2017 Kia Sorento recalls and problems

The 2017 Kia Sorento has 4 safety recalls and 812 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Urgent: recall 22V-703 carries a "park outside" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
4
Complaints
812
Crashes / fires
13 / 32
Injuries / deaths
17 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2017 Kia Sorento vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2017 Kia Sorento recalls

Recall 22V-703: Trailer Hitches

Park outsideReported Sep 19, 2022 · 70,887 vehicles affected · Kia America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

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 module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Recall 18V-907: Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Dec 19, 2018 · 71,653 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Recall 17V-586: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Sep 21, 2017 · 62 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.

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 customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC153.

Recall 16V-862: Trailer Hitches, Electrical System

Reported Nov 30, 2016 · 10,212 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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."

Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

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 number for this recall is SC142.

2017 Kia Sorento problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine388
Exterior Lighting126
Unknown or Other105
Electrical System99
Steering97
Fuel/Propulsion System39
Power Train37
Engine and Engine Cooling28
Service Brakes22
Vehicle Speed Control21
Forward Collision Avoidance18
Structure17

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 17
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 8
  • Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 6
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 6
  • Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 4
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 3
  • Electrical System › Integrated Trailer Brake Control — 1
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 46,519 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2017 Kia Sorento complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine and Engine Cooling · at 46,519 miles · reported Nov 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact had received notification of Kia Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign: SC340 Electronic Control Module (ECM). After the vehicle received the software update, the vehicle started jerking while depressing the accelerator pedal. After the initial failure, the vehicle was taken back to the dealer five times for diagnostic tests. The contact stated that a transmission flush, transmission reset, and other repairs where performed; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the dealer…
Electrical System · reported Nov 2, 2026
1. Headlight Failure (Recall Malfunction): Last year, my headlights began intermittently shutting completely off while driving at night, creating an immediate visibility hazard. Kia of Palmdale performed the designated recall repair, but the dangerous defect remains. The headlights still shut off unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. 2. Shift Lock Failure: In May 2024, just two months after purchasing the vehicle, the shift lock mechanism failed completely. This intermittently prevented the vehicle from shifting properly out of park, creating an entrapment and stalling hazard. 3.…
Forward Collision Avoidance · reported Oct 21, 2026
Only 13,245 miles on vehicle warning dash light EBS came on, after Hilltop Ford/ KIA dealer inspection $279.00 recommended fix is replacing “Distance Sensor/Cruise Control Unit” cost for part $4,808.59.
Engine · reported Sep 24, 2026
Yesterday our car was making a knocking noise. It lost power temporarily. Upon pressing the gas pedal to the floor we were able to get up to 30 mph. We made it to a repair shop. They looked at it today. The Dip stick showed no oil. The did an oil change and it was down 3 quarts of oil. We just had the oil changed 3 months ago on June 20. No check engine light came on. No warning at all . We were driving on a road with no shoulder, so this was dangerous if the engine were to fail before we got to repair shop. They said we need a new engine and it will cost just under $10,000. It seems that many…
Air Bags · reported Sep 18, 2026
Issue 1: The front passenger airbag sensor is faulty. The ODS light is staying on. I took my car to a Kia dealership and they informed me that the passenger airbag would most likely not deploy in the event of an accident due to the faulty sensor. Kia has had this exact issue with other models and they issued a recall for those other models. This is a huge safety issue. Kia said it would cost me $3000 to fix the issue. Issue 2: My car is painted with the Snow White Pearl color. The paint is peeling and delaminating. This is a widespread defect with this paint color. Kia has not yet issued an…

Other Kia Sorento years

Compare all Kia Sorento years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Kia Sorento have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Kia Sorento: 22V-703 (trailer hitches), 18V-907 (engine, fuel system, gasoline), 17V-586 (engine and engine cooling), 16V-862 (trailer hitches, electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Kia Sorento?

Owners report engine problems most often (388 reports), followed by exterior lighting (126). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 46,519 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.