KIA Sorento Problems by Year
NHTSA has 10,197 owner complaints and 40 safety recalls on file for the KIA Sorento, across 24 model years (2003–2026). The 2011 model year has the most complaints (1,519). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
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KIA Sorento years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sorento year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2011 Sorento: 1,519 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2016 Sorento: 1,254 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2014 Sorento: 988 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2010 Sorento: 3 complaints, 1 recall
- 2026 Sorento: 6 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2024 Sorento: 42 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common KIA Sorento problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 3,846 | 24 | 43 |
| Electrical System problems | 1,395 | 23 | 27 |
| Power Train problems | 1,186 | 22 | 35 |
| Structure problems | 936 | 22 | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 845 | 22 | 6 |
| Air Bags problems | 717 | 22 | 127 |
| Steering problems | 542 | 21 | 21 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 409 | 21 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 398 | 21 | 41 |
| Service Brakes problems | 395 | 23 | 41 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 387 | 21 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 289 | 17 | 7 |
| Suspension problems | 222 | 17 | 7 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 151 | 14 | 5 |
| Visibility problems | 143 | 21 | 0 |
| Seats problems | 123 | 18 | 9 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 120 | 18 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance problems | 107 | 16 | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 94 | 14 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 75 | 19 | 19 |
| Wheels | 60 | 17 | 5 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 55 | 11 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 51 | 11 | 2 |
| Tires | 47 | 16 | 4 |
| Trailer Hitches | 47 | 8 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 27 | 13 | 3 |
| Equipment | 26 | 9 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 15 | 7 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 14 | 9 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
KIA Sorento problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2022: power train (67) · engine (52)
- 2021: power train (142) · engine (68)
- 2020: engine (66)
- 2019: engine (158) · electrical system (68) · structure (55) · power train (51)
- 2018: engine (107)
- 2017: engine (387) · exterior lighting (125) · steering (97) · electrical system (96)
- 2016: engine (695) · power train (126) · structure (111) · electrical system (107) · steering (80) · exterior lighting (67) · vehicle speed control (62) · fuel/propulsion system (53)
- 2015: engine (362) · structure (100) · exterior lighting (91) · electrical system (58)
- 2014: engine (388) · structure (160) · electrical system (153) · exterior lighting (86) · power train (72) · air bags (51)
- 2013: engine (496) · electrical system (116) · structure (91) · exterior lighting (70) · power train (69) · air bags (60) · service brakes, hydraulic (54)
- 2012: engine (461) · electrical system (127) · air bags (81) · service brakes, hydraulic (69) · exterior lighting (60) · power train (55)
- 2011: engine (284) · structure (268) · power train (265) · electrical system (246) · air bags (183) · exterior lighting (102) · service brakes (72) · vehicle speed control (63) · service brakes, hydraulic (59) · suspension (56) · steering (53)
- 2008: air bags (66)
- 2007: air bags (58)
- 2006: engine (67) · exterior lighting (56) · electrical system (53)
- 2005: engine (63) · exterior lighting (53)
- 2003: engine and engine cooling (81)
All KIA Sorento model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 6 | 2 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | |
| 2025 Sorento | 76 | 3 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Sorento | 42 | 2 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Sorento | 123 | 3 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Sorento | 192 | 6 | 4★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Sorento | 253 | 4 | 4★ | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2020 Sorento | 137 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 Sorento | 430 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2018 Sorento | 255 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2017 Sorento | 806 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Sorento | 1,254 | 8 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 Sorento | 752 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Sorento | 988 | 6 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Sorento | 981 | 5 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Sorento | 880 | 5 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Sorento | 1,519 | 7 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 Sorento | 3 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2009 Sorento | 55 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Sorento | 217 | 3 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2007 Sorento | 154 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 Sorento | 242 | 1 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 Sorento | 307 | 0 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 Sorento | 220 | 0 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 Sorento | 305 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
More from KIA: all KIA models · KIA VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which KIA Sorento years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2011 (1,519), 2012 (880), 2013 (981), 2014 (988), 2015 (752), 2016 (1,254), 2017 (806) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sorento year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Sorento?
Engine, with 3,846 complaints across 24 model years.
How many recalls does the KIA Sorento have?
40 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.