On August 28, 2014, Kia Motors unveiled the third-generation Sorento in South Korea. Later, the car debuted in Europe at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. According to configuration, the third-generation Sorento is available in either a 5-seater or a 7-seater version and shares a platform with the third-generation Kia Carnival. It is lower for better handling and 95mm longer than the previous edition. According to Kia, its high tensile steel has a rigidity strengthening of 14%, and the Sorento received a favorable IIHS evaluation in the small overlap crash test. At the assembly plant in West Point, Georgia, the Sorento is still made in the US.
Three different engines are offered: a 3.3-liter Lambda IIV6 with 290 horsepower (294 horsepower; 216 kW), a 2.4-liter GDiI4 with 190 horsepower (193 horsepower; 142 kW), and a 2.0-liter turbo I4 with 240 horsepower (243 horsepower; 179 kW). There is also a 2.2-liter CRDi diesel engine with a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT).
A six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission is available for the third-generation Sorento. Either an all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive system is used.
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What’s wrong with the Kia Sorento?
Customers have experienced a number of issues with the Kia Sorento since it has been advertised and sold by Kia. These models share costly issues with one another. The following model years should be avoided: 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.
Common difficulties include those with the engine, the electrical system, the airbags, the seat belts, the lights, and the body or paint.
Engine failure is the most serious problem that these Kia Sorento models have. When most consumers have traveled an average of 62,000 miles, something happens. They could end up costing you more money in repairs, so we advise avoiding them.
Which Year Models of Kia Sorento Are Safe to Buy Used?
Production of the Kia Sorento has been going on for approximately 20 years. Not all of the models that are released, like many other cars in its market class, are flawless right out of the factory. Some people have flaws. Despite this, you have a selection of others. This is particularly true if you want to stay away from those already listed.
The following list of reliable Kia Sorento model years includes:
- Kia Sorento 2003
- Kia Sorento from 2005
- 2007 Sorento Kia
- Kia Sorento 2008
- Kia Sorento from 2009
- Kia Sorento 2010
- Kia Sorento 2015
- Kia Sorento 2017
- Kia Sorento from 2018
- Kia Sorento for 2019
- Kia Sorento 2020
- Kia Sorento 2021
The years 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are among the safest Kia Sorento model years to purchase. Compared to the earlier mentioned model years, these have minimal complaints.
The worst issues with many of them were engine issues, a broken air conditioner compressor, electrical issues, light issues, and AC/heater issues. Most of them are also inexpensive to fix minor problems. However, they are among the minority of car owners.
The worst car troubles in early generations include crankshaft problems, frequent lighting system failures, and broken parts. It’s important to remember that these issues only occur in cars with more than 90,000 miles on the odometer.
A few owners are also affected by the problems. They are less likely to happen in a Sorento with little mileage and good maintenance. The models from 2007 to 2010 and 2015 to 2021 are the least problematic. The year 2016 is an outlier; it is less dependable than the other years in the following years.
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Which Kia Sorento Years to Avoid
The aforementioned Kia Sorento model years should easily accommodate your family’s needs and daily driving requirements. You need a dependable automobile in addition to one with excellent handling, a luxurious interior, and lots of attractive amenities. Here, we go into greater detail regarding the model years that weren’t chosen.
Steer clear of the following Kia Sorento model years:
- Kia Sorento from 2004
- Kia Sorento from 2006
- Kia Sorento from 2011
- Kia Sorento 2012
- Kia Sorento 2013
- Kia Sorento 2014
- Kia Sorento 2016
These model years frequently experience issues with their engines, electrical systems, lighting, seat belts and airbags, and body and paint. These affect everyone, and numerous users have noted concerns that are essentially the same.
You should steer clear of the 2011 Kia Sorento the most. It tops the list for having the most owner complaints. It is most likely to experience brakes issues, drivetrain issues, airbag and seat belt issues, and engine issues.
An engine failure at 77,000 miles cost the most money of all issues reported for the 2011 model year. Fixing this issue will cost $4,600. Other serious issues include an airbag problem that cost $2,000 to fix at 92,000 miles and a door issue that cost $400 to fix at 94,000 miles.
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The 2016 Kia Sorento is another vehicle you should completely avoid. In comparison to other models with lower mileage, it has more issues and costs more to repair. The most common issues are with the engine, then the steering, body/paint, and lights.
The engine has experienced the worst reported failure at 62,000 kilometers. Repairing this cost $6,100. Other owners reported having to pay up to $600 to fix wiring that rodents had gnawed. At 22,000 miles, one user’s car stalled while accelerating.
Common Kia Sorento Problems
One of the greatest warranties for cars is offered by Kia. But that doesn’t mean you should be any less critical, especially when it comes to reliability concerns. The most typical Kia Sorento issues, spanning all model years, are listed below:
- Engine issues – The Sorento’s engine frequently fails, which is a common dependability problem. The engine failure, which was primarily reported in 2011, 2016, and 2017 models, was caused by a leaky head gasket, which mixed engine oil and coolant. These liquids when combined can seriously harm engines.
- Frustrated owners reported that the Sorento’s doors won’t open when reached from the outside, which is more unpleasant than dangerous. Additionally, defective door handles made users of the child-lock feature even more irate. Owners of 2011 Sorentos make up the majority of the complaints.
- Burning out of headlight bulbs: Numerous customers noted that the headlight bulbs on Sorento models from 2002 to 2009 were particularly prone to premature failure. Additionally, several stories claimed that additional headlamp component parts were also melted. There should have been a recall for this dependability problem, but there wasn’t one. Owners were required to purchase replacement bulbs for between $100 and $600.
Kia Sorento Problem Counts by Year
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Are Kia Sorento vehicles dependable?
With a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5, the Kia Sorento is ranked 12th out of 26 compact SUVs. It has cheaper ownership costs than the national average due to the $533 average yearly repair cost. The Sorento is one of the more dependable cars on the road since repairs are less severe and less frequent than with the ordinary automobile.
Cost
Compared to an average of $521 for compact SUVs and $652 for all vehicle types, the total yearly cost of repairs and maintenance for a Kia Sorento is $533.
the typical annual sum for unplanned maintenance and repairs for all model years of a car. A vehicle’s greater average cost alone does not imply that it is less dependable. For instance, your car’s parts and labor may be pricey, especially if it’s a European luxury model, but if there are few serious problems and frequent service visits on average each year, that’s a sign of a dependable vehicle.
The typical annual frequency at which a vehicle is taken in for unplanned maintenance and repairs. This metric is produced by monitoring millions of distinctive automobiles over a number of years to ascertain the typical yearly visits for each make and model. Controls were included to prevent small, routine shop visits, such those for oil changes.
The severity element of dependability calculates the likelihood that a repair will cause a significant problem. The cost of a repair is assessed to be excessively expensive given the unscheduled nature of the repair if it is three times the average annual repair cost for all models. Due to their more expensive labor and component expenses, premium and luxury brands have a higher barrier.
Frequency
Compared to the average of 0.3 times for compact SUVs and 0.4 times for all vehicle models, Kia Sorento owners bring their cars in for unplanned repairs 0.3 times a year on average.
Where is the Kia Sorento 2022 made?
At Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Kia Sorentos intended for the American market are made there (KMMG). The factory has been in operation since 2006 and is situated near West Point, Georgia.
2009 saw the Second-Generation Kia Sorentos built by the American factory for the first time.
Facts about the West Point campus
- The facility spans 2,200 acres.
- The Telluride CUV, Sorento CUV, and Optima midsize sedan are the three models produced by the plant.
- Here, 340,000 automobiles are produced annually.
- satisfies the needs of 940 dealerships in the US and Canada.
- Ship to Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Pacific as well
Is Toyota superior to Kia?
According to a J.D. Power research from 2019, Kia has the highest initial quality in the non-premium segment in the United States. The 2016 Kia Soul, 2016 Toyota Corolla, Prius, and Prius V were all rated as being among the most dependable vehicles on the road by J.D. Power.
What is the Kia Sorento’s expected lifespan?
A Kia Sorento should endure for at least 200,000 kilometers. If you travel roughly 15,000 miles each year, it should last for around 13 years. However, maintaining the factory-recommended maintenance schedule and being careful not to misuse the vehicle are necessary to get the round amount.
What are the Kia Sorento 2021’s typical issues?
The Kia Sorento for 2021 isn’t ideal, as you might expect. Despite receiving an overwhelmingly excellent assessment, the midsized SUV has a few important flaws. The first has to do with the dual-clutch transmission that is mated to the aforementioned 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. Consumer Reports stated that the powertrain isn’t silky smooth at low speeds despite having a ton of available torque. As a result, if you’re in stop-and-go traffic, you might hear some strange vibrations and jerky movements.
The hybrid powertrain of the 2021 Kia Sorento has several flaws as well. Consumer Reports claims that there is a delay when accelerating after coming to a complete stop. Consumer Reports discovered that the Sorento requires a lot of force to move forward because it starts off using electric power. But as soon as the accelerator is depressed and the 1.6-liter engine fires up, the extra power is delivered fairly suddenly.
The ride comfort of the 2021 Kia Sorento is arguably its biggest shortcoming. Consumer reviews claims that numerous testers found the Sorento to have a fairly stiff and uneven ride. The 2018 Sorento is reputedly not the most comfortable car in its class as a result.