Kia Sorento 2011–2015 problems by year and mileage
2nd generation (XM)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20265,114 complaints, 3,199 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2011 Kia Sorento
Close- Median failure report
- 80,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,517
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2011
- Engine284 reports · median 103,000 mi
- Body structure268 reports · median 89,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline265 reports · median 34,000 mi
7 recall campaigns name the 2011: Engine; Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Power train — automatic transmission. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2012 Kia Sorento
Close- Median failure report
- 90,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 880
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2012
- Engine461 reports · median 100,000 mi
- Electrical system127 reports · median 71,000 mi
- Airbag system81 reports · median 94,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2012: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Engine; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2013 Kia Sorento
Close- Median failure report
- 82,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 981
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2013
- Engine496 reports · median 89,000 mi
- Electrical system116 reports · median 74,000 mi
- Body structure91 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2013: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Engine; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2014 Kia Sorento
Close- Median failure report
- 80,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 986
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2014 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2014
- Engine387 reports · median 100,000 mi
- Body structure160 reports · median 72,000 mi
- Electrical system153 reports · median 66,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 2014: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Engine; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Kia Sorento
Close- Median failure report
- 75,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 750
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2015
- Engine360 reports · median 87,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise113 reports · median 67,000 mi
- Body structure100 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2015: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2012 reports latest and the 2015 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2012 has had 3 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2011–2015 Kia Sorento reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 80,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 143,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 3,199
- Recalls
- 13
Most reported
- Engine38.9% of complaints · median 96,000 mi
- Electrical system13.7% of complaints · median 75,000 mi
- Body structure12.8% of complaints · median 80,000 mi
Owners filed 5,114 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011–2015 Kia Sorento; the engine leads with 38.9% of them, and half of the 3,199 that record an odometer reading came by 80,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 47,000 and 113,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2011–2015 Kia Sorento last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2011–2015 Kia Sorento, half of the 3,199 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 80,000 miles and 90% by 143,000 miles.
270 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 53 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Sorento reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Kia Sorento 2011–2015 · 3,199 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 213 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 53 complaints (1.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 12,000
- 25%
- 47,000
- Median
- 80,500
- 75%
- 113,000
- 90%
- 143,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 213 | 6.7% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 69 | 2.2% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 81 | 2.5% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 70 | 2.2% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 79 | 2.5% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 61 | 1.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 77 | 2.4% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 58 | 1.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 69 | 2.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 59 | 1.8% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 82 | 2.6% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 84 | 2.6% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 136 | 4.3% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 118 | 3.7% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 139 | 4.3% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 130 | 4.1% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 139 | 4.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 136 | 4.3% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 128 | 4.0% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 118 | 3.7% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 160 | 5.0% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 116 | 3.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 97 | 3.0% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 84 | 2.6% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 101 | 3.2% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 76 | 2.4% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 93 | 2.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 56 | 1.8% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 68 | 2.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 32 | 1.0% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 71 | 2.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 30 | 0.9% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 34 | 1.1% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 20 | 0.6% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 18 | 0.6% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 7 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 17 | 0.5% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 10 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 9 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 200,000+ | 53 | 1.7% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Sorento problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Kia Sorento 2011–2015
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Transmission and driveline502 reports49,00017,000–98,000Transmission and driveline: 502 reports, median 49,000 miles, middle half 17,000 to 98,000 miles.
- Electrical system700 reports75,00034,000–112,000Electrical system: 700 reports, median 75,000 miles, middle half 34,000 to 112,000 miles.
- Body structure654 reports80,00060,000–101,000Body structure: 654 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 101,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting409 reports85,00065,000–121,000Exterior lighting: 409 reports, median 85,000 miles, middle half 65,000 to 121,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise643 reports86,00060,000–115,000Problems owners could not categorise: 643 reports, median 86,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 115,000 miles.
- Airbag system405 reports90,00070,000–117,000Airbag system: 405 reports, median 90,000 miles, middle half 70,000 to 117,000 miles.
- Engine1,988 reports96,00062,000–123,000Engine: 1,988 reports, median 96,000 miles, middle half 62,000 to 123,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,988 | 38.9% | 96,000 | 62,000–123,000 |
| Electrical system | 700 | 13.7% | 75,000 | 34,000–112,000 |
| Body structure | 654 | 12.8% | 80,000 | 60,000–101,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 643 | 12.6% | 86,000 | 60,000–115,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 502 | 9.8% | 49,000 | 17,000–98,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 409 | 8.0% | 85,000 | 65,000–121,000 |
| Airbag system | 405 | 7.9% | 90,000 | 70,000–117,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 234 | 4.6% | 100,000 | 66,000–147,000 |
| Brakes | 205 | 4.0% | 63,000 | 33,000–108,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 169 | 3.3% | 29,000 | 11,000–69,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 80,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 38.9% of complaints (1,988 reports, 1,290 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 62,000 and 123,000 miles.
A single system taking 38.9% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 13.7% of complaints (700 reports, 445 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 34,000 and 112,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 12.8% of complaints (654 reports, 326 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 101,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 12.6% of complaints (643 reports, 278 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 115,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.8% of complaints (502 reports, 389 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 49,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 17,000 and 98,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 8.0% of complaints (409 reports, 239 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 121,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2011–2015 Sorento
Engine 2011–2015
Theta II GDI connecting rod bearing failure from crankshaft machining debris restricting oil flow to the rod bearings; presents as knocking, power loss, then seizure or stall, occasionally with a punctured block and oil fire. Recall 17V-224 covered Theta II GDI Sorentos in this generation, and the later Knock Sensor Detection System software campaign added early-warning limp mode.
Steering 2011–2013
Electric power steering assist loss and column coupler complaints.
Before you buy a 2011–2015 Sorento: the 3-minute check
Generated from 3,199 mileage-tagged complaints, 13 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 13 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine on 2011–2015 cars. Theta II GDI connecting rod bearing failure from crankshaft machining debris restricting oil flow to the rod bearings; presents as knocking, power loss, then seizure or stall, occasionally with a punctured block and oil…
- Check steering on 2011–2013 cars. Electric power steering assist loss and column coupler complaints.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 47,000 and 113,000 miles, with a median of 80,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 75,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Sorento problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi31% below | At 90k mi56% below | At 120k mi78% below | At 150k mi92% below | At 200k mi98% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 62,000–123,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 34,000–112,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 60,000–101,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 60,000–115,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 17,000–98,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 65,000–121,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 70,000–117,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Kia Sorento 2011–2015 · 3,199 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 31% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 56% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 78% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 92% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 98%: the remaining 1.7% of reports (53) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2011–2015 Kia Sorento recalls (13)
NHTSA records 13 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
3 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around the hydraulic brake circuit (4), the engine (3), the transmission and driveline (3). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Dec 2023 · 2011 · EngineA fire increases the risk of injury.
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2011 Sorento vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
What can happen. A fire increases the risk of injury.
The free fix. Dealers will install Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia…
Sep 2023 · 2011–2014 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideAn engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The…
What can happen. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of…
May 2021 · 2014–2015 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideAn electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
What can happen. An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
The free fix. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing…
Dec 2020 · 2012–2013 · EngineAn engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
What can happen. An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free…
Aug 2020 · 2014–2015 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideIf the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
What can happen. If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles…
Dec 2018 · 2012–2015 · EngineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The 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…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The free 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…
Mar 2017 · 2012–2014 · Engine and Engine CoolingBearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
What can happen. Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
Oct 2015 · 2011–2013 · Power TrainWithout requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing…
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism…
What can happen. Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.…
Aug 2013 · 2014 · Power TrainA fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels.
The defect. Kia Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2014 front wheel drive Sorento vehicles manufactured January 7, 2013, through March 12, 2013; and equipped with 2.4 liter engines. Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture.
What can happen. A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, it may roll away. Either condition increases the risk of…
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 . Kia's recall number…
Apr 2013 · 2011 · Exterior LightingFailure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could…
The defect. Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009…
What can happen. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the…
The free fix. Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners…
Apr 2011 · 2011 · Power TrainDamage to the transmission may cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia is recalling certain model year 2011 Sorento 2wd vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions and 2.4L engines manufactured from the start of production through may 22, 2010. The intermediate shaft may suffer from noise and excessive wear due to a…
What can happen. Damage to the transmission may cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the right side output gear and intermediate shaft free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during may 2011. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Nov 2010 · 2011 · Service Brakes, HydraulicAs a result, brake fluid will leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating…
The defect. Kia is recalling certain model year 2011 Sorento vehicles manufactured from september 14, 2010, through october 4, 2010. Some of the rear brake calipers may not have been properly machined.
What can happen. As a result, brake fluid will leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel…
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the rear calipers and replace it if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on december 10, 2010. Owners may contact Kia consumer assistance center at 1-800-333-4542.
Aug 2010 · 2011 · Electrical SystemWhen the lights are illuminated under certain conditions, an electrical short may occur that can result in a…
The defect. Kia is recalling certain model year 2010 soul and model year 2011 Sorento vehicles manufactured from september 7, 2009 through july 30, 2010. A limited number of wiring harnesses supplied by jci and used for the lighting in the Kia soul vehicle's advanced…
What can happen. When the lights are illuminated under certain conditions, an electrical short may occur that can result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the wiring harnesses for the lights in the Kia soul vehicle's advanced lighting speakers, and the wiring harness for the Kia Sorento vehicle's interior accent illumination. This…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 5,114 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 129 (2.5%)
- Fires
- 242
- Injury reports
- 108
- Fatality reports
- 1
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Sorento problems by model year
The 2011 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,517, most of them about the engine, and the 2015 the fewest, 750. A typical year drew about 981.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,517 | 1,115 | 80,000 | Engine (284) | 7 |
| 2012 | 880 | 600 | 90,000 | Engine (461) | 5 |
| 2013 | 981 | 646 | 82,000 | Engine (496) | 5 |
| 2014 | 986 | 498 | 80,000† | Engine (387) | 6 |
| 2015 | 750 | 340 | 75,000† | Engine (360) | 3 |
What Sorento owners reported
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Zone auto parts store. The contact was notified of an open recall. The dealer was made aware of the failure by phone. The contact referenced an…
2015 · 119,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the air…
2012 · 227,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the vehicle with the engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a diagnostic machine to retrieve DTC: P0136, P0172 system, to the rich bank, and P1326 control module which indicated that the knock sensor needed…
2013 · 312,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled further than normal intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was then taken to a…
2014 · 103,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Built from 3,199 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Sorento generations
- Sorento 2003–2009 1,228 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Sorento 2016–2020 905 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Sorento 2021–2025 100 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline