2017 Kia Sorento electrical problems
95 of the 804 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Sorento name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 106 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 95 reports a crash · 5 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 19 · 2023: 21 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 9
Half of the 32 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 35,000 and 70,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
804 complaints in all about the 2017 Kia Sorento, 9 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Sorento electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
My 2017 Kia Sorento headlights when operating in auto mode will unexpectedly and without warning turn off. I have to turn the switch manually to make them come back on. This creates an extreme safety hazard. It has happened both on the highway / interstate as well as back roads. This needs to be addressed by Kia asap
Engine is severely slugged and there was no warning ever. Found out after an oil changed at 67k at jiffy lube when I took it to the ourisman Kia dealer in chantilly, va. There is no warning that any of this situation was starting to happen even after a previous oil change at Kia dealer at 58k miles.
As I AM driving over 40 MPH, the vehicle will lose all power and caution lights illuminate on the dash, radio turns off, power steering goes out, car decreases speed. The car immediately turns back on, but there is no acceleration to the vehicle. This has happened 3 times in the last 5 days and it happed 3 times today march 12, 2019.
When vehicle is in motion the headlights will randomly turn off when on the auto setting. This has happen multiple times since we purchased this vehicle and is a serious accident waiting to happen. I have viewed multiple reports of this issue online from other owners.
The car will be off and locked and all the lights will periodically come on. This has happened about 15times in the 2yrs we have owned it. The dealership has been informed. We were told the kia's on the lot do the same thing and they don't know why????
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 16V862000 ModerateNov 30, 2016 · 10,212 vehicles
- 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."
106 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- WTY031_TSB_R2 Warranty extensionJun 16, 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPAIR (WTY031) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Multifunction Switch Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY031) to repair the multifunction switch kn
- SC330_OWNR_201 Service campaignSep 15, 2025
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC330) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to replace the multi-function switch knob with improved parts on certain 2016-2018 MY Sorento vehicles.
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Kia Sorento names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Kia Sorento
Source: the same files- engine problems 412 complaints
- steering problems 97 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2017 Kia Sorento?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 95 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (12% of everything owners filed about it), and 106 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2017 Kia Sorento?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 16V862000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2017 Kia Sorento?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 59,000 miles; half of them between 35,000 and 70,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.