2014 Kia SORENTO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Kia SORENTO has 1363 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 17.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: i just bought a new kia 2014 sorento. the engine roars and now i am getting a burning smell. *tr. ⚠️ 57 fire reports filed.

57 fire reports 24 crash reports 22 injuries

1363

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

17.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

403 complaints

30%

• I JUST BOUGHT A NEW KIA 2014 SORENTO. THE ENGINE ROARS AND NOW I AM GETTING A BURNING SMELL. *TR
• ON JANUARY 2014, I BOUGHT A KIA SORENTO, 2014. ON THE SAME DAY I NOTICE A STRANGE NOISE ON THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MEDINA AUTO IN CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO (DEALER) AND THEY SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE GDI MOTOR TYPE. I TOOK THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES BACK THE DEALER, WITH THE SAME FEEDBACK.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD ROAR EXTREMELY LOUD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 30 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I JUST BOUGHT A NEW KIA 2014 SORENTO. THE ENGINE ROARS AND NOW I AM GETTING A BURNING SMELL. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

160 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE LIFT GATE BY PRESSING THE CLOSE BUTTON, BUT WHEN IT CLOSED IT OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT MANUALLY BUT THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY C
• THE TWO REAR, FIXED WINDOWS LEAKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A TOUCHLESS CARWASH. THE DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND ARE HAVING A GLASS EXPERT INSPECT THE TRIM AND SEAL. THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKS IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. *TR
• 2014 KIA SORRENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE DRIVER SEAT, ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VERY LARGE SEATS WERE A PROBLEM FOR HER, AS THEY WERE HARD TO ADJUST. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IN THE MOST FORWARD AND HIGHES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE LIFT GATE BY PRESSING THE CLOSE BUTTON, BUT WHEN IT CLOSED IT OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT MANUALLY BUT THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY C”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

150 complaints

11%

• CPSC:X1380106A. 2014 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATED THE CONCERN IS NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE ELECTROLUMINESCENT SPEEDOMETER IN THE DAYLIGHT. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW FAST HE WAS GOING. THE SUNLIGHT GLARE MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND IT REQUIRED HIM TO TAKE HIS EYE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NEEDLE WAS THE WRONG COLOR AND IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE
• THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS A SMALL RED LINE WHICH IS INVISIBLE IN EITHER SUNLIGHT OR WITH DRIVER WEARING SUNGLASSES. THERE IS NO WAY TO SEE WHAT MY SPEED IS. ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM SETTING CRUISE CONTROL AS I HAVE TO REMOVE MY GLASSES, TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD, TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING IN ORDER TO S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 9 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“CPSC:X1380106A. 2014 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATED THE CONCERN IS NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE ELECTROLUMINESCENT SPEEDOMETER IN THE DAYLIGHT. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW FAST HE WAS GOING. THE SUNLIGHT GLARE MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND IT REQUIRED HIM TO TAKE HIS EYE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

148 complaints

11%

• UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, IT HIT MY LEFY EYBROW DUE TO THE UNFINSIHED AND SHARP UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE DOOR; I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAD 9 STECHES
• APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (P2098) IN MY 2014 KIA SORENTO EX V6 GDI WITH ABOUT 11,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I TOOK IT IN TO KIA. THEY STATED IT WAS A KINKED WIRE. LAST WEEK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RETURNS (P2098). IT WAS CHECKED THIS TIME AND A REASON COULD NOT BE FOUND.
• AS I WAS DRIVING INTO MY DAUGHTERS DRIVEWAY APPROX. 5-10 MPH I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN GLASS RAINING DOWN FROM THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ONTO THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. ALL THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF WERE CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. ONLY THE REAR PORTION OF THE GLASS ROOF SHATTERED, THE FR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 12 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, IT HIT MY LEFY EYBROW DUE TO THE UNFINSIHED AND SHARP UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE DOOR; I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAD 9 STECHES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

87 complaints

• CANNOT READ OR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER IN DAYLIGHT MOST OF THE TIME. WORSE ON BRIGHTER DAYS. MUST TAKE EYES OFF ROAD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS TO FIND NEEDLE TO DETERMINE SPEED. ILLUMINATION IS FINE AT NIGHT OR IN VERY SHADED AREAS (IE GARAGE). SEEMS AS IF INSTRUMENT ILLUMINATION
• THE SPECS FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF HID LIGHTS ARE REQUIRING THE LIGHTS BE SET TOO LOW (NOT SHINING FAR ENOUGH) THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW YARDS ONLY, AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT SHINES ONLY AS FAR AS THE LOW BEAM OF ME PREVIOUS VEHICLES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF ONE DRIVES
• THE HEADLAMPS ARE FREQUENTLY GOING OUT AND REQUIRE TO BE REPLACED. I LIVE IN A STATE WHERE HEADLAMPS ARE REQUIRED IN RAIN (SO MANY TIMES I AM IN VIOLATION) AND THE ROADS ARE NOT WELL LIT AT NIGHT. EVEN WHEN THE HEADLAMPS ARE WORKING PROPERLY, THEY ARE INADEQUATE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“CANNOT READ OR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER IN DAYLIGHT MOST OF THE TIME. WORSE ON BRIGHTER DAYS. MUST TAKE EYES OFF ROAD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS TO FIND NEEDLE TO DETERMINE SPEED. ILLUMINATION IS FINE AT NIGHT OR IN VERY SHADED AREAS (IE GARAGE). SEEMS AS IF INSTRUMENT ILLUMINATION”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1363 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I JUST BOUGHT A NEW KIA 2014 SORENTO. THE ENGINE ROARS AND NOW I AM GETTING A BURNING SMELL. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE LIFT GATE BY PRESSING THE CLOSE BUTTON, BUT WHEN IT CLOSED IT OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT MANUALLY BUT THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: CPSC:X1380106A. 2014 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATED THE CONCERN IS NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE ELECTROLUMINESCENT SPEEDOMETER IN THE DAYLIGHT. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW FAST HE WAS GOING. THE SUNLIGHT GLARE MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND IT REQUIRED HIM TO TAKE HIS EYE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, IT HIT MY LEFY EYBROW DUE TO THE UNFINSIHED AND SHARP UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE DOOR; I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAD 9 STECHES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)