Kia Sorento years to avoid
Every Kia Sorento model year on file (2012-2025), ranked worst to best by severity index - the share of owner complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or fatality.
2020
Worst year on file
158.5
Severity index
Engine
Most-reported system
2022
Cleanest year on file
Ranked worst to best
| # | Model year | Severity | Complaints | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020 Kia Sorento | 158.5 High | 134 | Engine |
| 2 | 2012 Kia Sorento | 91.0 High | 877 | Engine |
| 3 | 2018 Kia Sorento | 86.1 High | 252 | Engine |
| 4 | 2024 Kia Sorento | 83.3 High | 38 | Electrical System |
| 5 | 2019 Kia Sorento | 65.6 Medium | 423 | Engine |
| 6 | 2013 Kia Sorento | 63.0 Medium | 981 | Engine |
| 7 | 2025 Kia Sorento | 60.7 Medium | 73 | Electrical System |
| 8 | 2014 Kia Sorento | 60.5 Medium | 983 | Engine |
| 9 | 2023 Kia Sorento | 50.0 Medium | 118 | Electrical System |
| 10 | 2015 Kia Sorento | 49.2 Medium | 748 | Engine |
| 11 | 2017 Kia Sorento | 49.0 Medium | 800 | Engine |
| 12 | 2016 Kia Sorento | 46.3 Medium | 1,246 | Engine |
| 13 | 2022 Kia Sorento | 40.2 Low | 186 | Power Train |
A high rank here means a larger share of this year's complaints described a crash, fire or injury - not that the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and not a reliability or repair-cost rating. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold.
Kia Sorento complaints and recalls by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crashes | Fires | Severity | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 877 | 5 | 21 | 76 | 91.0 High | ENGINE |
| 2013 | 981 | 5 | 23 | 44 | 63.0 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2014 | 983 | 6 | 23 | 45 | 60.5 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2015 | 748 | 3 | 20 | 14 | 49.2 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2016 | 1,246 | 8 | 29 | 49 | 46.3 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2017 | 800 | 4 | 13 | 32 | 49.0 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2018 | 252 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 86.1 High | ENGINE |
| 2019 | 423 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 65.6 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2020 | 134 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 158.5 High | ENGINE |
| 2022 | 186 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 40.2 Low | POWER TRAIN |
| 2023 | 118 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 50.0 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2024 | 38 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 83.3 High | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2025 | 73 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 60.7 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold; a high-volume seller will attract more filings than a rare trim.