2014 Kia Sorento: engine failure

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Engine · 184,000 miles · SC

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking abnormally and the engine seized, causing a crackling sound and a fuel leak. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the vehicle was diagnosed with a fuel leak. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) as a possible cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 184,000.

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Transmission · TX

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorrento. The contact stated that while driving, the engine suddenly seized in the middle of traffic. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with crankshaft failure. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was confirmed that the crankshaft had seized. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · TX

2015 KIA Sorento v6 engine failed and seized. VIN was not included in KIA extended warranty offered for this year and engine.

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · Engine · SC

On XXX, the 2.4L Theta II GDI engine on our 2014 Kia Sorento (current mileage: 160,000) catastrophically seized without warning while my [XXX] was driving at interstate speeds at night. This caused an immediate and sudden loss of power, power steering, and braking assist, creating an extreme traffic hazard. No one was injured and the driver was able to safely coast to the shoulder, but it created a highly dangerous situation on a busy interstate. We had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who pulled the starter and confirmed a total mechanical engine seizure. The vehicle was then towed to a Kia dealership. This vehicle has suffered from the well-documented Theta II factory manufacturing flaw where debris destroys the connecting rod bearings, leading to high oil consumption and sudden highway seizure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 7, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · IA

My high pressure fuel pump is spraying fuel in my engine. This is a new engine replacement as of October 2024. This is a huge fire risk and we cannot operate this vehicle.

Filed Jun 2, 2026 · Engine · TX

The vehicle's original engine suffered severe oil consumption and a blown head gasket, which contaminated the exhaust system. The Kia dealership replaced the engine under warranty but refused to replace the damaged catalytic converter claiming it wasn’t a part of the warranty even though it was consequently damaged. The dealership explicitly stated the vehicle should not be started or driven due to the blocked exhaust, but then did repair and release after I pushed for the catalytic converter replacement. They said I would have to follow up with Kia corporate. They released the unsafe vehicle anyway and I have been following up with Kia customer service for 2 months to request a CAT replacement. While driving, the blocked exhaust caused a severe rattling noise, immediate engine overheating, and complete mechanical engine seizure. The engine completely cut power and locked up while in motion, creating an immediate crash hazard on the roadway. The vehicle is now completely inoperable and will not turn over. This is a severe safety defect where a known blocked exhaust system directly caused catastrophic engine failure while operating.

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 Feb 18, 2026 · Engine · GA

1. The engine consumed its own oil and a rod bearing failed and destroyed the engine 2. This happened while my wife was traveling on I20 at 70mph and almost resulted in a wreck when the engine died and she lost power to the wheels 3. Nalley Kia in Lithonia, GA has confirmed that the engine consumed its own oil which cause a rod bearing to fail and ultimately led to the engine failure 4. No warning lights prior to this happening, just a knocking sound as she merged onto I20

Filed Feb 16, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · IL

Re: Formal Complaint – Repeated Engine Failures and Unacceptable Service Delays Vehicle: Kia Sorento 2014 VIN: [XXX] Purchased: Fall of 2021 Current Issue: Vehicle in service at Kia of Lincolnwood since January 9, 2026 Dear Kia Consumer Affairs and Legal Department, I am writing to formally document my severe dissatisfaction with the repeated engine failures in my Kia vehicle and the complete lack of communication and urgency from both Kia of Lincolnwood (6750 N Lincoln Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712) and Kia's consumer support channels. This has caused significant financial hardship, disruption to my family and work, and eroded any trust in the brand. I purchased this vehicle approximately 5 years ago through CarMax. Within that time, the engine has died or stalled three times: The first failure occurred about one year after purchase, stranding me at 11:00 p.m. in rural Wisconsin during winter with my three young children in the vehicle. The second incident happened in downtown Chicago (River North), just one hour before I needed to depart for a work event in Champaign, IL, requiring a tow and last-minute rental arrangements. The most recent failure occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. after leaving my music studio, necessitating another tow and a $50 Uber ride home. Eleven months ago, Kia of Lincolnwood replaced the knock sensor under a one-year recall warranty. Despite this, the engine issues persisted. On January 9, 2026, I brought the vehicle to Kia of Lincolnwood for the third major engine-related failure. It has now been in the shop for nearly six weeks with no meaningful updates on diagnosis, repair timeline, or resolution. I have called the dealership at least ten times seeking callbacks from my assigned service advisor (Max) or any team member. In each instance, I was either hung up on, placed on hold for over an hour, or promised a return call that never came. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 3, 2026 · Engine · 180,000 miles · IA

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 80 MPH, the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the engine had seized; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Jan 28, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · IA

While driving at low speed and turning, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power accompanied by engine knocking. The engine stalled and would no longer operate normally. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic, who found metal fragments/shavings in the engine oil, indicating internal engine damage. The engine is now inoperable and has effectively failed. There were no warning signs prior to the failure other than the knocking noise immediately before the loss of power. This failure occurred suddenly and without driver input. The sudden engine failure caused a loss of propulsion while the vehicle was in use, creating a potential safety hazard for occupants and surrounding traffic. The vehicle required towing due to engine failure. Kia Consumer Assistance was contacted regarding the engine failure. I was informed that no recalls apply to this VIN and that the vehicle is out of warranty. Kia Consumer Assistance stated they would not inspect or document the engine failure unless I paid out of pocket.

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