Kia

Sorento (BL)

2003-2009 · Midsize SUV · 4 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (2.1)
1,412 NHTSA Complaints
6 Recalls
38 Fire Reports
68 Crash Reports
View all 4 generations of the Kia Sorento → 📋 Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
4/5 (19.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
4/5 (19.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
4/5 (19.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
3/5 (20.4% risk)
ESC: No FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
3/5
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

3.8-V6-Gas

3.8L 6-cyl
⚠️ Caution (2.1)
89 complaints 29.7 per year Gasoline
2 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
31
electrical
20
brakes
14
transmission
13
other
12

Known Issues

Safety Systems Issues (31 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (20 complaints)
Brakes Issues (14 complaints)

Kia Sorento Unidentified Engine

Avoid (1.8)
288 complaints 41.1 per year
7 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
76
electrical
61
exterior
59
cooling
39
transmission
31

Known Issues

Engine Issues (76 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (61 complaints)
Exterior Issues (59 complaints)

Sigma

3.5L
Avoid (1.0)
844 complaints 168.8 per year Gasoline
22 fire reports 3 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
336
cooling
154
electrical
125
transmission
110
steering
104

Known Issues

Engine Issues (336 complaints)
Cooling System Issues (154 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (125 complaints)
Show 3 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

DOHC

2.4L
Recommended (4.9)
4 complaints 1.3 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

body
2
safety systems
2
other
1
electrical
1

Known Issues

Body/Trim Issues (2 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (2 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

DOHC T-GDI THETA-II

2.4L Turbo
Recommended (5.0)
2 complaints 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1
other
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)

3.5-V6-Gas

3.5L 6-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

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Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Kia Sorento regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (456 complaints)
engine critical
Electrical System Issues (265 complaints)
electrical critical
Cooling System Issues (193 complaints)
cooling critical
Transmission Issues (175 complaints)
transmission critical
Steering Issues (104 complaints)
steering critical

Recalls (6)

20V088000Feb 13, 2020serious
Electrical System

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

13V114000Jan 3, 2013serious
Exterior Lighting

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

11V473000Jul 8, 2011serious
Air Bags

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 SORENTO PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 15, 2006 THROUGH NOVEMBER 27, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE TURNED OFF WHEN AN ADULT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DESIGNED TO BE TURNED OFF IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING WHEN CHILDREN AND SMALL ADULTS ARE SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THERE IS A CHILD RESTRAINT IN THAT SEAT OR THE SEAT IS NOT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS), WHICH CLASSIFIES THE OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, MAY MISCLASSIFY AN ADULT PASSENGER AS A CHILD OR CHILD SEAT AND IMPROPERLY TURN OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. WHEN THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL.

11E041000Jun 9, 2011serious
Equipment

CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 56024, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ AND KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.

09V130000Apr 16, 2009serious
Exterior Lighting

HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

05V353000Apr 7, 2005serious
Fuel System

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TUBES NEAR THE FUEL TANK DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE FIT WITH THE VEHICLE FLOOR PANEL.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2003-2009 Kia Sorento problems?

The 2003-2009 Kia Sorento has accumulated 1,412 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Electrical System, Cooling System. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Kia Sorento engine is most reliable?

The 2003-2009 Kia Sorento was offered with 7 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.8L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2003-2009 Kia Sorento a good used car?

The 2003-2009 Kia Sorento can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 1,412 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003-2009 Kia Sorento have?

The 2003-2009 Kia Sorento has 1,412 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2003-2009 Kia Sorento?

There are 6 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2003-2009 Kia Sorento vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Kia Sorento?

Before buying a used Kia Sorento, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Electrical System, Cooling System, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Sorento?

The 2009 Kia Sorento received an overall N/A-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: N/A stars. Side crash: N/A stars. Rollover: 4 stars (19.1% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 1,412 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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