2014 Kia Sorento Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,373 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2014 Kia Sorento, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 8 defect investigations. It scores 63/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 102,000 miles.

Avoid this year if you can. The 2014 Kia Sorento sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2003–2004, 2006–2009, 2018, 2020–2022.

1,373Complaints
63/100Trouble index
6Recalls
80,000Typical trouble mileage

Avoid

Where 2014 sits among all Sorento years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 405 complaints (29%) · typically ~102,000 miles
“Engine stopped working at a red light. I was told the timing chain shattered inside the engine. This vehicle only has 150k miles on it and has been well maintained.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sorento
Electrical 239 complaints (17%) · typically ~73,918 miles
“Headlights, especially low beam are dangerously dim. I can barely even see them shining on the road when driving at night.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sorento
Body & structure 161 complaints (12%) · typically ~72,000 miles
“The paint is chipping all over the vehicle. There has been no damage to the vehicle to warrant the paint peeling”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sorento
Other 161 complaints (12%) · typically ~79,800 miles
“The pearl white paint on the 2014 Kia Sorento has delaminated and is coming off in large sections all over the car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sorento
Brakes & stability 83 complaints (6%) · typically ~80,000 miles
“The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sorento
Transmission & drivetrain 69 complaints (5%) · typically ~78,888 miles
“My car stop working with no warning as i was driving on the highway and i was about to exit and stopped. I had to have it towed to nearest mechanic. It was took it to to mechanic and was told that engine was damaged”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sorento

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 675 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 80,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 55,145 and 111,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (6)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 23V652000 2023 Park outside

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…

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…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 21V331000 2021 Park outside

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.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 20V519000 2020 Park outside

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.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 18V907000 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…

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…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17V224000 2017

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.

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…

POWER TRAIN 13V356000 2013

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.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 . Kia's recall number…

Federal defect investigations

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires AQ23002 opened 2023 · still open
Loss of Motive Power DP22003 opened 2022, closed 2023
Engine Fires EA21003 opened 2021, closed 2024

Led to recall campaign 23V877.

Throttle control system vulnerabilities DP21003 opened 2021, closed 2023
Non-crash Vehicle Fires PE19004 opened 2019, closed 2021

Led to recall campaign 20V088000.

Non-crash Vehicle Fires DP18003 opened 2018, closed 2019

Led to recall campaign 18V907000.

Scope and Timeliness RQ17003 opened 2017, closed 2021

Led to recall campaign 17V224000.

Front Axle Shaft Failure PE13025 opened 2013, closed 2013

Led to recall campaign 13V355000.

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2013peak 191 in 20202026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2014 Kia Sorento reliable?

The 2014 Kia Sorento drew 1,373 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 63/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).

What are the most common 2014 Kia Sorento problems?

The top reported problems for the 2014 Kia Sorento are engine (405 complaints), electrical (239), and body & structure (161).

At what mileage do 2014 Kia Sorento problems show up?

Owners most often report 2014 Kia Sorento problems around 80,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 55,145 and 111,000 miles.

Does the 2014 Kia Sorento have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 2014 Kia Sorento. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

← 2013 Sorento All Sorento years 2015 Sorento →
Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.