2014 Kia Sorento Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the Push to Start button failed to function as intended, and the vehicle failed to start. The contact called the Lien holder and was informed that the key was not connecting. The Lien holder replaced the key. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the key fob failed to function as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer swapped the key fobs with another set of key fobs to diagnose the failure. However, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that two unknown fuse boxes needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the LED lights under the door and dashboard failed to function as intended. In addition, an abnormal sound was coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and remained with the dealer for months. The contact was informed that the fuse box had been replaced. The vehicle failed to restart when the contact picked up the vehicle from the dealer. The vehicle was towed to the residence and had not been driven since. The tow truck driver tried to jumpstart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start. There was no power in the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000. The VIN was not available.
Unknown
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle seized. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.
The Kia one morning were I were at stop just turned off power completely disconnected/dead . I turn the key before I moved the stick to park and turn off the car than waited 3seconds and started the car. It turned on were I pulled to the side to park five foot to the left side and turn off the car to check what happ. It would’nt click or turn on dead car than help arrived and the battery I charged immediately underneath the lot started burning and smoke fire let dead that out.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the malfunction indicator light (MIL) was illuminated. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the wheels locked up. There was an abnormal plastic burning odor. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 226,983.
This recall poses a risk either driving or when vehicle is parked. I have contacted Kia several times to ask about the remedy part. As recent as today (12/14/23), they have no estimated time when the part will be available. I have not driven my vehicle since receiving the interim notice from Kia. I feel the manufacturer does not care about its the safety of its customers. I do not feel that I should put my family or me in a potentially unsafe vehicle and hope that nothing happens. We should not have to wait for who knows how long for a remedy. Something needs to be done to speed up this process and keep customers safe.
Concerned about interim notice. Would like to get issue fixed immediately to keep passengers and others safe. HECU replaced
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. Additionally, while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle would hesitate while accelerating with the lights on the instrument panel flickering. The contact also stated that the side mirrors would erroneously move before the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, the steering wheel would forcefully turn in the opposite direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was serviced, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 180,000.
I HAVE A 14 KI SORENTO LX THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAULTY AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN ONE CABIN NEAR THE GEAR SHIFT THE COMPUTER HAS SHUT DOWN NO LONGER RECOGNIZING THE CHIP AND THE VEHICLE IS FULLY DISABLED.*DT
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS QUIT RESPONDING TO THE REMOTE UNLOCK BUTTON AND ALSO THE INTERIOR SWITCHES. THE ONLY DOOR THAT WORKS WITH THE REMOTE OR ON THE INTERIOR SWITCHES IS THE DRIVER'S DOOR, ALL OTHERS MUST BE OPENED BY CLIMBING INTO THE CAR AND MANUALLY UNLOCKING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT IS AN ISSUE WITH A BAD RELAY AND THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, COSTING $1500+ TO REPAIR. IN RESEARCHING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH KIA SORENTO'S MADE IN THE 2014 TIME PERIOD. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY KIA AT NO EXPENSE TO OWNERS.
CAMERA, RADIO, LIGHTS ON ONE SIDE AND POWER LOCKS ALL STOPPED WORKING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT OUT. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEE HOW FAST I WAS GOING. TURNS OUT, WHEN I TURN MY HEATED SEATS ON IT BLOWS THE FUSE FOR MY DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING, BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING.
2014 KIA SORENTO WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS USING THE KEY FOB OR THE DOOR PANEL. SO THIS MEANS I HAVE TO WALK AROUND EACH DOOR AND LOCK THEM BY HAND. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH HIGH CRIME AREAS. ONCE ALL THE DOORS ARE LOCKED I CAN PUSH THE LOCK BUTTON ON MY KEY FOB TO SET THE ALARM. I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB STILL THE SAME THING. WITH THIS GOING ON IT DOES CAUSE A SAFETY OF MY LOVED ONES.
SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT START. YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK AND PLACE INTO NEUTRAL, THEN PLACE BACK INTO PARK AGAIN IN ORDER FOR CAR TO START. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO FAIRFAX KIA MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. I AM ALSO ABLE TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING ON BRAKE.
SOMETHING IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. IF THE CAR ISN'T DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS, IT WILL NOT START. *TR
DOORS JUST STARTED NOT UNLOCKING OR LOCKING WITH FOB OR BY DOOR PANEL AND THE BACK UP ALARM BEEPS NON STOP AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE, ALL SENSORS ARE CLEAN.
POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. DOORS DO NOT LOCK AND THIS OCCURS VARIABLY. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS DOORS DO NOT LOCK AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. KIA DEALERSHIP STATES THERE ARE NO RECALLS ALTHOUGH MULTIPLE CONSUMERS REPORT SIMILAR ISSUES.
MY VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC LOCKING DOORS AND WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHIFTING THE SUV FROM PARK INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE AND THEN WILL UNLOCK ONCE PLACED BACK IN PARK. HOWEVER RECENTLY THIS FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER AND THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS WILL NO LONGER LOCK WHEN SHIFTING THE CAR FROM PARK INTO ANOTHER GEAR CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. FURTHERMORE, DUE TO THIS ELECTRICAL/SAFETY ISSUE THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR NO LONGER WORKS AND AS WELL DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. NOR CAN I LOCK THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB. IN GOOGLING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND OUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER KIA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THE ONLY REMEDY FROM KIA IS TO REPLACE A $1500 COMPUTER AS IN MANUFACTURING THEY SOLDERED A $3 RELAY SWITCH ONTO THE COMPUTER BOARD AND THEY WILL NOT /CANNOT REPLACE THE FAULTY RELAY THAT SEEMS TO BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. HENCE THIS IS THE REASON WHY I AM REACHING OUT TO THE NHTSA AS I FEEL THAT THIS IS A ELECTRICAL /SAFETY ISSUE AND THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK MY VEHICLE SECURELY IS TO WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE AND LOCK EACH DOOR INDIVIDUALLY. PLEASE HELP ME AND THE OTHER THOUSAND OF KIA OWNERS WHOM ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THE RADIO AND TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WERE WORKING BECAUSE I HAD JUST DROPPED MY KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL, WENT TO TURN THE ENGINE ON THE RADIO STOP WORKING THE WINDOWS IT WON'T GO DOWN STOP WORKING AND THE DOOR OPENER BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOORS STOP WORKING. THE TIRE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND THERE IS SOME WIERD NOISE LIKE VIBRATION COMING FROM THE ENGINE ONLY WHEN YOU START THE ENGINE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER COMES ON FULL BLAST.
BACKUP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING AND TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN WITH WHEN YOU HIT THE HANDLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FEATURES FAILED TO WORK WHEN ACTIVATED, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND THE FUEL TANK BUTTON. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE DRIVER'S DOOR UNLOCKS WITH THE KEY FOB OR KEY AND THAT'S THE ONLY ONE. ALL OTHER DOORS MUST BE UNLOCKED BY HAND, MEANING EVEN THE UNLOCK SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS DOORS DON'T WORK. YOU CAN HEAR SOMETHING ACTUATING, BUT THE DOORS WON'T UNLOCK. THE BACK DOOR YOU NEED TO CRAWL FROM INSIDE REMOVE A PANEL TO UNLOCK THE BACK DOOR.
IN NOVEMBER OF 2018 MY KEY FOB STOPPED WORKING EFFECTIVELY. THE FOB WILL ONLY OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I CONTACTED CRAIN KIA IN FORT SMITH AND SPOKE TO TIM IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO STATED THE PROBLEM COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS CHANGING THE BATTERY IN THE FOB. AFTER CHANGING THE BATTERY IN THE FOB, THE FOB STILL WOULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR OR THE DOORS IN THE BACK SEAT. I NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN THE DRIVING AND THE LOCKS WOULD CLICK ON AND OFF AS IF I WERE USING THE FOB. EVEN WHEN STATIONARY THE LOCK WOULD DO THIS. ON FEBRUARY 27,2019 MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 7:30 AM AND WAS TOLD THIS WOULD TAKE 2 HOURS. AT 3:00 PM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT CALLED. MY HUSBAND CALLED AND WAS TOLD BY TIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THIS ISSUE YET WAS CHARGED $131.70 !!!I FEEL THAT THIS HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE INJUSTICE. SURELY THE MECHANICS KNEW THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED DEFECT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING
THIS VEHICLE HAS A PARASITIC DRAIN ISSUE THAT KIA IS AWARE OF ON THIS MODEL. THE ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED FOR ALL LX, EX, LIMITED, AND SX OF THIS VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE SXL. I HAVE THE SXL VERSION AND WAS TOLD BY KIA IT DID NOT MEET THE VIN REQUIREMENTS EVEN THOUGH IT MEETS THE BORN ON DATE AND HAS THE SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHERS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE TESTED BY A KIA MASTER TECH AND IT DOES HAVE A PARASITIC DRAIN (BATTERY DEAD AFTER VEHICLE SITS FOR 48 HOURS) FROM THE SAME DRIVERS DOOR SWITCH ADDRESSED IN TSB ELE-069. I BELIEVE THAT KIA HAS OVERLOOKED THE SXL MODELS IN THEIR RECALLS AS MY VEHICLE IS A 2014 AND HAS ONLY HAD THE SA-163A UPDATE PERFORMED (ALSO THE ONLY ONE LISTED FOR MY VIN) AND MY VEHICLE HAS MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHERS HAVE. KIA ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AT HAND ON ALL THE OTHERS, LX, LIMITED, EX, AND SX, WITH NHTSA ID 10109757 AND KIA TSB ELE-069, ELE-057, AND SA-163. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SXL VEHICLES LOOKED INTO AS I BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE REQUIRED TSB'S ADDRESSED PROPERLY.
PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK. THEY DO NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB, THEY ALSO DO NOT UNLOCK USING THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. EVEN PULLING THE HANDLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE DOES NOT WORK, THEY HAVE TO EACH BE INDIVIDUALLY MANUALLY UNLOCKED, WHICH MEAN I HAVE TO CRAWLE IN THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR ACROSS TO UNLOCK FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND THEN INTO THE BACK TO UNLOCK THOSE DOORS TO LET MY 3 KIDS IN. IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT IT WOULD TAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TIME TO SAFELY FREE THEM. THIS IS ALL THE TIME WHEN CAR IS IN PARK, WHEN IT'S OFF AND WHEN IT'S RUNNING. THIS PROBLEM WAS PROGRESSIVE, AT FIRST JUST OCCASIONALLY WOULD NOT WORK, OVER TIME IT HAS HAPPENED MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY AND NOW ITS ALWAYS LIKE THIS, FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS LOCKS HAVE NOT WORKED AT ALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO KIA AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CHARGING ME $150-$300 JUST TO SEE IF THEY LOCKS REALLY AREN'T WORKING, I WILL NOT PAY TO PROVE THIS TO THEM, AND THEY REFUSE TO EVEN WATCH ME DO IT UNLESS I PAY THEM. BURGLAR ALARM ALSO STOPPED WORKING WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED.
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Quick Summary
The 2014 Kia Sorento has 47 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.