the vehicle in a driveway, black smoke was coming out of the vents of the vehicle. Once the contact exited the vehicle, flames started coming from under the hood of the vehicle causing the vehicle to burst into flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire and a report was filed. No one was injured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 144,000.

NHTSA ODI 11497558

My Kia Sorento while parked in front of house caught fire and burned, Total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11482672

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.

NHTSA ODI 11465425

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).

NHTSA ODI 11462339

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.

NHTSA ODI 11460306

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.

NHTSA ODI 11439161

Upon driving home from a family road trip, I was flagged down on the highway by a fellow driver saying my car was on fire from under the passenger backseat. There were no warning lights or alarms from the inside of the car, or on the dash. I pulled over and the fire engulfed the engine and soon the whole car. It burnt down to the frame, with absolutely nothing left inside but twisted metal. It was deemed a total loss. The fire inspector and police on the scene believe there was an issue with the electrical system that caused the fire. There is a report available with the Florida Highway Patrol. There are NO active recalls for the vehicle, but I was told by Kia there have been several fires in their 2014 models, including some when the vehicles weren't even on. The car was deemed a total loss and has been released to the insurance inspector and has over $14000 in damages to repair. It will not be repaired. My mother was in the front passenger seat, and my 6 year old son was in the passenger backseat, above where the fire began. Thankfully, we are all uninjured, but there is lasting mental trauma on all three of us.

NHTSA ODI 11424162

WHEN DRIVING HOME I PULLED INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND STARTED TO SMELL SLIGHT GAS, WHEN I GET TO MY HOUSE A PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IN AN ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE HOOD I NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I CALLED 911 AND MY FRIEND WENT TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER DID NOT WORK AS THE FIRE GREW BIG AND FAST. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. NO RECENT WORK HAS BEEN DONE OF THE CAR BESIDES REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS OR WEIRD NOISES BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11395611

DRIVING ON 2014 KIA SORENTO WITH ONLY 84,000 MILES. DOING OIL CHANGE ON TIME I KEEP THE RECEIPTS FOR RECORDS. LAST FRIDAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. SOUNDED LIKE CRANKING ENGINE RATTLING. HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND KIA HAD FEW UNANNOUNCED ENGINE RECALLS ON MY MODEL. WHEN I CALL KIA THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP AT ALL. THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327468

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER DRIVER WAS HONKING TO INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER OPENED THE DOOR AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE. THE CONTACT WHO WAS THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BURN TO THE ARM AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO THE SMOKE INHALATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN BUT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE HELP OF THE PASSENGER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO SUPERIOR HYUNDAI SOUTH (238 W MITCHELL AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45232) FOR A UNKNOWN RECALL FOR A MOTOR REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11326730

ENGINE SEIZED WITH NO WARNING. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD NO PRIOR ISSUES. THE ENGINE SEIZED AT 90,000 MILES DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. WE HAVE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND KIA HAS NOT COVERED THE REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE. WE WERE ADVISED WE NEED A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11290234

10/16/2019 I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN I HEARD A LOUD THUNK OR BANG. MY CAR LOST POWER AND I PULLED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. AS I WAS STOPPING THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS FLASHED ON. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES, THE SMOKE HAD INCREASED AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE BEFORE THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SALVAGE WHERE INSURANCE CALLED IT A TOTAL LOSS

NHTSA ODI 11270655

UPON INITIATING AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION WHEN A LIGHT TURNED GREEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WENT BERSERK, THERE WAS A LOUD POP, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE CAR DIED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED FOR A SINGLE SMALL ACCELERATION TO THE SHOULDER. THICK SMOKE THEN ENGULFED THEN ENGULFED THE HOOD AND CONTINUED FOR 15 MINS. UPON BEING TOWED, THE MECHANICS CONFIRMED ALL FLUID LEVELS WERE NORMAL HOWEVER THE ENGINE IS FULLY SEIZED, UNABLE TO BE CRANKED BY HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. IN FACT, THE DEALERSHIP OWNER'S NEIGHBOR HAD PREVIOUSLY OWNED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY MAINTAINED. UNDER MY OWNERSHIP ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE VISITS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE OIL CHANGED APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5,00 MILES. IN APRIL 2018 A KNOCKING SOUND WAS PRESENT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN THE DEALERSHIP REPLACING THE CVT CONTROL VALVE, VALVE-OIL CONTROL, CVVT, GASKET OUTLET AND ROCKER COVERS, O-RING, BOLT FLANGES, AND MORE. ALL OF WHICH RELATE TO THE KNOWN (THOUGH UNDISCLOSED TO ME) ISSUES WITH THE GDI ENGINES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNUSABLE WITH A SEIZED ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11267196

ENGINE FIRE!! WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN HIGHWAY PASSENGER NOTICED SPARKS LEFT REAR OF CAR. PULLED OVER TO CHECK CAR, LIFTED HOOD ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DRIVING NORMAL RATE OF SPEED IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. NO COLLISION OR ACCIDENT INVOLVED. TRAVELLING US-71 SOUTH IN VERNON COUNTY MISSOURI INCIDENT NUMBER 190140035. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. CAR TOWED TO TCB TOWING AND AUTO SERVICE 205 N BARRETT ST NEVADA MO 64772

NHTSA ODI 11187068

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, LOST POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF MACON (3931 RIVER PLACE DR, MACON, GA 31210, (478) 757-0077) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY OTHER MOTORISTS THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED ED VOYLES KIA OF CHAMBLEE (5647 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341, 770- 232-6247). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,437.

NHTSA ODI 11183921

WHILE DRIVING DOWN I75 ACROSSING THE ZILWAUKEE BRIDGE TWO GUYS IN A PICKUP, LATER I CALL MY ANGELS, TRIED TO GET ME TO PULL OVER. NATURALLY MY INSTINCT WAS NO. WHEN I WOULDN'T, THE DRIVER STARTED INCHING OVER TOWARDS MY CAR TO MAKE ME STOP. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO PUSH. WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED ONE GUY JUMPED OUT .. PULLED OPEN MY DOOR AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, PULLING ME OUT. BY THE TIME WE RAN TOWARDS THEIR PICKUP, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I WAS LUCKY THEY WERE THERE OR I WOULDN'T BE HERE TO WRITE THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11170614

WHILE SITTING IN OUR 2014 KIA SORENTO LX AWD, 2.4L 4CYCLIDER GDI; THE CAR WAS IDLING IN OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. HE WAS BEARLY ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE IT WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND CONSEQUENTLY BURNED TILL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BUT THE FRAME.

NHTSA ODI 11164332

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11119577