Car · Kia problems
2013 Kia Sorento problems
983 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Kia Sorento. The most reported area is engine and engine cooling (52% of them). NHTSA also lists 138 service bulletins and 5 recall campaigns.
Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 33. Deaths: 0.
Complaints by area
Each bar is the share of this model year's 983 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
- Engine and engine cooling514 · 52%
- Electrical system116 · 12%
- Body and structure91 · 9%
- Other or unknown89 · 9%
- Service brakes88 · 9%
- Exterior lighting70 · 7%
- Power train (transmission and drive)69 · 7%
- Air bags60 · 6%
13 smaller areas not shown (196 complaints in total).
Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.
Service bulletins
NHTSA's database lists 138 repair bulletins from Kia for the 2013 Kia Sorento. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:
- TSB_BOD205_R3Received December 1, 2025
Seats
New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area.
- TSB_TRA046_R4Received June 4, 2024
Power train (transmission and drive)
Information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model.
- PS750Received October 1, 2023
Suspension
PITSTOP: AWD system concern due to tire circumference - This Pitstop provides information regarding potential concerns with the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system due to tire sizes of differing...
- CS2304Received April 6, 2023
Customer satisfaction: anti-theft S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or...
- CS2304_TSB_R1Received April 6, 2023
Electrical system
New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area.This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU)...
- TSB_TRA046_R3Received December 6, 2022
Power train (transmission and drive)
Transmission fluid application guide - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model.
- TSB_SST067_R2Received September 17, 2022
Engine and engine cooling
Bearing clearance tester (BCT) PROCEDURES - This bulletin provides information regarding test procedure of the Bearing Clearance Tester (BCT) Special Service Tool (SST).
- PS720Received May 4, 2022
Engine and engine cooling
Pitstop: injector harness routing for PI1802Y/Z AND PI1803Y/Z ENGINE REPLACEMENTS - This bulletin provides information to address a no-start or hard start with poor running condition after engine...
Recalls
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Kia Sorento. Recall repairs are free at a Kia dealer. The 3 to look at first:
- 20V750000December 2, 2020
Engine
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
- 17V224000March 31, 2017
Engine and engine cooling
Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
- 23V652000September 25, 2023Do not drive notice
Service brakes, hydraulic
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
See all 5 recalls for the 2013 Kia Sorento, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.
Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)
These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Sorento will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.
This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.
Start with a diagnosis
- Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250
Engine and engine cooling 514 complaints · 52%
No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.
Electrical system 116 complaints · 12%
- Battery replacement$150 to $470
- Alternator replacement$360 to $930
- Starter replacement$280 to $740
- Battery cable replacement$100 to $340
Body and structure 91 complaints · 9%
No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.
Service brakes 88 complaints · 9%
- Brake pad replacement (front)$190 to $400
- Brake rotors and pads (front)$320 to $790
- Brake pad replacement (rear)$180 to $420
- Brake caliper replacement (one wheel)$240 to $590
- Brake fluid flush$75 to $180
Check your VIN
Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.
Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.
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2013 Kia Sorento: questions
What are the most common problems on the 2013 Kia Sorento?
Of the 983 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Kia Sorento, 514 (52%) name engine and engine cooling, and 116 (12%) name electrical system. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.
Is the 2013 Kia Sorento reliable?
These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.
Do these complaints include crashes or fires?
Owners marked 23 of the 983 complaints as involving a crash and 44 as involving a fire. They also reported 33 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.
How many recalls does the 2013 Kia Sorento have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Kia Sorento. Recall repairs are free at a Kia dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.
What is a service bulletin?
A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 138 repair bulletins for the 2013 Kia Sorento.
More
- 2021 Sorento problems
- 2019 Sorento problems
- 2018 Sorento problems
- 2017 Sorento problems
- 2016 Sorento problems
- 2015 Sorento problems
- 2014 Sorento problems
- 2012 Sorento problems
- 2011 Sorento problems
- 2013 recalls
- All Kia recalls
- Kia problems by model
- Check-engine codes
Sources
- NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
- NHTSA recalls
Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.