NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Kia Sorento. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
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.
Vehicle shuttered and died while driving 65mph down highway. Dealer service indicated cause was due to fuel pump failure.
I bought my Sorento new in 2017 and had been taking it in to the dealership for regular maintenance. It started drinking oil a few months ago and an in-warranty oil consumption test was done. It's still using a lot of oil AND now it has a bad cylinder and needs a new $5,000 engine. It's out of warranty now and I'm disappointed that regular service appointments over the last five years didn't prevent this. It makes them seem pointless in retrospect.
Unknown. My vehicle has excessive oil consumption, major vibration an oil is shooting out of the top of my motor that may cause a fire.
Steering is sticky, it holds then releases.
Engine failed while driving on busy highway. No warning lights or indications that there wa san engine or oil issue. Had to be towed 30 miles back home. Mechanic diagnosed with engine failure due to loss of oil. Oil change had been completed two weeks prior. Mileage was around 65,000 but was second owner so when I called Kia, I was told the original warranty did not apply. Had to replace engine.
My 2017 Kia Sorento check engine turn on so I took it to the dealer. The dealer told me that it was the sensors and that the warranty would cover it. A few days later they told me they needed to change the engine. They also said that they needed the oil changes receipts. I send the receipts that I had in the moment, but the warranty needed more receipts. The lady from the dealer told me to call KIA to see what else they need it to approve the warranty to replace the engine. Another lady from KIA told me they need it 11 receipts in total to approve the warranty. I send the rest of the receipts which makes 11 receipts and they still don't want to replace the engine. I call the lemon law to see if they could help me and they told me because I never had any problems with the vehicle and it needs 2 or more problems with the engine, but they told me that KIA has a collective lawsuit for that are engines 2.0 and 2.4 and I have 2.4 on my Kia Sorento.
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.
My car is excessively burning oil. I have Had oil consumption tests done and it has come back excessive. I got the recommended engine cleaning done. They said this fixed the problem. Here I am Less than 3000 miles later and my oil is dry again. I only drive to and from work (5ish miles a day) and longer spouts on the weekends. Kia does not want to honor this and fix it. They know it’s a problem and everyone at the service will tell me they know but corporate won’t make it right.
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
No warning. Engine started knocking. Waiting to hear if repair will be covered by 100000 original owner warranty
Headlights and dash lights will suddenly and randomly turn off while driving when using auto setting. Have experienced this multiple times.
Engine seized while driving on the highway. No engine warning light came on bu t vehicle was completely out of oil. Routine oil change had been completed 2-3 weeks prior to this incident.
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
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became firm. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
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.
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.
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.
My motor was beginning to make a knocking sound yesterday and I felt unsafe driving it so I parked it
"Oil pressure light" appears while starting and driving vehicle, oil maintains in vehicle no drop in oil level. KIA dealership is aware of issue and has not informed consumers before purchase that a flush of the engine, is a "potential" fix for issue, KIA dealership is unsure that issue will be resolved, on low mileage vehicle.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by an authorized dealer. The failure mileage was 102,000.
The car started leaking oil. Took the car in for inspection at local Kia dealership. The component that failed was the "oil pressure switch". This leak put my engine at risk of not working and fire. There was no warning lamp, engine oil was low. There is a NHTSA notice for this same issue sent out for Kia Sorento 3.3L GDI engines.
While I was driving on the interstate my head lights and dashboard lights went out. My lights were in auto mode. The next morning my park lights were on with the light switch in auto mode.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed and lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine was blown. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Rear Differential Coupling Assembly leak, to where it needs to be replaced. Loud noises coming from the back of the vehicle, especially during braking. Brakes still have 5 and 7 mm remaining.
The auto lights turn off randomly during night operation
Paint delamination on hood.
On 3 different occasions, my headlights have gone out during driving at night. My switch is always set to auto. I have noticed at times during the day they will shut off as well. Shutting off during night driving is very dangerous as i'm not always in areas that are lighted. On a few occasions my eyebrows and tail lights have randomly come on when my car is off during the night. These issues are happening without warning.
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.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was then towed to Kia at Williamsburg (3012 Richmond Rd B, Williamsburg, VA 23185) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the replacement part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,571.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
I have to refill my oil with 5 quarts every 2k miles like clockwork between periodic oil changes. Oil light comes on taking left turns and slowing down to a stop. Dealership said nothing about the issues associated with this car.
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.
Headlights were in auto mode and twice have shut off when it was completely dark at around 0600 on 9/22 and 9/26. Dashboard and all exterior lights went out. I had turn them to the on position for see. In both cases the vehicle was stopped at a stop sign and it happen just as was pulling out.
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.
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.
There is an electrical problem with the Kia Sorento. I had the battery and Alternator replaced when the vehicle shut down and locked up on me. This is the second time in a few months it just shut down while I was driving.
The headlights spontaneously shut off while driving at night. This has happened multiple times since we have owned the car. Mostly happens when lights are in AUTO mode. Also the headlights will turn on while parked and shut off.
2017 Kia Sorrento burns excessive amounts of oil between oil changes, more than 4 quarts. Eyebrow and rear parking lights come on their own, even after the car has been off for several hours without touching Kia or keys.
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.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated to 25-30 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle shuddered significantly. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the cylinders #1 and #4 were misfiring. Additionally, the dealer stated that oil residue was found on the spark plugs, indicating that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The dealer diagnosed that the engine long block needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the long block, the engine, and the cylinders. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 75,114.
I purchased a 2017 Kia Sorento new from Kia of Puyallup. I have taken the vehicle for all changes to Kia of Puyallup. The last two oil changes (9/16/22 and 03/18/23) have shown that within two to three months there wasn’t any oil in the car. During my last oil change 9/16/22, I asked service consultant - Karsten Malin why there was no oil in the car and he stated that it was normal for Kia’s to burn that much oil. Then, a couple of months after the oil change (the dipstick was dry) I reached out to Kia of Puyallup and was told “just put oil in it”. On June 16, 2023 I again reached out to Kia of Puyallup about there being no oil in the car and spoke with the service center manager Tom Evans. This wasn’t normal as I just had an oil change on 03/18/23. At this time I was informed that I would need to bring the car in for an excessive oil consumption test. It would take three attempts and if the last test fails I would need an engine replacement. At that time I asked to make an appointment and was informed they are booked until August and I would need to call during the week to see if I could get the car looked at. In addition, they’re short staffed during certain days during the week/weekend so I would need to check everyday for availability.
While headlight switch is in Auto mode, it will frequently turn off the headlights at night while indicating that I changed the headlight mode even though I haven't touched it. This happens on dark rural roads with no other vehicles around so oncoming headlights isn't the issue. This happens multiple times a week and I am forced to quickly turn the headlights manually to the "always on" position before I crash into something. I am quick, but it is dangerous and scares my wife to death. Searching online forums shows this to be an extremely common problem. This happens all of the time so there is not one specific date to select. It has been happening multiple times a week for about a year now. Kia pretends they haven't heard of this issue before but any simple search online will show they are lying.
My 2017 Kia Sorento, While driving (at night) the head lights will shut off in auto mode. turn the switch off and back on lights come ON, SAFETY TO ME AND OTHERS WHEN YOUR HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT ON A DARK ROAD
While on a road trip down south, at my first gas stop, the vehicle's gear shift was stuck in park and refused to move. After removing the small cap cover marked Shift Lock Release, I manually inserted a screwdriver into the hole and was able to release the shifter. This has been the only way to release the gear shifter from Saturday, 09/10/2022 until present time. I have an appointment for service with Premier Kia dealership in Branford CT.
While in Auto Lights mode, the headlights will randomly turn off while driving. Also, while in auto mode, while the car is parked the lights will randomly turn on- causing the battery to die within a few days of the car not being used. It appears to be the Auto lights mode that causes the problem. This is extremely dangerous to this car and other cars on the road, for obvious reasons. Issue has been noted to Kia dealer 2-3 times over the last 2 years. They are not able to replicate the issue. No errors in the computer.
Engine was burning oil very quickly. We were filling it with oil between oil changes which we always got on schedule. With any problems or warning from check engine light it shut down in the middle of the highway. Our mechanic checked it and said the engine it locked. I’ve only had it for 10 months and it only has 106k miles.
While driving at night down an unlit roadway, the headlights turned off. I was the passenger and my wife the driver. She touched the light control arm and they came back on. She said this has happened about 5 times, all at night. It takes about 3-5 seconds to get the lights to come back on. We were on a back country road driving about 55 mph which means we drove anywhere from 240 feet to 400 feet down the highway in the dark. This is a safety concern. I have also discovered some of the vehicle's lights come on at random while parked in the garage. I have also discovered the battery dead on 3 occasions. I assume these issues are related.
Headlight Switch is faulty when in Auto. Lights shut off randomly while driving at night and when your car is parked and turned off all the lights will come on and drain your battery. I have had the lights shut off on me a dozen times roughly and had to replace a $300 battery because of the lights turning on and draining it. I have been stuck in bad situations with the battery dead and driving down dark roads at night when headlight failure occurs. I see hundreds of complaints from others online. I cannot understand how this safety hazard has not be addressed or corrected by KIA.
The "auto" headlight function keeps malfunctioning. It will randomly shut off the headlights and not turn back on. Numerous forums have reported the issue. This is extremely dangerous when driving at night.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026