Kia Sorento Reliability
Quick answer
The Kia Sorento has 5.05 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 26 SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Sorento places 26th: one of the highest complaint rates in that group. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 8,950 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and the electrical system, and NHTSA lists 41 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011–2017 as years to avoid and rates 2009 and 2020 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
5.05
Complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022)
8,950
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
41
Recall campaigns
7
Years to avoid
Most-reported Kia Sorento problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2007–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3,639 | 41% | 34 | 239 | 36 |
| Electrical system | 1,223 | 14% | 22 | 105 | 21 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 956 | 11% | 32 | 11 | 13 |
| Body structure | 866 | 10% | 15 | 27 | 15 |
| Exterior lighting | 693 | 8% | 5 | 15 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 605 | 7% | 39 | 26 | 26 |
| Air bags | 554 | 6% | 97 | 5 | 79 |
| Steering | 411 | 5% | 14 | 6 | 10 |
Of all 8,950 complaints, 249 (3%) report a crash, 385 (4%) a fire and 209 (2%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (782 complaints), the most-reported areas are the engine (249), the transmission (198), the electrical system (173), the fuel system (75).
Kia Sorento complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each Sorento model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 217 | 3 | Air bags | — |
| 2009 | 55 | 3 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2010 | 3 | 2 | Suspension | — |
| 2011 | 1,520 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2012 | 880 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 | 985 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 | 989 | 6 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2015 | 755 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2016 | 1,263 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2017 | 810 | 4 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2018 | 255 | 3 | Engine | — |
| 2019 | 436 | 2 | Engine | — |
| 2020 | 140 | 1 | Engine | Better year |
| 2021 | 47 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2022 | 228 | 8 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2023 | 169 | 4 | Electrical system | — |
| 2024(new) | 52 | 2 | Electrical system | — |
| 2025(new) | 137 | 3 | Engine | — |
| 2026(new) | 9 | 2 | Electrical system | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Kia Sorento recalls
NHTSA lists 41 recall campaigns across Kia Sorento model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22V703000Sep 19, 2022 | 2016–2023 | Trailer hitch | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 23V652000Sep 25, 2023 | 2011–2014 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 21V331000May 10, 2021 | 2014 and 2015 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 20V519000Aug 27, 2020 | 2014 and 2015 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 18V907000Dec 19, 2018 | 2012–2017 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System… |
Best and worst Sorento years
- Years to avoid: 2011–2017.
- Better years: 2009 and 2020.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Kia Sorento years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Kia Sorento
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Kia Sorento can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Kia Sorento reliability FAQ
Is the Kia Sorento reliable?
The Kia Sorento has 5.05 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 26 SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Sorento places 26th: one of the highest complaint rates in that group. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 8,950 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and the electrical system, and NHTSA lists 41 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011–2017 as years to avoid and rates 2009 and 2020 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Kia Sorento problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are the engine (3,639), the electrical system (1,223), the transmission (956) and the body structure (866). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the engine, the transmission and the electrical system. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Kia Sorento should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011–2017 as years to avoid and rates 2009 and 2020 as better years. Each model year is compared only with other Sorento years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Kia Sorento last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 1.5% of 14,795 used Sorento listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 8.1% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 6.6% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Kia Sorento have?
NHTSA lists 41 recall campaigns covering Kia Sorento model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 22V703000 (trailer hitch, 2016–2023). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Kia Sorento?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure Sorento reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Kia Sorento, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Complaints per 1,000 sold divides the 3,934 complaints for the 2015–2022 model years by 778,652 vehicles sold in the US in those calendar years (published sales figures), times 1,000.
- The SUVs ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 26 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each Sorento model year only with other Sorento years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the Sorento compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.
More Kia Sorento research
Kia Sorento reliability by model year: