Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle accelerated to 40 MPH, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. There was smoke coming from underneath the hood, and then flames came from underneath the hood. The parking brake was applied, and the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. The contact safely exited the vehicle before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was received. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. Police and fire department reports were filed; however, the fire department was unable to determine the cause of the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. …
I was driving and my car started acting like it was stalling out. I pulled over and put it in park and turned off the engine. I tried to restart, didnt restart. Let it sit a minute, and tried to restart again, it did. I drove straight back home about 2 miles away and didn't drive it further. There were no indicator lights on, so we had no idea what had just happened. My husband checked the oil, everything was ok. Drove it a few days later, was driving around just fine for about 30 minutes, then the same thing happened, I heard a clanking/stalling noise coming from the engine, and it was stalling out. Thankfully, I was able to pull over to a residential street and had to get it towed to my mechanic. Again, NO senor lights were on. My mechanic looked at it, and was baffled, because he said basically my engine is shot. …
Left out for work one morning as normal. Everything was ok no lights no warnings no problems. I was driving approximately 25-30 mph when my speed began to decelerate, a knocking noise, the check engine and oil light came on and my vehicle just stopped. After about 10-15 mins I could restart the car and drive to a safe parking lot off the street. When I started the car back up the knocking sound was even worse. In the parking lot, all the fluids were checked and there was not one drop of oil in the engine. I took the vehicle to the shop and was told the engine was done. It would need to be replaced. The mechanic explained that there had been a problem with the engines burning up oil in the 2011-2014 Kia's. Thankfully, I was on a local road during morning travel, not the highway. …
Was driving to the store for groceries with my 2 young children, when my car just stopped accelerating and the engine seized up on a local road. Had noticed a ticking and knocking sound when accelerating a few prior and a weird sound coming from the suspension but it was dismissed by the dealer. Had the vehicle towed to my home and had to tow to dealership as it would no longer turn over at all. Received a recall notice but apparently it doesn't apply to my vehicle because I had oil, coolant and no leaks anywhere. Only had 127,000 mold and this is the 4th issue I've had with this vehicle. 1st was rats chewing all my wires, 2nd was the rear differential, 3rd fuel pump, and now this.
The white pearl paint is rapidly chipping off from the roof above the drivers seat. This is a very common and know issue on all Kia Sorento's beginning in 2011 into the latest models with White Pearl paint. There are multiple forum postings and Facebook groups discussing this issue. Separately, all steering wheel control buttons have stopped working (volume, radio tuner, cruise control, etc.). Before the controls completely went out the cruise control was extremely dangerous to use and would speed up on continuously on its own without driver input. Pressing the deceleration button would also make it accelerate if cruise control was set.
Car was traveling from Atlanta and the speed odometer on the car showed it was dropping then knock noise pull over then I made to exit and check oil Guage the sensor lights never showed when I had picked up the person house I took to said it was crank sensor and started it heard knocking sound and I call NHTSA reported incident and was giving a claim number haven't heard anything since I no its recall on engine cause I had received paperwork that it was and also saw report on news
Headlights continually need replacing. We must replace headlights every few months. We have tried several brands of lights and regardless they go out. We have had all the lights go out at once while driving at night. Cruise control no longer works. I had the clock spring replaced but this did not fix the cruise. Seat warmer Driver side seat warmer no longer engages. When the button is pressed, the indicator light flashes as if it will come on but never does.
Doing speed limit of 70 lost power for no reason had 3 mo left 500 minutes from home on vacation towed home thank God was able to get off the free way .Tried getting Kia to fix said since it was 3 .3 engine not 4 cylinder the couldn't fix it.same problem metal in oil and on dip stick see now 2017 3.3 same problem someone going to get hurt or worse now I need a lawyer.left no car and disabled
Car was in drive in a parking lot, when accelerator pedal was pushed it stuck and would not release, car sped at a high rate of speed even with brake and emergency brake on. I tried taking car out of gear and it went into reverse at a high rate of speed. Finally I was able to turn car off but I am scared to drive it.
My vehicle keeps having issues with oil. I get regular oil changes an I have to put oil in it either every 2weeks even after an oil change. I have had an oil compsumption test an have been told that there is nothing wrong with my car. There are no oil leaks at all. I was on the highway in cruise control when it all of sudden came out of cruise control then I noticed my RPM gauge wasn't working also. I then came to a light an when I started to go I noticed my car being sluggish to reach 60mph. I at one time had my pedal to the floor. It also acted like it wanted to stall on me. I made it home an into my driveway where I turned it off an back on which at that point my rmp gauge started working an the car acted normal. I have asked Kia about this problem numerous of times an I get no where. They say well we see that the consumption test came back in the standard range. …
NHTSA investigations
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.
Acceleration complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2014 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2014 Kia Sorento, 3% of the model year's 988 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Kia Sorento acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2014 Kia Sorento, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Kia Sorento acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.