THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE ENGINE DID HAVE A MINOR OIL LEAK SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS MONITORED AND REPLINISHED REQULARLY AND HAD BEEN DONE THE SAME DAY THE ENGINE SEIZED.
2013 Kia Sorento engine problems
severe 381 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100
Complaints
381
Recalls
0
Crashes
3
Avg fix
$3,100
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
MY VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO "LIMP" MODE TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE AND TWICE IN LOCAL TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE LAST TIME WAS YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2018. THAT MEANS THAT I LOSE ALL POWER TO ACCELERATE BEYOND A LOW LIMIT. IF I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE MOTOR, IT RUNS NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND THE MIL LIGHT GOES OFF. ACCORDING TO THE DTC CODES, I HAVE A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY AND THROTTLE …
My 2013 Kia sorento got recalled for an engine filling/Engine knocking. Back in 2019 so i toke it to the dealer and there's was not issues at the moment until 2021, i was driving on the highway and the car turned off. I lost power to the brakes and the steering was very hard to turn. The engine light started flashing so i pulled over and called the tow truck to take it to the kia dealership. Next…
THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET AFTER TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY FRO 150 MILES. KIA HAD A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THE ENGINE AND INCREASED THE WARRANTY TO 10YR OR 120K MILES. MINE SEIZED AT 126K MILES. KIA REFUSED TO FIXED IT AND IT WOULD COST 5K FOR A REBUILT ENGINE OR 12K FOR NEW ENGINE.
CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED ON ROAD WHILE RUNNING TWICE WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS WHAT SO EVER. BOTH TIME THE CAR TURNED OFF AND UPON INSPECTION IT HAD NO OIL DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. FIRST TIME THE CAR TURNED OFF, I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO SLUDGE/DEBRIS IN ENGINE THAT CAUSED A GAS SENSOR FAILURE (DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE). RECOMMENDATION WAS TO CHANGE THE OIL VERY OFTEN TO CLEAR ANY POTENTIAL REM…
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 381 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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