2014 Kia Sorento: jerking or lurching

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 Jun 17, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · AL

I own a 2014 KIA Sorento 2.4L LX FWD. I have been experiencing a problem with my car for about two years. This usually occurs when driving up a hill and the transmission downshifts and I experience a jerk, either from the transmission or engine and the rpm drops to zero. The transmission will not shift from the last shift point. Most times it will be in the drive for final gear. You can increase the vehicle speed by pushing the accelerator all the way down. We were coming back on vacation two years ago and was driving in the left lane on an interstate. I experienced the symptoms and the rpm dropped to zero. No downshift or up shift. I managed ti find an opening in traffic to get over in the right hand lane and exit. Once I came to a stop, I tried to accelerate but engine struggled. I turned off the engine and was able to restart the engine and it operated properly. Had rom, transmission shifted properly. This was an unnerving situation. I felt very fortunate that I did not have to evade a dangerous situation on the interstate since the transmission would not shift and I could press the accelerator to the floor to gain a little extra speed. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

Filed Sep 28, 2022 · Electrical, Lights · GA

I started experiencing miscellaneous electrical issues and occasional poor acceleration. Engine/ABS/tire pressure/etc. warning lights would come and go indicating random problems; transmission solenoid was a common code but I did not initially have transmission problems. Radio/backup camera had intermittent problems with not powering on. Normal headlights stopped working and only high beams would function even after replacing bulbs and checking fuses. Problems got worse and the car would sometimes lurch strongly with a clunking sound and be stuck in 3rd gear "limp mode", but would randomly drive normally when restarted. I brought it to the dealership when I was experiencing sudden loss of acceleration and couldn't match the flow of traffic. The dealership said a new transmission was required. On replacing the transmission they found that there was a problem with the wiring harness and it would also need to be replaced, doubling the cost of an already expensive repair.

Filed Jun 20, 2022 · Engine · MD

My wife started to drive the car to lunch and it began to hesitate, jump and lurch. Inspection by a licensed mechanic revealed that the connecting rod in cylinder four came apart and the piston cracked the engine block. This is the same 3.3L V6 engine that Kia has numerous recalls on, affecting over 600,000 vehicles. Although our particular VIN is not listed, I feel this is related to the problems associated with this engine.

Filed Apr 20, 2021 · Airbags, Engine · 149,000 miles · NC

I've only had my 2014 kia sorento for a year, from 2020-2021. I've noticed these problems in the beginning and assumed they would work itself out because the dealer mentioned that the conditions were minor but they only progressed. I'm putting oil in this vehicle every three to four days because the oil stick is clean ( indicating no oil). The engine light has always been on. I've taken it to several mechanics, including the mechanic that works directly with the dealership in which I purchased this vehicle. The engine light will come back and whenever it started to blink it would cause my vehicle to jerk excessively and forcefully while driving on the interstate and main highways each time causing the speed to decrease . Same thing with the airbag indicator light, it's always been on and I was told to ignore it. And the driver seat does not move, I was told a simple small green fuse (30) would fix that and I purchased several and each time the mechanic would insert one of the fuses, you could hear a pop. I was told not to touch it or it could start a fire (the fuse box area). As of today (april 20, 2021) my 2014 kia sorento still have these dangerous issues. Very dangerous and something is definitely not right under the hood.

Filed Sep 30, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 106,400 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 kia sorento. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle independently decelerated and jerked. The contact stated that the engine overheated and loss motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact coasted to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later towed to atlanta west kia (1301 thornton rd, lithia springs, ga 30122) and the contact was informed that a new engine and spark plugs were needed. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 106,400.

Filed Apr 5, 2019 · Engine · 92,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 kia sorento. The contact stated that the engine stalled while making a left turn. When the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and then operated normally. The vehicle was driven to the contact's home. The vehicle was taken to kia country of savannah (1 park of commerce blvd, savannah, ga 31405, (912) 629-4906) for an unknown recall repair concerning the engine not cycling the oil through properly. The vehicle stalled again and lost power while attempting a turn again. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to a dealer. The failure mileage was 92,000.

Filed Sep 9, 2016 · Transmission · 69,600 miles · CA

Driving on highway going about 65mph when I heard a load bang from the rear and felt hard jerk from car , I stopped the car looked underand saw fluid leaking from awd coupling, took it in to kia fresno rear differential broken metal in differential fluid, differential replace but awd coupling not replace. Awd still not working

Filed Aug 22, 2014 · Transmission · 1,500 miles · AL

There has been a very hard jerk forward after a stop (or stop and turn I. E. At stop sign) when I start to accelerate gently. This jerk has always happened after a stop within 75 - 150 feet. The speed of the vehicle has always been around 10- 15 MPH. Jerk forward seems to be a slam forward of drive shaft after just starting to accelerate. This has occurred about three times a month and usually after car has run about five minutes. I am not a mechanic but this seems to be power train issue with drive shaft, brakes and/ or transmission involved. I will research further with dealer as time permits - they have been made aware of this issue but did not say for sure what was happening as of yet (want longer evaluation to drive vehicle themselves).