Kia Sorento
Problems & Worst Years

Two model years carry the bulk of the Sorento's complaint history: 2016 and 2017 each logged well over 400 total complaints, dwarfing every other year in this file. In 2016, excessive oil consumption was reported 186 times and engine failure tied to head gasket issues 172 times, both flagged at safety severity — those two complaints alone account for most of that year's 467 total reports — with engine failure from lack of oil (47) and stalling with loss of power (32) adding to an unmistakable pattern of oil-related engine trouble. The following year shifted the spotlight to a sunroof malfunction, reported an extraordinary 179 times and also rated safety severity, alongside headlights randomly turning off while driving (55 reports, safety-rated), continuing oil consumption issues (48), and stalling at idle tied to the stop-start system (45). Recalls 17V586 and 18V907 apply to 2017.

Headlights turning off while driving persisted into 2018 (29 reports, safety-rated) alongside a notchy or sticky steering feel at highway speeds (16 reports, also safety-rated); that year carries five safety-tagged complaints, the most of any Sorento year here, and recall 18V656 applies. The 2019 model saw the widest spread of problem types at 38, led by oil consumption (26), infotainment glitches and restarts (20), and paint peeling (19 and 11 in two separate entries), though no recalls are on file for that year.

Complaint volume dropped substantially from 2020 onward: 55 total in 2020, led by oil consumption (14) and an electrical failure linked to fire (11 reports), and 66 in 2022, led by misfires and power loss (25) and transmission issues causing power loss (12), with recalls 22V202, 22V760, and 25V649 covering that later year. Given how much of this vehicle's history centers on oil consumption and electrical faults across nearly every year sampled, an oil-consumption check and confirmation of recall completion are worth prioritizing, keeping in mind that these figures reflect owner-filed reports rather than a precise failure rate — the more recent 2022 model has simply had less time to build up its own record. A detailed inspection and full service history remain the more reliable guide.