2013 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Most complaints for this model year center on the engine: owners describe sudden stalling or loss of power while driving, often with no warning lights, followed by a diagnosis of worn bearings or a seized engine. A smaller but consistent group describes excessive oil consumption and oil leaks, and others report recurring headlight bulb failures and ABS or warning-light problems.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine bearing wear, knocking and sudden stall

   • 415 complaints (42%)
   • median 91,228 mi at 6.1 yrs old (325 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 28 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners describe the engine quitting or losing power at highway speed with little or no warning, sometimes followed by a loud knock or ticking and a refusal to restart. Several say a shop found metal in the oil, worn bearings or a seized engine, and some mention a P1326 code. According to the complaints, dealers sometimes told owners the vehicle was not covered by a recall or that they could not act until the engine seized, and a number of owners paid for a replacement engine themselves. Spread widely from roughly 55,000 to 180,000 miles, with many reports clustered between 90,000 and 145,000 miles.

   Recall 17V224000Recall 20V750000Recall 18V9070003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the engine has been replaced under a campaign or warranty and request service records showing oil changes. Have a mechanic listen for a lower-end knock and check for metal in the oil before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on I 81 in shenandoah county va my Kia started losing power, lowing the speed I could do and the rpms right in front of a semi truck. It has happened since then and actually before then but was never as scary. The dealership has not been able to duplicate the issue or find any codes in the computer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11340778, filed 2020-07, 103,000 miles

   “2013 Kia Sorento engine making noise like sewing machine. Brought to Kia dealer. After 3 hours was told nothing wrong with engine. Try high test gas. Brought car home and the engine blew. We told dealer about the recall again there is nothing wrong with your vehicle. It has a good strong engine. I have contacted the dealership and Kia manufacturer. Waiting for callbacks. This happened today 6/5/20.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327480, filed 2020-06, 125,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption and oil leaks

   • 167 complaints (17%)
   • median 101,500 mi at 6.5 yrs old (124 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,000 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners report the engine using far more oil than expected between changes, in one case about a quart every 700 miles, and sometimes finding the oil level low with no oil-pressure light coming on. Others describe oil leaking onto the engine surface or under the vehicle, and in some cases smoke from the engine bay after driving. Complaints describe dealers saying the vehicle did not qualify for coverage until the engine failed. Reported from about 55,000 to 145,000 miles, typically noticed during routine maintenance rather than after a specific event.

   Recall 20V7500005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick, and inspect the engine and underbody for leaks. Ask whether any oil consumption test or related service bulletin work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My engine light went on and I immediately took it to my mechanic. There was no oil in my car, even though the oil light never came on. Two independent mechanics said I need a new engine. Even though my engine has a lifetime warranty due to a class action suit, the Kia dealership said they could not open a claim unless my engine seizes up, which can happen anytime, anywhere. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389658, filed 2021-01, 110,000 miles

   “I noticed that there is oil leak and soaking of the engine surface by chance when I was replacing the air filter and doing a regular cleaning. Before that I notice a roaring sound coming from the motor when I am driving my car may be 2 months ago. Although there is no warning lights but I am worried about this scenario.”

   NHTSA complaint #11378154, filed 2020-12, 144,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS warning light and brake control unit (HECU)

   • 82 complaints (8%)
   • median 101,500 mi at 10.5 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the ABS and check engine lights coming on together, sometimes with a burning odor from the engine compartment, and dealers diagnosing an ABS or hydraulic control unit failure. Several complaints mention receiving a recall notice for the brake control unit but being told parts were not yet available, and at least one owner says the warning returned after the recall work was completed. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 156,000 miles, with no clear pattern in age or climate.

   Recall 23V652000Recall 15V626000

   What to check: Confirm whether recall 23V652000 has been completed on the vehicle and keep the paperwork. Watch for ABS and check engine lights coming on together, and have any stored ABS codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the radiator needed to be replaced due to a hole in the radiator. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11572339, filed 2024-02, 135,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 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 repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11574048, filed 2024-02, 35,000 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and bulbs failing repeatedly

   • 74 complaints (8%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (49 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $650 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report headlight bulbs burning out repeatedly, often on one side, sometimes within weeks of replacement. Several describe the plastic connector or wiring harness at the bulb melting, and some say replacing the assembly did not resolve it. Complaints describe dealers replacing bulbs and connectors without a lasting fix. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 130,000 miles.

   What to check: Check both headlights and their connectors for melted or discolored plastic, and ask whether bulbs or harnesses have been replaced recently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Kia Sorento 2013 headlights keep simultaneously going out. I keep having to replace the bulbs and the plastic is always melted. Per my research, there is no recall or no real way to fix it. I was told I need to replace the assembly, which isn't the problem because it is the wiring and I've even read that people keep having to replace the assembly. I cannot afford that and I'm unhappy about it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365395, filed 2020-10, 90,000 miles

   “My headlights and brake lights keep going out. I have replaced them all twice in a year. On top of that, every time I've had to change my headlights, I've also had to change the wiring harness that the light goes into. It's like the it explodes and melts the piece that the light snaps into.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396551, filed 2021-02, 130,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Warning lights, sensor faults and electrical gremlins

   • 145 complaints (15%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (104 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,700 (median of 22 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners describe clusters of dashboard warning lights coming on at once, including ABS, stability and battery lights, sometimes along with a loss of power steering or acceleration. Others report wheel speed sensors failing repeatedly and an ignition key that will not release from the lock cylinder until the shifter is cycled. Complaints describe dealers being unable to reproduce the faults or find stored codes. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 120,000 miles, often appearing intermittently.

   What to check: Scan all modules for stored codes rather than just the engine computer, and test that the key releases freely from the ignition after parking. Ask whether wheel speed sensors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the road when I noticed that all my warning lights on the dashboard were coming on. All of them were lit up red and not going off. The navigation and radio screen went completely black. I noticed I was losing speed and tried to accelerate and I had no power to accelerate the car. I was on the inside lane of the four lane road and coasted to the middle median on the four lane road to safely get my truck out of oncoming traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323922, filed 2020-05, 60,000 miles

   “First, the brake lights kept going out. Finally found a loose wire. Then, the ABS, downhill, skid lights all came on at the same time. Found one wheel where it is not reading speed. Next, the gas cover does not open now. There has been one issue after another with this car. I get it serviced, monthly. It is up to date on oil changes, inspections, fluid and I am about to replace all brakes, pads, rotors and tires. I feel like this care, which I have only had for four and a half years, is done.”

   NHTSA complaint #11374661, filed 2020-11, 118,153 miles

Buying note. This model year draws the most complaints about engine stalling, knocking and oil use, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine and its service history is worthwhile. Also confirm which recalls have been completed and check the headlights and dashboard warning lights on a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.