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.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 12, 2022
My car started running badly with a knocking noise at the start. The knocking noise got worse, I so pulled over and checked the oil and there was virtually no oil in the engine. I filled it with oil and the knocking continued and got worse as I drove it to the dealer for service. The engine failed before I could make it to the dealer. It now needs a new engine. The Car was serviced regularly. NO LOW OIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TO NOTIFY ME OF LOW OIL. NO LEAK WAS DETECTED.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 10, 2022
When “auto” for headlights the lights won’t turn on at night time unless I manually switch it or the lifts will be on and then go off on their own during the night.
Engine, Jul 8, 2022
Loosing oil which will result in engine failure. Had an oil test done at the Kia Dealership and they said it lost 2.5 quarts of oil in 2925 miles and that is "operating as designed". Their Owner's manual says change the oil every 7500 miles. So by then I will be out of oil. Not sure how this is "operating as designed".
Exterior lighting, Jul 7, 2022
While in Auto mode, lights turn off and on during the day and night. Happens daily.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Jul 1, 2022
Passenger seat belt not on warning no longer works when car is running or not running. Passenger can forget to put on seatbelt and no reminder chime. Problem is continuous. No warning lamps. Has been inspected but not repaired. Headlights come on and go off intermittently. Headlights come on when vehicle is off and not running Draining the battery down. Hard to duplicate. Has not been duplicated or repaired as it's intermittent without warning.
Service brakes, Jun 28, 2022
Within the last 6 months the EPB Electronic Parking Brake system engages and will not disengage leaving me stranded 3 separate occassions having to be towed to the dealership twice. Now, the KIA dealer tells me the system needs to be replaced. The dealer originally acknowledged issues with this system and that there is no fix, or recall, at this time. Such a basic function should work on this vehicle without incident and certainly should not fail under 100,000 miles. It is dangerous and can put families at risk when the vehicle locks up and will not move from its spot. Replacement of this sytem is expensive and unreasonable. There are numerous reports that can be found online.
Engine, Jun 27, 2022
The oil burns very fast. I check the oil weekly and it's always low. There were no warning lamps or lights or anything to indicate that the oil was low.
Engine, Jun 26, 2022
My vehicle has been consuming massive amounts of oil. My oil is completely OUT at around 2500 miles after a fresh oil change. There are no leaks or puddles on my garage floor and no warning indication on the dashboard. I became aware of the problem only after my mechanic did courtesy inspections after taking my car in to have tires replaced, headlight bulbs replaced, routine maintenance. This is unacceptable and can lead to significant engine problems and/or fire!
Power train, Engine, Jun 24, 2022
The oil light came on and started blinking. I checked the oil and it was full. I then called the Kia dealer and told them what was going on and the said it was a sensor. I needed to make appointment to get a new sensor but they had none and they were on back order. They would call me when it came in. I started seeing oil in garage under my car. I called The kia dealership back and they said just keep adding oil to it. 4 weeks after initial call the part came in. I took my car in to be fixed but it was more extensive than they were assuming. They had to order more parts and it took 2 more weeks. It turned out to be the Oil pressure switch that was leaking and spewing oil all over the engine. Could have been a disastrous situation. It cost me 1750.00. The car has 84,000 miles on it has been well taken care of and they didn’t cover it under any warranty.
Engine, Jun 20, 2022, fire
I left my home in Northern California and drove my 2017 KIA Sorento EX V6 AWD to work. No one was with me in the vehicle. There seemed to be a rattling sound in the engine when I started and drove the vehicle. There was no illuminated light on the dashboard to indicate a specific issue. I was planning to drop off the vehicle at the KIA Service Center-Roseville Automall after work. I just got off the freeway, when the Kia slowed down by itself. I was able to pull over to the right shoulder of the freeway and the KIA just completely stopped with faint sounds coming from the engine. I turned the car off. I stayed in the car and was about to call my auto insurance company when I smelled smoke. I stepped out, checked the Kia from outside, saw something dripping under the front of the car, and started to catch fire. I immediately stepped far from it and called 911. The fire got bigger and just burned the whole front. We had the KIA Sorento serviced in December 2021 for a leaky oil switch despite timely maintenance at the KIA Service Center through the years. The maintenance guy said we did not have to pay to resolve the leaky oil issue because of a recall warranty. We brought the KIA again for a regular maintenance service and brake pad repairs on 4/2/2022. Later on, we got a letter from the KIA Headquarters dated 4/7/2022 regarding 2014-2018 MY KIA Sorento 3.3 L Vehicle Oil Pressure Switch Leaking New Vehicle Limited Warranty Extension. Somewhere in the letter stated, “If oil is NOT leaking from the engine or the Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light DOES NOT remain illuminated after the engine is turned ON, you DO NOT need to bring your vehicle to a Kia dealership for the purpose of this warranty extension.” I thought the vehicle was in the clear already since it got serviced for the leaky oil in 12/2021 and completed its regular maintenance in 4/2022. Proof of service records,vehicle photos, KIA’s extended warranty letter for recall are all available.
Engine, Jun 20, 2022
High oil consumption. I'm burning 2 quarts of oil every 1000 miles.
Other or unspecified, Jun 17, 2022
My husband and I were driving through a busy section of town and all of a sudden our suv completely lost power, dying on the side of the road. We never had a check engine light or anything come on. When we had it towed to the dealership we were informed our engine had locked up. Apparently there was a product upgrade that should have alerted us that our engine was going out, but we were not notified by Kia of the knock system upgrade. Nor were we informed that, as the second owners of the vehicle, in order to receive such notifications from Kia we needed to contact them and let them know we were the new owners and share our contact information. However, if Kia had classified it as a recall on the warning system, we would have been notified through our registration with the BMV. The dealership did share that this particular engine in a lot of Kia’s models have locked up suddenly similarly to ours. Luckily we were able to get our vehicle stopped right before the intersection, but did end up blocking a lane of traffic until the tow truck came. Kia also refuses to replace our engine because we did not get the knock system upgrade even though we were never notified.
Engine, Jun 13, 2022
I am requesting an investigation of a defect involving the oil pressure switch in my iKia Sorento vehicle engine. The oil pressure switch, a device which monitors engine oil pressure and illuminates a warning light when oil pressure is lost, is defective The defect results in an engine oil leak. The oil loss occurs without warning to the driver eventually leading to an engine stall and loss of motive power condition. This was brought to the attention of the technician that serviced my car several times. I was instructed to add some oil if I noticed it, but don’t fill it up. I was informed to let them take care of the liquid levels when I brought it in for the oil changes.
Steering, Jun 10, 2022
When steering the vehicle at speeds between 40 and 70 mph the steering will feel sticky or get a notch feel to it. When making minor adjustments to the wheel to keep the vehicle going straight there will be resistance, then when enough force has been applied it will move. This sudden movement of the wheel causes the vehicle to over steer on the direction the steering wheel was being moved. This can result in an overcompensation the other direction. Although these are small movements the driving experience is unsettling for the driver, and for others around. The dealership is aware of the issue, confirmed it, and applied a software fix to the vehicle per KIA TSB 060 Rev 5. This has made the issue intermittent at best, instead of correcting it. Upon my second visit the dealership they reset the vehicle computer and I believe applied the software again. Upon testing they could not recreate the issue. On the third visit they were not able to recreate the issue yet again. After every visit I could feel the vehicle exhibiting the problem on the drive home - it's is a 2.5 hour drive to the dealership. The vehicle currently has less than 20K and this issue has been occurring since about 8K miles on the odometer. There has been no indicators or trouble codes, only the driving experience. The first occurrence was during the winter and more pronounced. The sticky feeling and the way that affected my steering on icy roads was somewhat scary. KIA's TSB states if the vehicle fails the recommended course is replacement of steering components. After multiple visits I have found a serious reluctance for them to do anything more than software fixes. I simply want a safe vehicle to transport my loved ones in.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 1, 2022
Car oil had not been changed but a month or two ago and only went on one 2-3 hour trip there and back after the oil was changed. Only stayed in town and went to regular grocery store and work after trip. Did not check oil due to not normally having it deplete fast. A month or so later oil deplited rapidly (this is an unknown part if it was fully the cars issue or if was the person who changed the oil.) Oil was lower than normal mainly noticed when car showed oil lamp light (was only blinking did not stay lit) and started halting and jerking when driving home. More oil was added and once that happened the check engine light came on. Car has jerked and been close to stalling when trying to drive to autostore for diagnostics. Since then the car is acting like it did not have oil added. Oil light is off but engine light blinks constantly. The halting and stalling is similar to the recall on other 2017 Kia Sorento's (with a 3.3 L engine) with the crankshaft being the problem. The halting and stalling can lead to an accident. No prior engine issues before this when the oil ran low.
Engine, May 28, 2022
My car is burning excessive oil. Recently had an oil change on May 9,2022. Oil light came on May 27,2022. There was literally no oil in the car. The remaining mileage that should have been left is 751 til the 3000 miles oil change. Prior to May 9th I had the oil changed early April.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 20, 2022
Excessive oil consumption with no low oil warning light. Driving with no oil can cause severe engine damage. I was informed by the Kia dealership after reporting an issue with oil consumption. Issue started in March 2022, diagnosed in april 2022 and 1 month of driving had no oil and no low oil warning light come on after oil change.
Engine and engine cooling, May 11, 2022, fire
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 35-45 MPH on the highway that suddenly there was smoke and flames coming from underneath the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The fire department came to extinguish the fire. The police department was present and filed a report. There were no injuries. There were no other vehicles involved. The vehicle was towed and the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000
Structure, May 7, 2022
Paint is peeling on hood
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 6, 2022
Car lights come on when the car is not in use. Car sporadically does not start. New battery installed in February and car wont start in May.
Other or unspecified, Apr 29, 2022
Sunroof portion of moonroof exploded while driving on the freeway. We heard a sonic boom inside our car and the sunroof window shattered glass up and outward spraying glass out onto the freeway and into the fabric ceiling liner.
Steering, Apr 28, 2022
I reported earlier that my steering became "sticky" at highway speeds. Now, the problem is occurring at lower speeds. Today it began at 35 mph. Was just driving down the country road from my house and the steering started to stick.
Engine, Apr 26, 2022
Kia can not describe what exactly is wrong with my vehicle. First they said it was the rod bearing then they took it back because if it was the rod bearing system then Kia would have to fix the engine then they said it’s my spark plugs now here we are 4 weeks later they’re saying it’s the compression system in relation to the spark plugs. And this was the same person i spoke to literally 4 weeks Ago. So at this point I’m like make up your mind which one is it? I told them I’m a single parent with a disabled child with no transportation and have been without for 4 weeks. I even had to come up with a rental out of pocket with no reimbursement or loaner from Kia when asked m, i spent $2,000 that Kia won’t reimburse me for. The incident occurred in march 27,2022 while driving on the highway at 70mph as i was accelerating my engine began to shake and engine light came on and vehicle began to shake violently and completely went out. I nearly got into a 3 pile car accident due to this incident. The dealer refuses to acknowledge any ownership and completely rests the blame on me. I have told them and called Kia consumer that i can not afford to pay $7,000 for a recalled engine and im highly upset. No prior warning lights came on prior to this event i submitted all prior maintenance paperwork to my insurance adjuster for proof that the vehicle was regularity was maintained i also did the KSDS update that they recommended that i get done back on 10/2021 and this still issue still happened to me. Now I’ve been sitting at my home with my disabled son and he’s been unable to attend school and i have been unable to provide because we have had no transportation for 4 weeks with no help from Kia. They finally introduced good will to me today finally after 4 weeks but i doubt kia will even cover whole or 50% of the costs of the engine because i can’t afford $7000.
Engine, Apr 26, 2022
I have a had issues with my check engine light flashing and when that occurs. The car begins to drive slow and does a jerking motion when pressing the gas pedal. I called Kia Galenea and informed them of the problem with my vehicle. They took the car and said it that the vehicle needed a updated on the knock sensor. So they did the updated not even a week later the engine check light comes back on again. I called Kia dealership and told them again what had happened. The same code P1326 appeared again and the check engine light is flashing. They took the car back and said it was a oil pressure switch that needed to be fixed. I paid them for that and they said we fixed it. I left the dealership with my vehicle and not even 20 minutes the check engine light came back on. This time my car began to stall like it could hardly go 50 on the interstate. I told the dealership and they said it’s nothing we can do, so I had told them it’s still showing the P1326 popping up and the car is even worse now. So I filed a complaint with Kia Consumer after that incident and I have yet to hear back from anyone yet. During this difficult time I have been struggling to get to work when they basically refuse to put me in a rental. I was put in a rental for less than 24 hours when they called me that morning saying they had fixed the problem when I’m certain they didn’t because the check engine light began to flash as soon as I got on the interstate. I had to pull over because I didn’t want anyone to rear end me. I just want Kia to fix the problem even though it’s not giving me the answers. I have filed a complaint I have been more than patient with Kia. I’m still without answers and a vechicle.
Steering, Apr 24, 2022
At highway speeds, the steering appears to "stick." Think of it as as a flat spot on a wheel. That's what it feels like. The higher the speed, the more it sticks. Using cruise control makes it worse. This sticking causes overcorrection. Had a bit of an issue going through a construction zone over the Nueces River in Corpus Christi, TX. I have researched this issue, and you do have complaints. I am scheduling service for the car next week. I do have a notice from Kia on steering issues. A type of extended warranty for steering. The "sticky steering" issue has no warning lights/lamps.