2017 Kia Sorento: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2017 Kia Sorento
On the 2017 Kia Sorento, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 62,500 miles. The earliest to appear is other speed control problem, reported by a median of 15,000 miles. Overall it scores 78 out of 100, severe risk for a 2017.
Severe risk for a 2017 — 64th riskiest of the 263 2017 vehicles we can rate. 1,041 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2017 Kia Sorento
Owners have reported 70 named failure modes on the 2017 Kia Sorento, and the three most-reported carry 35% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other engine problem leads with 182 reports, about 46 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 32k to 90,000 miles.
Excessive oil consumption follows with 99 reports, usually reported between 65k to 100,000 miles.
Other lighting problem follows with 83 reports, usually reported between 30k to 65,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (383), lighting (136) and steering (98).
At what mileage it happens
343 of the reports on the 2017 Kia Sorento came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 45,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 53% by 50,000 miles, 87% by 100,000 miles and 99% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 60,000 and 70,000 miles, which alone holds 16% of the dated reports.
42% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: other speed control problem around 14k, other steering problem around 25k, sunroof failure or glass breakage around 30k and headlight failure or clouding around 37k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 70. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 13 mention a crash, 30 a fire and 13 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.98, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, excessive oil consumption at $900–$6,500, other lighting problem at $120–$1,200 and other steering problem at $350–$2,400. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
42% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 182 | 81 | 32k | 62k | 91k | 46.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 99 | 16 | 65k | 67k | 98k | 25.1 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 83 | 25 | 30k | 43k | 66k | 21.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 77 | 31 | 14k | 25k | 32k | 19.6 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 62 | 15 | 33k | 46k | 68k | 15.7 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 35 | 12 | 34k | 37k | 43k | 8.9 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 32 | 3 | — | 16k | — | 8.1 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 24 | 7 | — | 30k | — | 6.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 21 | 12 | 13k | 30k | 48k | 5.3 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 20 | 7 | — | 47k | — | 5.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 18 | 7 | — | 36k | — | 4.6 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Oil leak | engine | 17 | 4 | — | 86k | — | 4.3 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 17 | 6 | — | 49k | — | 4.3 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 17 | 7 | — | 500 | — | 4.3 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 17 | 5 | — | 67k | — | 4.3 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 15 | 5 | — | 10k | — | 3.8 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 15 | 6 | — | 63k | — | 3.8 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 13 | 3 | — | 80k | — | 3.3 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 13 | 8 | 9k | 14k | 22k | 3.3 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 12 | 4 | — | 767 | — | 3.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 11 | 4 | — | 70k | — | 2.8 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 10 | 5 | — | 68k | — | 2.5 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 9 | 3 | — | 40k | — | 2.3 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.8 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 7 | 1 | — | 45k | — | 1.8 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 7 | 2 | — | 49k | — | 1.8 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 7 | 2 | — | 71k | — | 1.8 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.5 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 5 | 1 | — | 29k | — | 1.3 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.3 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 5 | 4 | — | 15k | — | 1.3 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 5 | 2 | — | 138k | — | 1.3 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 5 | 4 | — | 72k | — | 1.3 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 4 | 3 | — | 62k | — | 1.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 4 | 1 | — | 199k | — | 1.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 4 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 1.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 4 | 2 | — | 50k | — | 1.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 4 | 4 | — | 69k | — | 1.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 4 | 2 | — | 62k | — | 1.0 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 36k | — | 0.8 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 3 | 1 | — | 9k | — | 0.8 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 3 | 2 | — | 57k | — | 0.8 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 1k | — | 0.8 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 3 | 2 | — | 110k | — | 0.8 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 3 | 1 | — | 6k | — | 0.8 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Piston, ring or cylinder wall damage | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 108k | — | 0.5 | $3,000–$9,500 | Critical |
| Intake carbon buildup | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $400–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 2 | 2 | — | 22k | — | 0.5 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 97k | — | 0.3 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 16k | — | 0.3 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 418 | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 15k | — | 0.3 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 1 | — | 150k | — | 0.3 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Window regulator or power window failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 80 | 18 | 8k | 26k | 61k | 20.3 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2017 Kia Sorento draws about 264 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 98th percentile of complaint rates among 2017 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 3,938 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2017 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 kia sorento. While driving 52 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, while the vehicle was parked, the engine indicator illuminated without warning. The contact stated that the rpms malfunctioned without warning. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,700.
15-dec-2016: traveling approx. 50 MPH during heavy traffic in marietta, ga, the vehicle had a complete loss of power therefore preventing the operator of said motor vehicle to have complete loss of control of the vehicle, (myself) thus, illustrating a serious safety defect. This issue could have resulted in serious injury, the loss of life of myself or other motorist, and or a catastrophic event to property and infrastructure. The engine light did come on during this incident and ever since I have been extremely fearful to operate my vehicle ever since. 2. 22-dec-2016: engine light, rpms accelerate, while vehicle is in park/ drive. I was parked and the rpms accelerated for no reason. I have video footage of this incident. 3. 05-jan-2017: engine light, rpms accelerate, while vehicle is in park/ drive. Vehicle wanted to accelerate while parked. Vehicle jerked when shifting into park or drive. Vehicle accelerated without applying any throttle. Accelerated very fast had to hold brakes with significant force to prevent from accelerating. I have video footage of this incident. 4. 16-jan-2017: engine light, rpms accelerate, while vehicle…
Other lighting problem
While on auto, headlights turned off when they should not have. Two times during dusk/twilight, and once during the night within a three week period. The time it happened at night, and the one time during twilight was on an unlit rural road . The occurrence during dusk was at a lighted rural intersection.
I was driving my 2017 kia sorento about 30mph early today going about 30mph when all of a sudden I heard a loud clunk from the rear end and the engine, all lighting, electrical, power steering and brakes just shut off. I was able to coast to a stop put the car in park. I then restarted it and it was fine. The dealer could find nothing wrong with it. This is very dangerous. What happens if I am going 70 MPH and the car shuts down like this. Since the dealer could not duplicate the event there is no solution.
Recalls on the 2017 model year
NHTSA has issued 4 recall campaigns covering the 2017 Kia Sorento, affecting an estimated 10,816 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover trailer hitches, fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fitt, engine and engine cooling:engine and electrical system. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
TRAILER HITCHES
70,887 vehicles 2022-09-19- 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
71,653 vehicles 2018-12-19- 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
62 vehicles 2017-09-21- 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
10,212 vehicles 2016-11-30- 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…
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2017 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2017 compares with the other years
Severe risk for a 2017 — 64th riskiest of the 263 2017 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 22 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2024 comes out best at 65 and 2016 worst at 80, with 2017 itself at 78.
If the model year is negotiable, 2024, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2007, 2023, 2008, 2014, 2003, 2019, 2013 and 2012 score lower than 2017 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2011–2018 generation specifically, 2015 is the strongest year at 70 and 2016 the weakest at 80.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2011-2018 generation, 2015 Kia Sorento scores best at 70 and 2016 Kia Sorento worst at 80.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other speed control problem from about 9k, sunroof failure or glass breakage from about 13k, other steering problem from about 14k and other lighting problem from about 30k.
On a 2017 Kia Sorento with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other speed control problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
1,041 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 1,041 reports, 343 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 33% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Kia Sorento?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (182 reports, median 62,500 miles), excessive oil consumption (99 reports, median 65,000 miles) and other lighting problem (83 reports, median 42,500 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2017 Kia Sorento problems start?
Other speed control problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 15,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 10,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 45,000 miles.
Is the 2017 Kia Sorento reliable?
It scores 78 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 64th riskiest of the 263 2017 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2017 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Kia Sorento is best?
Within the 2011–2018 generation, 2015 scores best at 70 out of 100 and 2016 worst at 80. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed