2014 Kia Sorento: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Sep 26, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · IL

Driving down the road and all of a sudden the red oil pressure light appeared then the engine light appeared. The car engine power then reduced and ultimately ended up stopping, turning the car off. The car now has a loud ticking and knock coming from engine. From previous recalls i see that this is a common problem on these cars. This was without warning and occured a couple of days after a oil change. Oil was in good condition and full. The car is drivable but not safe to do so. There's a loud rattling noise while accelarating. Leads me to believe possible lifters and rod knock.

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 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 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 Sep 22, 2025 · Engine · IN

Crankshaft position sensors, codes P0018. Car does not get up to speed, knocking and rattling sounds heard. Oil is correct fullness, was changed less than 1,000 miles ago, O2 sensor changed 2 weeks ago, but car continues to have new codes and more issues.

Filed Aug 9, 2025 · Engine · WI

Out of no where engine light starts flashing and had it checked code P1326 Knock Sensor Detection System. Now need a new engine. This is a common issue for this make and model but somehow my vin isn’t on the recall. This isn’t right

Filed Jun 4, 2025 · Engine · IA

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that days later there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised that due to an unknown software update that was not performed, the repair was not covered under recall. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Apr 1, 2025 · Brakes, Engine · 147,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was a ticking sound coming from the vehicle. Later, on the same day, while pulling into a friend’s driveway, the engine began making a knocking sound. The contact decided to drive to the residence nearby, and the engine started knocking again, eventually causing the engine to fail and the vehicle to lose motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the rods had failed due to excessive rust, causing the rods to knock. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not yet fully inspected or diagnosed. The contact informed the dealer that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and asked that the recall repair be completed; however, the dealer had not confirmed completion of the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 147,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Mar 20, 2025 · Engine · 124,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made abnormal knocking sounds. The contact stated that the failure occurred increasingly. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and attempting to drive later in the evening, the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Peacock Auto, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall, and that a diagnostic test was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related to the failure to Kia Campaign Number: WTY039. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

Filed Jan 31, 2025 · Engine · 121,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at approximately 40-45 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver was able to pull over safely. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the engine oil was a quart low. There was no indication of an oil leak or low pressure. The vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The local dealer was informed that the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Kia of Irvine (45 Oldfield Building B, Irvine, CA 92618); but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

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.