Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Kia sorento. While driving various speeds, the check engine indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle went into limp mode. The contact drove the vehicle to shawnee mission Kia (7591 shawnee mission, ks 66202), but they could not repair the failure. The contact experienced the same failure six years ago. The manufacturer was contacted and was unable…
2008 Kia Sorento engine problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 17 engine complaints filed for the 2008 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Sorento's engine is a problem child. One owner watched his rental catch fire on the highway at just 4,000 miles—loud boom, smoke, flames—totaling the vehicle. Main bearing noise forced another owner to park a fully paid car after a dealer quoted $12,000 for a replacement engine at 92,000 miles. A third owner heard a rod throw itself at 63,000 miles with a loud banging noise and a hole punched in the oil pan.
The most consistent complaint is a loss-of-power issue tied to check engine and ESC lights coming on simultaneously. Owners report the car dropping to 20–60 mph on the highway, sometimes after the engine stalls and steering locks. Temporary fixes include restarting the engine or tightening the fuel cap, but the problem comes back—sometimes weekly. Dealers replace oxygen sensors, throttle sensors, brake pedal switches, gas pedals, and catalytic converters, yet the failure recurs. One owner paid $1,800 to $2,800 per dealership visit with no resolution. Kia corporate has been contacted multiple times; owners report receiving no meaningful response.
Other red flags: compression-type noise every few seconds starting around 12,000 miles, high-pitch whining the dealer suspects is a timing chain tensioner (repair estimate $4,000-plus), and throttle control that runs away then stalls. Complete engine failures at 95,000 miles have also been reported after oil and check engine indicators light up.
Same Kia Sorento engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire at low mileage
Vehicle caught fire while being driven at highway speed with approximately 4,000 miles on the odometer. Fire originated in the engine compartment with loud boom, smoke from dashboard vents, and flames visible from under the hood.
When: ~4,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud boom from engine compartment; Smoke from dashboard vents; Dark smoke from hood; Flames visible; Extensive fire damage to front compartment
Loss of power and limp mode with check engine and ESC lights
Vehicle enters limp mode, losing acceleration power (sometimes unable to exceed 20–60 mph) when check engine and ESC lights illuminate together. Problem may temporarily resolve after engine shutdown and restart, or by tightening fuel cap. Multiple dealership visits and parts replacements have not permanently fixed the issue. Failure recurs frequently, even after dealer diagnosis and repair.
When: Throughout vehicle ownership; recurring weekly to multiple times per year; mileage range 12,000–95,000
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration power; Unable to accelerate beyond 20–60 mph; Check engine light illumination; ESC light illumination; Limp mode activation; Temporary resolution after engine restart or fuel cap tightening; Loss of steering power reported in at least one instance
Codes mentioned: Check engine code, ESC code
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced oxygen sensor, brake pedal light switch, throttle pedal sensor, throttle position sensor, gas pedal (twice in one case), and catalytic converter; dealership estimates ranged from $1,800 to $2,800 per visit. Repairs have not resolved the recurrent failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners contacted Kia corporate; responses not provided or not received. In one case, dealer contacted Kia corporate after vehicle stalled and steering locked.
Engine noise — compression type and high-pitch whining
Owners report unusual noises from the engine compartment. One reports a compression-type noise occurring every 3–5 seconds starting at 12,000 miles; another reports high-pitch whining noise that dealer suspects is timing chain tensioner failure.
When: 12,000 miles and ongoing; timing chain issue estimated cost $4,000+
Symptoms owners cite: Compression-type noise every 3–5 seconds; High-pitch whining noise from engine
Repairs/costs cited: Timing chain tensioner replacement estimated at $4,000 or more.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership multiple visits with no diagnosis reached. Kia suggested timing chain tensioner as cause for whining noise.
Engine bearing failure and catastrophic engine damage
Main bearing failure reported at 92,000 miles; entire engine replacement quoted at $12,000. Owner reported seeing similar failures on newer Sorento models. In another case, engine threw a rod at 63,000 miles, creating a hole in the oil pan. A third case reported complete engine failure at 95,000 miles after check engine and oil indicators illuminated.
When: 92,000 miles (bearing failure), 63,000 miles (rod thrown), 95,000 miles (engine failure)
Symptoms owners cite: Noise from engine indicating main bearing failure; Loud banging noise from rear passenger side; Engine stall; Oil indicator illumination; Check engine light illumination
Codes mentioned: Check engine code, Oil indicator code
Repairs/costs cited: Main bearing failure requiring full engine replacement quoted at $12,000. Rod failure created hole in oil pan. In one case, oil pump replacement attempted but engine could not be restarted; owner stated motor was gone.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner contacted Kia corporate regarding main bearing defect; received no response. Manufacturer notified in rod failure case but did not assist.
Throttle control failure — runaway or stuck throttle
Vehicle exhibited runaway throttle followed by part throttle operation and stalling. Owner reports the problem comes and goes regularly and poses very unsafe conditions.
When: Recurring intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Runaway throttle; Part throttle operation; Stalling; Intermittent, recurring nature
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA action #DP21003 referenced
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My 22 yr son. Was driving a Kia sorento, at highway speed on 11/27/08 on I-10 w in houston, tx, just east of loop 610. The vehicle was a rental from enterprise rental car and had ca. 4000 miles on the odometer. My son reports hearing a loud boom from the engine compartment and immediately noticed smoke coming from the dashboard vents. He immediately pulled the vehicle over to the median…
Had engine trouble with your 2008 Kia Sorento?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2008 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 15,703 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 55,371. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,703; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Kia/Sorento.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.