Owner complaint record
2014 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls: What Owners Report
This page shows the problems 2014 Kia Sorento owners reported to NHTSA, the federal agency that tracks car safety: 982 complaints sorted by system, the mileage they started at, the check engine codes owners named, and the recalls to check before you buy.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 2026982 complaintsFederal file of Aug 25, 2026
+0% vs 2013
385 complaints, 39% of the total
half of the engine reports that give a mileage came before this
16 mention an injury, 45 a fire
The engine leads the 2014 Kia Sorento record at 39%, with body next at 16%. Of the engine reports that give a mileage, half came before 100,000 miles. The costliest part on our cost list is the front CV axle, $80 to $114 for the part alone.
It's a count of reports, not a failure rate. Use it to decide what to inspect before buying, not to grade the car.
Engine complaints lean on warning lights and engine noise, and nearly eight in ten exterior lighting complaints describe headlights that go out or look dim.
2014 Kia Sorento overview
The 2014 Sorento came with a 2.4-liter four or a 3.3-liter six-cylinder, both with a six-speed automatic, in front-wheel or four-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual on some 2.4-liter cars.
Owners filed about as many complaints about the 2014 as the 2013 (980), and the engine leads both years. The 2015 drew 747, with engine named most.
- Power
- 290 hp at 6,400 rpm
- Torque
- 252 lb-ft at 5,200 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic
- Fuel
- Regular gasoline
- Injection
- Direct injection
city / highway / combined mpg, EPA
- Power
- 191 hp at 6,300 rpm
- Torque
- 181 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual
- Fuel
- Regular gasoline
- Injection
- Direct injection
city / highway / combined mpg, EPA
Fuel economy from EPA fueleconomy.gov; power and torque from Kia's 2014 Sorento specifications.
Is the 2014 Kia Sorento reliable?
The 2014 Kia Sorento ranks 3rd of 15 Sorento model years for owner complaints, and the engine draws the largest share. The four checks below are what the federal record can say; none of them is a reliability score.
- 3rdCompared with other Sorento years982 complaints, the 3rd most of 15 model years (2011 has 1,517).By model year
- 39%The system named mostEngine, in 385 complaints. Half of the engine reports that give a mileage came before 100,000 miles.Problems by system
- 6Recalls6 recall campaigns cover the 2014 Kia Sorento.Recalls
- 23Crashes, injuries, fires23 complaints mention a crash, 16 an injury and 45 a fire.
A complaint count is not a failure rate: the record doesn't say how many were sold, so a popular year draws more reports.
2014 Kia Sorento problems by system
Every complaint to NHTSA names the part of the car that gave the owner trouble, such as the engine or the steering. The cards below sort the 982 complaints about the 2014 Kia Sorento that way, largest first: open one to read what owners wrote, when it usually starts, and what to check.
Engine39%385 complaintsEngine noise, warning lights, stalling
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What owners describe
Engine is making very loud noise and not drivable. When took to kia dealership they said that same problem happened to gdi 4 cyl engine and it was recalled but not the 6 cyl even though the problems are the same due to manufacturing defect. I called kia america and they said that they cannot do anything.
Loud knockin/ticking noise when the vehicle is on. Backup camera malfunction, loose grip on the steering & at times,wheel does not turn on its own after turning. Oil is dirty & smells like gasoline. Purchased vehicle on 10/28 with about 70k miles. Here at the dealership to address these issues.
NJILOHCARead 4 more owner reports+4
Hesitates upon acceleration. Engine stalls and cuts off while driving on highway. Lack of power. Knocking noise from engine. I made repeated contact with manahawkin kia and kia motors america, inc., case no. 12960528 with no results. At risk for death and serious injury.
Engine started knocking while driving it. I had it towed to the dealership where they said the bearing in the engine were shot. All other makes and models are under recall for this exact smae reason. I've noted others from the internet are having the same issues as mentioned above in the 3.3 l. Engine
Motor locked up with 85000 miles. Entering interstate on a on ramp at 55 miles per hour and car just shut off and mechanic said motor is locked up. There was metal in the oil.
Engine oil burnout - within 3 weeks of a fresh oil change the oil completely burned out of the crank case / 2 oil changes performed within 3 weeks , no oil leaks or smoke from exhaust , vehicle was in motion and immediately herd a knock and pulled over and shut vehicle off before any major damages could occur
When it starts
Usually starts around 100,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 70,221 and 125,287.
What to do
Listen for a knock at idle and ask for any engine work by VIN.
Our guideCar Shuts Off While Idling or Driving? Causes and What to DoBody16%153 complaintsRust, peeling paint, a sunroof that shatters
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What owners describe
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.
While driving on the highway with no other cars near, the glass sunroof above the drivers head exploded leaving a bowling ball sized hole in the middle of the glass top. Nothing hit the top, it exploded outward with force....updated 04-30-14 *bf updated 10/1/2014
TNDCGASCRead 4 more owner reports+4
My white 2014 kia sorento started shedding paint in huge sections. Delamination and peeling everywhere. It wasn't caused by a rock chip. It's huge bubbles under the surface and it comes off in massive pieces. The whole car will have to be sanded to metal and repainted!!
Kia sorento pearl white paint peeling chipping and delamination. Paint on roof of car has been rapidly chipping peeling away and is now rusting. The streak has grown about 2 inches in the past week and a half. Concerned that it will not stop and is defective and have seen several complaints for kia sorento pearl white paint.
I have a 2014 kia pearl white that has major paint peeling on drivers/passenger door panels & hood. This issue continues to get worse. I had this car four yrs & it started after the first yr. Continues to get worse.
The paint on my 2014 kia sorento just started bubbling up and peeling off in large swaths all over the roof, doors, hood, ect. It has now started rusting extremely bad on the roof and around the top of the windshield.
When it starts
Usually starts around 72,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 51,400 and 89,383.
What to do
Look for rust and peeling paint, and look over the sunroof glass.
Electrical system15%143 complaintsWarning lights, headlights, door locks
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What owners describe
While driving down an interstate highway at approximately 5:00pm on 4/26/18 the car died. First the steering locked up; all dashboard lights came on, stereo system went out and soon could not gas/brake appropriately. Was able to get to side of road and have car towed to dealer.
I was driving 70 mph down highway when car shutdown and sterling locked, unable to control vehicle. Come to find out next few days it was the accelator that caused it. I had no control and almost got killed by a 18 wheeler driving in next lane.
NCVAOKMDRead 4 more owner reports+4
The vehicle was in motion. Random blind spot blinking or sound when making a right turn. Repeated visits to stevenson kia. Showed video of problem. Technician observed problem case #t3038955. Dealer says they can,t do anything to solve problem. Safety hazard when monitor sounds or blinks when there is no obstruction
Sc147. Why wasn't all the 2014 kia sorentos included in this recall. My vehicle stalled out on me today doing the same thing that this recall was for. Reported it to kia and they won't do anything. My vehicle was going 55 when it lost acceleration and no power steering and the lights flashing on the dashboard with all of the warning lights on. Coasted into a parking lot, thank god no other traffic was around.
Power locks do not work properly. Doors do not lock and this occurs variably. This is a safety concern as doors do not lock and I have small children. Kia dealership states there are no recalls although multiple consumers report similar issues.
Approximately 5 seconds after the vehicle is initially placed into reverse gear, and while the vehicle is likely already in reverse motion, the backup camera goes black for 2-3 seconds (and consequently, the driver is blind) while the camera is apparently switching on the guide line overlays.
When it starts
Usually starts around 66,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 20,000 and 94,000.
What to do
Test the headlights and the door locks.
Exterior lighting8%79 complaintsLow beams that quit or look dim
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What owners describe
Headlight lo beam quits functioning even though bulb is good. Removing and reinstalling sometimes starts it again. Sometimes just bumping it makes it work. Currently I can not get it to work again and the bulb looks good. Began 5/25/2018
Headlights in dim mode are dangerously dim. Car cannot be driven an night without being a safety hazard! This started over 3 years ago and has progressively gotten worse. Replace bulbs but dealer said there was nothing else they could do to improve lighting.
PAKYRead 2 more owner reports+2
Lighting from headlights is too dim to drive at night. Cannot see 5 feet ahead. Bulbs were replaced. Dealer adjusted them. Still no change. Dangerous to drive at night. I am limited to drive in daylight only as I cannot see to drive at night with 20/20 vision.
My stability light comes on while driving and my brake lights do not function, have been looking on internet and there seems to be a lot of problems of the exact same nature. You will be rear ended if you have no brake lights. My vehicle has 33000 miles on it. I think kia needs to recall the sorentos for this issue
When it starts
Usually starts around 74,459 miles. Half of owners reported it between 60,000 and 97,000.
What to do
Check both low beams with the car parked facing a wall.
Powertrain7%67 complaintsA bang and a jerk from the rear at speed
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What owners describe
While driving 65 mph on the hwy I heard a loud bang and the car rapidly decreased speed. I managed to pull over to the shoulder and the car was leaking fluid from the differential and would no longer go. Was towed to a kia dealer where they determined the rear axles sheared off and put a hole in the differential. Car has 64,00 miles and no pervious issues or warning that anything was wrong.
Driving on highway going about 65mph when I heard a load bang from the rear and felt hard jerk from car , I stopped the car looked underand saw fluid leaking from awd coupling, took it in to kia fresno rear differential broken metal in differential fluid, differential replace but awd coupling not replace. Awd still not working
FLPRRead 2 more owner reports+2
Driving at a speed of 60 mph . Car suddenly starts loosing power slowing to a complete stop with no warnings. Not overheating, not out of fuel, electrical all works. No apparent reason the switches come on and work . Engine simply will not turn over . No cranking action at all.
Hello, problems with the headlights of kia sorento 2014, these are very dim and in the dark you can see little or nothing and this can cause a big accident on the road.
When it starts
Usually starts around 70,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 41,000 and 106,000.
What to do
Drive at highway speed and listen for a clunk from the rear.
What repairs cost on the 2014 Kia Sorento
Part prices for the problems 2014 Sorento owners report most. They are shelf and mail-order prices for the part alone, so a shop bill adds labor and its own markup.
For the 2.4L: APWI up to Trakmotive. Kia’s recall 13V356 replaces the front axle shaft free on some front-wheel-drive 2.4L cars built January to March 2013; check the VIN first.
Check CV axlesHalogen H11 bulbs from Wagner up to Hella. Sorentos with factory HID headlamps take a D3S bulb, $44 to $68.
Check H11 bulbsPrices on this page are our own research, not the store’s, and store prices change daily.
Prices read on RockAuto on Oct 2, 2026, for the parts listed as fitting this car; regular stock only, closeouts left out.
Check engine codes owners report
3 owners name P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire) in their complaints, the code named most for this car.
Complaints whose text names the code, one count per complaint. Tap a code to read our guide; grey codes have no guide yet.
When problems show up on the odometer
Electrical system complaints start earliest, typically around 66,000 miles. Engine complaints start latest, around 100,000 miles.
Dot: typical mileage. Bar: the middle half of reports. From the mileage owners wrote on the form.
Kia Sorento complaints by model year
2014 is shown in dark. The engine is named most in 9 other Sorento years.
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2014 is shown in dark. The engine is named most in 9 other Sorento years.
When owners filed
Complaints about the 2014 Kia Sorento have kept arriving since 2013, with peaks in 2020 and 2021. A peak often follows a recall or a news story, not a new fault.
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2014 Kia Sorento recalls
6 recall campaigns cover the 2014 Kia Sorento. A recall list is by model year; whether one car had the work done is in its VIN record.
2014 Kia Sorento crash tests and investigations
NHTSA crash tests rate the 2014 Kia Sorento five stars overall, the same for all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. Its defect office has opened eight investigations into seven problems that cover this model year.
Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars: 5 is the safest result, 1 the least safe.
Frontal stars compare cars of about the same weight; side stars compare every vehicle. Rollover stars show how top-heavy the car is: NHTSA puts the 2014 Kia Sorento’s chance of rolling over in a single-car crash at 16%.
Safety equipment NHTSA recommends
Federal investigations
Before you buy a used 2014 Kia Sorento
These checks follow what 2014 Sorento owners reported most: engine noise and stalling, then body and headlight faults. Ask for the service history by VIN, because it shows engine work and whether the recall repairs were done.
- 1Listen to the engine at idle
Engine noise and warning lights lead the complaints.
- 2Ask for the engine records
The VIN history shows any engine replacement or recall work.
- 3Check both low beams
Headlights that go out or look dim are the main lighting complaint.
- 4Look for rust and peeling paint
Body complaints describe rust and peeling paint.
- 5Run the VIN for open recalls
Only the VIN says if this car got the recall repairs.
Oil and service for the 2014 Kia Sorento
This is what Kia's manual says the 2014 Sorento needs: which oil to use and how much, the transmission and cooling system fluids, and when each job is due. Kia sets fixed miles and months, and its schedule lists the same intervals for both engines.
- Engine oil
- 5W-30
- Oil capacity
- 6.02 US quarts
- Transmission fluid
- Kia ATF SP-IV
- Coolant
- Ethylene glycol coolant for aluminum radiators, mixed with distilled water
- Engine oil
- 5W-30
- Oil capacity
- 5.1 US quarts
- Transmission fluid
- Kia ATF SP-IV
- Coolant
- Ethylene glycol coolant for aluminum radiators, mixed with distilled water
Service schedule
From the Kia 2014 Sorento Owner's Manual, read Oct 2, 2026. Normal schedule.
Common questions
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Kia Sorento?
Owners name the engine most (385 complaints), then body (153) and electrical system (143).
Is 2014 a good year for the Kia Sorento?
The complaint record can't grade a car, but it shows what to check: the engine complaints that lead this year, the mileage they start at, and whether the recall repairs were done.
Was there a recall on the 2014 Kia Sorento?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2014 Kia Sorento: fuel pump, brakes (3), engine and engine cooling, power train. A dealer can tell from the VIN whether one car got the repairs.
At what mileage do 2014 Kia Sorento problems start?
Electrical system complaints start earliest, around 66,000 miles. Engine complaints come later, around 100,000 miles.
Which Sorento years have the most and fewest complaints?
The 2011 and 2016 model years have the most in the file, and the 2024 and 2025 the fewest, though newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Other 2014 SUVs to compare
What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 6 sources
Owner quotes are changed from all capitals to normal case only. Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.