2017 Kia Sorento
Gas Compact SUV
The 2017 Kia Sorento is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sorento FWD, is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 801 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorento FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,600 |
| Sorento FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Sorento AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 19 | 25 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Sorento AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 | 25 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Sorento FE AWD | Gas | AWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 18 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 |
| Sorento FWD | Gas | FWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,100 |
| Sorento AWD | Gas | AWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
The 2017 Kia Sorento is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (4)
Trailer Hitches
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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
highProblem: 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."
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Engine — Loss of Motive Power (closed)
On November 13, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-019) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power relating to head gasket and/or head bolt failure in Model Year (MY) 2016-2017 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the 3.3 L Lambda II engine. When the investigation was opened, ODI had received 13 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) related to reports of loss of motive power. In an information request letter dated November 30, 2023, ODI requested technical information and failure data relating to the alleged defect in the subject MY 2016-2017 Kia Sorento as well as several peer vehicle populations which share the 3.3 L engine. In its Feb
Opened Nov 13, 2023 · closed Jul 23, 2024 · action PE23019
Engine — Loss of Motive Power (closed)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003
Engine — Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak (closed)
In a letter dated September 30, 2021, Mr. Gerald James (the petitioner) requested that NHTSA conduct an investigation of the Model Year (MY) 2015-2017 Kia Sorento equipped with 3.3L V6 ?Lambda? engines for ?severe oil leaks? from the oil pressure switch (OPS) that could ?lead to engine failure? with little warning to the driver. Mr. James based this request on his own experience and data found in NHTSA?s Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) database. NHTSA reviewed the material cited by the petitioner, information submitted by Kia, NHTSA?s testing, and other pertinent information in NHTSA databases.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-002 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. O
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · closed Jun 26, 2023 · action DP21002
Owner complaints
801 complaints filed
13 involved a crash, 32 a fire, 17 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2016: 4 · 2017: 24 · 2018: 34 · 2019: 58 · 2020: 64 · 2021: 64 · 2022: 134 · 2023: 137 · 2024: 121 · 2025: 106 · 2026: 55
Most-cited components
- Engine — 384
- Exterior Lighting — 125
- Unknown Or Other — 103
- Steering — 97
- Electrical System — 94
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Sorento model years
2027 Sorento
0 recalls · 0 complaints
B2026 Sorento
2 recalls · 5 complaints
D2025 Sorento
4 recalls · 125 complaints
B2024 Sorento
2 recalls · 47 complaints
F2023 Sorento
4 recalls · 156 complaints
F2022 Sorento
9 recalls · 221 complaints
F2021 Sorento
5 recalls · 263 complaints
B2020 Sorento
1 recalls · 134 complaints
C2019 Sorento
2 recalls · 426 complaints
D2018 Sorento
3 recalls · 252 complaints
F2016 Sorento
8 recalls · 1,248 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 37392, 37391, 37395, 37396, 37398, 37393, 37397). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.