Federal regulators in the United States are looking into a potential issue afflicting the engines in 2016-2017 Kia Sorentos. The vehicles in question are equipped with the 3.3-liter Lambda II V6, which may blow while the vehicle is in use.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary evaluation into the subject, after it received 13 complaints from owners alleging they lost power while driving their Sorentos.
“My family of four was traveling in the vehicle at 80 mph down I-65 when the malfunction occurred,” one complaint made to NHTSA states. “No warning lights came on, the vehicle began to slow to 60mph and would not accelerate when pressing the gas. When the gas was pressed the entire vehicle began to shake, still no warning lights.”
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The owner says that they were able to pull over safely, but the Sorento would not restart after that. They claim that an independent mechanic told them that all of the oil had leaked out of the engine.
They also claimed that the engine had to be replaced, which, like oil loss, is a common feature of these customer complaints. In addition, NHTSA reports that coolant loss, rising temperatures, and smoke emitting from the engine compartment are also cited as symptoms of this issue. Some owners say that the issue is diagnosed as either a problem with the head gasket or head bolt by their mechanics.
NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation will determine the scope, frequency, and safety consequences of the alleged fault. It says that 127,617 Sorentos may be implicated in this investigation. It is not clear if other vehicles equipped with the same version of the 3.3-liter engine (such as certain Kia Carnivals and Cadenzas sold between 2014 and 2020, or the 2012-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe) are affected by this issue.
If the regulator’s evaluation finds that there is a problem, and that it poses a risk to driver safety, it may compel the automaker to launch a recall.
