Kia Sorento Years to Avoid — ask about the engine on a 2011–2020.
The engine is the component owners name most on every Sorento from 2012 to 2020, and 1,378 complaints on those years describe engine failure or knocking, peaking on the 2016 (310). The 2011 drew 1,520 complaints, the most of any Sorento, from the transmission to doors that won't open.
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Quick Answer
- What Kia Sorento years should you avoid?
- The 2011–2017 first. The 2011 drew 1,520 complaints, the most of any Sorento, and recall 23V877000 covers engine-compartment fires on it. From 2012 the engine takes over: recall 17V224000 covers bearing wear that can seize the engine on the 2012–2014, and the 2016 drew 310 complaints about engine failure or knocking with no engine recall on NHTSA's list.
- What is the best year for a used Sorento?
- Leaving out the 2010 and years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints, 2020 (140), 2004 (220), 2006 (242) drew the fewest from 2003 to 2021. The third generation (2016–2020) drew 2,906 complaints in all, against 5,129 for the second (2011–2015).
- Did Kia recall the Sorento engine?
- For some years. Recall 17V224000 covers bearing wear on the 2012–2014, 17V586000 crankshafts on 2017s with the 3.3-liter engine, and 23V877000 and 20V750000 engine fires on the 2011 and the 2012–2013. NHTSA's list has no engine recall for the 2015–2016 or 2018–2020, which drew 644 complaints about engine failure or knocking. Owners below describe Kia replacing engines under an extended warranty.
Five checks for a used Sorento, by year
On a Sorento, the engine's history matters more than almost anything else, so start there.
- 1Read the year and plant from the VINCharacter 10 is the model year; 5XY at the start means built in the US, KND in South Korea.
- 22011–2020: ask about the engineA knock or low oil before failure is what owners describe; ask for oil-change records and any engine-replacement paperwork.
- 32011: open every doorTry each door from the inside and the outside; on the 2011, doors that won't open drew almost as many complaints as the transmission.
- 42015–2017: check the headlightsBulbs that keep burning out (2015) and lights that switch off while driving (2017) are what owners describe.
- 5Check title and mileage recordsA salvage brand or a mileage gap shows up by VIN; a worn engine does not.
Avoid (or Get the Engine Papers): the 2011–2017 Sorento
The engine is the component owners name most on every Sorento from 2012 to 2020. 1,378 complaints on those years describe engine failure or knocking, and 723 on the 2012–2017 describe stalling or a loss of power.
Recall 17V224000 covers the 2012–2014: machining errors can wear the engine's bearings early and seize it. Recall 18V907000 then covers 2012–2017s that already had an engine replaced, because the high-pressure fuel pipe may have been fitted badly during the swap.
The 2015, 2016 and 2018–2020 have no engine recall on NHTSA's list. On a Sorento from these years, ask whether the engine has been replaced, and get the paperwork.
Engine-failure complaints by year
- 193 · 207 · 157 on the 2012, 2013 and 2014, the recalled years.
- 207 · 310 on the 2015 and 2016, with no engine recall.
- 766 2011–2017 complaints mention fire, smoke or melting.
- 17V224000 the 2012–2014 bearing recall.
Every Kia Sorento Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Sorento from 2003 to 2026, read on 13 November 2026.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1st | 308 | 10 · 3 | 1 | Engine And Engine Cooling |
| 2004 | 1st | 220 | 11 · 12 | 0 | Engine |
| 2005 | 1st | 307 | 17 · 5 | 0 | Engine |
| 2006 | 1st | 242 | 12 · 8 | 1 | Engine |
| 2007 | 1st | 154 | 10 · 5 | 4 | Air Bags |
| 2008 | 1st | 217 | 15 · 9 | 3 | Air Bags |
| 2009 | 1st | 55 | 2 · 1 | 3 | Air Bags |
| 2010 | — | 3 | 2 · 0 | 2 | Suspension |
| 2011 | 2nd | 1,520 | 42 · 63 | 8 | Engine |
| 2012 | 2nd | 880 | 21 · 77 | 5 | Engine |
| 2013 | 2nd | 985 | 23 · 45 | 5 | Engine |
| 2014 | 2nd | 989 | 23 · 47 | 6 | Engine |
| 2015 | 2nd | 755 | 21 · 14 | 3 | Engine |
| 2016 | 3rd | 1,263 | 29 · 50 | 8 | Engine |
| 2017 | 3rd | 811 | 13 · 32 | 4 | Engine |
| 2018 | 3rd | 255 | 12 · 11 | 3 | Engine |
| 2019 | 3rd | 437 | 10 · 19 | 2 | Engine |
| 2020 | 3rd | 140 | 11 · 12 | 1 | Engine |
| 2021 | 4th | 27 | 1 · 0 | 4 | Power Train |
| 2022 | 4th | 194 | 4 · 1 | 6 | Power Train |
| 2023 | 4th | 128 | 3 · 2 | 3 | Electrical System |
| 2024 | 4th | 44 | 4 · 1 | 2 | Electrical System |
| 2025 | 4th | 77 | 7 · 0 | 3 | Electrical System |
| 2026 | 4th | 6 | 2 · 0 | 2 | Service Brakes |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales. The Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid are filed under their own names and are not included. NHTSA lists 3 complaints for 2010, and none of our visitors' VINs is a 2010.
Other Sorento Years With a Known Weak Spot
Smaller clusters in NHTSA's records, and the recalls behind them.
2007–2009: airbags
57, 71 and 22 complaints; recall 11V473000 covers 2007–2008 passenger airbags that can switch off with an adult in the seat.
2007–2009: ABS module fire
Recall 20V088000: moisture can short the ABS module and start an engine-compartment fire.
2011: transmission
274 complaints name the transmission; recall 15V626000 covers a shift interlock that can crack on the 2011–2013.
2011: doors that won't open
260 of the 2011's 1,520 complaints describe doors that won't open or broken handles and latches.
2015 and 2017: headlights
62 complaints on the 2015 describe bulbs burning out; 92 on the 2017 describe the headlights switching off while driving.
2021–2022: transmission
19 of the 2021's 27 complaints name the transmission; recall 22V760000 covers an oil-pump fault that can cut drive power.
What Sorento Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
Sorento threads come back to the engine again and again: who got a free replacement, who didn't, and whether the V6 is safer than the four-cylinder.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/kia, 2011–2017 shoppers: a commenter thinks anything older than the 2016 should be avoided; their 2011 LX had a major problem that wasn't covered.
- r/KiaSorento: two or three months after buying, an owner's engine started overheating, and calls to Kia didn't help.
- YouTube, 2015 LX: the dealer said a connecting rod broke, a common problem on that engine; Kia had extended the engine warranty, so the new engine was free.
- YouTube, second owner at 120,000 miles: got a free engine under a lifetime warranty extension for bottom-end lubrication, after calling several dealers to find the paperwork.
- YouTube, 2013: kept blowing headlight bulbs until the owner found the harness connector had melted.
- YouTube, 2015 EX: bought at 95,000 miles, now at 153,000 with no issues.
- YouTube, 2017 at 134,000 miles: the engine blew a head gasket, and the owner traded it in rather than repair it.
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Fewest vs. Most Sorento Complaints
Fewest is limited to 2003–2021 and leaves out years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints (2007–2009, 2015 and 2021), and the 2010, with 3 complaints and no 2010 among our visitors' VINs.
Fewest complaints
- 2020: 140 complaints, 1 recall
- 2004: 220 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2006: 242 complaints, 1 recall
- 2018: 255 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2005: 307 complaints, 0 recalls
Most complaints
- 2011: 1,520 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2016: 1,263 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2014: 989 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2013: 985 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2012: 880 complaints, 5 recalls
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
The Sorentos Our Visitors Check, and Where They Were Built
Between 8 June 2026 and 11 November 2026, visitors ran 521 different Kia Sorento VINs through our free preview. By the first three characters, 467 (90%) were built in the US and 54 (10%) in South Korea.
237 (45%) were 2011–2017 models, the years with the most engine complaints and engine recalls, and 171 (33%) 2021 or newer. The single most-checked year was the 2016, at 55 VINs.
Sorento Complaints by Generation
The second generation (2011–2015) carries 5,129 complaints and the third (2016–2020) 2,906, against 1,503 for the first and 476 so far for the fourth.
What to Check on a Used Sorento
By year, the faults to look for.
2011–2020: engine history
Ask whether the engine was replaced and get the paperwork; listen for a knock at idle.
2011–2017: fire recalls
Confirm recalls 23V877000, 20V750000 or 18V907000, whichever apply.
2011: doors
Open every door from the inside and the outside.
2015–2017: headlights
Leave the lights on Auto on a test drive after dark if you can.
2021–2022: transmission
Confirm recall 22V760000; watch for hesitation from a stop.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Sorento Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales. A Sorento whose engine was already replaced, with paperwork, is a different car from one still on its original engine; the complaint count can't tell you which you're looking at.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used, so they are a minimum. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints: the 2025 has 77 so far, and the 2022 drew 194.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Sorento's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 13 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Kia.
Kia Sorento Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
Engines, recalls and the newer Sorentos.
What is the worst year for the Kia Sorento?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2011 (1,520), then the 2016 (1,263) and the 2014 (989).
Which Sorento years have engine problems?+
The 2012–2020: the engine is the component named most on every one, and 1,378 complaints describe failure or knocking. The 2016 peaks at 310 and the 2015 at 207, neither with an engine recall.
Is the 2011 Sorento a good used buy?+
It drew 1,520 complaints, the most of any Sorento: 274 about the transmission, 260 about doors that won't open and 136 mentioning fire, smoke or melting. Confirm recall 23V877000 first.
What about the 2021 and newer Sorento?+
Far fewer complaints so far: 27 on the 2021 and 194 on the 2022, with the power train named most on both. Recall 22V760000 covers a transmission oil-pump fault.
Is a high-mileage Sorento worth buying?+
It can be: an owner reports a 2015 bought at 95,000 miles now at 153,000 with no issues. On a 2011–2020, an engine-replacement invoice can be worth more than low miles.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can tell you an engine is about to fail. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
Ask About the Engine, Then Check the Title
On a 2011–2020 Sorento, the engine's paperwork tells you more than the mileage. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 13 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Kia. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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