2017 KIA SORENTO Engine Problems

363 NHTSA complaints on file

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Engine Issues in the 2017 KIA SORENTO

363 engine complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2017 KIA SORENTO. Of these, 2 involved a crash, 16 involved a fire, and 3 resulted in injury.

363
Complaints
2
Crashes
16
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

All Engine Complaints

#11719501 |
I was driving everithing was normal but suddenly the light of the Engine was on and the car lost power and the engine shut off everything happened in like one second, dont let me time or opportunity to think something safe, it was a lot of traffict on the street and the car behind almost crash on me. it was like a nigthmare.
#11717526 |
oil light in past week would come on for short time then go out, i brought to kia cape coral, fl. see video attached from kia. oil went up no oil on ground. then the oil went past switch for oil light up to next hose that had wires for injectors. $5,000.00 for this wire alone and 7 hours labor. Total quote $6,700.00. the 2017 sorento with a 3.3l engine has an extended warranty to 150,000 miles. my 2017 sorento not covered as it is a smaller engine. danger of engine failure known oil switch problem.
#11716788 | Fire
Going down the interstate on 2/7/26, 56 miles from home and my Kia lost power, no lights or warning, loud bang from the engine, smoke rolling out of the back and engine is completely dead. 149,000 miles. Called several tow truck companies, and each asked make and year of vehicle, and immediately after, "Did your engine go? Kia has that problem." Me and my sister were left stranded on the side of the interstate in the extreme cold. Luckily, 2 gentleman stopped to see if we were okay because they had seen fire under the vehicle. Purchased the extended lifetime warranty and Kia will not honor it. No I have no vehicle and a car payment.
#11716474 |
To Whom It May Concern, I am the owner of a 2017 Kia Sorento and have recently experienced excessive oil consumption with the vehicle. The engine is losing approximately 4 quarts of oil per 1000 miles, with no visible external leaks or exhaust smoke. I am aware that many Kia vehicles equipped with the 2.4L GDI engine have been affected by issues related to piston ring defects, which can cause abnormal oil consumption and, in some cases, premature engine failure. I also understand that Kia has issued recalls, service campaigns, and extended warranties on similar models and engines. I am requesting the following: 1.) Confirmation of whether my vehicle is included in any recalls, service campaigns, or warranty extensions related to this issue. 2.) A dealer inspection and oil consumption test to formally document the problem. 3.) Information on any coverage, goodwill repairs, or warranty extensions available if my vehicle...
#11714875 |
This uses oil. It takes 16 ounces or more every 400 miles.
#11714388 | Fire
Daughter was driving home from getting her kids from daycare and said she couldn’t see behind her from smoke and her boyfriend told her the car was on fire and she said the engine light came on and then all the lights came on and it started smoking more and a lady pulled over and told them get out because the car was on fire and 911 was called and she got out and got kids in the lady’s car and called me at work and I left and got there and the fire department was hosing down the car for about 45 minutes. They finally got the fire out which was contained under the car engine and Insurnace checked it out and gave me the estimate that was uploaded and told me that it was a mechanical failure from the engine so they won’t cover anything and I have...
#11713123 |
Driving home from work car started making a slapping noise, no engine light on. I stopped and the motor shut off and spit out oil. Found out that a connecting rod had broke off and went through the oil pan. now the car needs a new engine with only 166,000 miles on a 2017 Kia Sorento. The car has had all maintenance done on it.
#11709058 |
I am reaching out regarding a challenging situation with my vehicle. On October 24, 2025, my engine seized up while I was driving. After conducting research on my vehicle, I discovered that there was a recall related to a component of the engine which was issued in 2018. I purchased my vehicle from Carbone Honda in June 2021 and was not aware of this recall until recently. Unfortunately, this incident occurred during a particularly difficult time for me, as my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer (stage 4 glioblastoma) in the same week. In addition, I am currently a nursing student facing significant financial constraints. I waited two months for an appointment at Destination Kia to determine whether my vehicle would still be eligible for an engine replacement. During this period, a mechanic kindly allowed me to store my vehicle at his facility. My appointment took place on December 22nd,...
#11708907 |
1. The Snow White Paint is lifting and peeling in all areas of the vehicle. 2. The engine, despite proper care and maintenance, is seizing occasionally upon starting the vehicle. 3. Auto Braking System and Lane Departure turns off at random
#11707344 |
I was driving and heard a loud noise. The car started to hesitate and was making a knocking noise. I pulled over and had it towed where I was told it was a rod bearing failure and I needed a new engine. It had 130,000 miles. I have been reading online and found a lot of vehicles with the same engine as mine where this has happened and there are no recalls. Engines size 3.3L V6. Right now the car is sitting. I still owe on it and can’t afford to have it fixed. The oil was changed regularly. It was changed four weeks before this happened. No warnings.
#11705649 |
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from under the hood. In addition, the vehicle lost motive power, and the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the failure was due to the detached crankshaft bearings. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the dealer disassembled the engine and the transmission. The contact stated that when the vehicle was released back to the contact, several parts were missing from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that...
#11704479 |
I was driving our 2017 Kia Sorento 2.4 liter, on I-94 in Detroit, MI when suddenly, the vehicle would not go over 50 mph when the engine suddenly lost power on Friday 11/28/2025 ..We towed the vehicle to the Auto Repair Shop a few days later. On Tuesday 12/9/2025 the Auto Repair shop contacted us and said that their was plenty of oil in the vehicle but Cylinder 3 misfired and there is a loss of engine compression. Auto shop says cylinder 3 failed and now only 3 cylinders are now working on the 2017 Kia Sorento now mileage is now 94, 971 miles. I have not taken it to the dealer yet because even though there was a class action lawsuit, the Auto Repair shop has informed us, as well as other information online, that the dealer will sometimes try to avoid replacing the engine. I did contact the...
#11702450 |
To Whom It May Concern, I am the owner of a 2017 Kia Sorento (VIN ending in [XXX] ) and have recently experienced excessive oil consumption with the vehicle. The engine is losing approximately 2 quart of oil per 1000 miles, with no visible external leaks or exhaust smoke. I am aware that many Kia vehicles equipped with the 2.4L GDI engine have been affected by issues related to piston ring defects, which can cause abnormal oil consumption and, in some cases, premature engine failure. I also understand that Kia has issued recalls, service campaigns, and extended warranties on similar models and engines. I am requesting the following: 1.Confirmation of whether my vehicle is included in any recalls, service campaigns, or warranty extensions related to this issue. 2.A dealer inspection and oil consumption test to formally document the problem. 3.Information on any coverage, goodwill repairs, or warranty extensions available if...
#11702160 |
Car oil light doesnt come on , only when almost gone. Car stop and slugish on highways and automatic turns off , this issie since the update
#11702273 |
My 2017 Kia Sorento is experiencing significant engine issues, including excessive oil consumption and ongoing oil leaks. The Kia dealership initially told me I qualified for an oil-consumption test that could result in a free engine replacement if the results met the criteria. After inspecting the vehicle, they refused to perform the test because they said it was ‘leaking too much oil,’ charged me $600 for a gasket, but the vehicle still leaks and burns oil. Now the dealership claims the engine is not covered and wants $5,000 for a replacement, despite previously stating testing could qualify me for a free engine. This appears to be a common issue with Kia GDI engines and a safety concern due to risk of engine failure and fire. I believe Kia is improperly denying required testing and coverage, and I request NHTSA review this pattern. I included the invoice fr the gasket repair...
#11701896 |
I am reporting a serious defect involving my 2017 Kia Sorento 2.4 Liter GDI engine (VIN [XXX] ) At approximately 84000 miles, while still under the powertrain warranty, I brought the vehicle to the dealership from which I purchased it (Hutchinson Kia in Macon GA) due to engine hesitation and abnormal performance. I was initially told the engine might need replacement, but the dealer later claimed the issue was only a relay/software problem and performed a software update (likely the KSDS knock sensor update) At approximately 94000 miles, the engine suffered a SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE while driving on the interstate, The failure was abrupt and created a dangerous situation in traffic. The Vehicle is now inoperable. The engine is equipped with the THETA II GDI engine, which has a documented history of bearing and connecting -rod failures, fires and sudden engine seizure. KIA is refusing to cover the failure, even...
#11701210 |
I am reporting a serious engine defect in my 2017 Kia Sorento. The has failed and presents an ongoing safety concern. The issue is while driving on the interstate, the vehicle began shaking violently, started making a knocking noise and the check engine illuminated. The RPMs also began spiking so I slowed down and got off at the next exit. Now every time I start the vehicle it continues to shake, knock and cannot accelerate properly -- the RPMs climb as high as 5000 with very little power. This is a clear safety hazard and makes the vehicle unsafe to operate on public roads.
#11700598 |
Check engine light came on, oil light came on after, vehicle stalled on expressway. Engine is knocking.
#11699344 |
Car is burning more oil than it should. We fill up oil multiple times between oil changes. When checking oil it has a burnt smell to it.
#11694961 |
Car started shaking, white smoke out of tail pipe, ABS/TCS lights went on. Oil on spark plugs My wife was stuck on side of interstate.
#11692125 |
Often, Service Managers like [XXX] from Kia University Dealerships will unlawfully charge you for diagnostic tests or other unrelated issues that should be free or try to persuade you to purchase repairs as a condition for completing the free recall work; however the repair is a standalone obligation, and the we should have the right to decline any additional, non-recall-related maintenance that the service department might recommend. Seven (7) months ago, I spoke with a Kia customer service agent that informed me that there may be another recall or another Product Improvement Campaign coming regarding my 2017 Kia Sorrento; therefore, please be on the lookout for issues with your vehicle and the engine. Therefore, when I took my vehicle to the Kia Dealership on University Drive “Which I had been going to since I purchased my vehicle” and informed them my engine light was just on, the gentlemen informed me...
#11691747 |
Engine oil consumption test,did 3 at Kia dealership and was confirmed engine was bad,we don’t have all the maintenance records so we are denied.Kia should stand by their product and change this engine under warranty and recall.
#11691285 |
1) My vehicle incurred catastrophic engine failure. The engine stopped running suddenly. It does not crank over. It is available for inspection. It does not run. 2) I am thankful that no one was injured and that the vehicle did not catch fire. 3) There is a safety-related defect in certain 2017 Kia Sorento vehicles. 4) My vehicle was towed to the house and has not been inspected. 5) There were no signs of leaking oil or oil burning. No dashboard lights came on to signal overheating or low oil level. No check engine light ever appeared.
#11690696 |
Engine burns oil excessively and Kia has this marked as a known issue. The oil is leaking inside the engine around the pistons and into the combustion chamber. Because the engine is direct injection, it now has to go through a combustion cleaning every time this happens at $700 a pop plus diagnostics which makes it over $900 every time this happens. Happens so often that it won't even get to the milage for an actual oil change to be due. Kia refuses to do anything until the connecting rod or connecting rod bearing fails and I have a complete engine failure. I feel like that is very dangerous and could cause serious harm to myself or others if I have an engine failure and cause an accident.
#11690882 |
Prior to the below incident, my vehicle was driving normally. Oil levels were normal, and there were no warning lights. In June 2025, I was driving on [XXX] during morning rush hour. As I approached a traffic light at the end of this 3-lane expressway, the engine suddenly stalled. I rolled up to the red light. When safe to do so, I left the vehicle to stand on the side of the road so as not to get hit. I had the car towed to a local repair facility. Repair shop looked at the vehicle and determined that the engine was seized. They then checked for TSB's and discovered that Kia had, in some instances, extended the warranty to 180,000 miles and 15 years. My vehicle had 142,000 miles. I then had my car towed to the closest Kia dealer in Hickory, NC. The dealer initially indicated it was possible...
#11689589 |
I came to this website because it was suggested to me to look for a recall. While there is an active recall with my car, the interesting part to me is the fact that the issues I'm having with my car match a recall for the same model as mine, just a different spec. To me that seems odd, I'd have the same type issues... I was wondering how to get this examined.
#11688916 |
On July 25th when I started my car , 2017 Kia Sorento, to leave work, it made a horrible knocking noise when it was starting, but once it started the noise stopped, no alert lights came on, so I drove it home 7 miles and parked it for the weekend. When my husband and I took it out again on Monday, July 28th, we had driven under 10 miles and gotten up to 70 miles an hour on the toll/express road, the check engine light started flashing as the power produced by the engine drastically declined and acceleration seemed capped or limited. We were able to safely exit the toll road without causing or being involved in an accident. We drove it 6 more miles home and parked it. A week later we had it toed to a Kia mechanic who confirmed that the engine had been using oil, had...
#11688779 |
It’s been a month since I did an oil change. However, while I was driving the car, I heard a noise like the engine had no oil in it. I stopped and after 15 minutes I checked the engine for oil when I discovered that the engine was empty. I then checked for a leak and there is no leak detected. I took it to a Valvoline to get an oil change. This is when I discovered that the engine is burning the oil. This is most likely to happen due to a manufacturing problem. I am submitting this complaint and would like to have an investigation done on that matter because it is a safety concern when a car keeps burning oil without any leak detection.
#11684849 |
Engine seized with zero warning lights, cautions, check engine lights, or low/high indicators. It started knocking and was driven 3 miles to our mechanic who said it was a failed engine. I called the Kia dealer who recommended I tow or drive it to the dealer. ~3 miles from our house, less than a mile from the dealer the car lost all power. We had it towed. The service manager chastised me for not towing but also told me irregardless of how it arrived that the engine was no longer functional. It is out of warranty w/ 143,000 miles but without any indication of a problem how was I supposed to mitigate any risk. From the start of the knocking until the engine failed it was less than 6 miles. The mechanic had to put 3 quarts of oil in the car and it still failed on the way to...
#11684548 |
This 2017 Kia Sorento with the 3.3L V6 Lambda II engine appears to have had possible rod bearing failure or connecting rod failure. This vehicle has 107,987 miles on it when the incident happened. 2 hours into a drive on the highway, the car began to sound like it had a possible exhaust leak, however this was followed shorty by knocking which prompted us to pull over and just as we made the shoulder as the engine quit and began to smoke heavily. Went to quickly open the hood and the smoke died down in about a minute. Most likely due to the oil hitting the exhaust from the hole the rod left in the block. There were no oil lights or other indications that anything was going to happen prior to this. The vehicle has been maintained meticulously with all maintenance items. This vehicle is available for inspection. Let...
#11683784 |
On 8/16/2025 my 2017 Kia Sorento experienced major engine failure which resulted in loss of power and severe engine misfiring. I submitted a warranty claim with full maintenance documentation to Kia cooperation but was denied coverage on 8/27/2025. This denial is improper because 1.The engine type is covered under recalls and/or the Kia Engine Class Action Settlement, which extends coverage to 15 years / 150,000 miles and my vehicle currently has 94423. 2.I complied with all maintenance requirements and have already provided numerous records. 3.Engine failure presents a serious safety hazard and has been widely reported.
#11683525 |
Valves are knocking and rattling. Engine sometimes stalls out. The knocking and rattling will not go away. It is getting worse everyday to the point that I am scared to drive it because it will stall out on me somewhere and leave me stuck on the side of the road. Been doing this for a couple of months now.
#11682931 | Fire
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the contact heard a clicking and banging sound coming from the engine. The contact mentioned that while looking through the front driver's side mirror, she noticed smoke coming from the engine. Several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned the vehicle off and then exited the vehicle and opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed flames coming from the engine. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention. The contact dialed 911, but there was no police report filed. The fire chief showed up at the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was not destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
#11681546 |
Engine seized Kia denied warranty extension b/c of maintenance records changed oil myself had 3 years of receipts for oil and filters
#11681432 |
I don’t understand how my 2017 Kia sorento doesn’t have a recall on its engine. I bought the car in cash and 1 month the car doesn’t want to start.. I don’t understand I wasted money… I need engine replaced and don’t have $10000
#11681436 |
I was driving and out of no where the battery light pop up and than car turns off on in the middle of traffic.. surprisingly there was no accident it was scary I had my two babies in the car with me. There’s no recall it’s a safety hazard ..
#11680110 |
My 2017 Kia Sorento has developed intermittent safety-related engine issues that have resulted in loss of acceleration and stalling. December 2024: After a two-hour drive, the vehicle stalled and would not restart. Roadside assistance confirmed the engine oil level was low, despite no external leaks. After approximately two hours, the vehicle restarted. [XXX]: After driving about 30 minutes and parking for 10–20 minutes, the engine started with loud rumbling/knocking noises, and the accelerator was unresponsive. The problem resolved only after shutting the car off and restarting. Video is available. The Kia dealer performed a rod bearing test which passed, but the symptoms match early failure stages of the known Theta II engine defect covered under Kia’s lifetime warranty (PI1802 settlement). Kia attributes the issue to “low oil” as a maintenance problem, but the oil consumption appears to be internal and abnormal. This defect creates a serious safety risk because it...
#11680237 |
The engine locked up. The engine only had 80,000 miles. The car stopped in the middle of traffic. The dealership refused to take responsibility. KIA also declined warning coverage. I had to pay to replace the engine.
#11679849 |
Bought the car last month had it put on a diagnostic machine 2 times took a trip lasted one week now it's in the shop days bad motor engine light came on @ parked it right then they told me that it ended a engine it run perfect then it wasn't it is a 2017 Kia Sorento it's only 8 yrs old is there any manufacturer warranty or coverage of any kind for that yr it ran really good for a minute then it wasn't it's still in shop being looked @ I have exstended warranty. They want me to pay 2.700 for tear down @ they can't say if they fix it then after I'm outa pocket I had to leave it in another state I seen online recalls on that make yr @ model can you give advice thanks
#11679913 |
Motor uses 6 guarts of oil in 3000 miles. No leaks. The dealer has done the oil consumption test. And it failed every time. Kia denied claim to replace engine. They stated that it passed the bearing test. This is crap.
#11678906 |
We purchased a 2017 Kia Sorrento AWD 3.3L V6 153,000 on May 9 2025. We made our 2nd payment on July 11th & on July 17th @5am we went and filled it up and got on the highway to head to work. We didn't even drive ½ a mile when all of a sudden it lost all power at 73mph. No warning lights nothing. Dash said "key fob not in vehicle". We had it towed to Kia which cost almost $350 for them to call & tell us we need a new engine. No codes nothing. Also almost $200 for them to diagnose that. And that it will cost over 10k to fix. We paid under 10k to begin with. They are saying it isn't covered under any warranty. It's our only vehicle that we can drive in winter. We literally had the Kia just over 2 months.
#11678145 |
Unknown Engine stopped in the middle of driving. The engine has a bad bearing. Caused the starter wire to be burned so can’t start vehicle what so ever. Chunks of metal in the oil.
#11678077 |
Oil consumption
#11677743 |
Oil consumption
#11677521 |
While driving, the engine warning light suddenly turned on and the vehicle began shaking violently. I was forced to pull over, and the car had to be towed. The dealership diagnosed engine failure caused by excessive oil consumption. Despite routine maintenance, the manufacturer refuses to cover repairs under warranty. This creates a serious safety hazard, as engine components like spark plugs can fail without warning, potentially leaving drivers stranded or causing accidents.
#11675981 |
I have a 2017 Kia Sorento. On Sunday [XXX], I was driving on [XXX] in Oklahoma when I started hearing a weird knocking noise and was having difficulties accelerating. I was in the car with my mother and [XXX] son just between Guthrie and Edmond OK which is a very heavily trafficked area. My car suddenly shut off, I coasted to the side and put my hazards on. After 2 hours waiting for a tow truck to tow my vehicle back to my home town a mechanic informed us the engine was blown and could be apart of their lawsuit against engines. After reading many many other peoples encounter with Kia, Kia acknowledges issues with the engines and were placed in a lawsuit however they find every way out of responsibility for replacing the engines that are faulty. Not only did this put others in danger while I was driving...
#11674277 |
My 2017 Kia Sorento is not included in the engine safety recall regarding the crankshaft failure in the engine. But I am experiencing the exact same problem so I do not see how it is not included in the recall. I am requesting the recall be expanded to include more vehicles because it is not safe to drive and is currently being held hostage by the dealer who wants $10,500 to repair my engine. I refuse to pay for negligence on the part of the manufacturer. Kia corporate has been very dismissive and not helpful. Please advise
#11670181 |
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the check engine and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an oil change was performed; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the nearest dealer for an unknown recall repair, and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the maintenance records needed to be reviewed to repair the vehicle under recall. The contact provided the maintenance records that the dealer sent to the manufacturer. The manufacturer later informed the dealer that the vehicle was not eligible for an engine replacement based on the maintenance records. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that...
#11666832 |
Engine failure. Hyundai and Kia Theta Engine Class Action Settlement 2017 Kia sorento 2.0 vin [XXX] . vehicle has the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Update which extends engine coverage to 10 years/150k miles for rod bearing failure. the vehicle has 118k miles and is at a kia dealership. They denied coverage due to no present codes related to the knock sensor and being that it has low compression on one cylinder. My 2017 Kia Sorento experienced a serious engine failure related to rod bearing wear, a known issue in the Theta II 2.4L GDI engine. The engine began making a loud knocking noise, which is a classic sign of rod bearing failure. They just so happened to left that out of their diagnosis that it has rod bearing noise and are using only the fact that low compression and no code related to the bearings to deny the coverage....
#11665722 |
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The mechanic replaced the air filter, brake fluid, serpentine belt, accessory belt, performed tire rotation, replaced the power steering fluid, and performed an oil change. The check engine warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic who replaced the ignition coil and spark plugs. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed the diagnosis. The dealer replaced the valve cover gasket, fuel pump gasket, and coolant, performed a 3-point GGI induction service, refilled the brake fluid, and replaced a carbon air filter. The failure persisted and the vehicle was returned to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that piston #3 had failed, and a spark...
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