Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2014 Kia Sorento: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 983 safety complaints about the 2014 Kia Sorento with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved September 7, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

983
Complaints
6
Recalls
8
Investigations
5★
Overall crash rating

Complaints for this vehicle report 23 crashes, 45 fires, 24 injuries, 1 death.

Key findings
  1. Engine & cooling leads the complaint list, cited in 404 of 983 complaints, followed by Body & structure.
  2. Stalling is a recurring theme. 80 of the 983 reports describe the engine stalling — many while driving.
  3. Complaints peaked 6 years after the model year (136 filed in 2020) — a pattern consistent with wear-out failures rather than assembly defects.
  4. 8 NHTSA defect investigations are associated with this vehicle.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2014 Kia Sorento, engine & cooling issues stand far above everything else.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 983 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Engine & cooling
404
Body & structure
174
Electrical
153
Other / unspecified
149
Visibility & lighting
113
Brakes & stability
95
Power train / transmission
70
Airbags & restraints
55

"For 1 week the check engine light came on today 6/13/26 the oil light came on at 55 mph when pulling up to a stop sign the oil light went off when back up to speed the light came back on at 55 then the car engine shut off completely costed to drive way and turned in"

Owner complaint filed June 2026 · Engine · NHTSA ODI 11744071

"The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 80 MPH, the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the engine had seized; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000."

Owner complaint filed February 2026 · Engine · NHTSA ODI 11715315

When complaints were filed

For most vehicles, complaint volume spikes early and tapers off. The 2014 Kia Sorento peaked later than usual, in 2020.

Complaints filed per year — 2014 Kia Sorento
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
15
27
19
17
46
69
116
136
123
119
112
109
43
32
1314151617181920212223242526
2026 is a partial year (through September 7, 2026). A late peak is the signature of wear-out failures: parts that don't fail until the vehicle has years and miles on it.

How the 2014 compares with other model years

Across the Kia Sorento model years we track, the 2011 has the most complaints on file (1,517); the 2014 ranks 3 of 8.

Total complaints by model year — Kia Sorento
All complaints on file per model year, as of September 7, 2026
1,517
877
981
2014
983
748
1,246
800
423
Older model years have had more time on the road to accumulate complaints — compare adjacent years, not endpoints.

Recall history: 6 recalls

6 recalls apply to some or all 2014 Kia Sorento vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.

Aug 201313V-356
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft

Kia Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2014 front wheel drive Sorento vehicles manufactured January 7, 2013, through March 12, 2013; and equipped with 2.4 liter engines. Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture.

Mar 201717V-224
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

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.

Dec 201818V-907
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

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 pip…

Aug 202020V-519
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.

May 202121V-331
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.

Sep 202323V-652
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

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 …

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.

★★★★★
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★☆
Rollover

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2014 Kia Sorento have?

As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 983 complaints about the 2014 Kia Sorento with NHTSA. The most-reported system is engine & cooling.

How many recalls does the 2014 Kia Sorento have?

The 2014 Kia Sorento has 6 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Is the 2014 Kia Sorento safe in a crash?

NHTSA gives the 2014 Kia Sorento an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.