2017 KIA Sorento Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sorento years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 806 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 KIA Sorento. That ranks 6th out of 24 Sorento model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (387 complaints, 48%), typically at around 64,000 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 32 fires, 17 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 806owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 KIA Sorento problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 387 | 48% | 64,000 | “oil consumption” (16%) | $9,600 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 125 | 16% | 37,100 | “turn off” (38%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 104 | 13% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Steering problems | 97 | 12% | 30,000 | “feels like” (12%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 96 | 12% | 59,000 | “turn off” (22%) | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 39 | 5% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 37 | 5% | 56,574 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 27 | 3% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 3% | 5,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 | 3% | 13,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 17 | 2% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 14 | 2% | 114,320 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 10 | 1% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 1% | 68,700 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 1% | 767 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 5 | 1% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 1% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 0% | 52,467 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 0% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 0% | 2,500 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 2 | 0% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 0% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 104,082 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0% | 20 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 KIA Sorento recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Trailer hitchesPark outside
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the crankshaft, and, as necessary, replace the engine sub assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC153.
Trailer hitches; electrical system
Problem: 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."
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of Motive Power (PE23019) — opened Nov 13, 2023, closed Jul 23, 2024.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak (DP21002) — opened Nov 12, 2021, closed Jun 26, 2023.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Check engine light flashing going into limp mode
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped and idling, the engine oil warning light illuminated, and the Apple CarPlay, radio, and HVAC system became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the oil pressure switch was replaced under…
Yesterday our car was making a knocking noise. It lost power temporarily. Upon pressing the gas pedal to the floor we were able to get up to 30 mph. We made it to a repair shop. They looked at it today. The Dip stick showed no oil. The did an oil change and it was down 3 quarts of oil. We just had…
Issue 1: The front passenger airbag sensor is faulty. The ODS light is staying on. I took my car to a Kia dealership and they informed me that the passenger airbag would most likely not deploy in the event of an accident due to the faulty sensor. Kia has had this exact issue with other models and…
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle had started independently. While the vehicle was in the driveway, the contact became aware that the vehicle had been running for a while. While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off but restarted independently. While driving…
Other KIA Sorento years
← 2016 Sorento · 2018 Sorento →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 6 | 2 |
| 2025 Sorento | 76 | 3 |
| 2024 Sorento | 42 | 2 |
| 2023 Sorento | 123 | 3 |
| 2022 Sorento | 192 | 6 |
| 2021 Sorento | 253 | 4 |
| 2020 Sorento | 137 | 1 |
| 2019 Sorento | 430 | 2 |
| 2018 Sorento | 255 | 3 |
| 2017 | 806 | 4 |
| 2016 Sorento | 1,254 | 8 |
| 2015 Sorento | 752 | 3 |
| 2014 Sorento | 988 | 6 |
| 2013 Sorento | 981 | 5 |
| 2012 Sorento | 880 | 5 |
| 2011 Sorento | 1,519 | 7 |
| 2010 Sorento | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 Sorento | 55 | 2 |
| 2008 Sorento | 217 | 3 |
| 2007 Sorento | 154 | 4 |
| 2006 Sorento | 242 | 1 |
| 2005 Sorento | 307 | 0 |
| 2004 Sorento | 220 | 0 |
| 2003 Sorento | 305 | 1 |
See all KIA Sorento problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 KIA Sorento?
Owners most often report engine, exterior lighting, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 387 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 KIA Sorento?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 KIA Sorento a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sorento model years, the 2017 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.