Kia Sorento: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
10,236 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Kia Sorento, model years 2003 to 2026. 16 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2011 (engine 6×, transmission 12×); 2016 (engine 14×); 2014 (engine 7.8×); 2013 (engine 9.9×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2009, 2007, 2008. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Sorento | 305 | engine 2.3× | 1 | |
| 2004 Sorento | 219 | engine 1.7× | 0 | |
| 2005 Sorento | 307 | engine 2× | 0 | |
| 2006 Sorento | 242 | engine 1.6× | 1 | |
| 2007 Sorento | 154 | quiet: 2 of 16 | 4 | |
| 2008 Sorento | 217 | quiet: 3 of 16 | 3 | |
| 2009 SorentoFEW REPORTS | 55 | quiet: 1 of 16 | 3 | |
| 2010 SorentoFEW REPORTS | 3 | — | 2 | |
| 2011 Sorento | 1,519 | engine 6×, transmission 12× | 8 | |
| 2012 Sorento | 879 | engine 9.1× | 5 | |
| 2013 Sorento | 984 | engine 9.9× | 5 | |
| 2014 Sorento | 989 | engine 7.8× | 6 | |
| 2015 Sorento | 755 | engine 7.1× | 3 | |
| 2016 Sorento | 1,261 | engine 14× | 8 | |
| 2017 Sorento | 810 | engine 7.8× | 4 | |
| 2018 Sorento | 255 | engine 2.2× | 3 | |
| 2019 Sorento | 436 | engine 3.3× | 2 | |
| 2020 SorentoFEW REPORTS | 140 | engine 1.3× | 1 | |
| 2021 Sorento | 256 | transmission 6.6× | 4 | |
| 2022 Sorento | 194 | transmission 3.1× | 6 | |
| 2023 SorentoFEW REPORTS | 128 | — | 3 | |
| 2024 SorentoFEW REPORTS | 44 | — | 2 | |
| 2025 SorentoFEW REPORTS | 78 | — | 3 | |
| 2026 SorentoFEW REPORTS | 6 | — | 2 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 20032004200520062007200820112012201320142015201620172018201920212022