2013 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

494Engine complaints

50.6%Of all 977 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE494 · 50.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM112 · 11.5%

Unspecified / other89 · 9.1%

STRUCTURE:BODY83 · 8.5%

POWER TRAIN69 · 7.1%

Share of the 977 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Kia Sorento overview page.

What owners report

“ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL. ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD CAME ON WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF…”NHTSA complaint 10648337 — filed 10/17/2014

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WENT INTO IDLE MODE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL…”NHTSA complaint 10637357 — filed 09/18/2014

“CAR STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS, REFUSES TO GO OVER 60 MPG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. LOSE POWER AT SPEED (ON FREEWAY) AND TACHOMETER…”NHTSA complaint 10625732 — filed 08/16/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Kia Sorento have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Kia Sorento: 494 of 977 complaints on file (50.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Kia Sorento have in total?

977 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 23 involved a crash, 44 involved a fire, 33 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.