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#BS-2017-KIASOR-433B

2017 Kia SorentoProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,053 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1,053
Crashes
18
Fires
44
Recalls
4
TSBs
242
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,053 complaints, 18 crashes, 44 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 1.9x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

engine failure

17 complaints • Severity 9.5/10

$X,XXX
2

excessive oil consumption

8 complaints • Severity 8.5/10

$X,XXX
3

lights turn on when vehicle is parked and locked

5 complaints • Severity 8.8/10

$X,XXX
4

car wanders at highway speeds

5 complaints • Severity 8.8/10

$X,XXX
5

lights turn off and on while in auto mode

3 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

413 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 47K miles.

!Inspect the LightsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

104
0–30K
96
30–60K
85
60–90K
48
90–120K
16
120–150K
7
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (104 reports) • Median: 47K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (413 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine413 (39%)
Lights119 (11%)
Other104 (10%)
Steering97 (9%)
Electrical93 (9%)
Fuel System49 (5%)
Drivetrain37 (4%)
Brakes22 (2%)

2017 Kia Sorento: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 39% of all reports filed for the 2017 Kia Sorento, with 413 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 47,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 47K-mile mark.

Lights Issues

Lights complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2017 Kia Sorento, with 119 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2017 Kia Sorento, with 97 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2017 Kia Sorento, with 93 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

6
16
36
17
42
18
78
19
75
20
84
21
169
22
183
23
156
24
133
25
91
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2017 Kia Sorento. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

16V862000Jan 2017

TRAILER HITCHES

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."

17V586000Nov 2017

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

18V907000Jan 2019

ENGINE

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.

22V703000Park OutsideJul 2023

TRAILER HITCHES

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2017 Kia Sorento NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (3)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP21002ClosedOpened Nov 2021 · closed Jun 2023

Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PRESSURE/TEMPERATURE SENSOR

DP22003ClosedOpened Sep 2022 · closed Dec 2023

Loss of Motive Power

ENGINE

PE23019ClosedOpened Nov 2023 · closed Jul 2024

Loss of Motive Power

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:SEALS/GASKETS

The worst model year for the Kia Sorento is the 2016 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2017 Kia Sorento vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

1,053

Class avg

549

1.9x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,053 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Kia Sorento Model Years

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003
View all Kia Sorento years →

2017 Kia Sorento: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Kia Sorento?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2017 Kia Sorento is related to the engine, with 413 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2017 Kia Sorento reliable?
The 2017 Kia Sorento has 1,053 complaints, 18 crash reports, and 44 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 1.9x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2017 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA rates the 2017 Kia Sorento 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2017 Kia Sorento problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2017 Kia Sorento have any recalls?
Yes, the 2017 Kia Sorento has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Kia Sorento problems start?
Based on 356 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 47,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2017 Kia Sorento data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,053 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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