AI Damage2013 KIA Sorento: common problems
Owners of the 2013 KIA Sorento filed 983 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 983
- involving a crash
- 23
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 51% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 3% of all complaints
- Engine: 498 complaints (51% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 116 complaints (12% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 91 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 88 complaints (9% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 70 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 16 complaints
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 983 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 498 | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 116 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 91 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 88 | 5 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 70 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 69 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 60 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 22 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 11 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The road was smooth and we had no error/service dash lights illuminated. Suddenly we heard a loud bang and we lost total control of the vehicle. We (hit) slid onlong the concrete highway which prevented the car from flipping and entering oncoming traffic.
The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph a knocking noise was present coming from the engine and the vehicle began to violently shake and vibrate causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a ditch.
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.
Involved in a car accident while traveling on highway.someone hit me very hard lost control of their vehicle. Airbags did not deploy at all.
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 kia sorento. While driving approximately 20 mph and attempting to turn right, the steering wheel seized. As a result, the vehicle drove off the road and crashed into a tree. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The air bag deployed. A police report was filed.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head, neck, and lower back. The front passenger sustained injuries to the head, neck, and arm that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an automotive shop.
Kia replaced my engine twice, due to oil consumption. A month after the first engine replacement, I had the same problems.. Smoke coming out of exhaust, loss of power, stalling and oil consumption. I was in and out of kia's service department. They told me nothing was wrong!
I was in a one car accident and my seatbelt didn't retract and my airbag didn't deploy. I broke my sternum and have back problems. The problems I've had with my sorento are replacing headlights, I had to get a new battery and brakes after one year. My airbag light doesn't go off right away.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 242 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 1% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sorento has 410 complaints (25 years in the data). This year has 983, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
- Sorento 2003305 sources
- Sorento 2004220 sources
- Sorento 2005307 sources
- Sorento 2006242 sources
- Sorento 2007154 sources
- Sorento 2008217 sources
- Sorento 200955 sources
- Sorento 20103 sources
- Sorento 20111,520 sources
- Sorento 2012880 sources
- Sorento 2014988 sources
- Sorento 2015755 sources
- Sorento 20161,493 sources
- Sorento 20171,003 sources
- Sorento 2018403 sources
- Sorento 2019522 sources
- Sorento 2020228 sources
- Sorento 2021361 sources
- Sorento 2022279 sources
- Sorento 2023177 sources
- Sorento 202493 sources
- Sorento 2025111 sources
- Sorento 202616 sources
- Sorento 99998 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 KIA Sorento?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, structure. Total complaints: 983. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), stalls while driving (14%), knocking, grinding or other noise (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 KIA Sorento?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 KIA Sorento from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.