Campaign 23V-877

Engine compartment fire can occur while driving

Defect summary

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2011 Sorento vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Consequence

A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will install Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC291.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file, campaign 23V877000. Text as published by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered

One product line is covered

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA about engine and cooling on these vehicles: 316, of which 50 involved a crash, fire, injury or death. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered by campaign 23V-877
Make	Model	Model years	Complaints on this component
Kia	Sorento	2011	316

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls and complaints files. Equipment, tire and child-seat campaigns list products, not vehicles.

Investigation

This recall followed an NHTSA defect investigation

EA21003 Engine Fires
Opened Dec 22, 2021, closed Feb 5, 2024

Before the recall

No service bulletins on this component preceded the recall

Distinct manufacturer communications on the same component group, make, model and model year in the 24 months before the report date.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications file.

Service bulletins

25V-548 Aug 25, 2025
Connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power
25V-099 Feb 17, 2025
Piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage
24V-169 Mar 1, 2024
Left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly may deteriorate and leak oil
24V-077 Feb 7, 2024
Engine valve springs may break while driving, which can result in a loss of drive power and possibly create a hole in the engine block
22V-202 Mar 29, 2022
Oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment
21V-844 Oct 29, 2021
Connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage