Kia Sorento Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
Kia Sorento years to avoid are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017, all rated Avoid with complaint indexes between 75 and 100 and dominated by engine complaints. The 2024 Sorento is the only Best-rated year, with a complaint index of 15.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2011Avoid 2012Avoid 2013Avoid 2014Avoid 2016Avoid 2017Best 2024
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 9,631
- Recall campaigns
- 38
- Crashes reported
- 282
- Fires reported
- 397
- Top problem area
- Engine
Sorento Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Kia Sorento problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Good | 25 | 307 | 17 | 5 | 0 | Engine | 16 | — |
| 2006 | Good | 20 | 242 | 12 | 8 | 1 | Engine | 16 | — |
| 2007 | Good | 10 | 154 | 10 | 5 | 4 | Airbags | 17 | — |
| 2008 | Good | 35 | 217 | 15 | 9 | 3 | Brakes | 17 | — |
| 2009 | Good | 5 | 55 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Airbags | 17 | — |
| 2010 | No verdict | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 100 | 1,517 | 42 | 61 | 7 | Engine | 22 | 4★ |
| 2012 | Avoid | 90 | 880 | 21 | 77 | 5 | Engine | 22 | 4★ |
| 2013 | Avoid | 80 | 981 | 23 | 44 | 5 | Engine | 22 | 4★ |
| 2014 | Avoid | 85 | 986 | 23 | 46 | 6 | Engine | 21 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Caution | 70 | 750 | 20 | 14 | 3 | Engine | 21 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Avoid | 95 | 1,250 | 29 | 49 | 8 | Engine | 21 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Avoid | 75 | 804 | 13 | 32 | 4 | Engine | 22 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Caution | 40 | 254 | 12 | 11 | 3 | Engine | 22 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Caution | 65 | 426 | 10 | 19 | 2 | Engine | 22.5 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Caution | 60 | 135 | 10 | 11 | 1 | Engine | 22.5 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Caution | 55 | 247 | 4 | 1 | 4 | Transmission & Powertrain | 24.5 | 4★ |
| 2022 | Caution | 45 | 189 | 4 | 1 | 6 | Transmission & Powertrain | 25 | 4★ |
| 2023 | Good | 30 | 119 | 3 | 2 | 3 | Engine | 25 | 4★ |
| 2024 | Best | 15 | 41 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Electrical System | 25 | 5★ |
| 2025 | Caution | 50 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 3 | Engine | 25 | 5★ |
Sorento years to avoid: what went wrong
2011 Kia Sorento Index 100 · 1,517 complaints · 7 recalls
The 2011 Sorento has the highest complaint index (100) of any year, with 1,517 complaints. Engine problems make up 24% of complaints, followed closely by structure and body issues and electrical system problems, each at 21%. Owners reported engine compartment fires and stalling, with engine failures reported near a median of 90,000 miles. NHTSA lists 7 recalls, including one for engine compartment fires and one for the brake-shift interlock mechanism, plus a park-outside brake recall.
2011 engine problems →2011 structure & body problems →2011 electrical system problems →
2016 Kia Sorento Index 95 · 1,250 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2016 Sorento has a complaint index of 95 from 1,250 complaints, the second-highest of any year. Engine problems dominate at 60% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 80,000. Owners reported vehicles rolling away after parking and sudden acceleration during parking maneuvers. NHTSA lists 8 recalls, including a park-outside tow hitch harness campaign and a transmission shift lever recall.
2016 engine problems →2016 electrical system problems →2016 structure & body problems →
2012 Kia Sorento Index 90 · 880 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2012 Sorento carries a complaint index of 90 across 880 complaints, with engine problems accounting for 56% of them and failures reported near a median of 98,000 miles. Owners reported rollaway incidents from shifter issues and airbags that failed to deploy in crashes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls, including two separate engine fire campaigns and a park-outside brake recall covering the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit.
2012 engine problems →2012 electrical system problems →2012 brakes problems →
2014 Kia Sorento Index 85 · 986 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2014 Sorento shows a complaint index of 85 across 986 complaints, with engine problems at 43% and a median failure mileage of 100,000. Owners reported electrical fires from wiring harnesses and airbags failing to deploy in crashes. NHTSA lists 6 recalls, including two brake fluid leak campaigns tied to the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit that carry park-outside advisories.
2014 engine problems →2014 electrical system problems →2014 structure & body problems →
2013 Kia Sorento Index 80 · 981 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2013 Sorento has a complaint index of 80 from 981 complaints, with engine issues making up 53% of them and a median failure mileage of 89,220. Owners described engines stalling at highway speed and brakes that failed to stop the vehicle. NHTSA lists 5 recalls, including engine fire campaigns and a park-outside brake recall.
2013 engine problems →2013 electrical system problems →2013 structure & body problems →
2017 Kia Sorento Index 75 · 804 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2017 Sorento has a complaint index of 75 across 804 complaints, with engine problems making up 51% and a median failure mileage of 64,000. Owners reported engine fires, stalling, and over-revving noises while driving. NHTSA lists 4 recalls, including a crankshaft failure campaign for 3.3L engines and a park-outside tow hitch harness recall.
2017 engine problems →2017 electrical system problems →2017 steering problems →
Most common Kia Sorento problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Engine4,197 (44%)
- Electrical System1,922 (20%)
- Other1,301 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1,111 (12%)
- Structure & Body1,096 (11%)
- Brakes789 (8%)
- Airbags672 (7%)
- Steering487 (5%)
- Fuel System413 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires253 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What years of Kia Sorento should I avoid?
- NHTSA data points to 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 as the Sorento years to avoid, with complaint indexes ranging from 75 to 100, all driven primarily by engine complaints.
- Which Kia Sorento year is the best?
- The 2024 Sorento is rated Best, with a complaint index of only 15 across 41 complaints, the lowest recent figure other than the earliest model years.
- What is the most common problem with the Kia Sorento?
- Across all years, the Engine is the top problem area with 4,197 complaints, 44% of the total 9,631 complaints on file with NHTSA.
- Does the 2016 Kia Sorento have engine fire recalls?
- Yes. The 2016 Sorento has 8 recall campaigns on file, including a tow hitch harness recall with a park-outside advisory and a transmission shift lever campaign.
- Are early Kia Sorento years (2005-2009) reliable?
- Model years 2005-2009 are all rated Good, but NHTSA notes their complaint records are less complete, so those Good verdicts are capped rather than reflecting a fully confirmed low complaint rate.