2017 Kia Sorento steering problems
97 of the 804 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Sorento name the steering (NHTSA’s “Steering” heading — the steering column, rack, pump and power assist). Filed under the same heading: 29 manufacturer bulletins. 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 steering
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 97 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 7 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 5
Half of the 37 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the steering problem between 18,000 and 44,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
804 complaints in all about the 2017 Kia Sorento, 5 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 “Steering” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Sorento steering problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the steering. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Lx model AWD. Purchased at 21k miles, currently has 33k miles. Steering can be described as "sticky" with micro steering wheel adjustments needed to keep the car tracking straight. As the wheel is turned left or right there is a delay and small lag or bumping felt until the actual steering adjustment is transferred to the cars wheels.
While driving, the steering wheel situated at 12:00 o'clock sticks in that position enough that it requires the driver to move the wheel back to the 12:00 o'clock position. Any slight correction makes the vehicle swerve. This action occurs when correcting to the left or right. This gives the appearance that the driver is impaired.
Steering has been sticking while driving. I've had to forcefully correct the steering while on the highway and car feels very unstable and unsafe. I took the car to several dealers whom have acknowledged the existence of issues and have said to me there maybe be some software updates coming to address the problem.
Shortly after buying the Kia it developed a problem where the steering wheel would stick when attempting to turn left or right. It takes a little extra effort to move the wheel past these sticking points mostly at 12 o'clock position and it gradually becomes more difficult the faster the car travels.
Complained about steering wheel sticking for the last year. Driving on the freeway at 70 MPH yesterday moved into the left lane to pass another vehicle. I'm now in the left lane about to pass the other vehicle and I needed to make a lane correction to the right however the steering wheel was stuck and I had to pull hard on the steering…
What is on file about the steering
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications29 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 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.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Kia Sorento
Source: the same files- engine problems 412 complaints
- electrical problems 95 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre steering problems common on the 2017 Kia Sorento?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 97 owner complaints naming the steering on this model year (12% of everything owners filed about it), and 29 manufacturer bulletins 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 steering on the 2017 Kia Sorento?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do steering problems show up on the 2017 Kia Sorento?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 30,000 miles; half of them between 18,000 and 44,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Steering" heading cover?
The steering column, rack, pump and power assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.