Kia Sorento

Where it stands out against its peers

• Engine: more complaints than 95% of 2016 cars — 56% of its 1,245 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 21%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• ENGINE — 508 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash, 19 involving a fire
• STRUCTURE — 83 owners reported this
• STEERING — 55 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN — 48 owners reported this, 5 involving a crash
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 40 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 30 owners reported this
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 26 owners reported this, 4 involving a crash, 1 involving a fire

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

22% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 13V356000

  A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, it may roll away. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 . Kia's recall number is SC099.

• 15V089000

  If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC115.

• 15V446000

  If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt buckle cover, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC123.

• 15V626000

  Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC124.

• 16V480000

  The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds at the rear suspension cross-member, replacing the rear cross-member assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service Department at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC137.

• 16V770000

  In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

  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.

• 16V862000

  If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

  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.

• 17V224000

  Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.

17 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

  Audit query, opened November 2023, still open.

• Loss of Motive Power

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2023, closed July 2024.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Loss of Motive Power

  Defect petition, opened September 2022, closed December 2023.

• Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture

  Recall query, opened August 2022, closed May 2023.

• Engine Fires

  Engineering analysis, opened December 2021, closed February 2024.

• Throttle control system vulnerabilities

  Defect petition, opened November 2021, closed June 2023.

• Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak

  Defect petition, opened November 2021, closed June 2023.

• Headlight Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2020, closed January 2022.

• Non-crash Vehicle Fires

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2019, closed December 2021.

• Non-crash Vehicle Fires

  Defect petition, opened August 2018, closed May 2019.

• Scope and Timeliness

  Recall query, opened May 2017, closed December 2021.

  Became recall 17V224000.

• Panoramic Glass Sunroof Breakage

  Engineering analysis, opened May 2014, closed January 2021.

• Panoramic Sunroof Breakage

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2013, closed May 2014.

• Front Axle Shaft Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2013, closed September 2013.

• Transmission Intermediate Driveshaft

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2011, closed May 2011.

• Fuel Spill During Refueling

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2010, closed December 2011.

• Air Bag Occupant Classification System

  Engineering analysis, opened November 2009, closed September 2011.

• Air bag ocs

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2009, closed November 2009.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Kia filed 14 bulletins about the 2026 Sorento.

• Structure: 6
• Electrical system: 5
• Engine: 2
• Back over prevention: 1

• TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REAR RH DOOR CURTAIN INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT (WTY043) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’… · June 2026
• RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of… · June 2026
• TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable… · June 2026
• WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY043) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for… · May 2026
• WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY043) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for certain… · May 2026
• WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (WTY043) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Warranty Extension Campaign… · May 2026
• WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY043) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle… · May 2026
• WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (WTY043) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to… · May 2026

6 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.