The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 406 of 810 complaints (50%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (11) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 1,263 in 2016 to 810 in 2017.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 810
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,600–$3,300
- Combined MPG
- 19–24
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2017 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,100 | 2,600–3,300 | 2,600–3,300 | 2,600–3,300 | 2,500–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–23 | 19–24 | 19–24 | 19–24 | 21–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18–20 / 23–27 | 17–21 / 23–28 | 17–21 / 23–28 | 17–21 / 23–28 | 19–22 / 24–29 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 390–449 | 377–466 | 377–465 | 377–465 | 363–428 | |
| Complaints filed | 755 | 1,263 | 810 | 255 | 436 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 21 | 29 | 13 | 12 | 10 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 14 | 50 | 32 | 11 | 19 | |
| Injuries reported | 25 | 19 | 17 | 11 | 16 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Sorento have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2017 Kia Sorento?
Engine: 406 of 810 NHTSA complaints (50%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Kia Sorento get?
EPA rates it 19–24 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 Kia Sorento?
EPA estimates $2,600–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
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EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg | 27 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 397 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 21 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | 24 mpg (high) | $2,600 (low) | 377 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 436 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 414 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 21 mpg (high) | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 397 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 465 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 434 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 406 | 2 | 20 | 3 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 37 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 49 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 99 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 27 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 97 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 21 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 25 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 134 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 105 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; ENGINE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.