2015 KIA SORENTO Engine Problems
347 NHTSA complaints on file
All Engine Complaints — Page 2
2015 kia sorento 3.3 GDI engine out of know where the car stalled on a hwy engine now knocks loudly was told it has to be completley replaced no warning or anything kia is saying its going to be 11k to fix
See attached document for complaint
1. The engine seized and lost total power at 74,795 miles due to faulty rod bearings manufactured by KIA and due to metal shavings left within the engine compartments. Yes, I have the vehicle in my possession. It is stored at my apartment garage and it is available for inspection. 2. I was driving my vehicle on the highway prior to sudden engine seizure and loss of power. The check engine light appeared for the first time on [XXX]. I immediately took my vehicle to my mechanic (same day on [XXX]) where it seized and lost complete power on the road. It had to be pushed into the mechanic's garage by hand. Total loss of power of my vehicle could have resulted in a catastrophic accident and injuries to myself and others. I could have lost control of the vehicle and I could have been rear-ended or side-swiped at a...
Coolant leak, due to stripped head bolts.
You forced kia into an extended warranty for an engine defect. They warranty 2016/17 models under WTY035 but it also happens to 2015 models. I'm hoping this can be extended.
HEAD GASKET BLOWING
Weak head bolt threads that are easily stripped and causes excessive leaks
Engine has seized. Mechanic at local automotive shop stated that the engine seizure is due to engine burning oil internally. Told me to call KIA because they were aware of this problem due to safety recall. I reported problem to KIA dealership but was told there was no safety recalls relating to my vehicle. Check engine light has been coming on sporadically since 2018 along with my vehicle randomly stalling while idling in traffic. KIA was made aware of these problems and did a diagnostic, stating that the light wasn't on during inspection. And there was no reason for stalling. Also reported smell of chemical and fumes several times but nothing was found. When my vehicle reached 100k miles I was told by KIA dealer that it is normal for the check engine light to stay on due to wear and tear/high mileage. Engine seized while driving.
While driving home from picking my children up, engine started making a knocking noise. No warning lights or indicators were illuminated. Engine stalled while pulling down my driveway. Took it in for a Diagnosis. Metal flakes have been found in the oil. 3.3L Lambda two engine reliability is already being questioned.
•The engine of my 2015 Kia Sorento experienced a catastrophic failure, leading to a loss of power and abnormal sounds while driving. It is available for inspection upon request. •The sudden failure of the engine posed a significant safety risk to both me and others on the road. Without any warning lamps or messages, this malfunction could have led to a complete loss of control over the vehicle, endangering lives, particularly if I had been driving at high speeds on the highway. •Yes, the issue has been confirmed by the Courtesy Kia service center in Messa, where the vehicle was inspected and diagnosed with a crashed engine requiring replacement. •While the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, it has undergone evaluation by the authorized dealer service center, Courtesy Kia in Messa. They told me that they have contacted manufacturer and that they declined any support because I am...
On Sunday 2-4-2024, at ~2-3am, my daughter & her boyfriend were driving her 2015 Kia Sorento on I69 near Fishers IN (67 miles from their home) when the engine rod bearings failed. Driving at interstate speeds, they immediately pulled over to the shoulder. If traffic had been bad, this could have caused a deadly accident. This created an emergency roadside service issue. Fortunately, my daughter's boyfriend was with her to help her through this anxious & traumatic event. It took a couple hours (in freezing cold weather) for them to figure out what to do. They called us (her parents) at 5am for assistance. They eventually got a tow truck to tow the car back to our hometown's Kia dealer for service. On the next business day, the Kia Dealer diagnosed the problem as a blown rod bearing; the engine was locked up. Cost to repair will be ~$5900 plus...
Car shut down driving down the road and spun a bearing.
Manufacturer failed to honor repair of seriously damaged engine due to a faulty distribution in oil causing a major engine failure. KIA USA Manufacturer is currently under massive lawsuits due to this issue and which involved the model we purchased. Vehicle has very low mileage of 85085 and should be covered under the manufacturer's warranty of 100,000 miles. Manufacturer claims they declined our claim because we failed to attend to a massive genetic form mailed to all owners in 2018. As a consumer we are simply asking they honor the warranty and replace and/or fully repair the damaged engine in our family SUV.
Check engine light started coming on at about 39,000. miles took to local mechanic who preformed lots of repairs and called Kia for information concerning engine issue. Received notice of recall from Kia on the HECU -instructing me to park truck away from home due to fire. Check engine light back on again at 41,000 miles, took to dealership where they replaced the HECU and fuel pump and fuel lines. Picked up truck and noticed when braking the truck shook all over and seem to almost stall when taking off. Check engine was back on and the alert of the system telling me I had an engine failure. Took truck back next day, again repairs of the PVB valve was done. Someone drove the truck of 180 miles on a check engine light and unplugged the battery. Got truck back and within 10 minutes the check engine light was back...
Car suddenly had a knocking sound, check engine light came on and as I was driving, the car loss power suddenly died and woudn't start back up. Mechanic diagnosed that head bolts came loose and damaged engine. Has been at mechanic since 11/27 with the engine being rebuilt. Aprox cost at $7,600.
While on the freeway, the engine started making a loud knocking sound and the car was losing power. No check engine light or other warning lights were illuminated. I exited, parked and later towed the car back to the Kia dealership and they said I needed a block (engine) replacement at a cost of over $10,000. I have performed all routine maintenance on this car at the dealership, so this is unacceptable. Luckily I was able to exit the freeway and was not in an accident because of this failure. My car had approximately 109,000 miles on it.
Sudden engine failure. Upon inspecting the vehicle Kia mechanic concluded engine failure is due to rod bearing wear, which isn't part of the engine failure recall. Thus customer is responsible for all expense in full.
The contact's mother owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an abnormal oil consumption. The contact stated that the vehicle consumed three quarts of oil after driving 367 miles. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the vehicle could be experiencing an internal oil leak. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed. The dealer informed the contact to come back after 300 miles. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the front passenger's side seat belt pretensioner failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
The car has 106,000 miles, engine suddenly have knocking sound when started the engine then it will go away with no indicator of any issues. A week later, my wife was driving it and the knocking sound turns very loud and the car went into the limp mode and almost cause her to get into a car accident. We took the car to the Kia dealership and it was determined that the engine has a lower end rod knock due to bearing failure, the long block engine assembly needs to be replaced. I researched it and this is a commonly known issue for Kia's engine that already affected many other Kia owners.
Car temp gauge would go up high and go back down. No check engine light when this would happen. Took to mechanic and found out the radiator and the engine head gasket needed to be replaced.
We just got my wife’s Sorento SXL back from our Kia dealership in Kennesaw Georgia Yesterday.we took it in because of a clicking sound in the engine.they kept the car for a diagnostic They said the car had low or no oil,My wife informed the service Rep.that we have all the oil changes and we’ve never ,ever drove the car without oil ! They kept the car another week We found out yesterday what it is.Metal debris in engine,rod bearing wore,oil leaking In engine ! We were told to buy a New Engine! The car has 105,000 miles on it the price on the engine was to be 14,000 dollars we can’t even trade it in because of this a get what the car actually worth ! 3.3 L V-6 Kia engines Also check CarComplaints web.Starting in Jan.2023
Paint started peeling off
The engine quit/shut down while traveling at 65mph on freeway. We replace engine, now 50,000 miles later we are replacing the connector rod bearings.
On 8/19/23 driving cross country moving from MN to AZ. Heard a clunk and my engine went into limp mode. Called nearest Kia Dealership and advised not to drive. 8/21/23 had to have car towed 100 miles to Kia Dealership in Cheyenne, WY. Rented car from Avis to get to AZ in time for closing on new home. Car inspected at dealership and confirmed a new engine was necessary. To date, car is still in WY.
engine is smoking , but is not showing over heating on gauge. just had oil changed on Thursday 9-28-23 by NTB, It has happened 3 times before oil change and once since(today),
Without vehicle warning lights, I was driving on a highway and my engine began making loud noises. My safety was put at risk as my car did not indicate any warning there were any vehicle issues and I was on a major highway which could have potentially not only affected my safety but the safety of others.
Engine failed and started knocking on 8/29/2023. Had it towed to dealership where it has been sitting ever since. I am being told that its taking 8+ weeks to get approval on a new engine from KIA due to the defects of their engines. They will not supply a loaner or rental car until (IF) the engine replacement is approved.
Without warning, engine stalled while in motion. Electrical system was still functioning and on. Loss of power steering and power brakes. This continued to happen at random times during driving, putting all passengers at risk. Kia dealership looked in to the problem and diagnosed it as a faulty PCM/ECM module and replaced. Rolling engine stall continued and continues to happen at intermittent times. We are now 6 months in to the process of trying to determine the issue. The car has been taken back to Kia dealership for inspection. The problem has been reproduced by another auto repair shop but they are unwilling to work on it since there is no check engine light or corresponding code to work from.
Unknow
It is abusive to American consumers that Kia Motors America knowingly sold several Kia models from 2011-2019 with the Theta ii engine issues. They have not done enough as a car company to support the needs of customers that are affected by this problem. They are taking 2-3 months to diagnose and repair failed engines at dealerships. Additionally, they are not doing enough to help people when they don't have access to their car. I was forced for 2.5 months to have no car without a loaner vehicle offered to me. I experienced a Kia Sorento 2015 engine failure on 6/1/2023 and was not fully repaired until 8/18/2023. During that entire timeframe, I had to file a BBB report at 60 days to get an update on the diagnosis for my car. When I went to pick up my car on 8/19/2023 at Cochran Robinson Kia, they lost the key...
Engine blew
The engine of this vehicle has always rattled on start-up, but the sound goes away after a few seconds. Oil levels have always been maintained and the oil has been changed on a regular basis at the scheduled mileage intervals. Within the last month, the engine rattle is present when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear, at approximately 30-40 mph. The engine rattle is coupled with a revving sound that would indicate that the engine is working hard to accelerate, yet the RPMs remain relatively low for the amount of sound made by the engine. To date this has not posed a safety risk, but I consider it to a potential safety issue if the engine failure problems present in other Kias of similar years are also present in this year and generation of Sorentos with V6 engines such as this vehicle. The engine issue is currently being inspected by...
The engine was inspected for a possible timing chain rattle/issue and was found to be consuming oil. The oil level was low with no obvious leaks from the engine, meaning that the engine has been burning oil for about 4 months since the last oil change at the very least. The oil consumption could cause engine to wear and fail during operation, causing obvious safety issues for this model, as is the case for other Kia models affected by a class action settlement. The issue has been confirmed by an independent mechanic, but has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or other individuals. There were no warnings of low oil levels prior to being informed of this oil consumption issue.
August 11,2023 My 2015 Kia Sorento engine light came on, it started bogging down, and rattling noise came from the engine, when plugged in it was diagnosed as the exhaust crank shaft position timing-over-advanced (Bank 1) Code P0014. I had a hard time keeping the engine running it kept wanting to stall out while driving down the road to safely make it home. I'm lucky to have made it home and not stranded out on the highway. I'm told know the engine has failed. I will need rods replaced; I've had all my recalls done but yet this still has happened to me. I thought 1 of the recalls was for this very reason yet it still happened, how is this possible. As I've read through other people's issues, I'm also at 85,000 miles and had no warning that my engine would be shot. If you have a Kia 2015...
Driving 45mph on busy street and engine stopped working- locked up. No codes, no warning lights, etc… Coasted to an advanced auto parts store, hooked up scanner- no codes. My Mechanic and Kia both said there is oil in the engine, but it’s locked up. No help from Kia on this issue even though there are similar issues/complaints on this engine problem.
RE: Kia Engine Failure I have a 2015 Kia Sorento that has approximately 86,600 miles. My engine failed on July 5, 2023. I did receive the Recall No. 18V907000 and tried to contact Kia numerous times when I received the notice to get my software updated; however, I was unable to speak with anybody from the service department and had left numerous messages to no avail. Shortly after the recall, I had a heart attack and needed time to recuperate. Then Covid hit, my doctor advised me to quit my part-time job and stay quarantined due to my high risk of contacting Covid due to being a diabetic, having a recent heart attack and other medical ailments. I have been disabled for 12 years and have other medical issues that I'm dealing with. Recently on July 4, 2023, when I was driving my car, my engine started making a knocking...
My engine went into limp mode on the road wile my daughter was in traffic. After she was finally able to get the car to the side of the road. I had the Sorrento towed to my local mechanic. The mechanic informed me the engine had an internal engine failure.The car had 125,000 miles I have always done my oil changes at 5000 miles with synthetic oil. Spoke with Kia they said I would have to a Kia Dealership mechanic diagnostic. The Kia dealership said the engine had an internal engine failure. They said it is some type internal failure but have not said what is failed.
The car completely stalled out. Engine Light on.
After hearing a knocking or rubbing sound when turning left or right, I made an appointment to have my 2015 Kia Sorento checked and also to have it inspected. The auto repair shop was in the middle of road-testing the vehicle when it suddenly began running poorly and the SES light turned on. The vehicle started to misfire and was unable to accelerate past 30 - 35 MPH. Upon inspection the car was found to be very low on oil, although there had been no prior alert nor was it time for the routine oil change. Vehicle also shut down unexpectedly on road, putting driver and other vehicles in danger.
Going on vacation with elderly disabled mother and family. Exited off highway stopped and car just shut off with lots of traffic behind me and coming. After several attempts to start vehicle it started and was really loud. Pulled out and coasted to a place I could safely pull over. Checked the oil, belts, and for leaks and no check engine light or other warnings. With no other real options, I drove with flashers on and coasted to our hotel with minimal power and the engine compartment sounding like it was coming apart. Grinding popping and knocking. Still no check engine light. Once stopped at the hotel, the car cut off in the parking lot and had a weird fumes/burning smell. With it being a holiday I had to find a shop and wait until they were back open to see if they would take my car. There were no...
Unknown
Car turned off while stopped at red light. Would not restart. Had to be towed. Diagnostic report engine seized. Confirmed by Rick Case Kia service center. There was no warning or or warning lights. We were stopped due to a red light, but if no red light, car would have stopped while driving in rush hour traffic on a busy road. Even stopped, could have been rear-ended.
As I was driving my grandchildren I heard a banging sound in the engine. I checked for warning lights, and none were showing. I drove the car to a reputable mechanic who after listening to the sound told me that driving the car was not safe. I had the car towed to the KIA Service Department in Anderson, SC. to have a KIA mechanic assess the engine. My biggest concern is that NO warning lights came on. I shudder to think what might have happened if I had been in the middle lane of an Interstate with my grandchildren when the engine failed. KIA said the engine is not under warranty; which is true. However, with the warning lights NOT coming on I believe replacement of an engine should be considered. We have been loyal KIA patrons but at this point I am not comfortable purchasing another KIA. Currently the...
The contact's stepson owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his stepson was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired free of charge because the vehicle was not covered under warranty nor recall. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The drive train or engine suddenly locked up while driving down the road at 35mph causing the vehicle to violently decelerate and the wheels to lose traction and skid. The failure only lasted maybe a second before car resumed driving as usual. I was not accelerating or breaking at the time and had been driving as normal for 10min prior. The vehicle only has 86,000 miles and all service was completed as scheduled. Prior to the incident, there had been some engine knocking when starting up and a few days earlier, the check engine light had come on. We immediately contacted the dealership when the engine light activated and made an appointment to have it checked out. We were advised that as long as the check engine light was not blinking, we could safely use the vehicle for short trips. Prior to the above incident, we had made two trips...
I had an oil change and then went on a road trip, The trip consisted of two days driving and 1300 miles driven. the engine sounded different so I checked the oil and it did not register on the dipstick. Since then I have been checking the oil once a week and have noticed is will be low. The oil can be a quart to a quart and a half low after just 500 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be restarted and was undriveable. The contact stated she was almost rear-ended twice before Police arrived on the scene to help. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that upon speaking with the dealer, she was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be disassembled to determine if the failure was due to a manufacturing failure. The contact...
Purchased it 7 months ago, haven't put many miles on it and the motor is completely bad, sitting at a kia shop. It broke down on me in the middle of the road and wouldn't shift into gear.
My engine for this 2015 Kia sorento failed on 6/1/2023. This can put others at risk because Kia continues to know that their Theta ii engines can fail and have not done enough to prevent this problem. Additionally, there are not enough kia technicians available to diagnose engine failures in a timely manner. I have been waiting 3 weeks and my car has yet to be diagnosed. Kia should not be allowed to continue selling any models that have the Theta ii engines until they properly support individuals that have been affected by this problem.
I was driving down the road and a loud knocking started and now the car won’t move. I was told that something might be wrong with the computer protecting the engine.
Other 2015 KIA SORENTO Problem Areas
Unknown Or Other
111 complaints
Structurebody
93 complaints
Exterior Lighting
84 complaints
Electrical System
55 complaints
Power Train
40 complaints
Steering
32 complaints
Air Bags
29 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
27 complaints
Service Brakes
19 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
19 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
14 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
8 complaints
Visibilitywiper
7 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
5 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlights
4 complaints
Seats
4 complaints
Suspension
3 complaints
Wheels
3 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlightsbulbs
2 complaints
Seat Belts
2 complaints
Structure
2 complaints
Tirespressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
2 complaints
Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly
2 complaints
Electrical Systeminstrument Panelspeedometerodometer
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalinfotainment
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasoline
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection Systemfuel Rail
1 complaint
Seat Beltspretensioner
1 complaint
Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler
1 complaint
Service Brakes Airantilockabs Warning Light
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipabs Warning Light
1 complaint
Steeringcolumn
1 complaint
Structurebodybumpers
1 complaint
Structurebodydoor
1 complaint
Structurebodytailgate
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontcontrol Arm
1 complaint
Tires
1 complaint
Tiressidewall
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controllinkages
1 complaint
Visibility
1 complaint