TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, and the transmission oil cooler is transferred to the new transmission.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Kia Sorento powertrain problems
moderate 63 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
63
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 63 powertrain complaints filed for the 2014 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Owners have filed 63 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 19 model years of Kia Sorento in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PITSTOP: AWD SYSTEM CONCERN DUE TO TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE - This Pitstop provides information regarding potential concerns with the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system due to tire sizes of differing circumference. Some customers may complain of a chatter sensation felt in the drivetrain of the vehicle and/or the failure of drivetrain component(s). A difference in tire size (width, aspect ratio, construction, rim diameter etc.) may be the cause.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart starting on page 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles on page 2. Refer to the shop manual on KGIS for the specific Kia model for the correct transmission fluid check/fill procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 Sorento's powertrain complaints cluster around several recurring patterns. Engine failures dominate the narrative—owners report sudden bearing wear, metal shavings in oil, connecting rod failure, and complete engine seizure often with no warning lights. Many failures occur between 69,000 and 120,000 miles despite regular maintenance. Transmission problems include slipping, hesitation, loss of power during acceleration, and complete loss of function; one owner described transmission solenoid codes, stuck-in-neutral conditions, and a wiring harness issue that doubled repair costs. Differential failures—both front and rear—are extensively reported, with axles shearing off, wheel lockup on straightaways, and catastrophic housing damage costing owners $4,500 to $7,900 per repair. Several owners cite rear-differential locking, fluid leaks, and squealing noises leading to sudden immobilization.
Electrical and fuel-system issues appear connected to engine failures: low coolant levels despite recent service, fuel-line leaks after engine replacement, gasoline odors, and high-pressure fuel pump failure. Some owners describe complete power loss while driving—engine shutdown without warning lights, then refusal to restart. One owner's vehicle lost all electrical power on the highway at 80 mph. Others report transmission module faults, wiring harness corrosion from moisture intrusion, and sensor failures (turbine input shaft speed sensor) triggering loss of power events. Owners consistently state they performed scheduled maintenance, yet failures occurred outside warranty or dealers refused coverage citing lack of recall notification.
Same Kia Sorento powertrain reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Engine bearing/crank bearing failure
Premature bearing wear causing metal shavings in oil, engine seizure, and complete engine failure. Owners report knocking noises before total loss of power.
When: 69,000–120,000 miles; some failures occur within 2–3 years despite regular oil changes
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knocking/loud bang under hood; Metal shavings/fragments in oil; Check engine light illuminated; Sudden loss of power while driving; Engine stalls and will not restart; Oil warning light flashing
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (cause varies)
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required; costs reported $12,000+ for new engine; owners cite $7,000+ repair bills for cylinder head replacement and gasket work
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 17V224000 issued for 2011–2014 Sorento and other models for bearing-wear defect; some owners claim Kia denied coverage or warranty extensions despite recall existence; TSB or warranty extension to 120,000 miles mentioned by one owner but denied at dealer
Transmission slipping/loss of power on acceleration
Transmission fails to shift properly, vehicle loses power or becomes stuck in a gear, creating hazardous situations during merging and highway driving.
When: 24,000–126,000 miles; often intermittent at first
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slipping or hesitating on acceleration; Stuck in neutral or third gear ('limp mode'); Lack of power from a stop; RPM stalls around 1,500; Jerking or clunking on downshift; Transmission module/solenoid warning codes; Shift indicator on dash disappears; Vehicle almost hit from behind when unable to accelerate on freeway ramp
Codes mentioned: Transmission solenoid codes, Transmission module error codes, P0717 (turbine input shaft speed sensor fault)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement/rebuild; wiring harness replacement sometimes required (doubled repair costs in one case); one owner paid for diagnostic but then refused warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners cite 100,000-mile powertrain warranty but dealers deny coverage for used purchases; one owner states Kia refuses to cover transmission issues despite extended-warranty letter
Rear differential failure/axle shear
Rear differential catastrophic failure with axles shearing, housing cracking, or gears breaking apart internally, causing sudden loss of drive and immobilization.
When: 48,500–133,367 miles; some failures occur without prior warning
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang or metal grinding noise from rear; Sudden wheel lockup; vehicle unable to move; High-pitched squealing from rear differential; Engagement/disengagement clicking sounds; Rear wheels locked up on straightaway or slight incline; BSD (blind spot detection) disabled warning messages; Vehicle lost power and stopped suddenly
Codes mentioned: BSD disabled messages (precursor in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Rear differential and/or axle replacement; one owner paid $7,292.60 for differential replacement and $600.93 earlier for diagnostic flush; another paid $7,893.53 total; estimates range $4,500–$7,900+
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Front axle recalled; rear axle not covered by recall in most cases; one owner states parts unavailable for recall repair (two-week backorder); owners report Kia refuses warranty coverage
Front axle driveshaft crack (recalled)
Right front axle develops crack in stub area of wheel-end shaft, resulting in power loss and vehicle rollaway on inclines if parking brake not engaged.
When: Discovered at 115,000+ miles on a 2014 model purchased May 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration upon acceleration above 55 mph; Clicking noise from front wheel; Boot/grease seal failure on left driver's side; Vehicle rolling down driveway when parked; Sudden loss of drive power
Repairs/costs cited: Front axle boot and axle replacement; cost $695 reported; owner paid out of pocket despite recall existence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: KMA Recall for 2014 FWD Sorentos (produced through March 2013); owners report no recall notification; parts unavailable on backorder (two-week wait cited); Kia initially denied coverage citing backorder
Engine coolant leaks and overheating
Head gasket failure, coolant entering combustion chamber, coolant-to-oil mixing, and coolant leaks from seals and gaskets cause overheating and engine damage.
When: 80,000–126,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating with no warning light; Coolant smell in cabin (breathing hazard to children); Low coolant levels despite no visible leaks; Oil mixing with antifreeze; Coolant-filled combustion chamber (detected after failure); Temperature gauge showing 'hot' after driving; Smoke from under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement or major rebuild required; one owner paid $7,000 for cylinder head replacement, head gaskets, head bolts, T-stat, crank seal, oil pan gasket, timing cover gaskets, fuel injector O-rings, and bolt rethreading
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls cited; one owner states warranty should cover and dealer should fix; another says cost should be covered under powertrain warranty but denied
Engine control module/electrical power loss while driving
ECM failure or electrical system malfunction causes sudden complete loss of engine power and all dashboard lights while vehicle is in motion at highway speeds.
When: 55,000–116,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Entire dash flashes/flickers off then back on; Check engine light and battery light illuminate; Vehicle loses all power and slows to stop; No restart capability; insufficient power to turn engine over; Red steering wheel light (never seen before); Dim battery display despite new battery; Complete shutdown with no prior warning lights; Loss of power steering at highway speed
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Battery/electrical fault codes (varies)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement quoted at $12,000+; one owner's vehicle required towing 35 miles; dealers cite cost outside warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia refuses to cover under recall or warranty; one owner states vehicle eligible for 120,000-mile extended warranty but dealer has no record
High-pressure fuel pump/fuel system failure
High-pressure fuel pump bolt shearing off, fuel leaks, or fuel pump failure causes loss of power and fuel spraying.
When: 35,000–84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle deceleration and loss of power; Oil and gasoline leaking from under hood; High-pressure fuel pump bolt sheared off; Oil and gas spewing from sheared bolt location; Strong gasoline odor in cabin
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump replacement and bracket repair; one owner paid for fuel-line bracket replacement after initial engine rebuild (forgotten by mechanics)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer blamed previous oil-change shop but acknowledged defect implausible after 3,000 miles; refused warranty coverage at 35,000 miles
Wiring harness corrosion and sensor failure
Moisture intrusion into sensor connectors and wiring harness causes corrosion, leading to intermittent electrical faults and loss of power events.
When: Variable; can occur throughout vehicle life
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while pulling from driveways/stores; Intermittent power loss; Transmission module warning codes; Sensor fault codes (e.g., turbine input shaft speed sensor); Multiple warning lights coming and going
Codes mentioned: P0717 (turbine input shaft speed sensor fault), Transmission module error codes
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor/wiring harness replacement; costs $200–$2,000+ depending on part and labor
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner cites inadequate rubber seal or poor-quality seal allowing moisture; manufacturer has not issued recall for this electrical issue
Excessive oil consumption and sludge buildup
Engine burns oil at rate of 1 quart per 500 miles or faster, leading to oil starvation, sludge accumulation, and connecting-rod failure.
When: Begins early in vehicle life; one case noted 2024 onset
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops rapidly despite full mark on dipstick; Sludge-like oil accumulation on engine exterior; Connecting rod breaks due to oil starvation; Sudden loss of power from engine starvation; Check engine light flashing; Car shakes badly, no power on acceleration; Oil consumption test returned 'no problem' by Kia
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (flashing)
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required; one owner states Kia admits engines have oil-consumption defect but refuses replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia admits via email awareness of oil-consumption and engine-failure issues but refuses engine replacement despite extended-warranty claims
Transmission wiring harness defect
Faulty wiring harness connected to transmission causes electrical faults, erratic shifting, and control module errors.
When: Variable
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission solenoid codes; Limp mode (stuck in third gear); Loss of acceleration; Clunking sound and strong lurch when stuck in gear; Intermittent power loss on acceleration
Codes mentioned: Transmission solenoid codes
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission and wiring harness replacement; one owner paid for new transmission only initially, then discovered wiring harness also faulty, doubling repair cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not mentioned; dealers perform replacement but owners bear full cost
Door lock relay/BCM failure
Body control module (BCM) relay failure prevents door locks from functioning via fob or interior switches, creating safety and emergency-access hazards.
When: Began approximately 2 months before complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Door locks won't unlock 95% of the time using fob or interior switch; Automatic unlock on shift to park fails; Hatch/rear liftgate won't unlock; Unable to access cargo/emergency equipment in back; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Relay repair or full BCM replacement; relay not user-replaceable (requires BCM removal and desoldering)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not mentioned
Synthesized from 63 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Door locks only lock and unlock occasionly. Batteries replaced in fobs still not operating properly. Read that slot of people have or had the same issue. Doors would typically lock when you drive. Use to not anymore. Had car in for recall on engine this year.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2014 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 powertrain problem on the 2014 Kia Sorento?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 63 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 34 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 49,120 and 106,400 miles, with the median around 79,250. A quarter of owners report trouble before 49,120; a quarter make it past 106,400. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2014/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.