KnownCarProblems2013 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 981 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine (52% of complaints, typically around 89,500 miles). It is 4th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2013 Kia Sorento problems
Engine
512 complaints · 52%Half of these problems showed up before 89,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
As I was driving at about 15-20mph the car shut off completely as I was making a left hand turn without warning. This is the third time at different speeds since we purchased the vehicle in january 2014. We have taken it to Kia dealership for repair, regular oil changes and maintenance. They were unable to find…
I had just purchased the vehicle about 2 weeks ago. It was used but only had 29875 miles. As I was driving on the road preparing to stop at a light the engine shut off and the check engine lights turned on. I lost power steering, luckily I was next to a burger king and was able to coast into the parking lot. As soon…
Electrical
116 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, starter assembly, ignition, wiring.
I started my car and turned my headlights on since it was night time. My headlights would not work. All the electrical components flickered on and off. The next day, we replaced the passenger side low beam light, believing it needed to be replaced. Once the replacement bulb was placed, the connector and wires began to…
We have had to replace headlights, blinkers and brake lights way too frequently. The 1st time the wiring harness was melted on the passenger side headlight (electrical issue/possible fire hazard). The lights go out during city and well as interstate driving. Sometimes we can adjust the connector and the lights will…
Body and structure
91 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Approximately one year ago I paid dealer to replace defective driver side rear door handle. Today passenger side rear door handle broke off in hand while opening door (same as previous). Now unable to open rear door from outside of car
The contact owns a 2013 Kia soreno. The contact stated the paint on the roof and hood had chipped. Additionally, there were several spots that had deterioted. The vehicle was taken to all star Kia of baton rouge 5740 siegen ln, baton rouge, la 70809 ([phone] but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not…
Other or unspecified
89 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 96,000 miles.
I was driving on the freeway and my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a gunshot. Some glass fell into the car and large chunks were thrown behind me into traffic.
Driving down the road and all of a sudden our Kia started making a knocking sound in the engine. We slowed down and started to pull over when we hear pieces of our car breaking off and saw a huge cloud of white smoke. When we pulled over and got out of the car, the whole underneath of the engine was on fire. The…
Brakes
88 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
When braking there is a loud groaning sound, very unusual for brakes. The brakes are not extremely worn and the brake fluid is full. Also, I had the vehicle inspected a couple months ago and brakes were in good condition
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after parking and turning the vehicle off, moments later flames and smoke were present coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed…
Lights
70 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
Headlamp wire harness melted. Left low beam headlamp bulb and connector was burnt/melted. I paid the dealership to fix this. I am concerned it is a fire hazard, and also a safety hazard if it goes out again.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the headlights failed without warning while driving 60 MPH. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the headlight covers melted. The dealer was unable to locate a failure code, but determined that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced.…
Transmission
69 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles.
The car was being driven and caught fire on rural roads about 50mph.the dog and my significant other were able to get out of the vehicle and my s.o.'s quick thinking...snow in the engine helped extinguish the flames. A game warden arrived and the car was towed to a Kia dealership who replaced the entire engine free of…
I have a Sorento that does not even have 60k miles on it. The car is a 2013, I bought the car less than 1 yr ago and after having it for 7 months, I being told by the mechanics at the facility that the car needs a new engine. The car broke down in the middle of the highway while I was on my way to work.
Air bags
60 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles.
The seat belt light has become illuminated due to a sensor failure in the passenger seat. This problem is well known and discussed among Kia owners. The failure of the sensor causes all of the airbag system to fail and the airbags will not deploy. With the recent recalls to other Kia and hyundai models, this model…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the rpms dropped to zero. In addition on another occasion, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to (nemet Kia located at 153-03 hillside avenue, jamaica, ny 11432) for a diagnosis which was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Kia Sorento recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the hecu fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed november 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2024 through june 18, 2024. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc284.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 borrego, 2014-2016 cadenza, 2010-2013 forte, forte koup, sportage, 2015-2018 k900, 2011-2015 optima, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, soul, 2012-2017 rio, 2011-2014 sorento, and 2010-2011 rondo vehicles. The hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Engine
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, kia dealers will update the knock sensor detection system (ksds) software, free of charge. The recall began january 27, 2021. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc200.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 sorento, 2012-2015 forte and forte koup, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, 2014-2015 soul, and 2012 sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Engine
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began june 20, 2017. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc147.
Full defect summary
Kia motor company (kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 optima, 2012-2014 sorento and 2011-2013 sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on november 9, 2015. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc124.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 kia sorento vehicles manufactured october 19, 2009, to january 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "park" without the brakes being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 114, "theft protection."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Headlight failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this preliminary evaluation (pe) based on seventy-four vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) reporting headlight failures on model year (my) 2011-2013 kia sorento vehicles.in its response to odi's june 25, 2020, information request letter (portions of which were submitted under request for confidentiality), kia motor america (kia) provided design details of the headlight system showing that each headlight circuit is independently powered by the smart junction box (sjb), a power control module. Kia claimed that the design minimizes the chance of both headlights failing simultaneously due to a headlight connector defect, a component located downst
Non-crash vehicle fires
Summary
During this preliminary evaluation (pe), the office of defects investigation (odi) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (my) 2011-2014 kia optima, my 2011-2014 kia sorento and my 2010-2015 kia soul vehicles equipped with theta II, gamma, nu and lambda II engines (approximately 1.7 million vehicles). Odi also reviewed field and other data on other kia vehicles (approximately 3.6 million additional vehicles) equipped with the same engines used in the above-mentioned vehicles.as a result of this pe, kia has issued NHTSA recalls 20v-750 and 2
Non-crash vehicle fires
Summary
In a letter dated june 11, 2018, the center for auto safety (cas) petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (my) 2011-2014 kia optima and sorento, and hyundai sonata and santa fe vehicles. In a letter dated july 24, 2018, cas requested that my 2010-2015 kia soul vehicles be added to the petition. Cas stated that there is a higher number of complaints to NHTSA regarding non-crash fires on these vehicles compared to other similar vehicles. The office of defects investigation (odi) had already opened recall queries (rq17-003 and rq17-004) on all kia and hyundai vehicles equipped
Scope and timeliness
Summary
Nhtsa opened recall query (rq) 17-003 to investigate the timeliness and scope of kia?s theta II gdi engine recall (recall no. 17v-224), and kia?s compliance with reporting requirements. On november 23, 2020, the agency entered into a consent order with kia to administratively resolve NHTSA?s assertions of violations of law in connection with rq17-003. Nhtsa?s assertions included that kia may be liable for civil penalties on multiple grounds, including that recall no. 17v-224 was untimely and kia?s recall report contained certain inaccuracies.under the consent order, kia agreed to a total civil penalty of $70,000,000. The total civil penalty included a payment of $27,000,000 as a non-deferred
Panoramic glass sunroof breakage
Summary
The investigation focused on spontaneous breakage (fracture) of the panoramic sunroof (sunroof) on my 2011-2013 kia sorento vehicles. The sunroof is constructed of tempered glass (often referred to as ?safety glass?), which, when broken, crumbles into granular chunks rather than splintering into jagged shards. The failure summary above shows NHTSA reports identified by the office of defects investigation (odi), and reports submitted by kia from start of production of the subject my 2011-2013 kia sorento through october 8, 2019, the date of odi's last request for kia data.reports of sunroof failures typically occurred while the vehicle was in motion and often described a loud noise when the f
Panoramic sunroof breakage
Summary
On october 21, 2013 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe13-035 in order to further examine claims that the sunroof would spontaneously break on 2011-2013 kia sorento vehicles.the majority of these claims occurred while the vehicle was in motion.glass shattering while driving may distract the driver, and the resulting glass particles which enter the passenger compartment may injure occupants.to date, odi has received a total of 26 reports of sunroof breakage on the subject vehicles. Of those, 24 occurred while the vehicle was in motion.there were also four (4) injury incident reports for minor cuts/scratches. Kia submitted a total of 123 field incidents related to sunroof break
Questions about the 2013 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (512 complaints, typically around 89,500 miles); electrical (116 complaints, typically around 74,500 miles); body and structure (91 complaints, typically around 61,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Kia Sorento have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 4th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 981 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.