Short answer
Among Kia Sorento model years through 2024, 2004 and 2005 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2022 has the most (9). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Kia Sorento: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 24 (2003–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 44
- Fewest recalls
- 2004 and 2005 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2022 (9)
- Most recalled system
- Trailer hitches (10)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2014, 2015, 2016 and 6 more years
Kia Sorento Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Tires |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2024 | 2 | 4–5 stars | Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 stars | Back over prevention, Equipment, Trailer hitches |
| 2022 | 9 | 4 stars | Seat belts, Back over prevention, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2021 | 5 | 4 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Seat belts |
| 2020 | 1 | 5 stars | Trailer hitches |
| 2019 | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Trailer hitches |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Steering, Trailer hitches |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 stars | Trailer hitches, Engine, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2016 | 8 | 5 stars | Trailer hitches, Engine, Power train |
| 2015 | 3 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine |
| 2014 | 6 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2013 | 5 | 4 stars | Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Power train |
| 2012 | 5 | 4 stars | Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Power train |
| 2011 | 7 | 4 stars | Power train, Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system |
| 2010 | 1 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2009 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2007 | 4 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2005 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2004 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2003 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20262 recalls
- 20254 recalls
- 20242 recalls
- 20234 recalls
- 20229 recalls
- 20215 recalls
- 20201 recall
- 20192 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20174 recalls
- 20168 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20146 recalls
- 20135 recalls
- 20125 recalls
- 20117 recalls
- 20101 recall
- 20092 recalls
- 20083 recalls
- 20074 recalls
- 20061 recall
- 20050 recalls
- 20040 recalls
- 20031 recall
Kia Sorento: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Kia Sorento recalls are trailer hitches (10), engine (9), service brakes, hydraulic (9), electrical system (8) and exterior lighting (8). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 16 of these 24 model years, and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 6 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Kia Sorento Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Kia Sorento?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2004 and 2005 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Kia Sorento model years have the most recalls?
2022 has the most, with 9 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Sorento", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy