2013 Kia Sorento Interior & seats Problems

My driver seat welds broke and is currently held to the base by zipties

NHTSA ID

11720271

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The paint all over the car had begun to delaminate and its only a 2013. The entire front of the hood, the side bar of the windshield on both the passenger and driver sides, and the roof along the windshield are flaking off manufacturers paint in large sheets. The back side has begun to develop small chips that will eventually match the front. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Because the loss of the protective paint on my car can and has been leading to rust issues on the metal underneath the paint. This is known to weaken the vehicle's body structure. This is especially problematic in potential areas of the car that are prone to collision, thereby compromising the vehicles safety over time, if allowed to continue to delaminate. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? All across the internet people are posting their pictures of their white Kia Sorento having the exact issue mine has. Also in the small town I live in there are at least 10 people who drive a white Kia Sorento like mine and each one is losing their paint to peeling and delamination. Just driving across California you can see that this is a manufacturing issue that has effected most all their customers who bought a white Kia from 2013 - 2018. After reading this question I am making an appointment to go into an Official Kia dealership to address this issue and get their feedback and hopefully a resolution on their end. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I have not had anyone inspect it to date, but intend on getting an appointment with Kia at their next available opening. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no precursors. Car was perfect when I purchased.

NHTSA ID

11645681

Incident

Mar 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after having routine maintenance on the vehicle, the contact entered the vehicle, and became aware that the driver’s side seat failed to move and had fractured. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact about re-adjusting the seat and the associated fees for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11590071

Incident

May 21, 2024

Mileage

180,000 mi

The heated seats were turned on high. It was cold outside. Two hours later the occupant got out of the car and discovered blisters on leg from seat heat. Several large blisters from burns. The seat should not be hot enough to burn someone and cause blisters

NHTSA ID

11560525

Incident

Dec 16, 2023

In the past two weeks the Warning lamp for front passenger seat remains lit up indicating airbag problem in that area second row seats clip areas to lift seats and allow entry to third row were very hard to operate and now malfunctioned and don't work at all to lift seats. This has been checked out by Kia dealer last year to no resolve(they were able to lift seats up with great effort), but I am not able to get the seats lifted rendering access to 3rd row impossible for use.

NHTSA ID

11547632

Incident

Sep 15, 2023

Currently The KIA described above has a right rear seat that is not safely usable. The seat back does not smoothly unlatch from the upright position. When jiggling succeeds in unlatching the seat back allowing the seat back to go to the fold down position the latch jambs in that position. This jamming prevents rear seat passengers from safely riding in this seat or making use of the seat back to secure a child care seat. A Technical Service Bulletin issued by KIA describes the safety issue. I quote the bulletin. "The bulletin provides information related to some 2011-2013MY Sorento (XMa) vehicles, produced from October 26, 2009 to November 5, 2012, which may exhibit a concern related to the second row seats being inoperative or difficult to release. It is important to note that some amount effort is required to fold the 2nd row seats. To correct this condition, follow the service procedures outlined in this TSB 093( Rev 1, 08/22/2013). I refer to the table below for detailed information on each concern and the associated service procedure". To date I have approached my area Kia dealership and contacted Kia's Customer service 800 number but my concerns have fallen on deaf ears. It appears to me that lives and health could best be protected by considering this unsafe and common condition for a recall.

NHTSA ID

11492678

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

THE ENGINE HAS AN OIL LEAK AND NOW A CRACKED 4TH CYLINDER CAUSING A $638 BILL AT THE MECHANIC TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING AT BARE MINIMUM. THE ENGINE WAS A RECALL REPLACEMENT AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE 12/2/2020 RECALL. THIS IS CAUSING HARDSHIP FOR MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ID

11395684

Incident

Feb 4, 2021

Mileage

133,000 mi

B1764 OCS MAT DEFECT. IT'S BEEN REPORTED TO US BY CENTURY KIA (TAMPA, FL) THAT THEY CANNOT FIX MY AIR BAG SENSOR FORCING US TO PAY A TOTAL $2,400.00. WE DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR A PART THAT REQUIRES ZERO MAINTENANCE. I'D LIKE FOR KIA TO RESOLVE THIS OR FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

NHTSA ID

11352808

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

2 FRONT HEATED SEATS OVERHEATING. STARTED OVER 1 YEAR AGO. TAKEN IN TO KIA FOR CHECK, NO PROBLEM FOUND. OVERHEATING CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING OVER THE PAST YEAR. TAKEN FOR KIA SERVICE THIS WEEK. CORROSION IN WIRING OF PASSENGER SEAT. SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE TO DRIVERS SEAT. NO FIRE, BUT WAS A CONSTANT CONCERN.

NHTSA ID

11343833

Incident

Aug 3, 2020

Mileage

77,000 mi

MY CHILD WHO IS CURRENTLY 13, HAS MANAGED TO PULL THE REAR PASSENGER HANDLE OFF THE VEHICLE TWICE IN THE 6 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED IT REQUIRING REPLACEMENT BOTH TIMES AS THE PIECE HOLDING THE HANDLE IN IS PLASTIC AND HAS SHATTERED. THE FIRST TIME HE WAS ONLY 7. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A DOOR HANDLE TO BE ABLE TO BE DESTROYED BY A CHILD MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE HANDLE WHICH ALLOWS THE SECOND ROW SEAT TO FOLD FORWARD FOR PASSENGERS TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE THIRD ROW DOES NOT WORK. WE HAVE ASKED FOR THIS TO BE FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT TO WORK PROPERLY EITHER. OBVIOUSLY BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11297515

Incident

Jan 5, 2020

Mileage

138,000 mi

THE LEVERS ON BOTH MY MIDDLE SEATS DO WORK, SO I CAN'T LAY MY SEATS DOWN OR GET IN THE THIRD ROW.

NHTSA ID

11253924

Incident

Aug 30, 2019

Mileage

144,000 mi

RECEIVED EXTENDED WARRANTY INFORMATION REGARDING MY AIRBAG LIGHT BROUGHT THIS IN TO HAVE THE CLOCK ASSEMBLY SPRING REVIEWED AND IT WAS REPLACED BUT THEN WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY $2000 TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SEAT CHANGE TO HAVE THE SENSOR GO OFF.

NHTSA ID

11252975

Incident

Sep 3, 2019

REAR SEAT STUCK. REAR PASSENGER SEAT LEVER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE HARD TO ACTIVATE TO RAISE OR LOWER THE SEAT. IT TOOK A COMBINATION OF PULLING THE LEVER AND GIGGLING THE SEAT TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. THAT LITTLE TRICK RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING AND MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS NOW PERMANENTLY STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ON A WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS WHICH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH KIA SORRENTOS. THEY'LL WARRANTY THE POWER TRAIN FOR 100,000 MILES BUT THIS SEAT ONLY MADE IT FOR ABOUT 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11232280

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2013 KIA SORENTO IN 2014 WITH 15,000 MILES. THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER SEAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE WITH GETTING STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE SEAT IS NOW COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND PERMANENTLY STUCK/LOCKED DOWN AFTER I MOVED IT IN THE DOWN POSITION.

NHTSA ID

11209381

Incident

Feb 15, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

SEAT BEAT LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11154230

Incident

Nov 27, 2018

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE 2ND ROW RIGHT SIDE SEAT IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH TO MOVE UP AND DOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD GET BETTER AS WE USED IT. THAT SURE DIDNT HAPPEN! AS A FAMILY THAT USES THE 3RD ROW QUITE OFTEN I AM VERY UPSET TO SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE! THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN EASY FIX AS SOME HAVE HAD THE WHOLE CHAIR REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11133419

Incident

Sep 29, 2018

KIA SORENTO 2013 2ND ROW SEAT (PASSENGER SIDE) STUCK DOWN, THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD IT FIXED. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE, LEVER SOMETIMES WOULD FEEL STUCK. I WOULD HAVE TO SOMETIMES PRESS ON THE SEAT TO MAKE THE LEVER WORK, OR SHAKE THE SEAT WHILE PULLING ON THE LEVER. FIRST TIME IT BROKE WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE SEAT DOWN IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND FELT LIKE THE LEVER WAS NOT ENGAGED HAPPENED AT HOME DECEMBER 2015. I HAD IT FIXED ON FEB 11 2016 AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT BROKE AGAIN A MONTH AGO AUGUST 2018 WHILE I WAS PARKED AND TRYING TO PUT THE SEAT BACK UP, IT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. THE LEVER WOULD MOVE BUT IT DID NOT ALLOW THE SEAT TO GO BACK UP. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN ESTIMATE ON SEPT 6 2018. THE ESTIMATE SAYS "NEEDS LEVER, CABLES AND HINGES") $500 PARTS AND $300 LABOR. I SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL KIA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND WONDERING IF KIA IS RECALLING IT.

NHTSA ID

11128266

Incident

Sep 6, 2018

Mileage

97,000 mi

MY 2013 KIA SORENTO WITH A THETA 2.4 LITER ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT 63,000 MILES; ON TUESDAY 3/21/17. WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED/HEARD LOUD ENGINE NOISES I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-10 NORTH IN TUCSON AZ RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I HAD TO COAST OVER IMMEDIATELY TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, VERY DANGEROUS LUCKY NO ACCIDENT. I UNCOVERED IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT KIA THETA 2.4 LITER ENGINE PROBLEMS. SPOKE TO KIA CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN; MORGAN THAT TOOK APART MY ENGINE FOR WARRANTY EVALUATION. HE SAID THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS ENGINE PROBLEM; IT'S FAILURE OF THE #3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD, FEELS IT'S AN ENGINEERING MISTAKE, THE PORT SIZES FOR THE OIL FLOW ARE NOT SIZED PROPERLY, CAUSING INSUFFICIENT OIL FLOW OVERTIME AND COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. MY ENGINE LOOKED BRAND NEW, THERE WAS NO SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND THE OIL PUMP LOOKED BRAND NEW AS WELL. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES FOR PROOF. THERE WERE VERY SMALL BRONZE COLORED METAL FLAKES IN THE OIL PAN; HE SAID IT WAS LIKE PANNING FOR GOLD IN THE OIL PAN. THE METAL FLAKE EROSION DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT THIS WAS SLOWLY HAPPENING WITH EVERY MILE BEING DRIVEN; THE METAL FROM THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS ERODED OVERTIME IN SMALL METAL FLAKES AND COLLECTED IN THE OIL PAN. I HAD PEORIA KIA IN PEORIA, AZ DO MY LAST WARRANTY INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE SERVICE/OIL CHANGE ON MY 2013 KIA SORENTO IN DECEMBER 2016. I ESPECIALLY ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO CHECK OUT EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE ENGINE BEFORE THE 60,000 MILE SECOND OWNER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRED. KIA KNEW ABOUT THE NUMEROUS PAST WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS 2.4 LITER ENGINE, A QUICK OIL ANALYSIS WOULD HAVE SHOWN METAL DEBRIS PARTICULATES IN THE OIL, INDICATING A SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEM DEVELOPING. THE METAL SHAVINGS COLLECTING IN THE OIL PAN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED BEFOREHAND.

NHTSA ID

11115161

Incident

Mar 21, 2017

Mileage

63,000 mi

THE MIDDLE RIGHT SIDE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE - IT IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION; THE DEALERSHIP SAID A CABLE BROKE AND THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AND IT IS $600 FOR A NEW SEAT. MY DAUGHTER SIMPLY TRIED TO RAISE THE SEAT; NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I SEARCHED SALVAGE YARDS TO FIND A REPLACEMENT AND FOUND OUT EVERYTIME A SORENTO ARRIVES AT THE YARD, THAT PARTICULAR SEAT IS SNATCHED UP. I'VE ALSO GONE ONLINE AND FOUND IT TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM - THE MECHANISM IS FAULTY AND THERE SHOULD BE A NO-CHARGE FIX FOR IT.

NHTSA ID

11096692

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

RIGHT REAR SEAT IS LOCKED IN THE FOLDED DOWN POSITION. IT WILL NOT RELEASE

NHTSA ID

11093545

Incident

May 10, 2018

Mileage

59,284 mi

SECOND ROW RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT HANDLE TO PUT SEAT DOWN GETS STUCK AND IS VERY HARD TO PUT BACK UP OR LAY IT DOWN TO ACCESS THE THIRD ROW.

NHTSA ID

10983850

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

81,000 mi

THE SECOND ROW SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO FOLD DOWN, USE A LATCH TO LET THE 3RD ROW PASSENGERS IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE , IS NOT WORKING LEVEL IS LOOSE FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING AND THE SEAT IS STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. PASSENGERS IN THE 3RD ROW HAVE TO HOOP OUT THE BACK HATCH DOOR.

NHTSA ID

10981281

Incident

Jun 9, 2016

Mileage

58,000 mi

I HAVE HAD THE SECOND PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT LATCH REPAIRED 3X ALREADY. IT IS GOING IN FOR 4TH TIME NEXT WEEK.

NHTSA ID

10966570

Incident

Mar 17, 2017

Mileage

23,000 mi

REAR SEAT LATCH BROKE IN RECLINED POSITION ,HAS BEEN HARD TO OPERATE SINCE PURCHASED.IN DRIVEWAY WHEN INCIDENT OCCURED

NHTSA ID

10946804

Incident

Oct 13, 2016

Mileage

69,000 mi

REAR SEAT LATCH MALFUNCTION. THE SEAT IS STUCK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THE LATCH DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. VERY INCONVENIENT WHEN THE WHOLE FAMILY IS IN THE CAR. KIDS FORCED TO ENTER AND EXIT THROUGH TRUNK. ANNOYING!! APPOINTMENT AT DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE CLEARLY ITS A DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ID

10924540

Incident

Aug 17, 2016