2013 Kia Sorento: misfire or rough idle

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Engine · MD

While making a right hand turn at an intersection, the engine shut off and I was able to drift into a parking lot - the entire dash board lite up different indicators. Turned off ignition, waited about 15 minutes and attempted to start; however, immediately upon starting the engine started to run rough so immediately shut it back off. Had towed to a service repair shop who has informed me that the vehicle is in need of a long block remove and replace.

Filed Mar 12, 2026 · Engine · PA

On December 21, 2025, my vehicle experienced abnormal knocking/ticking sounds coming from the engine while driving on the interstate (60 mph), and it was difficult going up hills. The check engine light was intermittingly blinking, and there was a strong burning smell. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone and the code displayed P0304 indicating a cylinder 4 misfire. The spark plugs were replaced. However, the knocking sounds, blinking check engine light, and smell of burning happened again, and I took it PepBoys on December 26, 2025. After testing, they indicated that the fuel injector was cracked and fuel was found in the engine oil. I had AAA tow the vehicle to Cochran Kia [XXX] ). The dealership indicated that they would not be able to look at the vehicle until December 29, 2025. The dealership verified that the check engine light was still on and the motor was misfiring badly. They then checked cylinder #4 with a borescope and found that the valve had a crack in it and that the engine would need to be replaced. There was also damage/scoring to the piston and cylinder wall. The dealership corresponded with Kia (Case #25769914), Kia however indicated that there was no powertrain warranty and that this would not be covered under PI1803 and indicated that only applies to bearing failure, and that dealership should provide me with cost estimate to replace the engine. My vehicle has been properly maintained, and I provided the dealership with the additional requested maintenance records on February 14, 2026. I reached out to Kia Customer Care and they indicated to get the engine replaced under the warranty from the settlement, I had to work with the dealership. I contacted the dealership again on 3/12/26 and they said they can't do a warranty replacement because the warranty only covered if it was the rod bearing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 4, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · AR

I have experienced multiple electrical failures, engine stalling & fuel pump issues. One after another. I had the fuel pump sensor replaced ($900 just for one part) a few months ago. I have wires randomly corroding - headlight connector. As of 2 days ago my ignition switch and starter solenoid intermittenly fails to send voltage to the starter. Won’t know if the starter motor will need replaced until it’s tested and proven it wasn’t the culprit for the failure of the other two. I have replaced 2 spark plugs. They have still been read to misfire. Random electrical things stopped working like my heated seats and a few steering wheel buttons. (I’d like to note the battery was just replaced last month) All of these problems seem to be linked with several recalls. All problems have all occurred over the last 6 months. There is an abundance of evidence pointing to faulty wiring and electrical issues. This recent HECU recall is basically saying our cars could spontaneously combust while not in use due to an electrical short circuit. Barely outlining the dangers it could cause while actually in use. A simple google will tell you if this system fails so could your ABS. Even with the ABS engine light warning how do we know it could warn us far enough in advance to pull over to safety? Imagine that while even going the speed limit in a school zone let alone the interstate. I have kids. This is terrifying. I can’t afford to just replace my vehicle. I have proof of a very well maintained lifetime of repair and maintenance on this vehicle. I had no knowledge of any prior recall issues until I spent hours researching. You buy a car and assume that if it has been well maintained it’s safe. My mistake. I would have absolutely declined had I known I’m strapping my babies in a double death trap every day over a failed circuit. Can we just accept the fact that this is certainly due to the engine replacements? Perhaps some were installed more carefully and correctly than others?

Filed Feb 27, 2021 · Engine · 132,091 miles · WV

2/26/21 engine failure cylinder 4 loss of compression possibly due to debri in the engine during assembly. P0304 code misfire in cylinder 4. I have called other kia dealerships to ask if anyone else had this same issue and they told me yes. Johnstown pa, team kia where I was towed to informed me of the same issue involving cylinder 4. I was driving to pittsburgh, pa on the pa tp absolutely loss power climbing the mountain. I was going approx 70 MPH in the left lane with cars and tractor trailers behind me. Luckily I was able to get to the right side to pull over and check out the codes. I always carry a engine code reader in my car. I had researched the multiple issues with the 2.4 liter engine associated with debri in the engine. I feel this failure has something to do with that. I have done my maintenance on my vehicle since I drove it off the lot in 8/2012. I have all repair and recall records associated with my vehicle, I have done all the recalls associated with my SUV. I have all receipts for oil changes, transmission & front and rear differential changes. I have used bg-44 products to keep my engine valves clean and clear of any deposits. I have used super unleaded to clean the fuel system, at every oil change I pull the throttle body off and clean it thoroughly. There is no way that everything I have done could have caused this failure with cylinder 4. I do believe there is a breakdown in workmanship with this engine. I am having my mechanic tear it apart and check to see if the cylinder wall is scored from debri at the time of assembly and push this back on kia for reimbursement of the engine. I will update this safety complaint as I find out from my mechanic.

Filed May 19, 2020 · Engine · 114,000 miles · MO

My 2013 kia sorento is using an excessive amount of oil in between oil changes. I haven't found any oil leaks. Upon starting the kia there is a lot of white smoke coming from the tail pipe. Also has a rough idle. Currently in an independent mechanic shop and they aren't finding an oil leak either. Has been doing this for the 3 years I've owned it. Purchased from a car dealer. Have had regular oil changes.

Filed Oct 25, 2019 · Airbags, Engine · 71,000 miles · VA

Have not had any problems other then having to put 2 quarts of oil in the motor every other day and it stalling to the point of almost cutting off when I start to take off. I got up put oil in the car started my day as usual, ran errands and the parked the car as usual. Went to get in it the next day and the engine light was on. Started to drive it and it made the sound as if it was misfiring. Later that day had my mechanic look at it and he said what I thought it was plugs. So I changed the plugs and coil packs and it did not change a thing. Still had that noise and when you are going down the road it will start shaking and have to gear down. Called kia customer service they said it was part of the 147 recall even though it showed that it had been fixed in 2018. I explained that it shook when driven that plugs and coil packs have been changed, had to fill up on oil instead of gas and that the oil had gas in it. Told me it would cost me 230 out of pocket to have it towed. Next day took it too kia dealership who said I would have to wait until the motor locked up before they could do anything. Finally got them to look at it and they said the motor was bad. It was not safe to drive it anymore because it could caught fire or cause an accident. But yet not part of the recall said I would have to pay for all the repairs out of pocket. Not only did kia customer service and the federal safety agency both said it was part of the 147 recall. I am with out a vehicle and still have to pay for one that I can't even drive or get fixed.

Filed Jul 18, 2018 · Engine · 112,000 miles · MD

Less than 3000 miles after kia did a oil change covered under warranty for engine recall did I find out that my engine was completely out of oil. The dealership took my vehicle and after 3 months a new engine was put it. I got the vehicle back still experiencing problems with the vehicle rough idling, problems accelerating and sputtering while driving.

Filed Apr 4, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 350 miles · MA

At an idle, this vehicle runs rough and shakes. It feels as though it will stall. I do not believe this should be happening with a new car. I told the mechanic at my first maintenance check, and he acted as if it would get better with an oil change. It seems to be getting worse. I commute 120 miles a day for work, and I have had the car for 5 months, it has 9000 miles now. Now the radio will not turn on? This concerns me that maybe something electrical is malfunctioning.

Filed Jan 14, 2013 · Engine · 23 miles · TX

We purchased 2 kia vehicles on 12-8-2013, one being the 2013 kia sorento awd 4-cyl-gdi. We took delivery of the vehicle and had to return on monday to turn in the other trade. We questioned the salesman about the rough idle and loud noise that it made at stops but he said it was normal and it would work itself out after a break-in period. The next day when we were stopped at a red light the vehicle began to shake and the lights stated to flicker, I told my wife to give it gas and then it stopped..until she let off the pedal. We submitted am inquiry to kia through the website and by the next day we were contacted by a regional rep. We scheduled an appointment to bring it in and then I began researching this issue...to which I quickly lost that warm fuzzy feeling of a new kia owner! We left our vehicle at the dealership for days until we had enough, we were fixing to have to pay a note on a vehicle we didn't have! We called and picked our vehicle back up, we are being told that the parts are on back-order from korea. We have been contacted from a rep out of georgia now and we just keep being told to be patient. I am not happy at all as we purchased two new vehicles and we should not be having to deal with this. Had we left our vehicle at the dealership (which is what they wanted while we drove a nasty rental) we be out for at least a month as the parts aren't scheduled to be shipped until the 21st of january! We have no idea of our legal rights if any, and I do not feel comfortable with my wife and children in this vehicle. Kia offers nothing more than a stinky rental car and please be patient....the service manager however at the dealership has been wonderful..unlike the sales manager!

Filed Nov 15, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 25 miles · CA

A day after I purchased a new kia sorento ex gdi 2013 (9/25/2012), I noticed that it had rough idle at stop. I took my car to dealership to fix the rough idle issue next day, however after 4 days of troubleshooting by mechanic with kia support engineer, they were not able to resolve it. Tsb#122 (ECM software upgrade) was alreay applied prior to my purchase. Even today, I still have the same issue. My current mileage is 2800 miles.

Filed Aug 19, 2012 · Engine · 127 miles · FL

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". Much better, but only a few miles since recall notice and fix. I have not yet received an official recall notice-- I feel that kia corporate intentionally did not divulge this problem to automobile safety officials for the purpose of continuing to sell the 4 cylinder sorentos-poor decision.

Filed Aug 13, 2012 · Engine · 778 miles · NC

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 complete stop. People were going around us on both sides beeping their horns and other gestures. After fooling with the gear shifter, I put the vehicle in park it started but when I put it in drive it started to miss and was in the process of stalling when I put it in neutral the engine started to run fine. I then put it in low gear and it started to move forward, once I got some speed (did not look at the speedometer to see how fast I was going) I put it in drive and everything was fine after that. Also, the vehicle runs rough when in neutral and while idling when in gear (varies with no rhyme or reason). The service advisor informed me that kia knew of the problem and were working on it. They should have an answer within two weeks. It is august 13 and that was june 15. On august 7 it happened again...having other problems at times, vehicle missing, starting to stall....I have called the dealership each time a problem happened...so far all I got is lip service. Called several hours ago (talked to the salesman) said he was with a customer and will get back to me. No response from him so far. I am at a lost as to what to do my wife is scared and will not drive the vehicle. I am worried that I may cause an accident. Please help me get this problem solved before someone gets hurt or even worst.