Is the 2014 Kia SORENTO reliable?

The 2014 Kia SORENTO has 1363 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.2x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2014 Kia SORENTO?

Top problems: ENGINE (403 complaints, avg repair $500); BODY/STRUCTURE (160 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (150 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2014 Kia SORENTO?

Yes, there are 6 recall(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. Contact any Kia dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2014 Kia SORENTO?

The 2014 Kia SORENTO gets 21 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2286. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Is the 2014 Kia SORENTO often stolen?

Theft risk tier for the Kia SORENTO: high. HLDI insurance loss data suggests higher-than-average theft claims for this model.

How much does it cost to insure a 2014 Kia SORENTO?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2014 Kia SORENTO is approximately $1,748/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

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 2.2x the segment average of 613. 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. There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 57 fire reports filed.

57 fire reports 24 crash reports 22 injuries

1363

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

2.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

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

When Problems Appear on the 2014 Kia SORENTO

Based on 695 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 80K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

104

30-60K

100

60-100K

257

100-150K

194

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

Earlier than typicalmedian 20K mi · 25 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

Earlier than typicalmedian 67K mi · 10 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

Reported earliermedian 40K mi · 19 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 66K mi · 83 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 72K mi · 53 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

In line with typicalmedian 74K mi · 51 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (6)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS19/12/2018

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.

Fix: 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.

High theft risk

Kia Boys / TikTok theft vulnerabilityModel years 2010-2021 Hyundai and Kia vehicles without engine immobilizers were widely targeted starting in 2022 after a viral TikTok exploit. If you own this vehicle, verify it has an ignition immobilizer or install a security upgrade. Hyundai and Kia both offered free software updates and steering-wheel-lock programs for affected models.

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2014 Kia SORENTO

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,286

Per month

$191

Per mile

19.1¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,667/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,778/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2014 Kia SORENTO

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,748

Full coverage / month

$146

Liability only / year

$600

vs US avg

+4%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.15x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1748

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Kia SORENTO Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

60K mi

Spark plugs

90K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

Turbo engines (Optima 2.0T, Sorento 2.5T) may benefit from more frequent oil changes.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Kia New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

5 yr / 60K mi

Powertrain

10 yr / 100K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

10 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

10 year powertrain not transferable to subsequent owners

These are the terms for a new Kia. If you're buying a used 2014 SORENTO, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Kia dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

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
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Kia dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)