What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2017 KIA Sorento

Typical pattern

3.7% of complaints about the 2017 KIA Sorento came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2017 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (382 complaints), typically at 6.5 yr or about 63,000 miles.

Complaints
1,037
Median age at failure
6.1 yr
Median mileage
46,000 n=351
Crash / fire / tow
10.2% of reports
Safety recalls
4 1 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
382 reports · 63,000 mi
6.5 yr
10.5%
Exterior lighting
125 reports · 38,000 mi
6.0 yr
1.6%
Other
103 reports · 20,000 mi
5.3 yr
11.7%
Steering
97 reports · 30,000 mi
4.7 yr
1%
Electrical system
94 reports · 47,000 mi
6.0 yr
8.5%
Fuel / propulsion
39 reports · 47,000 mi
7.3 yr
5.1%
Power train
37 reports · 56,574 mi
6.1 yr
8.1%
Engine cooling
26 reports · 95,000 mi
6.8 yr
53.8%
Service brakes
22 reports · 5,500 mi
5.8 yr
9.1%
Speed control
21 reports · 15,000 mi
2.3 yr
4.8%
Structure
17 reports · 44,000 mi
4.8 yr
23.5%
Collision avoidance
15 reports · 65,000 mi
7.3 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

22V703000 2022-09-19 Do not drive
Trailer hitches

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 purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

18V907000 2018-12-19
Fuel system, gasoline: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 (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

17V586000 2017-09-21
Engine and engine cooling:engine

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The engine crankshaft may have been improperly heat treated and may fail.

If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.

16V862000 2016-11-30
Trailer hitches

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to August 25, 2016, and 2017 Sportage vehicles manufactured December 10, 2015, to August 26, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Other 5,000 mi 0 mo in service
SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY IMPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON SORENTOS AND HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS OTHERS. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD.
Other mileage not reported 0 mo in service
THE COLLISION WARNING AND AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEMS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE TOTALLY INOPERATIVE AND HAVE BEEN SINCE VEHICLE DELIVERY. VEHICLE NOW HAS ABOUT 1800 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN TO TWO DEALERS FOR REPAIR AND BOTH SAY THEIR TESTS DO NOT INDICATE ANY FAILURE
Other 650 mi 10 mo in service crash / fire / tow
AFTER 650 MILES: MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY: ENGINE RATTLED. ENGINE DIED. WE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. WE STOPPED. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LOOKING UNDERNEATH, WE SAW THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. INITIALLY THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE ENGINE. WE GOT AWAY FROM THE CAR AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT. BY THIS POINT IT BURNED THE FRONT 2/3 OF THE CAR. THE CAR GOT TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE TOWING PLACE.
Service brakes 15,000 mi 4 mo in service
1.) DRIVING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. NOTICED PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ON (HAD NOT EXPLICITLY ENGAGED BRAKE). TRIED TO DISENGAGE PARKING BRAKE, AND THE LIGHT STAYED ON. PULLED OVER, PUT CAR IN PARK. TRIED TO DISENGAGE AGAIN, STILL WOULD NOT. TURNED CAR OFF, ON AGAIN, WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE. 2.) DRIVING CITY ROAD, APP 40MPH, ACCELERATOR PEDDLE BECAME PHYSICALLY STUCK, TOOK FOOT OFF PEDDLE, PEDDLE STAYED IN POSITION AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. TRIED TO GENTLY PUSH PEDDLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. TAPPED PEDDLE HARD AND IT CAME LOOSE. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE. CAR HAS 15K MILES. *TR

Other Sorento model years

202520232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112009200820072006200520042003

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