2014 Kia Sorento: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 14, 2026 · TX · fire

Took car in to get recalls fixed and they did not repair the vehicle and my car caught on fire

Filed Jun 4, 2026 · Brakes · 157,000 miles · AR · fire

The contact owned a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, smoke emanated from the vehicle's hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted to a driveway and attempted to open the hood when the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The vehicle was consumed by the fire. There was no injury sustained. The local Fire Department was contacted and extinguished the fire, and a fire report was filed. The fire report was provided. The vehicle was towed to the tow lot and deemed a total loss. The contact stated that the dealer was not contacted. The contact was provided notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); by the Fire Department. The contact notified the manufacturer about the failure stated in the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer sent a technician to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

Filed Apr 24, 2026 · Engine · 160,000 miles · MI · fire

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 the federal safety agency Campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Nov 10, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · CO · fire

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

Filed Oct 27, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · UT

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power, and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that there was oil leaking out of the exhaust, accompanied by an abnormal sound and odor. The contact stated that the front driver’s side air bag was intermittently inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the engine, power train control module, brakes, and several other unknown electrical parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Mar 4, 2025 · Engine · 147,000 miles · FL · fire

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.

Filed Dec 20, 2024 · Engine · 133,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the engine started to overheat with the check engine and power steering warning lights illuminated. The temperature gauge indicated that the vehicle was running hot(H). There was white smoke coming from the engine. Due to the failure, the contact pulled over and initially had the vehicle towed to the. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the head gasket was blown and needed to be replaced. While attempting to repair the vehicle, the contact was informed that the rod bearings were also defective and that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

Filed Dec 19, 2024 · Engine · 101,430 miles · TX · fire

The contact owned a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it had caught fire causing the entire vehicle to burst into flames, from the front end to the rear end. The fire department was called and extinguish the fire. The fire department determined the fire had started from the engine. A police report was filed. There were no injuries and no medical attention needed. The fire caused damage to both vehicles on each side of the vehicle, the parking space, and the building the vehicle was parked in front of. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 101,430.

Filed Feb 5, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · TN

Was driving on highway when suddenly the vehicle lost power and couldn't maintain speed. Once stopped smoke came out from under hood which turned out to be from coolant. Had car towed to independent shop where it was determined that the engine head gasket/s are bad and engine head bolts and block. Fix is it needs a new engine. Always had maintenance done at dealer and this happened just out of warranty 106k miles.

Filed Feb 3, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · WA

I received a recall notice from Kia dated 11/14/2023. The notice said that the HECU hydraulic electronic control unit could short circuit and catch the car on fire whether driving or parked. They suggest parking away from anything that could catch fire. There is currently no remedy for this serious safety issue. It has been 3 months already and there is no time line for a remedy. They offer no options such as a loaner car to help mitigate the risk to personal safety while driving this car. I would like to have some interim solution until there can be a remedy of this serious safety risk. This is an unacceptable safety risk. Thank you for your time and attention. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 1, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · IN · fire

While driving at night, the instrument panel gauges and lights behind it faded away and all gauges went to 0, RPM, Gas, speedometer, temp, mileage all stopped working all at once. The headlights dimmed to almost nothing. After stopping, it was discovered that a rear sensor was basically melted off after being on fire from the inside. It put a hole right through the sensor and exposed the wire. It basically turned the sensor to ash and you can see the melted wires inside slightly poking out of the hole it melted. The radio and clock still work, so it didnt affect everything. The lights that come on when opening and closing the door were basically stuck on unless turned off manually when the car is off. (Turned off door light feature) Took me a few to figure that out. After checking fuses, the Module 3 was blown. Tried to replace the fuse but it keeps blowing because I cant currently do anything with the damaged sensor. A Kia repair guy wanted to change all the wiring, sensors, and instrument panel, costing thousands of dollars I don't have. After checking the Kia forums, this same exact issue has happened to multiple people with the 2014 Kia Sorento. If this has happened to multiple of the same vehicle, Kia should be responsible to fix it or replace the vehicle! Its dangerous! It was raining, but my car could have stayed on fire. I almost drove off the road when everything was shutting off and my headlights dimmed to nothing. The car still drives fine, so I got home, but it was hard to see and I had no idea of the speed of the vehicle. And the Kia guy said it could still catch fire again so I will have to fix it before driving it much more. I dont have the money for this or for a new car and my job is literally in my car! Check the Kia forums about the other issues and complaints, as again, this happened to multiple people and its all the same issue. Kia needs to fix this since it costs so much to fix and before someone burns up in a fire!

Filed Jan 16, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · AZ · fire

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 the federal safety agency 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)