2017 Kia Sorento Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,032 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 Kia Sorento, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 46/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 65,895 miles.

1,032Complaints
46/100Trouble index
4Recalls
47,550Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2017 sits among all Sorento years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 406 complaints (39%) · typically ~65,895 miles
“Check engine light came on, oil light came on after, vehicle stalled on expressway. Engine is knocking.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sorento
Electrical 219 complaints (21%) · typically ~44,000 miles
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sorento
Other 114 complaints (11%) · typically ~29,150 miles
“Lights will just turn off while driving and and the blinkers will not work. The horn will not work either. It happens all the time it doesn’t matter if it’s day time or night time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sorento
Steering 95 complaints (9%) · typically ~30,000 miles
“The steering seems to stick, hard to explain but when you are driving on the highway feels like the steering wheel is going to stop working.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sorento
Fuel system 49 complaints (5%) · typically ~66,500 miles
“Vehicle shuttered and died while driving 65mph down highway. Dealer service indicated cause was due to fuel pump failure.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sorento
Transmission & drivetrain 37 complaints (4%) · typically ~56,574 miles
“Power steering went out. Radio turns on and off going down the road. Headlights turn off and on by themself. Battery is now dead. Car will not run. Transmission light came on all in one day..i've had this vehicle for 4 to 5 months”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Sorento

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 338 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 47,550 miles. Half of those reports fall between 25,000 and 73,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (4)

TRAILER HITCHES 22V703000 2022 Park outside

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…

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 18V907000 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…

Fix: 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…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17V586000 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.

Fix: 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…

TRAILER HITCHES 16V862000 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…

Fix: 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…

Federal defect investigations

Loss of Motive Power PE23019 opened 2023, closed 2024
Loss of Motive Power DP22003 opened 2022, closed 2023
Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak DP21002 opened 2021, closed 2023

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2016peak 183 in 20232026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2017 Kia Sorento reliable?

The 2017 Kia Sorento drew 1,032 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 46/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).

What are the most common 2017 Kia Sorento problems?

The top reported problems for the 2017 Kia Sorento are engine (406 complaints), electrical (219), and other (114).

At what mileage do 2017 Kia Sorento problems show up?

Owners most often report 2017 Kia Sorento problems around 47,550 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 25,000 and 73,000 miles.

Does the 2017 Kia Sorento have recalls?

4 recall campaigns apply to the 2017 Kia Sorento. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.