KIA Sorento Structure Problems
Owners have filed 936 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the KIA Sorento across 22 model years. The 2011 model year has the most (268). The words owners use most often: “paint peeling” (15% of reports).
- 936structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 20mention a crash
- 20mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $690typical repair cost reported by owners
- 47%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.
- Paint peeling: mentioned in 144 of 936 complaints (15%)
- Pearl white: mentioned in 124 of 936 complaints (13%)
- Open outside: mentioned in 105 of 936 complaints (11%)
- Door handle: mentioned in 88 of 936 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the KIA Sorento at $690, and half of them between $540 and $1,850.
Based on 31 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 437 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 936 complaints, 20 mention a crash, 28 a fire, 20 an injury.
KIA Sorento structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 1 | 17% | — |
| 2025 Sorento | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2024 Sorento | 7 | 17% | — |
| 2023 Sorento | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2022 Sorento | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2021 Sorento | 5 | 2% | — |
| 2019 Sorento | 55 | 13% | 43,500 |
| 2018 Sorento | 9 | 4% | 48,000 |
| 2017 Sorento | 17 | 2% | 44,000 |
| 2016 Sorento | 111 | 9% | 46,000 |
| 2015 Sorento | 100 | 13% | 60,000 |
| 2014 Sorento | 160 | 16% | 72,000 |
| 2013 Sorento | 91 | 9% | 63,000 |
| 2012 Sorento | 35 | 4% | 71,165 |
| 2011 Sorento | 268 | 18% | 89,000 |
| 2009 Sorento | 1 | 2% | 600 |
| 2008 Sorento | 2 | 1% | 64,000 |
| 2007 Sorento | 9 | 6% | 97,735 |
| 2006 Sorento | 7 | 3% | 111,901 |
| 2005 Sorento | 14 | 5% | 124,000 |
| 2004 Sorento | 28 | 13% | 122,500 |
| 2003 Sorento | 12 | 4% | 45,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists structure for the KIA Sorento. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Passenger door failed to open three times since purchase. Tried locking/unlocking door from inside, outside and with key fob. Dealership looked at it in May 2026 and I reported it again because it happened two more times since. They couldn't duplicate it the first time and said it was to…
I am the original, single owner of a 2016 Kia Sorento in Snow White Pearl. My vehicle currently has approximately 96,000 miles on it. Roughly one year ago, the factory paint began catastrophically peeling, flaking, and deteriorating in large sheets on the roof and near the passenger-side door. This…
Case number 25530365 discussed with vanguard kia. Paint not adhering. Flakes off when washing by hand.
The paint is peeling really bad .It's been peeling and rusting horribly.
About a minute into my drive, I heard an explosion. I looked back thinking something happened to my twin toddlers and saw nothing. I heard the sound of glass cracking and looked up to see the front glass of my moonroof shattered. I pulled over to safety and closed the sun cover for the moonroof…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Sorentos have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 936 owner complaints about structure 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 structure?
No recall currently lists structure for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the KIA Sorento?
Owners report a typical cost of $690 (half paid between $540 and $1,850), from 31 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the KIA Sorento?
The most frequent phrase is “paint peeling”, in 144 of 936 complaints, followed by “pearl white” (124).
Other KIA Sorento problems
- Engine problems (3,847)
- Electrical System problems (1,396)
- Power Train problems (1,187)
- Exterior Lighting problems (845)
- Air Bags problems (717)
- Steering problems (542)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (409)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (398)
See all KIA Sorento problems.