2012-2019 Kia Sorento engine problems: what's covered and what to do

Last reviewed 2026-10-09 · Data: NHTSA, official settlement and manufacturer documents · Independent site, not affiliated with Hyundai, Kia or NHTSA

Short answer

The 2012-2018 Sorento, plus certain 2019s, with the 2.4L or 2.0L turbo Theta II GDI engine are on the class list for Kia's engine settlement (lifetime short-block warranty, KSDS required). The V6 Sorento is not. Some early Sorentos have the 2.4L MPI engine instead, which falls under the separate second engine settlement.

Check your VIN to see recalls and which programs list your exact engine.

Which engines and years are involved

2.4L GDI and 2.0L turbo GDI (Theta II): listed for 2012-2018 and certain 2019 in Kia's settlement notice.
2.4L MPI (Theta II MPI), 2011-2013: listed for the second engine settlement (Engine II, final approval April 2024: 15 years / 150,000 miles with KSDS), not the first.
3.3L / 3.5L V6: not in either settlement. 2017 Sorento 3.3L has its own crankshaft recall (17V-586).

The VIN decode tells GDI and MPI apart in most cases; our checker uses that to pick the right program.

What the settlement and KSDS campaign say

KSDS (Knock Sensor Detection System) is free dealer software that listens through the knock sensor for the vibration pattern of a worn connecting-rod bearing. If it hears it, it turns on the check-engine light and limits engine power so the car can be driven to a dealer instead of the engine failing on the road. Kia's dealer letter names the trouble code P1326 for this condition.

Settlement: Kia's notice lists 2012-2018 and certain 2019 Sorento with genuine 2.0L or 2.4L Theta II GDI engines. (Section 6 of the same notice says "2012-2019"; the "certain 2019" limit is about build date relative to KSDS production.)
What: lifetime short-block warranty for consumer-owned vehicles with KSDS completed at a Kia dealer.
PI1802 covers all 2015-2018 Sorento with 2.4 GDI or 2.0T GDI.
Deadlines: past-repair reimbursement closed August 9, 2021.

Engine-related recalls

17V-224 · ENGINE AND 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.
18V-907 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: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 Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
20V-750 · ENGINE
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
17V-586 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The engine crankshaft may have been improperly heat treated and may fail.

Recall text quoted from NHTSA. Whether a recall is still open on a specific car can only be checked by VIN at NHTSA or the manufacturer.

What owners report to NHTSA

7,861 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011-2019 Sorento. 3,475 of them name an engine component.

Model year	All complaints	Engine complaints	Engine + fire	Typical mileage mentioned (engine)
2011	1,519	316 (21%)	42	98,122 (n=33)
2012	880	475 (54%)	55	100,000 (n=79)
2013	981	512 (52%)	33	80,000 (n=93)
2014	988	407 (41%)	30	89,600 (n=66)
2015	751	365 (49%)	9	85,500 (n=98)
2016	1,254	718 (57%)	33	78,000 (n=164)
2017	805	403 (50%)	20	60,200 (n=131)
2018	255	112 (44%)	7	88,000 (n=23)
2019	428	167 (39%)	11	79,096 (n=33)

Source: NHTSA complaints API, pulled 2026-10-09. "Engine complaints" are complaints where the owner picked an ENGINE component (one complaint can list several components). Mileage is the median of mileages owners typed into their complaint text, shown only when at least 10 complaints mention one. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and counts reflect how many owners filed, not how many cars failed.

2016 has the most engine complaints in this range, and 2011 has many complaints overall, mostly non-engine. For 2012-2017, roughly 40-57% of complaints name the engine.

Warning signs to take seriously

Engine knock, especially on acceleration.
Check-engine light and limp mode.
Oil or fuel smell from the engine bay, or smoke. Recall 20V-750 covers engine-compartment fires on 2012-2013 Sorentos and includes a KSDS update.

What to do, step by step

Check open recalls by VIN at NHTSA and owners.kia.com.
Confirm KSDS is done (PI1802 or the recall that includes it). If not, book it. It's free.
With symptoms, call a Kia dealer service department with the VIN and ask which engine coverage applies before paying for diagnosis.
Keep maintenance records.

Dealer insider note

The Sorento is a model where the engine decides everything. The guide above says the 2.4L and 2.0L turbo Theta II GDI engines (2012-2018, plus certain 2019) are on the settlement list, the V6 is not, and some early 2.4L MPI engines fall under the second settlement. Do not guess. Have the advisor confirm the engine from the VIN, and compare it with the registration or window sticker.

Before an engine fails, owners commonly describe a knock or tick that rises with engine speed, an oil pressure light, or having to add oil between changes. Do not self-diagnose from that list, but do not wait either. Call the service department and say you want the engine checked for the bearing issue.

At the desk: bring the VIN, ask for the campaign and recall check by VIN, ask whether KSDS has been done, and ask that any covered work show the campaign or settlement reference on the repair order.

On a used Sorento, find out which engine it has, then ask for the KSDS record, recall repair history, any engine replacement paperwork, and maintenance records. Ask a Kia dealer to run the VIN and print the result.

Until the campaign check is done, do not sign a customer-pay repair order or anything blank, and do not approve a paid engine repair or diagnostic fee without asking whether a campaign or settlement applies to your VIN.

A reasonable outcome is a free software update, a written engine inspection result, and a plain explanation of coverage. If the answer is a denial, ask for the reason in writing. If the dealer cannot explain a denial in writing, call the manufacturer's customer-care line with the VIN, repair order and maintenance records, and ask for a case number.

Questions

Is the V6 Sorento covered by the engine settlement?

No. Only the 2.4L and 2.0L turbo Theta II engines are listed. The 2017 3.3L V6 has a separate recall (17V-586) for crankshafts that may have been improperly heat treated.

My 2012 Sorento has a 2.4L. Which settlement applies?

It depends on whether it's the GDI or MPI version. The GDI is in the Theta II GDI settlement; the MPI version is listed for the second engine settlement. The VIN decode usually shows which.

Do I have to pay for KSDS?

No. It's a free dealer campaign.