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2025 Kia Sorento

Plug-in hybridHybridGas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

66 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical4

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA125

Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA36 mpg

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, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 125 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

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	$1,900
Sorento Hybrid FWD	Hybrid	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion	36	36	36	—	—	—	$1,750
Sorento Hybrid AWD	Hybrid	AWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion	34	34	34	—	—	—	$1,850
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	23	31	26	—	—	—	$2,400
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	23	28	25	—	—	—	$2,500
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	20	27	23	—	—	—	$2,700
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	20	29	23	—	—	—	$2,700

*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.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Electrical System

SC361

42,677 vehicles

ProblemKia 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."RiskAn 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.FixThe 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.

NHTSA campaign 26V046000reported Jan 26, 2026Kia America, Inc.

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

SC349

30 vehicles

ProblemKia 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.RiskA loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.

NHTSA campaign 25V548000reported Aug 25, 2025Kia America, Inc.

○minor

Exterior Lighting

SC331

74,469 vehicles

ProblemKia 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."RiskA loss of headlights and taillights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.

NHTSA campaign 25V006000reported Jan 13, 2025Kia America, Inc.

!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

SC328

1,385 vehiclesPlug-in hybrid only

ProblemKia 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.RiskA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.FixDealers 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.

NHTSA campaign 24V920000reported Dec 10, 2024Kia America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

125complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2024: 1 · 2025: 55 · 2026: 69

Most-cited components

Engine40

Power Train37

Electrical System33

Unspecified32

Forward Collision Avoidance14

Fuel/Propulsion System13

What owners describe

“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. The dealer whe…”Sep 8, 2026 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

“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. …”Aug 13, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

“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. The vehic…”Aug 8, 2026 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

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.

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.

Other Sorento model years

2027 Kia Sorento

0 recalls · 0 complaints

2026 Kia Sorento

2 recalls · 5 complaints

2024 Kia Sorento

2 recalls · 47 complaints

2023 Kia Sorento

4 recalls · 156 complaints

2022 Kia Sorento

9 recalls · 221 complaints

2021 Kia Sorento

5 recalls · 263 complaints

2020 Kia Sorento

1 recalls · 134 complaints

2019 Kia Sorento

2 recalls · 426 complaints

2018 Kia Sorento

3 recalls · 252 complaints

2017 Kia Sorento

4 recalls · 801 complaints

2016 Kia Sorento

8 recalls · 1,248 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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