Model year 2017 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2017 Kia Sorento: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2017 Kia Sorento at 19–24 mpg combined across 7 versions. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 808 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

19–24

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Kia dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2017 Kia Sorento recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recalls for the 2017 Kia Sorento, newest first.

Trailer hitches

NHTSA 22V703000 Reported Sep 19, 2022 Park outside

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC249)
Units affected: 70,887 (estimate)
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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Engine and 1 more component

NHTSA 18V907000 Reported Dec 19, 2018

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC172)
Components: Engine; Fuel system, gasoline: Delivery: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Units affected: 71,653 (estimate)
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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Engine and engine cooling: Engine

NHTSA 17V586000 Reported Sep 21, 2017

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC153)
Units affected: 62 (estimate)
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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Trailer hitches and 1 more component

NHTSA 16V862000 Reported Nov 30, 2016

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC142)
Components: Trailer hitches; Electrical system
Units affected: 10,212 (estimate)
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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2017 Kia Sorento fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2017 Kia Sorento EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Sorento AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	19/25/22 mpg	$3,050	414
Sorento AWD	2.4L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	21/25/22 mpg	$3,050	397
Sorento AWD	3.3L 6-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	17/23/19 mpg	$3,550	465
Sorento FE AWD	3.3L 6-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	18/25/21 mpg	$3,200	434
Sorento FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/27/23 mpg	$2,900	397
Sorento FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	21/28/24 mpg	$2,800	377
Sorento FWD	3.3L 6-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	18/25/20 mpg	$3,350	436

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2017 Kia Sorento crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2017 Kia Sorento NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2017 Kia Sorento SUV AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars	15%	Optional
2017 Kia Sorento SUV FWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars	15.8%	Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2017 Kia Sorento owner complaints

Owners have filed 808 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Sorento, most recently on Oct 21, 2026. 13 mention a crash, 32 a fire, 17 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2017 Kia Sorento complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Engine	387
Exterior lighting	118
Unknown or other	104
Steering	97
Electrical system	93
Fuel/propulsion system	39
Power train	37
Engine and engine cooling	26
Service brakes	22
Vehicle speed control	21

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Kia Sorento model years

Kia Sorento by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2027 Sorento	23–37 mpg	—	—	5/5
2026 Sorento	23–37 mpg	2	9	5/5
2025 Sorento	23–36 mpg	4	135	5/5
2024 Sorento	23–37 mpg	2	51	5/5
2023 Sorento	24–37 mpg	4	165	4/5
2022 Sorento	24–37 mpg	9	227	4/5
2021 Sorento	24–37 mpg	5	275	4/5
2020 Sorento	20–25 mpg	1	140	5/5
2019 Sorento	21–25 mpg	2	434	5/5
2018 Sorento	19–24 mpg	3	255	5/5
2016 Sorento	19–24 mpg	8	1,258	5/5
2015 Sorento	20–23 mpg	3	743	5/5

All Kia Sorento years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2017 Kia models

2017 Kia Cadenza 2017 Kia Forte 2017 Kia K900 2017 Kia Niro 2017 Kia Optima 2017 Kia Rio 2017 Kia Sedona 2017 Kia Soul 2017 Kia Sportage

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Kia.