repaired · 2025 Q4
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2014 Kia SorentoProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 989 owner complaints about the 2014 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-652 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 4, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2014 Kia Sorento has problems
989 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
388Engine31 crash/fire/injury
160Structure3 crash/fire/injury
154Electrical system16 crash/fire/injury
86Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
72Power train
51Air bags
46Fuel/propulsion system
44Service brakes
38Service brakes, hydraulic
19719 other systems19 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 388 | 31 |
| Structure | 160 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 154 | 16 |
| Exterior lighting | 86 | 1 |
| Power train | 72 | 3 |
| Air bags | 51 | 9 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 46 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 44 | 3 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 38 | 3 |
| 19 other systems | 197 | 19 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2014 Kia Sorento recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
repaired · 2022 Q3
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Axle assembly: axle shaft
Risk. A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
100kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 203 engine complaints. 49% were reported before 100,000 miles.
15under 30k miles100under 100k miles103100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
29 owners mentioned a cost$3,321median
Middle half: $700 – $7,600
Electrical system
8 owners mentioned a cost$1,398median
Middle half: $825 – $1,875
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2014 vs. every other Sorento year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sorento median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2014 Kia Sorento safety ratings
2014 Kia Sorento SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
8 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2014 Kia Sorento, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 18V-934
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
- Front Axle Shaft FailureLed to recall 13V-355
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 20V-750
- Scope and TimelinessLed to recall 17V-224
In owners' words
What Sorento owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Driving down the road and all of a sudden the red oil pressure light appeared then the engine light appeared. The car engine power then reduced and ultimately ended up stopping, turning the car off. The car now has a loud ticking and knock coming from engine. From previous recalls i see that this…
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There was no warning light illuminated. A local dealer was contacted, and the contact was advised to continue driving the vehicle until the engine was blown. The manufacturer…
I am filing an official safety complaint against the manufacturer for refusing to perform federally mandated safety recall repairs on my vehicle. My vehicle is impacted by critical safety recalls involving high-severity fire risks, specifically the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU)…
Own a 2014 Sorento?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.