KIA Sorento Engine Problems
Owners have filed 3,847 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the KIA Sorento across 24 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (695). The words owners use most often: “oil change” (8% of reports).
- 3,847engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 43mention a crash
- 39mention an injury
- 7related recalls
- $7,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil change: mentioned in 293 of 3,847 complaints (8%)
- Engine seized: mentioned in 214 of 3,847 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the KIA Sorento at $7,800, and half of them between $2,050 and $10,350.
Based on 207 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 1,919 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 3,847 complaints, 43 mention a crash, 247 a fire, 39 an injury.
KIA Sorento engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 1 | 17% | 7,000 |
| 2025 Sorento | 19 | 25% | 4,000 |
| 2024 Sorento | 5 | 12% | 31,000 |
| 2023 Sorento | 31 | 25% | 1,600 |
| 2022 Sorento | 52 | 27% | 50,000 |
| 2021 Sorento | 68 | 27% | 33,000 |
| 2020 Sorento | 66 | 48% | 61,500 |
| 2019 Sorento | 158 | 37% | 40,000 |
| 2018 Sorento | 107 | 42% | 72,000 |
| 2017 Sorento | 387 | 48% | 64,000 |
| 2016 Sorento | 695 | 55% | 83,500 |
| 2015 Sorento | 363 | 48% | 87,780 |
| 2014 Sorento | 388 | 39% | 100,000 |
| 2013 Sorento | 496 | 51% | 89,691 |
| 2012 Sorento | 461 | 52% | 99,612 |
| 2011 Sorento | 284 | 19% | 103,000 |
| 2010 Sorento | 1 | 33% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Sorento | 4 | 7% | 140,000 |
| 2008 Sorento | 35 | 16% | 75,000 |
| 2007 Sorento | 7 | 5% | 133,000 |
| 2006 Sorento | 67 | 28% | 92,700 |
| 2005 Sorento | 63 | 21% | 101,000 |
| 2004 Sorento | 46 | 21% | 112,000 |
| 2003 Sorento | 43 | 14% | 118,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (7)
Engine and engine cooling:critical fasteners
Model years: 2025
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K4 and Sorento vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the sub engine assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 12, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC349.
Engine
Model years: 2011
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2011 Sorento vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will install Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC291.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pipes, hoses, and fittings; engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Model years: 2022
Problem: Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Sorento vehicles. The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC233.
Engine
Model years: 2012, 2013
Problem: 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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2017
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The engine crankshaft may have been improperly heat treated and may fail.
Risk: If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the crankshaft, and, as necessary, replace the engine sub assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC153.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: 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.
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact rented a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the headlights and tail lights intermittently failed to illuminate or shorted out, and the check engine warning light illuminated. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly seized in the middle of an intersection, and…
My car's check engine just started flashing and the ECU has reduced my drivability to limp mode stating that my knock sensors are showing up on scan test and camshaft position exhaust sensor. When I removed the camshaft exhaust vvt sensor it indeed had metal shavings on it. A have a P1326 and a…
Check engine light flashing going into limp mode
On October 3, 2026, at approximately 12:30 p.m., my 2019 Kia Sorento, with fewer than 100,000 miles, experienced an unexpected engine failure while I was driving on the highway in the Chicago, Illinois, area. Component or System Failure: The vehicle's engine failed unexpectedly while the vehicle…
The engin cought on fire while driving. The entire car burnt. The engin burns 1 quart of oil per tank of gass consuming approximately 20 quarts beetween oil changes.
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Sorentos have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 3,847 owner complaints about engine for the KIA Sorento. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Sorento engine?
Yes: 7 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the KIA Sorento?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,800 (half paid between $2,050 and $10,350), from 207 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the KIA Sorento?
The most frequent phrase is “oil change”, in 293 of 3,847 complaints, followed by “engine seized” (214).
Other KIA Sorento problems
- Electrical System problems (1,396)
- Power Train problems (1,187)
- Structure problems (936)
- Exterior Lighting problems (845)
- Air Bags problems (717)
- Steering problems (542)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (409)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (398)
See all KIA Sorento problems.