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2026 Kia Sorento

Plug-in hybridHybridGas

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

Safety Signal

84 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns2

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA5

Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA37 mpg

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

The 2026 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 37 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 5 complaints, most often about the service brakes. 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 AC 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	37	36	37	—	—	—	$1,700
Sorento Hybrid AWD	Hybrid	AWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion	32	35	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: 49766, 49457, 49507, 49460, 49508, 49509, 49461.

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Recalls (2)

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

Tires

SC355

45 vehicles

ProblemKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."RiskAnti-lock braking or traction control systems that do not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace the spare wheel and tire assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC355. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 13, 2025.

NHTSA campaign 25V745000reported Oct 30, 2025Kia America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

5complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Unspecified2

Service Brakes1

Back Over Prevention1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Forward Collision Avoidance1

Engine And Engine Cooling1

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2026 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the check engine warning light started flashing and the vehicle entered LIMP Mode. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended while driving to the residence. The contact stated th…”Jun 29, 2026 · Engine And Engine Cooling · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2026 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 2 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to stop and rolled forward. The Forward Collision Avoidance feature also failed, causing the vehicle to crash into a building. No warning light w…”May 12, 2026 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA owner report

“I am reporting a suspected brake system malfunction. About one block before my destination, I stopped at a traffic light and applied light pressure to the brake pedal. The vehicle slammed and jerked to a stop unexpectedly. Moments later, while turning into a parking space, I pressed the brake pedal again and the vehicl…”Apr 14, 2026 · Service Brakes · 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

2025 Kia Sorento

4 recalls · 125 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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