Is the 2017 Kia Sorento a bad year?
810 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 406, 7.8× a quiet Sorento year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2017 Kia Sorento were filed between 40k and 100k miles. You're at 66,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2017 Sorento owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 66,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 406 (50%) | 40k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 98 (12%) | 35k–72k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 49 (6%) | 39k–78k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 37 (5%) | 23k–96k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 21 (3%) | 15k–74k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 17 (2%) | 30k–66k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 14 (2%) | 47k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 126 (16%) | 30k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 97 (12%) | 18k–44k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 23 (3%) | 4k–63k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (1%) | 24k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Collision avoidance | 12 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Trailer hitch | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 66,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 810 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 32 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 45 say the car was towed.
83 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Bought the car in 2018 march I have a 2017 sorento. Have done regular 5000 oil changes. Kia said it was sludge in engine, however there are metal shaving inside the the oil and sludge caused by crank shaft.
December 19,2019 our 2017 Kia sorrento with 37k miles on it would not start. The temperature was below zero and thought that has something to do with it.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 66,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2017 Kia Sorento: 4
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. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The engine crankshaft may have been improperly heat treated and may fail. If the crankshaft fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A failed crankshaft also increases the risk of a fire.
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. If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 148
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2017 Kia Sorento. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Engine sub assembly inspection/replacement (WTY035)
Product improvement campaign: engine replacement instructions for DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z)
Voluntary emissions service campaign: theta 2.0L t-gdi ECU logic improvement (SC260)
Technical service bulletin oil pressure switch (Ops) replacement
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Loss of Motive Power
Loss of Motive Power
Engine Oil Pressure Switch Leak
Neighbouring years
2016 Sorento: 1,261 complaints, consider selling · 2018 Sorento: 255 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Kia Sorento year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sorento years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2017 Kia Sorento a bad year?
810 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 406, 7.8× a quiet Sorento year. At 66,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2017 Kia Sorento were filed between 40k and 100k miles. You're at 66,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Kia Sorento?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (406), electrical system (98), fuel system (49), transmission and drivetrain (37), speed control (21). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 40k–100k miles.
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Sorento have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Trailer hitch (NHTSA 22V-703), Fuel system (NHTSA 18V-907), Engine (NHTSA 17V-586), Trailer hitch (NHTSA 16V-862). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.