2014 Kia Sorento Reliability
The 2014 Kia Sorento has 988 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and body structure. Compared with other Sorento model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Sorento's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
988
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
23
Complaints citing a crash
46
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Kia Sorento complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 388 | 39% |
| Body structure | 160 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 153 | 15% |
| Unknown or other | 147 | 15% |
| Exterior lighting | 86 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 84 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 72 | 7% |
| Air bags | 51 | 5% |
2014 Kia Sorento recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V356000 | Aug 13, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission — axle assembly / axle shaft | Kia Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2014 front wheel drive Sorento vehicles manufactured January 7, 2013, through March 12, 2013; and equipped with 2.4 liter engines. Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture. |
| 17V224000 | Mar 31, 2017 | Engine & cooling — engine | Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine. |
| 18V907000 | Dec 19, 2018 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product… |
| 20V519000 | Aug 27, 2020 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 21V331000 | May 10, 2021 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2014 compares with nearby Sorento years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sorento analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 880 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 | 983 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 (this page) | 988 | 6 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2015 | 755 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2016 | 1,262 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2014 Kia Sorento
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Kia Sorento can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Kia Sorento reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Kia Sorento reliable?
The 2014 Kia Sorento has 988 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and body structure. Compared with other Sorento model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Sorento's typical year.
What are the most common 2014 Kia Sorento problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Kia Sorento are engine (388), body structure (160), electrical system (153), unknown or other (147). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Kia Sorento have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2014 Kia Sorento, including 13V356000 (powertrain / transmission — axle assembly / axle shaft) and 17V224000 (engine & cooling — engine). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Kia Sorento compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 983 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2015 has 755 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2014 has 988 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Kia Sorento?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Sorento research
Other Kia Sorento model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 Sorento, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.