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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2025 Kia Sorento is associated with 119 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 4 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Other / Uncategorized, accounting for 19 reports (16% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 7 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.6L 4-Cyl hybrid, 1.6L 4-Cyl plug-in hybrid, and 2.5l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 23 to 36 MPG combined. Plug-in hybrid variants are rated up to 74 MPGe (33 MPG on gasoline) with up to 30 miles of electric driving range.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 119 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 4 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Other / Uncategorized (19 / 16%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 7 crash / 0 fire / 4 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 23–36 MPG across 7 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2025 Kia Sorento?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Sorento Hybrid FWD Hybrid 1.6L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) 36 MPG 36 MPG 36 MPG — $1,700 / yr
Sorento Hybrid AWD Hybrid 1.6L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) 34 MPG 34 MPG 34 MPG — $1,800 / yr
Sorento Plug-in Hybrid Plug-in Hybrid 1.6L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) 77 MPGe (33 MPG) 71 MPGe (34 MPG) 74 MPGe (33 MPG) 30 mi EV (440 mi total) $1,850 / yr
Sorento FWD 2.5L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 23 MPG 31 MPG 26 MPG — $2,350 / yr
Sorento AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 23 MPG 28 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
Sorento FWD 2.5L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) 20 MPG 29 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Sorento AWD 2.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) 20 MPG 27 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
Electric Range & Charging: The 2025 Kia Sorento provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 30 miles on a single battery charge.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2025 Kia Sorento?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV FWD 15.9%
Hybrid SUV FWD 15.9%
SUV AWD 15.9%
Hybrid SUV AWD 15.9%
Plug-in Hybrid SUV AWD —
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard & Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2025 Kia Sorento models.
View complete 2025 Kia Sorento crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2025 Kia Sorento?

Summary of 119 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
119
Crash Reports
7
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
4
Total Injuries
5

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Powertrain 11 complaints
Electrical System 10 complaints
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 8 complaints
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8 complaints
Engine 7 complaints (1 crash)

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2025 Kia Sorento problems & component breakdown (48 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2025 Kia Sorento?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #26V046000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Defect Summary: 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."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Campaign #25V548000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Campaign #25V006000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

Defect Summary: 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."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
View all 2025 Kia Sorento recalls & campaign history (4 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2025 Kia Sorento

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2025 Kia Sorento

How many safety recalls does the 2025 Kia Sorento have?

The 2025 Kia Sorento is associated with 4 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 4 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2025 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA records list 119 consumer defect complaints for the 2025 Kia Sorento. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Other / Uncategorized, appearing in 19 filings (16% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2025 Kia Sorento defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2025 Kia Sorento?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2025 Kia Sorento earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 4 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2025 Kia Sorento get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2025 Kia Sorento range from 23 to 36 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.