Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2025 Kia SorentoRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 77 owner complaints for the 2025 Kia Sorento. Most complaints involve electrical system (22) and engine (19). The EPA rates it 23–26 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
23–26mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jan 2026
Owner complaints
77
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,450est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Electrical system: instrument cluster

Free remedy

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."

Electrical systemReported Jan 27, 2026NHTSA 26V046000

Engine and engine cooling: critical fasteners

Free remedy

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K4 and Sorento vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power.

Engine and engine coolingReported Aug 25, 2025NHTSA 25V548000

Electrical system: software

Free remedy

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Sorento, 2025 Sorento Hybrid, and 2025 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. A software error in the Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) may cause a loss of low beam headlights and taillights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Electrical systemReported Jan 13, 2025NHTSA 25V006000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

77 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2024 – Oct 2026
  1. Electrical system22
  2. Engine19
  3. Power train19
  4. Forward collision avoidance9
  5. Vehicle speed control7
  6. Service brakes6
  7. Visibility/wiper5
  8. Air bags4
  9. Fuel/propulsion system4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Sorento model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2003308
2004220
2005307
2006242
2007154
2008217
200955
20111,520
2012880
2013983
2014988
2015755
20161,262
2017808
2018255
2019435
2020140
202125
2022194
2023126
202444
202577
20266
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

22 reports
“Bought my 2025 Kia Sorento brand new in November of 2025. Summer of 2026 with 30,000 miles on it, all of the dash lights kept flashing at me, including the red brake light, and messages saying CHECK ESC, CHECK ABS, CHECK DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM/ Happened several times but the car would still drive. The morning of August 20, I was going to leave for work and it happened again, but this time it wouldn't let me go in forward or reverse. When i pressed the gas, the engine just revved but it stayed in one spot and kind of jumped. I had it towed to Kia. They came up with 5 codes all having to do with the ABS system, drove it 500 miles, couldn't get it to happen so gave it back to me. Fast forward to Oct 4, the dash lights came on again after 30 min of driving but this time while the car was running and in park-this time let me drive- felt unsafe being everything online says it's a cricical safety issue with your brakes. Contacted Kia- bringing it back in tomorrow (Oct 8) but it then happened again this morning while driving 30 mph. Turned car off and back on and they were gone.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2026Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11769560

Engine

19 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the rear windshield wiper was moving with the switch turned off. The contact turned the rear windshield wiper to high, then low, and the wiper finally turned off. The contact continued driving and the vehicle suddenly stalled, and the message Press Button to Start Engine message was displayed. The vehicle continued to coast in neutral, and then decelerated to approximately 65 MPH. The contact pressed the start button and the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle failed to move immediately. The contact stated that after several attempts, the engine revved as needed. The contact stated that while continuing to drive, the steering wheel was hot, the radio screen was blacked out, and the horn failed to sound. When the radio screen was illuminated and displayed the information on the screen, the contact became aware that the GPS had reset to an erroneous location. The rear windshield wiper independently activated again. The contact noticed a burning odor while continuing to drive the vehicle. After the contact arrived to the destination, the contact had to press the button…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Visibility/wiperODI 11758432

Power train

19 reports
“The engine sputters several times in a single trip, and is available upon request. The engine sputtered and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road as I was trying to cross 2 lanes of traffic. It has sputtered so bad, I almost rear ended the vehicle in front of me. Yes, the dealership confirmed via text on 7/13/2026. The dealership confirmed it occurred then insisted on my picking up the vehicle despite of that. No effort to fix or determine why that was happening. I was told “the vehicle is learning how I drive, the road was bumpy, and the manufacturer would need more than to cover it” The dealerships invoice to the manufacturer stated “no sputtering” even after acknowledging in writing that it occurred and refused to change the paperwork. The dealership also reset the data and that it “could” resolve everything. If there’s nothing wrong with the vehicle, why would it need to be reset? The manufacturer has been called twice regarding the sputtering issue. No warning lights. Started in 10/2025 the dealership was made aware several times with several appointments and refused to look at the vehicle until the manufacturer contacted them in July.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11754281
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (S8) · Automatic (AM-S8)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Sorento FWD
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
233126$2,450339
Sorento AWD
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
232825$2,550357
Sorento AWD
Auto (AM-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
202723$2,800389
Sorento FWD
Auto (AM-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
202923$2,800382
  • Sorento FWD
    Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    23 city · 31 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento AWD
    Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    23 city · 28 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento AWD
    Auto (AM-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Sorento FWD
    Auto (AM-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    20 city · 29 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Kia Sorento SUV AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.9%
Overall
5 / 5
Kia Sorento SUV FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 20728Vehicle 20727
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2025 Sorento questions

How many recalls does the 2025 Kia Sorento have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2025 Kia Sorento problems?

Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (22), engine (19), power train (19). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2025 Kia Sorento get?

The EPA rates the 2025 Kia Sorento at 23–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

How safe is the 2025 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2025 Kia Sorento 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026