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.
2014 Kia Sorento: won't start
32 of the 989 complaints about the 2014 Kia Sorento describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 32
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 80,000
- recalls
- 2
Won't start by model year
What owners say
Car rolled after it was put in park. Car would not start after that and gear shift locked. Engaged emergency brake and put bricks behind wheels. Vehicle now in driveway.
After work, a severe dust storm hit. I drove to the grocery store and then home (30 miles) in the dust storm. The next morning, as I was driving to work, I heard a weird knocking noise, but no engine lights came on. My car would not start during my lunch break, nor when I got off work. My boyfriend tried to jump it off. When that didn’t work, we traded the battery out since it was still under warranty. That did not work. We went back the next day and checked my oil levels and other fluids - all were good. My boyfriend then hooked up his small code reader which didn’t read any problems. The next day my mom started the car by putting the spare key up to the start button. She took it to Gene Messer Kia about 5 miles away. She said no engine lights came on, but the engine was knocking. Once she turned it off the mechanics were not able to start the car again. They looked over it and said they could not find any reason for my engine to have died. I asked them if it could have been the dust storm. They said no; the engine was well sealed, block was not cracked, oil levels were good, etc. They quoted me $11,521 for a new engine. However, I did not want to pay that because my car was only worth $5,500-7,000 (trade-in verse private sale) according to Kelly Blue Book. I called my insurance and had an inspector come look at it hoping he would be able to say the storm caused the issue and total my car so I could pay off my loan. However, they also could not find a cause for what happened to my engine. We sold it to Peddle.com.
My son was driving the vehicle and was luckily stopped in traffic at a stop light. All of a sudden the RPM's dropped and the engine shut off. The car would not start and had to be pushed to the side of the road in heavy traffic. While waiting for a tow truck, we noticed the engine oil was completely dry. There had been no warning such as oil lights, engine lights, burning oil smells or leaking oil. The oil had just disappeared without warning. After the vehicle was towed to the local KIA dealer, we were told that the engine had seized. This vehicle has been maintained consistently since the day it was bought brand new. We have records from all maintenance that has been done on this vehicle. The local dealer told us it would cost $11,000 to replace the engine. Unfortunately, that was an expense that we could not afford so the car sits in non working order.
Unknown. I was driving on the highway and the engine just shut off. When I tried to start it I could not. Tried to jumpstart but still would not start. I had it towed to my mechanic and he advised that the engine seized and there is a recall for this. Recall #sc 147.
Was driving my kia sorrento and check engine light came car was acting as if it wasn't getting any gas took to autozone came bk with 2 codes and pulled out and my car basically powered down in the middle of the street a car almost ran into me...the police had to push my car down a waze so no one would hit me , my car won't start..battery was at good percentage...took it to the shop replaced starter and still nothing won't start..they figured out testing that engine was done for
Engine locked up while driving. It just stalled when in motion. Now the engine will not turn over. Mechanic says it has to be replaced.
While over taking a tractor the engine looses power with most dash lights going on, I pull over and turn the car off, and finally the car would not start.
Driving around 55mph motor locked up pulled over to side of road motor would not turn over
I was driving going about 45 to 48 MPH on a main road with traffice flowing faster than me and my car just shut off. The dash board lights all lid up. It was a scary moment for me as when I noticed and tried to break a little the brakes were locked and I couldn't break. I had to let the car roll until it came to complete stop. When it came to complete stop I turned the key and then I tried to restart the car and it would not restart it just did a clicking noise. The engine sounded horrible as it smelled burning and grinding metal pieces were heard. I have taken my car several times to the kia dealership becuase my engine light would turn on and off or sometimes just flash and wouldn't come back on. All kia said that it was the map sensor that needed to be replaced that was june 18, 2019, and now my car just won't start.
While driving last night, my vehicle turned off. Pulled over it would restart but then shut off. Let it sit for a couple minutes restarted and was able to go 1 mile then shut off again. After that let it sit again and restarted and went 1/2 mile before it shut off again. Then wouldn't start again. There's fuel in it, all lighting worked. Battery light and engine light came on.
Sometimes the car will not start. You have to take the transmission out of park and place into neutral, then place back into park again in order for car to start. I have taken vehicle to fairfax kia multiple times, but they say nothing is wrong. I am also able to place car in neutral without pressing on brake.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Engine sub assembly: inspection/replacement (WTY039)
- Engine sub assembly inspection/replacement (WTY039)
- Engine sub assembly inspection/replacement (WTY039)
- Owner notification (WTY039)
- Dealer principal memo (WTY039)
- Dealer parts and service manager memo (WTY039)
- Question and answer
- Request for reimbursement form (WTY039)
Related recalls
Engine
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 18V907000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 17V224000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2014 Kia Sorento won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 2014 Kia Sorento?
32 of 989 owner complaints about the 2014 Kia Sorento (3%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 2016.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2014 Kia Sorento?
There are 2 recalls and 70 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2014 Kia Sorento
Engine failure 128Check engine light 121Headlights 86Knocking 85Stalling 69Fire or smoke 61Loss of power 45Oil consumption 38ABS 33Airbag light 31Overheating 26Sunroof shattered 23Door locks 18Key fob 18Backup camera 14Fuel pump 14Warning lights 12Adaptive cruise 10Power steering loss 10No deployment 9Brake failure 9Jerking 9Battery drain 7Fuel smell 7Hesitation 7Harsh shifting 6Grinding brakes 5Won't shift 5
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