KIA Sorento Seats Problems
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about seats problems on the KIA Sorento across 18 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (33). The words owners use most often: “driver seat” (19% of reports).
- 124seats complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 46%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Driver seat: mentioned in 23 of 124 complaints (19%)
- Second row: mentioned in 14 of 124 complaints (11%)
- Upright position: mentioned in 8 of 124 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do seats problems happen?
Based on 75 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 124 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 10 an injury.
KIA Sorento seats complaints by model year
| Model year | Seats complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Sorento | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2023 Sorento | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2022 Sorento | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2019 Sorento | 4 | 1% | 56,000 |
| 2018 Sorento | 1 | 0% | 67,059 |
| 2017 Sorento | 3 | 0% | 2,500 |
| 2016 Sorento | 6 | 0% | 256 |
| 2015 Sorento | 6 | 1% | 36,900 |
| 2014 Sorento | 11 | 1% | 103,000 |
| 2013 Sorento | 33 | 3% | 64,000 |
| 2012 Sorento | 15 | 2% | 82,000 |
| 2011 Sorento | 21 | 1% | 73,113 |
| 2009 Sorento | 3 | 5% | 37,413 |
| 2008 Sorento | 1 | 0% | 85,422 |
| 2007 Sorento | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2006 Sorento | 5 | 2% | 87,640 |
| 2005 Sorento | 8 | 3% | 48,000 |
| 2004 Sorento | 1 | 0% | 1,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Seats
Model years: 2016
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured March 3, 2016 to March 21, 2016. The driver's seatback frame may have been produced with inadequate weld joints and, as a result, the seatback may not function as designed in the event of a rear-end collision.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds and replace the driver seatback frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 9, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC140.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
left side of driver's seat isn't locking in place. A 2016 model year was recalled for a seat weld break, but appears 2011 is a problem as well.
The driverâs seat frame and adjustment mechanism failed. The seat broke off from the frame, resulting in the seat only being able to move left and right, with no ability to adjust forward/backward or recline. The dealership confirmed a seat frame malfunction and addressed the issue. My safety was…
Subject: Broken Driver Seat Metal Rod â Safety Hazard in 2015 Kia Sorento To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to report a serious issue involving the driverâs seat in my 2015 Kia Sorento, specifically a broken metal rod inside the seat frame. This part appears to be part of the seat's internal…
My driver seat welds broke and is currently held to the base by zipties
The 'Gear' on the drivers seat towards middle of car (right hand drivers seat) snapped in some fashion and the seat rocks. I hear this is quite common in this car and that it costs upwards of $2,000 to repair because the entire seat has to be replaced.
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Sorentos have seats problems?
No. NHTSA has 124 owner complaints about seats for the KIA Sorento. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Sorento seats?
Yes: 1 safety recall list seats. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about seats problems on the KIA Sorento?
The most frequent phrase is “driver seat”, in 23 of 124 complaints, followed by “second row” (14).
Other KIA Sorento problems
- Engine problems (3,847)
- Electrical System problems (1,396)
- Power Train problems (1,187)
- Structure problems (936)
- Exterior Lighting problems (845)
- Air Bags problems (717)
- Steering problems (542)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (409)
See all KIA Sorento problems.