Kia Sorento Reliability Generations Ranked By Reliability

The Kia Sorento is now a longstanding Kia model that the automaker has been producing since 2003, and it has evolved somewhat over that time period. When it first came to market in 2002 for the ’03 model year, it took the form of a lofty body-on-frame SUV, but it has since morphed into a more civilized midsize crossover, and a credible rival to the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda Pilot, and Ford Edge.

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Kia

Founded: June 9, 1944 (as Kyungsung Precision Industry)
Founder: Kim Cheol-ho
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea

This is a ranking of the reliability of all Sorento generations, where there is enough long-term data to get an accurate picture, going from least to most reliable generation. Recalls, complaints, and all accompanying data are sourced from J.D. Power, the NHTSA and Car Complaints and are accurate as of the date of publication but are subject to change.

The fourth-generation Sorento has been excluded from this analysis, since it’s still fairly new, so we have not had sufficient time to gather enough reliability data.

It has always had a reputation for good crash safety, and being great value for money, particularly compared with its rivals from Japan, bringing similar quality and comfort, but undercutting them on price. Reliability, however, over three generations and sometimes between different model years, does vary somewhat, so it is important to know which Kia Sorento generations are reliable and which ones aren’t. This is why we will be ranking all generations from least to most reliable, except for the most recent fourth generation that was introduced in 2021, given that it is too new to get long-term reliability data.

Kia Sorento Overview 1st – 3rd Generations
	1st Gen	2nd Gen	3rd Gen
Model Years	2003-2009	2011-2015	2016-2020
Engines	3.3L V6 Gas 3.8L V6 Gas	2.4L Inline-4 Gas 3.5L V6 Gas 3.3L V6 Gas	2.4L Inline-4 Gas 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas 3.3L V6 Gas
Transmissions	5-speed automatic	6-speed Manual 6-speed Automatic	6-speed Automatic 8-speed Automatic
Drivetrains	RWD or AWD	FWD or AWD	FWD or AWD

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Second-Generation Kia Sorento (2011-2015)

Coming in at the bottom of the list is the second generation of the Sorento, or “XM” as it is called. It was introduced for MY2011 with an all-new design, new four-cylinder and V6 engines, and an entirely new unibody construction. This was where the Sorento transitioned from being a more traditional off-roader to a crossover that offered more comfort and versatility.

It was also a Sorento generation that provided several years of questionable reliability issues, with 2011 in particular having more complaints and recalls than any other Sorento model year in existence, according to the NHTSA, with eight recalls and a whopping 1,489 complaints.

Common Issues: Second-gen Kia Sorento

Engine failure – sometimes requiring a rebuild
Electrical malfunctions
Transmission failure/ rough shifting

Highest J.D. Power quality and reliability rating: 83/100 (2015 model)

“Engine died. Kia dealer concluded it likely was crank shaft bearing(s) that failed. The only fix offered was to obtain a used (60,000 miles).4L DOC Theta-II engine from a 3rd party for $4,900 and install it ($6,650 including labor), as Kia no longer sourced this engine.”

– 2011 Kia Sorento Owner, Car Complaints

The most common issues with this generation of Sorento were those of engine failure, mainly with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder and 3.3-liter V6, which was introduced in a 2013 facelift, where a blown gasket could result in an oil breach into the cylinders. It suffered from transmission issues, too. Rather worryingly, there was a recall for several years during this generation due to a fire risk from the Hydraulic Electronic Control unit shorting.

After particularly bad years, it seems like they had sorted most of the issues by 2015, which had the fewest NHTSA complaints and recalls, but due to some fairly serious problems for more than one year, the second-generation Sorento has the biggest reliability concerns.

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Third-Generation Kia Sorento (2016-2020)

The second-worst Sorento for reliability is the UM, launched in 2016. This is where the Sorento went upmarket, with a more upscale design both inside and out, and higher-quality materials, to become the car we know it to be today.

It was at launch in 2016, however, that all the problems with this generation came. The first year was, by far, the worst year for the UM in terms of complaints to the NHTSA, standing at 1,109 and there were eight recalls. It was also the lowest year in terms of its J.D. Power quality and reliability rating, with the 2016 model year getting 79 out of 100.

Common Issues: Third-gen Sorento

Engine failure
Electrical faults – infotainment and other functions
Driveline and/or exhaust failure

Highest J.D. Power quality and reliability rating: 87/100 (2019 model)

The main reason for this bad patch is engine failure, often requiring a rebuild or a replacement, due to faulty cylinder heads, head gaskets, and timing chains. There were also driveline failures and electrical faults plagued this year.

“Although the 2011 Kia Sorento has the most overall complaints, we rate the 2016 model year as worse because of other possible factors such as higher repair cost or more problems at lower mileage. The most-reported problem is with the 2016 Kia Sorento for engine failure.”

Thankfully, if you are thinking of getting a Sorento from this generation, there are several good model years to choose from as well, which stops the UM generation from being the lowest-ranked one on this list. The 2018 and 2019 models, in particular, stand out for having very few complaints on both the NHTSA and Car Complaints, making them a great used purchase as long as they have been well looked-after.

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First-Generation Kia Sorento (2003-2009)

Though it won’t set the world alight for being modern or even amazingly reliable, when compared to its rivals, the first-generation or “BL” Kia Sorento is still the highest ranking on this list. This is because, unlike the other two, it has no particularly bad years in terms of recalls or complaints.

The worst year in terms of complaints on the NHTSA was 2003, with 308, and the worst year for recalls was 2007, when there were four, which is not bad, considering how long ago this generation ended production.

Common Issues: First-gen Sorento (2003-2009)

Engine failure due to head gasket cracks
Exterior lighting not working due to poor electrical wiring
Airbags not turning on

This version still had engine failure issues similar to the following generations, although not in such great numbers, as they were some of the Sorento’s worst years. Other issues included electrical faults with the door handles and also with the headlights burning out on some occasions.

“Headlight bulbs are going out after 1-3 months. There are four bulbs for high a low beam and they take turns or sometimes repeat going out every couple months. I buy 4 of each to keep all of them operating.”

However, the lower frequency of complaints and recalls in any of the years in this generation, along with the great years for reliability here (like the 2009 model year), make this generation of Sorento the best in terms of reliability.

Sources: Kia, J.D. Power, NHTSA, Car Complaints

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