Kia

Sorento

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · model years 2011 to 2025

Includes Sorento 2WD, Sorento 4WD, Sorento AWD and 5 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 87 Sorento trims All Kia cars

The verdict

Best year: 2025. complaints: 63, below this model's typical 721; recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4.

Worst year: 2011. complaints: 1515, about 2.9x this model's typical 515; recalls: 8, about 2x this model's typical 4.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Kia Sorento
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	Top complaints
2011	5Gas	22	175	$2,850	8	1,515	10 (1 open)	ENGINE 14%, STRUCTURE 13%, POWER TRAIN 13%
complaints: 1515, about 2.9x this model's typical 515 recalls: 8, about 2x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 50 NHTSA advised parking the 2011 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	7Gas	22	175	$2,850	5	873	10 (1 open)	ENGINE 39%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7%
complaints: 873, above this model's typical 721 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 36 NHTSA advised parking the 2012 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 16 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	7Gas	22	no data	$2,850	5	975	10 (1 open)	ENGINE 38%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, STRUCTURE 7%
complaints: 975, above this model's typical 721 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 33 NHTSA advised parking the 2013 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	5Gas	21	191	$2,950	6	971	8 (1 open)	ENGINE 28%, STRUCTURE 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 971, about 1.9x this model's typical 515 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 NHTSA advised parking the 2014 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	4Gas	21	241	$2,950	3	741	4 (1 open)	ENGINE 38%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%, STRUCTURE 10%
complaints: 741, about 1.8x this model's typical 412 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 NHTSA advised parking the 2015 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 6 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	6Gas	21.5	240	$2,900	8	1,227	3	ENGINE 43%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%, POWER TRAIN 8%
complaints: 1227, about 2x this model's typical 618 recalls: 8, about 2x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 NHTSA advised parking the 2016 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	6Gas	22	no data	$2,850	4	782	3	ENGINE 37%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 12%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 782, above this model's typical 618 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 NHTSA advised parking the 2017 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 27 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	6Gas	22	no data	$2,850	3	246	1	ENGINE 31%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11%
complaints: 246, below this model's typical 618 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 NHTSA advised parking the 2018 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 48 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	4Gas	22.5	236	$2,775	2	412	1	ENGINE 25%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 412, in line with this model's typical 412 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 NHTSA advised parking the 2019 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	4Gas	22.5	236	$2,775	1	128	1	ENGINE 35%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 128, below this model's typical 412 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 20 NHTSA advised parking the 2020 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 38 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	5Gas, Hybrid	25	191	$2,500	4	0	2	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 515 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 NHTSA advised parking the 2021 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	7Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	26	191	$2,400	6	179	2	POWER TRAIN 21%, ENGINE 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 179, below this model's typical 721 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 NHTSA advised parking the 2022 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 42 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	7Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	26	191	$2,400	3	103	0	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, ENGINE 15%
complaints: 103, below this model's typical 721 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	7Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	26	191	$2,400	2	34	0	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, STRUCTURE 12%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 34, below this model's typical 721 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	7Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	26	191	$2,400	3	63	0	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, ENGINE 16%, POWER TRAIN 16%
complaints: 63, below this model's typical 721 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2011: 22 to 2025: 26

Owner complaints2011: 1,515 to 2025: 63

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Kia Sorento to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.