Your vehicleHome›Kia›Sorento› 2025

Kia · Compact SUV

2025 Kia Sorento

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

78 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4

Complaints8 crash · 7 injured reported 134

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 36 mpg

Starting MSRP17 trims · manufacturer $31,990

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2025 Kia Sorento is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sorento Hybrid FWD, is EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 134 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $31,990 to $53,090 across 17 trims.

Kia Sorento — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Kia Sorento · Photo: © M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
LX	Gas	FWD	$31,990	191 hp	195.2 lb-ft	26 mpg	7	38.5 cu-ft	17 in
S	Gas	FWD	$34,890	191 hp	195.2 lb-ft	26 mpg	7	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
S	Gas	AWD	$36,890	191 hp	195.2 lb-ft	25 mpg	7	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
EX	Gas	FWD	$38,090	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
EX	Gas	AWD	$39,590	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
SX	Gas	FWD	$41,690	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
SX	Gas	AWD	—	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
SX Prestige	Gas	AWD	—	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
X-Line EX	Gas	AWD	$41,790	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
X-Line SX	Gas	AWD	$43,490	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
X-Line SX-P	Gas	AWD	$46,390	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
X-Pro SX-P	Gas	AWD	$47,390	281 hp	311.6 lb-ft	23 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
HEV EX	Hybrid	FWD	$38,690	177.5 hp	195 lb-ft	36 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	19 in
HEV EX	Hybrid	AWD	$40,490	177.5 hp	195 lb-ft	34 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	19 in
HEV SX-Prestige	Hybrid	AWD	$46,890	177.5 hp	195 lb-ft	34 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	19 in
PHEV EX	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	$47,990	177.2 hp	195.4 lb-ft	33 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	19 in
PHEV SX-Prestige	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	$53,090	177.2 hp	195.4 lb-ft	33 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	19 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
Sorento Plug-in Hybrid	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 72 kW PMSM	33	34	33 (49 MPGe blended)	30 mi electric	45	3.4 h	$2,050
Sorento Hybrid FWD	Hybrid	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion	36	36	36	—	—	—	$1,850
Sorento Hybrid AWD	Hybrid	AWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion	34	34	34	—	—	—	$1,950
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	23	31	26	—	—	—	$2,600
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	23	28	25	—	—	—	$2,700
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	20	27	23	—	—	—	$2,900
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	20	29	23	—	—	—	$2,900

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49012, 47729, 47736, 48068, 48100, 48101, 48069.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Sorento Plug-in Hybrid	6 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Sorento AWD, Sorento FWD, Sorento Hybrid AWD, Sorento Hybrid FWD	6 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sorento AWD, Sorento FWD	6 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Electrical System

SC361

42,677 vehicles 92% reported repaired

Problem 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." Risk An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. Fix The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V046000 reported Jan 26, 2026 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

SC349

30 vehicles 90% reported repaired built Jun 2, 2025 – Jun 2, 2025

Problem 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. Risk A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the sub engine assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 12, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC349.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V548000 reported Aug 25, 2025 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Exterior Lighting

SC331

74,469 vehicles 93% reported repaired

Problem 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." Risk A loss of headlights and taillights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the BDC software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC331.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V006000 reported Jan 13, 2025 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

SC328

1,385 vehicles 85% reported repaired Plug-in hybrid only

Problem Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. During a crash, the steering rack may damage the fuel line, which can result in a fuel leak. Risk A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will install a cover around the fuel line, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC328.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V920000 reported Dec 10, 2024 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sorento

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2025 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2025 Kia Sorento, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

134complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported

11 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 117,086 Sorento built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2024: 1 · 2025: 55 · 2026: 78

Most-cited components

Engine 45

Power Train 40

Unspecified 35

Electrical System 34

Fuel/Propulsion System 18

Forward Collision Avoidance 17

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

A check engine coolant system light came on, so I took the car to the local Kia dealership in downtown LA. They checked the battery coolant level and found it was completely empty and recommended I check for leaks.

Power Train Sep 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11767244

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle lost drive power. The vehicle decelerated and was coasted over to the side of the road. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights flashed on the instrument panel while the vehicle was decelerating.

Engine at 30,000 miles Aug 13, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11756660

I am writing to report a safety concern with my 2025 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid. On multiple occasions, after starting the vehicle, the instrument panel appears normal, but the vehicle does not enter the ready state. The ready indicator does not illuminate and the vehicle will not shift into drive or reverse.

Electrical System Aug 8, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11755646

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that on two occasions while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and the message "Hybrid System Failure" was displayed.

Fuel/Propulsion System Aug 7, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11755517

multiple active faults, 12 active DTC codes, which have disabled the ABS, ESC and airbag communication lines, the dealer we took the car to refused to perform a full diagnostic and repair. I have been in contact with Kia corporate and they have consistently said that cannot make a dealer perform service.

Air Bags Sep 8, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11762737

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated the messages "Take A Coffee Break" and "Hands on Steering Wheel" consistently illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that there was no issue with the vehicle.

Communication at 293 miles Jun 29, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11747203

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Kia itself: 4 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 7 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 3.4 per 100,000 built. Every Sorento model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 4k

miles, typically

Half the 14 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 16,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 14 on file: 9 under 10k, 2 10k–20k, 1 20k–30k, 1 30k–40k, 1 50k–60k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first · Kia warranty extension WTY043CAMPAIGN: REAR RH DOOR CURTAIN INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT (WTY043) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY043) inspect and, if necessary replace the…
10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first · Kia warranty extension WTY042CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS & SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY042) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Kia warranty extension (28) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 79

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-28

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 36 service bulletins, 27 warranty extensions, 8 service campaigns

Most often about: Electrical System, Structure, Engine, Seats, Power Train.

TSB_CLI049_R2 Service bulletin
2026-08-28 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR – ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - 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 regarding the partial repair of the Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor assembly on some 2011MY~ Optima Hybrid (TF HEV, JF HEV/PHEV), 2015MY~
OTA_ELE413_NOTES_R2 Over-the-air update
2026-06-18 · Electrical System
RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of certain 2025 - 2026MY Carnival, EV9, K5 and Sorento vehicles. This update is designed to improve the vehicle’s network communication performance.
WTY043_TSB Warranty extension
2026-06-03 · Structure — Body
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REAR RH DOOR CURTAIN INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT (WTY043) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY043) inspect and, if necessary replace the rear RH door curtain on certain 2023 - 2026MY Sorento Hybrid (MQ4 HEV) SX Prestige vehicles produced from June 27, 2022 through December 05, 2025 and certa
TSB_ELE422 Service bulletin
2026-05-28 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE. KIA. COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for sup
OTA_ELE413_NOTES_R1 Over-the-air update
2026-04-24 · Electrical System
RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 1) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of certain 2025 - 2026MY Carnival, 2025 - 2026MY K5 and 2025 - 2026MY Sorento vehicles. This update is designed to improve the vehicle’s network communication performance.
TSB_ELE417 Service bulletin
2026-04-14 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software downloads and USB preparation process is similar across all supported platforms; however, in‑vehicle installation procedures vary by head unit type.
TSB_ENG264 Service bulletin
2026-04-01 · Engine
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER ACTION: ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P2B59F0 (CA2516) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Engine Control Unit (ECU) software on certain 2024–2025MY vehicles equipped with 2.5 GDI or 2.5 T-GDI Theta III engines listed in the table below. Affected vehicles may experience an illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) accompanied with DTC P2B59F
WTY042_OWNR Warranty extension
2026-03-26 · Electrical System
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY042) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the horn assembly in certain 2021-2025 MY Sorento, 2021-2025 MY Sorento Hybrid (HEV), and 2022-2025 MY Sorento Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 10 years / 120,

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0300 P0300 on Kia →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Engine · Ignition coils →	1 owner report
P0304 P0304 on Kia →	Cylinder 4 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	1 owner report
P0A3C	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	1 bulletin
P0AF0	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	1 bulletin
P1B77 P1B77 on Kia →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	1 bulletin

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.45%

failed the safety inspection

4,398 initial inspections of 4,349 vehicles.

Measure	The 2025 Sorento	Every 2025 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the safety inspection	0.45%	0.36%	4,398
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.16%	0.16%	4,398
Miles driven a year	9,183	8,354	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	13,387	12,194	odometer at inspection

New York does not emissions-test model years this new, so the safety inspection is the record here. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2025 vehicle” is every 2025 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Sorento by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 37 mpg 2026 B 2 9 37 mpg 2025 this page C 4 134 36 mpg 2024 B 2 51 37 mpg 2023 D 4 165 Park outside 2022 F 9 227 Park outside 2021 F 5 275 Park outside 2020 B 1 139 Park outside 2019 B 2 433 Park outside 2018 D 3 255 Park outside 2017 D 4 808 Park outside 2016 F 8 1,258 Park outside

Common questions about the 2025 Sorento

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2025 Kia Sorento cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $31,990 for the LX FWD to $53,090 for the PHEV SX-Prestige AWD, across 15 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2025 Kia Sorento have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2025 Kia Sorento. The most serious on file is 25V548000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2025 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA gave the 2025 Kia Sorento 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (78/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia Sorento?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Kia Sorento, the best EPA combined figure is 36 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2025 Kia Sorento?

Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Kia Sorento, most often about engine, power train, unspecified. Of those, 8 involved a crash, 7 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2025 Kia Sorento?

The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Kia Sorento is 6 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Kia Sorento?

The manufacturer has filed 79 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Kia Sorento, most often covering electrical system, structure, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-08-28. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2025 Kia Sorento do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Kia Sorento failed the safety inspection on 0.45% of first inspections — higher than the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected. The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Which 2025 Kia Sorento trim is the best value?

$21,100 separates the cheapest of the 15 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	7 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	4	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	134	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	4 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	79	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	17 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API

2025 Kia Sorento

Trims & pricing

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

The cheapest ownership win

Recalls (4)

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Exterior Lighting

Fuel System, Gasoline

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sorento

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2025 Kia Sorento

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

When owners reported it

miles, typically

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed the safety inspection

Sorento by model year

Common questions about the 2025 Sorento

How much does the 2025 Kia Sorento cost?

Does the 2025 Kia Sorento have any recalls?

How safe is the 2025 Kia Sorento?

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia Sorento?

What do owners complain about on the 2025 Kia Sorento?

How clean is the 2025 Kia Sorento?

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Kia Sorento?

How does the 2025 Kia Sorento do at state inspection?

Which 2025 Kia Sorento trim is the best value?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method