2017 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 804 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 13 involved a crash and 32 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Trailer hitchesPark outsideSep 19, 2022
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.
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 22V703000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineSep 21, 2017
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.
If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 17V586000 on NHTSA.gov
Trailer hitchesNov 30, 2016
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."
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V862000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
804 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 19, 2022
Excessive oil consumption causing engine to misfire- needing spark plugs replaced with low mileage. Adding 2 quarts of oil about every 700 miles. With no solution given to correct issue.
Engine, Dec 19, 2022
2017 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ENGINE FAILURE.
Engine, Dec 13, 2022, fire
The engine threw a rod through the block, it is available upon request. I had driven it to my destination earlier that day, it stayed parked until later in the evening as we were getting ready to go we checked the oil and headed on our way. After 10 min of driving on the highway there was a loud ugly clunk noise, lots of smoke coming from the car and the oil and check engine light turned on and shut off, the engine had no power. We started to pull over we began seeing flames coming from under the hood, the engine had caught on fire before we had completely pulled over and come to a stop. It can't be driven anywhere, we found pieces of piston/connecting rod that were broken and mangled in the engine and later found the hole underneath the car at the bottom of the block. Since the fire was out by the time the officer arrived, he gave us an incident report and drove us home. The car wasn't making a weird noise, wasn't driving funny, it had less than 90k miles on it, no warning lights of any kind on the dash were on until mid accident but they turned off as fast as they came on. It was the LAST thing we expected to happen considering the mileage and no warnings or any kind before that night. Opened a case with Kia Customer Care Center and was told my case was escalated to nationals and they would reach out to me, I called back several times as they didn't have a number to give to me and each time I called i was told there was no update, there is still currently no update or anything, I had to call to reopen my case because an employee had closed my case-reason unknown.
Trailer hitches, Dec 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Trailer hitches, Dec 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 6, 2022
2nd rear section (non-movable portion) of Panoramic glass shattered while driving. No road debris is possible due to roof rack being on car which would prevent road debris or falling material. It simply shattered like temperature differential shatter.
Steering, Dec 5, 2022
Steering is sticky, it holds then releases.
Engine, Dec 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated that the low oil warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to CarMax, where they completed an oil consumption test and associated the failure with an unknown engine recall. The contact was referred to a local dealer for the recall repair. The contact towed the vehicle to a local dealer but was informed that the VIN was not included with the unknown recall on the engine. The contact towed the vehicle back to CarMax and was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact towed the vehicle to a second local dealer: Greenway Kia East (8701 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32817: (407) 678-1717), and was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed at their location; however, she declined due to the cost. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact towed the vehicle back to CarMax. The vehicle was not repaired due to a backorder on the engine. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,411.
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 1, 2022
Vehicle shuttered and died while driving 65mph down highway. Dealer service indicated cause was due to fuel pump failure.
Exterior lighting, Dec 1, 2022
Headlights and dash lights will suddenly and randomly turn off while driving when using auto setting. Have experienced this multiple times.
Power train, Dec 1, 2022
Car is jerking into 2nd gear while driving which causes tension on neck and back. Transmission also slips while accelerating. TCM needs to be updated but dealership can't do it without a notice.
Engine, Nov 30, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving back to the residence, the vehicle stalled several times and had to be restarted several times. The contact had rebuilt the engine himself. The failure recurred a second time and the vehicle had to be towed. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering and jerking while driving. The contact stated the engine failed and the vehicle was no longer drivable. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall for the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and filed a case. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
Exterior lighting, Nov 23, 2022
The lighting switch assembly has an issue that causes the headlights to turn off at random times. I have only seen it happen when the switch is on the auto setting, but that is the setting I most often use. When the lights go off, the instrument panel display shows that the switch has changed to the parking lights setting, but the physical switch has not been moved. The lights remain off for a few seconds and then switch back to the auto setting. I have also seen issues with the turn signals, such as when I make a left turn and complete the turn, the switch flips to the off position and then the right turn signal turns on by itself. This is a safety risk because the lights randomly turn off at night and it hinders my ability to see in the dark and for other vehicles to see me. It is also a safety risk because other drivers may react based on my turn signal being on, but I don’t intend to move in the direction it is indicating. I have seen this happen multiple times over the past year, but not consistently. The dealer I brought it to was not able to reproduce the issue and did not replace the switch. A dealer has inspected it, but no other parties have. There is no prior warning or messages before it happens.
Engine, Nov 21, 2022
No warning. Engine started knocking. Waiting to hear if repair will be covered by 100000 original owner warranty
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Nov 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that an oil consumption test was performed on Oct 29th and approximately a month later, the engine had consumed 2 1/2 quarts of oil. There was no oil on the dipstick when checked and the vehicle had not yet been driven 1,000 miles. The vehicle began sputtering with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was referred to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased. The contact was informed that the failure could be related to the pistons. The vehicle was not officially diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that a quart of oil needed to be added occasionally. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,008.
Engine, Nov 20, 2022
My 2017 Kia Sorento does not start all the time. I have had both the battery and starter tested and am told they are fine. This makes for a very UNRELIABLE mode of transportation. The car does not start sporadically and leaves me stranded at various times and places. I have been told by several repair places that they have no idea how to fix this... The car eventually starts after a few prayers but no mechanical adjustments are made. Please advise!! Thanks
Engine, Nov 16, 2022
I have two major concerns about my 2017 KIA Sorento (2.2L) OIL CONSUMPTION: The vehicle consumes up to 2-3 quarts of oil within 2-3 months. This is similar to other cases on this site: NHTSA ID Number: 11493012 NHTSA ID Number: 11491117 NHTSA ID Number: 11487580 NHTSA ID Number: 11486757 NHTSA ID Number: 11486544 NHTSA ID Number: 11484553 NHTSA ID Number: 11483621 NHTSA ID Number: 11482245 NHTSA ID Number: 11478518 NHTSA ID Number: 11478115 ENGINE KNOCK/VIBRATION: Now the engine knocks wildly when in idle, and I do not feel safe driving it, and it is the only vehicle I have access to transport my child to their job. My issues are similar to these reports: NHTSA ID Number: 11491104 NHTSA ID Number: 11477401 NHTSA ID Number: 11476366 NHTSA ID Number: 11473881 NHTSA ID Number: 11473534 I have reached out to the dealer, in reference to this, and they will not return my calls. When a mechanic reviewed it, they replaced two Ignition Coils (cylinder1&4) and all of the spark plugs, without any change. This vehicle was purchased in April 2022, and I have nothing but issues with it, and the dealer refuses to take it back or assist me with my concerns. It is very unsafe to drive, but like I shared it is the only vehicle we have. I fear this will not end well. My friend called on my behalf and had this Recall Request Open: 575550
Seat belts, Nov 15, 2022
When someone is sitting in the front passenger seat and does NOT have their seat belt on there is no warning alerting the operator of the vehicle, no lights blinking or no bells dinging. I have done a little research and this appears to be common on at least some Kia vehicles. Pretty much every other vehicle I have checked gives some kind of warning if passenger is not buckled. The seatbelt system is part of the restraint system (as I'm sure you know) so I would think that would be a big safety issue.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated upon activating the high beam headlights, both the internal and external lights failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the lights had to be manually turned off before returning to normal operation. The contact also mentioned that his wife had driven into a ditch and scratched the passenger’s side of the vehicle due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where he was given an estimate for a diagnostic test and repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,600. The VIN was not available.
Engine, Nov 10, 2022
The engine has been consuming a lot of oil for some time. Kia did an oil consumption test 12/1/2020 and at that time was using 1.5qt per 1000 miles. They said was OK and acknowledged that a service bulletin was coming out in several weeks that would address the issue (See Receipt). That service bulletin was never issued from Kia. The oil consumption has increased to 330 miles per quart in September of 2022. Now the engine began to miss-fire on 10/27/2022 and consuming more than 200 miles per quart of oil. I believe the engine is now irreversibly damaged and they will not honor the warranty. The car is still within the warranty terms.
Exterior lighting, Nov 9, 2022
While headlights are set to "Auto" mode, they will automatically shut off wile driving on multiple occasions. Also, while on "Auto" mode, parked, and vehicle turned off, head lights will turn on. This is a safety issue as driving without headlights is illegal and can cause an accident. Also, if vehicle has headlights on while vehicle is parked and turned off, this can cause the battery to drain and vehicle will not turn on. Enabling it driveable. This is a failure within Kia's electrical system/wiring, and needs to be brought to their attention.
Power train, Engine, Oct 31, 2022
1.Engine is consuming 2-3 quarts of oil every 1,000 miles. Kia consumer services instructed me to pay for an oil diagnostic test- of 4 visits every 1,000 miles- cost of oil changes, engine flush, rental car for 2 days= $800 to date. 2. I am a therapist and travel Ohio for insurance purposes. My vehicle is a converted handicapped accessible vehicle as my significant other had multiple sclerosis, and the purpose of purchasing the car 4 years ago. 3. Yes, the service dept of a local dealer has confirmed the issue. They state that Kia refuses to do anything to resolve the issue of oil running out, engine seizing to work, driver will be killed driving when engine stops and is run into by semi-truck on highway. 4. No warnings. I literally ran out of oil 2 times before I knew it is a problem. The problem started in August of 2022. Under 96,000 miles. Now 102,000. Kia states that due to me being the 2nd owner (purchased at 23,000 miles) that they will not warranty the car at 100,000 as I was let to believe when I purchased it from Freedom Motors in BattleCreek Michigan.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 27, 2022
Intermittently, while driving, day or night, the headlights will turn on or off for about 30 seconds despite the called for sensor setting. For example, if it is dark outside, the sensors will trigger to turn on the headlight and running lights and vise a versa, when the sensors detect sufficient light, the running and headlights will turn off. I have only noticed this happens when the headlights are in the "auto" mode position as I don't keep them any other way. I have only noticed it a couple times when the headlights and/or running lights will turn on during the day (bright enough not to trigger the sensor). HOWEVER, it has happened A LOT at night where the lights will turn OFF WHILE DRIVING which causes panic because I'm driving a death machine blindly (nothing bright to mistakenly trigger sensor/no overhead lighting or approaching vehicles, i.e. pitch black). I have not been able to recreate it on demand and it has an unknown, unbiased pattern. I would say that it occurs weekly, up to 2 times per week. I feel that it has happened more often a few seconds after straightening from a turn using the turning signal (but I always use my turning signal). The direction of turn doesn't factor, it'll do it turning left or right. There has been a couple times where I almost have driven off the road and/or hit unseen objects because of having no lights. This has happened enough at night when the lights unwantedly turn off, that I have learned to quickly switch the lights from "auto" to "on" and the lights react/will work and stay on when switched back to "auto". Mechanic unable to recreate issue. No warning lights, messages, or notice of problematic signals (other than the standard "lights on" notification. The attached picture was taken at 4:06 pm on July 29, 2022. It was a hot, sunny day and I was doing 53 on the highway (straight/no curves). My running lights turned on long enough for me to pull out my phone and take a picture.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 27, 2022
My car has repeatedly completely run out of oil after going 2500 of 5000 miles and the oil leaked into different parts of the car. The car is not drivable and shakes and the engine rattles. None of the dashboard indicators illuminated to indicate an issue, until after the car shut off as I placed it in drive and was trying to accelerate, on 9/24/22. I have only owned the car since 10/2021. This car’s repairs should be covered under NHTSA Recall #20V750.
Engine, Oct 27, 2022
My motor was beginning to make a knocking sound yesterday and I felt unsafe driving it so I parked it