Summary
The KIA Sorento has 60 recalls spanning 2003 through 2025, with the most serious recent issue affecting 2025 plug-in hybrid models where the steering rack can damage the fuel line in a crash, causing a fuel leak and fire risk.
On the current and near-current generation, 2024-2025 models have a software error in the body control unit that can cut out the low-beam headlights and taillights while driving. The 2024 model year also has a separate recall where the electric power steering wiring harness may be incorrectly routed or assembled, which can wear through the wiring against the steering shaft and cause a partial or complete loss of power steering assist, making the vehicle harder to steer especially at low speeds. The 2023 model year has airbag warning labels on the sun visors that can peel off, and a rearview camera mounting clip that can break on 2022-2023 vehicles, causing the backup image to drop out of position or disappear entirely on the display.
The 2021-2023 generation carries several fire-related issues. The HVAC blower motor wiring harness on 2021-2023 vehicles can overheat and catch fire. On 2021-2022 models with the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, a fuel connection between the high-pressure pump and fuel rail can leak, raising fire risk. The 2022 model year also has a cracked turbocharger oil supply pipe that can leak oil onto hot engine components, a fuel tank that may have been improperly molded on plug-in hybrid trims, a wrong spare tire that can impair anti-lock brakes and traction control, and an exploding seatbelt pretensioner defect on hybrid and plug-in hybrid trims where metal fragments can be thrown into the cabin in a crash. A separate transmission issue on 2021 models with the 2.5-liter turbo and dual-clutch transmission can cause sudden loss of drive power after entering fail-safe mode.
Going back to the 2016-2019 era, the 2018 model year has two recalls tied to the steering column bracket weld, where separation can result in loss of steering control, and a side curtain airbag component that can detach during deployment and become a projectile inside the cabin. The 2017 model with the 3.3-liter engine has a crankshaft that can fail, stalling the engine and raising fire risk. The 2016 model year has rear suspension weld failures that can affect alignment and handling, a driver seatback frame weld that can break in a rear collision, a transmission shift interlock that can allow the vehicle to shift out of Park without pressing the brake, and a multi-function switch that can cause the headlights to cut out suddenly in auto mode. The 2019 model year has a rearview camera that can fill with water and stop displaying an image when reversing.
The 2011-2014 era has a concentrated set of issues. The 2014 model year has a right front axle shaft that can fracture on front-wheel-drive 2.4-liter models built in early 2013, potentially causing rollaway if parked without the parking brake, and a brake anti-lock control unit that can short-circuit from brake fluid intrusion and start a fire. The 2011-2013 model years have a brake-shift interlock that can crack and allow unintended shifts out of Park. The 2011 model year specifically has a driv
