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Home›Kia›Kia Sorento› electrical problems
Owner complaints · Electrical System · every model year

Kia Sorento electrical problems, 2016–2027

510 of the 3,710 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Sorento 2016–2027 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2016 (107), 2017 (95), 2019 (68). Filed under the same heading across these years: 10 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

510 complaints, 12 model years 14% of everything filed about the Sorento typically at 38k miles

Kia Sorento electrical problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model yearComplaints naming the electrical systemShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
20270———the year →
20260——13 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20253326%—46 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20241224%—60 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20234730%—103 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20224118%—120 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigationthe year →
2021 in depth5721%—100 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigationthe record →
20202015%—39 TSBsthe year →
2019 in depth6816%18k39 TSBsthe record →
20183012%—79 TSBsthe year →
2017 in depth9512%59k106 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
2016 in depth1079%50k111 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.

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When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
510complaints name the electrical system, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2015: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 18 · 2020: 26 · 2021: 28 · 2022: 57 · 2023: 81 · 2024: 96 · 2025: 93 · 2026: 91

38kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 118 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 17,000 and 68,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

I've seen a few reviews and complaints on how kia's (sorento's in particular) have been losing their headlights for no reason. This has also happened to me, but just on my driver side fortunately. The main bulb is not illuminating and will not come on. I changed the bulb and this did not fix the problem.
Electrical System at 30,000 miles Feb 20, 2019 NHTSA owner report
Vehicle will accelerate and then lose power. Took it in they said not covered under warranty. 450.00 to fix tailghts and headlights all went out within a week of each other. Wheels sensors keep saying low tires even after new tires out on
Electrical System at 75,000 miles Jan 16, 2019 NHTSA owner report
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
Electrical System at 35,000 miles Nov 4, 2019 NHTSA owner report
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.
Electrical System at 67,000 miles Jun 26, 2019 NHTSA owner report
Car lost power while drving and a semi truck almost ran into me. Have taken car to Kia dealership and throttle body was replaced and week later same problem exist. I have taken the car there 3 times for the same problem haven't had the car 3 months have had this problem since I purchased the car
Electrical System at 40,000 miles Apr 12, 2021 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the electrical system, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

NHTSA investigation

10 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. 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 Kia Sorento

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Kia Sorento problems by year →

From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Kia Sorento years have the most electrical complaints?

2016, 107; 2017, 95; 2019, 68. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2023 (30%).

Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Kia Sorento?

Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V046000 (2026), 25V649000 (2023), 24V287000 (2024), 16V862000 (2017). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do electrical problems show up on the Kia Sorento?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 38,097 miles across the model years; half of them between 17,000 and 68,000. 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.