Fuel System complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 5% | — |
| 2024 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2023 | 6 | 5% | — |
| 2022 | 14 | 7% | — |
| 2021 | 24 | 9% | 8,000 miles |
| 2020 | 10 | 7% | 18,000 miles |
| 2019 | 28 | 6% | 75,000 miles |
| 2018 | 13 | 5% | 170,000 miles |
| 2017 | 49 | 6% | 67,000 miles |
| 2016 | 56 | 4% | 67,000 miles |
| 2015 | 31 | 4% | 62,000 miles |
| 2014 | 50 | 5% | 77,000 miles |
| 2013 | 38 | 4% | 90,000 miles |
| 2012 | 39 | 4% | 112,000 miles |
| 2011 | 19 | 1% | 80,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 2% | 63,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% | 132,000 miles |
| 2006 | 12 | 5% | 105,000 miles |
| 2005 | 12 | 4% | 80,000 miles |
| 2004 | 14 | 6% | 112,000 miles |
| 2003 | 77 | 25% | 95,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
NHTSA Complaint - Kia Sorento Vehicle: 2025 Kia Sorento Component/System: Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System, Power Train Date of Incident: [redacted] Location: [redacted] , southbound Description of the Problem: While driving my 2025 Kia Sorento southbound on [redacted] , the accelerator did not respond properly both on a flat road and while going uphill. The engine failed to provide adequate power, creating a serious safety risk on the highway. The vehicle is currently at the dealer for inspection, which will take place on Monday. However, I am extremely frustrated that I have not been provided a loaner or rental vehicle, even though I need transportation immediately. Additionally, as a U.S. citizen, I feel I am being treated unfairly and receiving discriminatory service compared to others in similar situations. No warning lights or messages appeared before the incident. …
My vehicle has an ongoing acceleration problem that feels like the engine and transmission are not communicating correctly. There are times when the vehicle will not accelerate even though the RPMs increase. Instead of picking up speed, it feels like the engine is pulling the vehicle back. This creates hesitation and uncertainty about whether the car will respond when I press the accelerator. This happens most noticeably at lower speeds (around 30-40 mph, often near 30 mph), where the RPMs may rise on their own even if I am maintaining steady pressure on the gas pedal. It also occurs when I need to accelerate quickly - such as merging onto the freeway or joining the flow of traffic - and the vehicle feels like it resists gaining speed. Even when I press the pedal gradually and correctly, the vehicle struggles to accelerate and the engine revs without the car moving forward as it should. …
I was driving down the highway on cruise control going 67 on a 65. The car started revving up and then proceeded to go faster. I turned off the cruise control but its continued to speed up. I stomped on the brake 4 or 5 times with no effect. I rammed into the back of a bus at 110 mph.
Incident #1: [redacted] The vehicle would not accelerate after coming to a stop at an intersection. The vehicle would not exceed 20 MPH with oncoming traffic from both the East and West as I was turning West from a North Bound Road. On coming traffic was traveling between 45 and 50 MPH. I was clearly nearly broadsided. The car displayed flashing lights on the dash as I was attempting to accelerate. Depressing the accelerator did not increase my speed. The car kept at a 20 MPH speed for the 1/2 mile I traveled to pull off the road in a safe location, causing traffic to be disrupted until I could pull off the highway I had the car towed to the Kia of Round Rock dealership November 17th. The car remained at Kia until December 3rd where they were unable to duplicate the problem. I requested the problem be referred to Kia in California. …
While driving from Phoenix to Tucson in midday traffic, the vehicle displayed a "Check Transmission" error message. Immediately following this warning, the vehicle experienced a significant loss of motive power while navigating a busy intersection. The car would not shift gears appropriately to maintain speed or move out of the path of traffic, which created an immediate risk of a collision. I was able to avoid an accident, but the vehicle's inability to accelerate or change gears left me stranded in a hazardous location. Component Failed: Transmission/Transmission Control Module. Safety Risk: The sudden loss of power in an intersection put me and other drivers at risk of a high-speed side-impact or rear-end collision. Warning Symptoms: The "Check Transmission" message appeared moments before the failure. …
This is the info that was given to kia : VERIFIED CONCERN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON VEHICLE IDLING ROUGH, SCANNED FOR CODES AND FOUND CODE P0303 PRESENT, MONITORED WITH LIVE DATA AND CAN SEE HEAVY MISFIRES ON CYLINDER #3, REMOVED SPARK PLUG AND SWAPPED TO CYLINDER 1 AND REMOVED COIL AND SWAPPED WITH CYLINDER 4, REMONITORED AND MISFIRE REMAINED ON CYLINDER 3, NO FUEL ON SPARK PLUGS, PROCEEDED TO PERFORM COMPRESSION TEST, FOUND 60 PSI ON CYLINDER 3, PERFORMED WET COMPRESSION TEST AND READING WENT TO 120 PSI, PERFORMED COMPRESSION TEST ON CYLINDER 1,2,3, FOUND 90 PSI IN ALL OTHER CYLINDERS. was told i would need a new engine but have now been denied it. The car has stopped on me and shakes while I drive it. It has an active recall and have been told there is no solution for it. The dealer confirmed issues and recall that is active with no remediation. …
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the contact noticed that the exhaust started to leak. The contact also stated that the engine was overheating. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21V519000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,911.
The issue appears to involve the electric oil pump and related components. My 2021 Kia Sorento had a recall for the electric oil pump that was marked "completed" in January 2023; however, the dealership only performed a software update and did not replace any mechanical components because no fault code was present at that time. Beginning around October 2025, the vehicle started experiencing drivability issues including hesitation and bogging down when accelerating from a stop. A dealership representative later stated the electric oil pump and housing likely need replacement and that the transmission may also be affected. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This issue creates a safety risk because the vehicle frequently hesitates or bogs down when attempting to accelerate, especially when pulling into highway traffic. …
Related recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Certain sport utility vehicles May experience a fuel leak from fuel tubes near the fuel tank due to an interference fit with the vehicle floor panel.
Remedy: Dealers will replace a section of the fuel line. The recall began on October 10, 2005. Owners May contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA investigations
Fuel Spill During Refueling
Complaints allege that while refueling the vehicle, fuel can spill out or spit back from the fuel filler port on model year (MY) 2003 Kia Sorento vehicles (subject vehicles).Consumers report that the spilled fuel can splash on the person fueling the vehicle, or on the side of the vehicle and the ground.The subject vehicles are equipped with an evaporative emissions control system that, among other things, manages…
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sorento years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (77), 2016 (56), 2014 (50), 2017 (49) and 2012 (39) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 25% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Kia Sorento fuel system problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 21V-519 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Jul 8, 2021); 05V-353 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Aug 4, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Kia Sorento fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the delivery › fuel pump (5 mentions), followed by the storage › tank assembly (4).
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.