2017 Kia Sorento problems and recalls

48% of owner complaints on the 2017 Kia Sorento related to the Engine (387 of 808).

808
Complaints
4
Recalls
13
Crash reports
32
Fire reports
17
Injuries
48.6
Severity index

Severity index 48.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 48.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 89 of 138 by severity index among 2017 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 36% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2017 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 387 complaints (47.9%)387 48%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 125 complaints (15.5%)125 15%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 104 complaints (12.9%)104 13%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 97 complaints (12.0%)97 12%SteeringSteering: 97 complaints (12.0%)97 12%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 39 complaints (4.8%)39 5%Power TrainPower Train: 37 complaints (4.6%)37 5%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 27 complaints (3.3%)27 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE38747.9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING12515.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10412.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9712.0%
STEERING9712.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM394.8%
POWER TRAIN374.6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING273.3%

Complaints filed per year

0701402016: 42017: 242018: 342019: 582020: 642021: 642022: 1342023: 1372024: 1212025: 1062026: 62 (partial year)1617181920212223137242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20164
201724
201834
201958
202064
202164
2022134
2023137
2024121
2025106
2026 (year to date)62
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (364 against 262).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V90700019/12/2018FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSKia 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 h
17V58600021/09/2017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEKia 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.
16V86200030/11/2016TRAILER HITCHESKia 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 hitc
22V70300019/09/2022TRAILER HITCHESKia 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 d

Other Kia Sorento model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-23. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.