Kia Sorento problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 1,382 owner complaints and 17 safety recalls for the Kia Sorento. That averages 36.2 complaints per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (index 0.86 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #4 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Over eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Kia Sorento has recorded 1,382 owner complaints and 17 safety recalls, averaging 36.2 complaints per year which is typical compared to all tracked vehicles. While the overall trend remains flat, the 2025 model year shows the highest rate at 73.5 complaints per year and the 2019 and 2025 models run at least 50% above the average, requiring careful research. The most common problem area is Engine, accounting for 36.7% of complaints with recurring terms like "oil" and "engine," while 95 complaints describe a crash or fire involving 68 injuries and 2 deaths. Recent activity has risen with 415 complaints filed in the last 12 months versus 279 previously, and half of all reported incidents occur within 38 months of the model year's start.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 21% of the 2018 and 2019 models (55 early complaints per model year versus 48).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (73.5 complaints per year) and the 2021 model year the lowest (5.1). Model years 2019 and 2025 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully. Model years 2020, 2021 and 2024 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (36.7% of complaints), followed by Electrical (12.9%) and Interior & equipment (10.9%). Engine complaints are 1.6 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “oil”, “engine”, “sorrento”, “paint” and “pearl”. 95 complaints (6.9%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 68 injuries and 2 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 415 complaints versus 279 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (93). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 38 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 17 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (6), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 3 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango, Honda Passport and Nissan Pathfinder; Ford Edge, Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Highlander and Hyundai Santa Fe have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 252 | 29.1 | 0.69 | 28 | 0.31 | 37 | 3 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 423 | 55.1 | 1.31 | 69 | 0.86 | 93 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 134 | 20.1 | 0.48 | 18 | 0.32 | 46 | 1 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2021 Fewest complaints | 29 | 5.1 | 0.12 | 12 | 0.2 | 8 | 5 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 219 | 46.9 | 1.11 | 100 | 1.35 | 58 | 8 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 156 | 42.5 | 1.01 | 79 | 0.95 | 59 | 4 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 46 | 17.2 | 0.41 | 32 | 0.46 | 21 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Years to research carefully | 123 | 73.5 | 1.75 | — | — | 93 | 3 | Engine | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 415 · Previous 12 months: 279 Rising
Problem areas
Electrical ›
178 · 12.9% · 0.82 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- typically travel18
- investigated appropriately18
- free gps18
- ability hands18
Interior & equipment ›
151 · 10.9% · 1.22 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- paint20
- pearl13
- sunroof25
- peeling13
Transmission / powertrain ›
132 · 9.6% · 0.82 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- transmission72
- shifting21
- gears18
- power41
Other
53 · 3.8% · 2.12 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- trailer hitches26
- notification trailer24
- hitches recall22
- received notification25
Steering ›
47 · 3.4% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering43
- wheel31
- column14
- squeaking5
Lighting ›
46 · 3.3% · 2.13 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- headlights33
- night22
- auto mode8
- set auto6
Brakes ›
44 · 3.2% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake25
- rotors8
- abs10
- braking11
Fuel system
38 · 2.7% · 0.64 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel29
- pump17
- high pressure8
- smell7
Driver-assist systems
35 · 2.5% · 0.44 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- collision15
- blind7
- warning system5
- forward10
Airbags & seat belts
34 · 2.5% · 0.64 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- deploy11
- seat14
- air bags9
- passenger11
Wheels, tires & suspension
12 · 0.9% · 0.35 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tires8
- size3
- last3
- noise3
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- oil249
- engine450
- sorrento28
- paint56
- pearl33
- trailer hitches31
- consumption62
- peeling38
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 38 months
What owners report
While driving my 2020 Kia Sorento on the freeway at highway speed, the panoramic sunroof suddenly shattered without warning. There was a very loud explosive sound that startled and frightened me while I was driving.
The brakes failed; they felt spongy, as if my foot were pressing directly against the road. The car accelerated and I headed toward a wall; the sensors didn't stop the vehicle. It came to a halt against the wall after the impact.
The central ccNC infotainment display screen on my 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid intermittently and now permanently failed (blank/black screen).
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power and failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was slowly driven to the residence and stalled in the driveway.
I own two Nuna RAVA car seats, and both have developed unraveling/tearing of the two-point harness buckle/strap between the child’s legs.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Durango | 752 | 15.2 | 0.36 | Improving | Steady | 18 | Lighting |
| 2 | Honda Passport | 652 | 17.6 | 0.42 | Improving | Rising | 16 | Engine |
| 3 | Nissan Pathfinder | 566 | 20.1 | 0.48 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1,382 | 36.2 | 0.86 | Stable | Rising | 17 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford Edge | 2,164 | 43.6 | 1.04 | Improving | Steady | 20 | Engine |
| 6 | Chevrolet Traverse | 1,657 | 43.8 | 1.04 | Stable | Steady | 13 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Toyota Highlander | 2,062 | 44.5 | 1.06 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 8 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 1,968 | 58.3 | 1.38 | Worsening | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 9 | Ford Explorer | 3,122 | 65.6 | 1.56 | Improving | Steady | 70 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 10 | Honda Pilot | 2,824 | 67.4 | 1.6 | Stable | Steady | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Kia Telluride | 1,945 | 73.6 | 1.75 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Body & structure |
| 12 | Subaru Outback | 3,749 | 77.0 | 1.83 | Improving | Steady | 15 | Body & structure |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3,335 | 85.9 | 2.04 | Worsening | Rising | 49 | Electrical |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 2,277 | 102.2 | 2.43 | Worsening | Steady | 13 | Airbags & seat belts |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 17
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (3) · 2019 (2) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (5) · 2022 (8) · 2023 (4) · 2024 (2) · 2025 (3)
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
- Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture Closed
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) based on 3 incidents alleging front seat belt pretensioners that may rupture during deployment, on model year (MY) 2020-2022 of various Hyundai and Kia Models, resulting in 3 injuries (note: one incident occurred outside the U.S. and its territories).Between October 2021 and March 2023, Hyundai and Kia have …
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sorento model year has the most complaints?
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (73.5 complaints per year) and the 2021 model year the lowest (5.1).
Is the Kia Sorento getting better or worse?
The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 21% of the 2018 and 2019 models (55 early complaints per model year versus 48). In the last 12 months owners filed 415 complaints versus 279 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Kia Sorento problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (36.7% of complaints), followed by Electrical (12.9%) and Interior & equipment (10.9%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “oil”, “engine”, “sorrento”, “paint” and “pearl”.
How does the Kia Sorento compare with other Midsize SUVs?
Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #4 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango, Honda Passport and Nissan Pathfinder; Ford Edge, Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Highlander and Hyundai Santa Fe have more.
Does the Kia Sorento have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 17 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (6), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 3 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).