Engine Problems in Kia Optima and Sorento Vehicles

By: Sepehr Daghighian, Esq.

Kia Motors Corporation is a 75-year-old Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul. The Kia Sorento is a popular midsize SUV sold by Kia.  In spite of its popularity, the Sorento has recently fallen prey to several complaints of severe engine issues. Meanwhile, the Kia Optima is a sedan that features new technology and impressive amenities. However, in spite of possessing a reliable reputation in the market, the Optima has faced numerous complaints regarding engine failure issues. 

If you have faced any engine issues with your Kia Optima or Sorento, CCA is here to help! We invite you to call our experts today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM.

What Are Some Common Engine Issues in Kia Optima and Sorento? 

The majority of the owners’ complaints for Kia Optima and Sorento vehicles are engine defects that buzzing sounds, engine failure, knocking sounds and more.

In both Optima and Sorento, Engine defects are persistent problems that don’t have easy solutions. Causes of Engine failure are vast; typically, they are categorized into four groups: Overheating, Miss-assembly, Lubrication, and Detonation issues. Unfortunately, many Optima and Sorento owners find that Kia’s dealerships are unable to timely fix their vehicles and their engines prematurely fail. 

Kia owners commonly complain of vehicle stalls and strange noises, before their engines completely fall apart.  For instance, one owner of a 2017 Kia Sorento described the issue as follows: “I leased a 2017 KIA Sorento EX V6 AWD on Feb. 23, 2017. Within two weeks, and less than 500 miles, there was a buzzing sound on start up that lasted for 5 minutes or so. The dealer I took it to took two days to diagnose the problem. The oil pump failed and the engine was full of metal pieces. The fix, replace the engine. This is the fourth KIA I have owned and it may be the last. I have contacted KIA customer support and they were not much help.”

Besides the issues discusses above, the Kia Optima has faced some serious engine reliability issues. Several of the complaints against the Optima mention excessive oil consumption, strange smoke from the tailpipe, and sudden stops. A user of the Optima 2016 model stated, “I was driving my car 2016 Kia Optima from Alpharetta to Decatur to attend church. I pulled into the parking lot of the church and parked. A few seconds after I parked, I began seeing lots of smoke coming from the right passenger side of the car. The police men who were in the parking lot directing traffic asked me to get out of the car quickly and began attempting to quench the fire with a fire extinguisher.” Another complaint against the same 2016 model was placed by another user, “My daughters 2016 Kia Optima is shutting off while driving. Sometimes it restarts after shutting down. Sometimes she has to hurry and put in neutral and restart as cars behind me don’t know the car has shut off. She feels very unsafe and is afraid someone is going to run into her. Took it to Kia dealer and they ran codes but nothing came up”. These issues can be extremely dangerous if not looked into at the right time.  

What Can I Do if My Kia Optima or Sorento is Subject Engine Failure?

Have you been noticing any severe or unrepaired engine issues with either your Kia Optima or Sorento, such as sudden stalls, excessive smoke, loud noises, or other problems? CCA’s team of experienced lawyers are here to guide you and help resolve your lemon law issues expeditiously and for a substantial settlement. Please feel free to reach out to us for a free hassle-free consultation regarding your vehicle. 

Contact our experts for a free consultation at (833) LEMON-FIRM.

About the Author
Sepehr Daghighian is a partner with CCA that is well-versed in all aspects of lemon-law litigation. A 2005 graduate of Loyola Law School, Mr. Daghighian has been practicing litigation throughout the state of California for over 13-years. In this time, Mr. Daghighian has advocated on behalf of California consumers in hundreds of lemon law cases throughout our great state. Mr. Daghighian has also successfully tried numerous such cases to verdict in both Federal and State Court.