2023 Kia Sorento: engine stalls while driving

Filed Oct 29, 2026 · IL

I am filing a formal vehicle safety complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Sorento, purchased new in December 2023. My vehicle has experienced intermittent, unexpected engine stalling and loses acceleration while driving requiring to turn off an back on. This creates a serious safety risk because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose propulsion while in traffic, potentially resulting in a collision. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Kia dealership for evaluation several times over the past year. Despite the reported malfunction, the dealership has been unable to reproduce or identify the cause. The vehicle has not been repaired, and the underlying safety concern remains unresolved. I opened a case with Kia Corporate Customer Care and have repeatedly requested that this safety issue be escalated for further investigation. However, Kia has not provided a resolution, and my requests to speak with a supervisor or higher-level representative have been refused. The dealership is now requesting the return of its loaner vehicle on October 30, 2026, despite the unresolved safety concern. Kia has refused to authorize continued alternative transportation. I do not feel safe operating this vehicle because I cannot predict when it may stall or shut off again. I am concerned that this malfunction could result in a serious accident, injury, or death. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this potential safety defect to determine whether other Kia Sorento owners have experienced similar engine shutdowns or unexpected losses of propulsion. The dealership’s inability to reproduce this intermittent problem should not be considered proof that the vehicle is safe to operate.

Filed Dec 9, 2024 · Transmission · VT

When I start driving, there’s a lot of hesitation like it’s going to stall and it also does this going up hills or mountains? I was on the interstate and there was a line of cars behind me and my car started to hesitate and almost stall, causing all cars behind me to break to not cause a domino effect accident I have reported this to the Kia dealer and knowing that there’s a lot of DCT problems that are posted all over the Internet they are saying there is no problem with the car upon doing research again there is a lot of DCT reporting of Kia’s not just my Sorrento please do some research on this and help me. We just bought this car. There is 13,000 miles on it. It should not be doing this and again I’m going to a different Kia to see if they say the same thing. Below you ask for a date that this happened there is too many dates to enter, but I will try to enter the very first one that we experienced.

Filed Nov 4, 2024 · Transmission · NY

Transmission Warning Indicator appears on Dashboard Cluster and vehicle bucks and stalls and won't shift properly. Dealership found Transmission was never filled properly and below specifications according to Kia Service and was verified the fluid level was extremely low and not filled to specification from factory. The dealership filled transmission to proper level and test drove vehicle. Issue seamed to be fixed. But now a month later same transmission is is happening with Transmission warning Indicator and vehicle bucking and not shifting properly causing erratic vehicle behavior and safety issues.

Filed Sep 17, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · TX

I had just entered the highway and reached highway speed of 70 mph. Without any warning, the engine died, all of the dashboard lights came on, and I was unable to accelerate. Thankfully I was in the right-hand lane and there was an exit ramp a short distance ahead. The car decelerated as it had no power, and cars behind me were honking. I was able to exit the highway and coast into a parking lot just off the frontage road. Had I not been able to get off the highway, the vehicle would have been stalled in fast-moving traffic, and a pile-up could have easily occurred. I turned the car off using the push button start/stop, waited several minutes, and restarted the car. The check engine light was on and the car diagnostics system reported an issue with the "engine management system." Upon clicking the details link, the diagnostics system further stated "A possible condition with your Engine Control System has been detected. A full system check is recommended to be done soon. Please contact your local dealership to schedule an appointment." I took the car to a local Kia dealership, and they stated they could not recreate the problem. They reported they "inspected the vehicle for DTC's and found code PO65312 in history." They cleared the code and reported, in writing, that "no issues found during test drive, vehicle currently operating properly, no further action taken" and gave the car back to me without fixing anything. They stated it may need to be diagnosed for longer ext diag time. The vehicle is available for inspection, and I would appreciate any help I can get as I got no help at the dealership.

Filed Jul 9, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · 1,200 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the engine START/STOP feature was malfunctioning. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the engine START/STOP system caused the vehicle to restart, and then to stall, nearly causing a crash. The battery warning light was illuminated and the message "Shift to Park to Start Vehicle" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,200.

Filed May 25, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · NJ

CURRENT MILEAGE 6,776 miles -Purchased the vehicle and on two occasions the AEB Emergency brake system came on twice without any cars around- Also, twice the engine shutdown light came on and acceleration has stopped on me and the vehicle stalled, which is dangerous if Im on the parkway or road where I cant pull over like a bridge. NICE LOOKING CAR BUT DONT BE FOOLED- A 🔴RECALL NEEDS TO BE SENT TO PROTECT OTHERS FROM A CRASH IMMEDIATELY.

Filed May 24, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · CA

I bought a 2023 Kia Sorento SX with 11 miles on the vehicle in June of 2023, On 7/17/23, within a month and a half of driving it, it would lose all power and would not respond to excelleration, whereby coasting to the side of the road. All warning lights would come on, 3 codes popped up, one of which is the malfunction of the engine. I would turn it off and back on to reset the computer and it would drive. I took it to my local Kia service department and they cleared off the codes and couldn't recreate or duplicate the problem. On 8/23/23 I experienced the exact same experience the same scenario, but this time I could barely pull over it had loss of power and I was about to drive through an intersection. Took it back to service they performed a complete check without success they kept it for 2 weeks to try and duplicate the problem, wasn't fixed. The 3rd time on 5/06/24, same problem, they still don't know what causes the car to lose power. I am concerned that the car will cause a fatality to myself, my family, or to another motorist. This car is not safe to drive because the computer systems shut down while driving and it is sporadic and unnerving when it happens.

Filed Oct 23, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · AL

1. I have been complaining about the vehicle turning off by itself. No one is listening to me or telling me what is causing the problem. I have numerous witnesses when the car turns off by itself. It isn’t safe. It could cause a deadly accident. No it’s not the auto shut off either. I have to put the car in park and hope it restarts each time. 2. When auto shut off is in use the vehicle stalls leading it to act like it’s trying to get fuel to move and turns off. I’ve come too close to having accidents. I never know when it will do it. Sometimes I don’t drive it because I don’t want to be held liable for causing an accident and harming somebody's life. 3. I had been complaining to them that I smelled something burning but I couldn’t identify it. I asked them to keep my car and check it out and they refused. While driving in the hottest summer the AC goes out. I immediately took it to the dealership. The worker said we can’t fix it. It'll be a week before they will take my vehicle. The lady was rude and said go to another dealership. It was too hot not to have AC then on top of that it rained the rest of the week and I wasn’t able to work because I couldn’t defog my windows to drive. It finally stopped raining and I was able to get another dealership to check it out and they told me something had burned up that makes the AC work ( I have the paperwork). If they would have checked the car like I asked when I first started complaining about smelling the burning smell this could have been avoided. Also, I don’t get notifications about recalls via mail, phone, call, email etc.