Your vehicle report
2017 Kia Sorento
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 808
- Received Sep 2016 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Headlights dim or fail at night113 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine burns excessive oil between changes113 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed69 complaints · 8.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #22V703000Park outsideKia 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.
- Recall #18V907000Kia 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Headlights dim or fail at nightFirst signal: Feb 2018
- Engine burns excessive oil between changesFirst signal: Dec 2019
- Steering wanders or pulls at highway speedFirst signal: Dec 2018
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 13 crashes, 32 fires, 17 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Engine burns excessive oil between changes
- Engine stalls and loses power while driving
- Engine knocking from rod or main bearings
8 more problems
- Check engine light comes on repeatedly
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
- Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engine
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
- Cruise control fails to disengage
- Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 58 |
| 2020 | 64 |
| 2021 | 64 |
| 2022 | 134 |
| 2023 | 137 |
| 2024 | 121 |
| 2025 | 106 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 62 |
| Total | 808 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 113 | 14% | 3.2× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Feb 2018 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.0% |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 113 | 14% | 5.6× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Dec 2019 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.2% |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 69 | 8.5% | 4× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Dec 2018 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.1% |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 67 | 8.3% | 9× | NHTSA recall #17V586000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 30 | 3.7% | 2.9× | NHTSA recall #22V703000 |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 26 | 3.2% | 5.8× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.5% |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 22 | 2.7% | 2.8× | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 18 | 2.2% | 0.6× | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 17 | 2.1% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 15 | 1.9% | 3.6× | NHTSA recall #18V907000 |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 12 | 1.5% | 4.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2024 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.3% |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 12 | 1.5% | 1.1× | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 11 | 1.4% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 10 | 1.2% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 10 | 1.2% | – | |
| Cruise control fails to disengage | 9 | 1.1% | – | |
| Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed | 9 | 1.1% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 7 | 0.9% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 6 | 0.7% | – | |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 6 | 0.7% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #22V703000September 19, 202270,887 vehicles affected
Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.
trailer hitches
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.
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #18V907000December 19, 201871,653 vehicles affected
engine; fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #17V586000September 21, 201762 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: engine
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.
If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #16V862000November 30, 201610,212 vehicles affected
electrical system; trailer hitches
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."
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2017 Kia Sorento.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN