The 2024 KIA Sorento faces notable reliability concerns primarily due to electrical system defects impacting crucial features like the power steering and lighting. With multiple recalls and an alarming average failure mileage of just 12,075 miles, prospective owners should approach this vehicle with caution.
Key Factor:Electrical system vulnerabilities
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Safety Alert
Safety Alert: This model has a higher recall frequency (2) than the average KIA vehicle (1.9). Owners should prioritize checking these components.
2 recalls for this vehicle1.9 avg. recalls per vehicle (brand)
📋Why This Matters
Defects in the electrical system can significantly impact vehicle safety, particularly concerning power steering assist. The loss of steering assistance can be extremely dangerous, especially when navigating tight corners or during sudden maneuvers. Furthermore, issues with headlights and taillights not functioning correctly can lead to visibility problems at night or in poor weather conditions, increasing the risk of accidents. For families with children often traveling in the back seat, ensuring all critical safety systems are fully operational is paramount.
Focus Area:Safety Profile
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Expert Analysis
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Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
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Primary Risk Area:Warning
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Vs Brand: Worse than avg (1.9)
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Summary: Over the years, KIA has made strides in enhancing vehicle safety; however, the safety trend for the 2024 Sorento raises concerns with its multiple recalls and potential for serious electrical issues. This year’s model does not match the brand's usually higher expectations for reliability and safety standards.
Safety & Reliability Score
83/100
Score Breakdown
Recall Impact-16
Complaint Impact-1.25
Investigation Impact-0
Technical Specifications
Key specifications for the 2024 KIA Sorento
Model Year2024
MakeKIA
ModelSorento
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle
Safety History Timeline
Jan24
NEWProduction
Jan24
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan24
RECALLRecall Issued
Mar24
ISSUEFirst Report
Consumer Complaint Analysis
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Most Reported Issue
7 complaints (28% of total)
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Complaint Trend
Stable
No trend data
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Safety Incidents
No critical incidents
Complaint Severity Distribution
Breakdown of 25 consumer complaints by severity level.
🟠High
4(16%)
🟡Medium
9(36%)
🟢Low
12(48%)
Mileage Failure Analysis
⚙️Engineering Insight
The peak failure range of 0-20k miles indicates that electrical problems may arise early in ownership. This is particularly concerning as it suggests that new owners could face immediate risks, making timely inspections vital to ensure their family's safety on the road.
📊 Mileage data extracted from 4 of 25 complaints (16% coverage)
0-20k
3 reports (75%)
20k-40k
1 reports (25%)
40k-60k
0 reports (0%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.
🛠️ DIY Diagnosis Center
Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).
Primary Risk Areas
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions
Based on recall data, these components require verification:
1
Power Steering Wiring
Issue: Incorrect assembly may cause loss of power steering assist, leading to dangerous driving conditions.
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Contact your KIA dealer immediately to confirm if your vehicle is affected and schedule any necessary repairs.
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Before purchasing, verify if the vehicle has undergone any recall repairs related to power steering or lighting systems.
Campaign:NHTSA Campaign Number: Not specified
2
Body Control Module Software
Issue: A software error may lead to malfunctioning headlights and taillights, which are essential for safe driving at night.
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Ensure that your vehicle’s software has been updated per Kia's recommendations to avoid lighting failures.
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Inquire about any completed repairs related to lighting issues due to software errors before finalizing your purchase.
Campaign:NHTSA Campaign Number: Not specified
💡Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your KIA dealer to verify recall completion status.
Official Safety Recalls (2)
Campaign: 24V287000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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Summary
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 Sorento vehicles. The motor driven power steering (MDPS) wiring harness may be incorrectly assembled, which can result in a loss of power steering assist.
Consequence
A loss of power steering assist increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the MDPS wiring harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 7, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC309.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Campaign: 25V006000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
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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."
Consequence
A loss of headlights and taillights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.
NHTSA Investigations
0 investigations
✓
No active investigations for this vehicle.
Consumer Complaints
25 total complaints
Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2024 Sorento.
Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis
Warning28%
Explode12%
Shatter12%
Stall12%
Acceleration Issues8%
Noise8%
Visibility⚠️ High
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Panoramic sunroof panel spontaneously exploded at highway speed.
Other⚠️ High
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Panoramic roof glass shattered. It was not hit by any external debris. It just exploded scaring the driver almost losing vehicle control. The dealer inspected it and confirmed nothing external caused it, however KIA will not warrant it. Our insurance company has not inspected it yet. It is available for inspection.
Safety Systems🔶 Medium
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was involved in an automobile collision. It was a T- Bone collision on the driver side. My vehicle flipped on it's side, the moon roof completely shattered, my seatbelt released me and I was ejected through the moon roof. The vehicle landed on top of me. All of my air bags did not deploy even though my vehicle rolled over twice.
Electrical🔵 Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
headlights and taillights went out while driving and a few seconds and then came back on and everything on the dash also went out and came back on. i was driving at night time when this happened it put me and my child at risk. i called the dealership and they refused to fix saying that my kia is not impacted by this recall. But that i could schedule an appointment to have my headlights checked, i explained to them there is nothing wrong with my headlights this is clearly a software issue, Tonya at Kia Louisville east is still saying its not related to the recall, and is scheduling appt to have my headlights checked. no warning lamps messages or any other symptoms before this happened and has only happened the one time.
✨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #25V006000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Steering/Suspension🔶 Medium
STEERING
My vehicle has issues with the power steering. At random times, day or night, the wheel steers to the right and I have to force my grip on the wheel to avoid crashing. It last between 3-5 seconds. No lights or alerts light up on the dashboard. Dealerships have been unable to assist me, I have gone to three different ones. They cannot identify the issue. Loss of power steering assist increases crash risk, since it’s harder to control the vehicle in tight maneuvers or emergencies. Car is available for inspection.
Electrical🔵 Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I've had a couple of issues with the electrical components. One time the drivers side door controls wouldn't roll down any of the windows or lock/unlock the doors. This is a safety issue if you needed to roll the windows down/up or lock the doors for the security of your vehicle. I've also had it where the infotainment system has cut out while driving. As far as I can tell, the vehicle could still drive but I was unsure for a minute because the engine kind of revved at the same time. There were no warning lights when the windows and locks didn't work.
✨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #24V287000Recall #25V006000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that during a routine oil change, the mechanic added an unknown oil additive to the vehicle. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle lost motive power and drove sluggishly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for an oil change, and the mechanic observed metal shavings in the oil. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, but it had not yet been diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
Safety Systems🔶 Medium
SEAT BELTS
On August 6, 2025, I discovered that both the driver and passenger front seat belts in my 2024 Kia Sorento were installed backwards from the factory, with the buckle facing inward instead of outward. This defect has been present since the vehicle was purchased brand new, but it was only discovered and documented on this date. The issue was confirmed by an authorized Kia dealership in an official service report and in a video recorded by the service technician. I also have photos and videos taken before the dealership visit showing the same defect. This is a manufacturing defect and poses a serious safety risk to occupants in the event of a collision, as the seat belts may not function as intended. Supporting documentation is available upon request.
Body/Interior🔵 Low
STRUCTURE
The trim on my vehicle will not stay snapped down.
Visibility🔵 Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The vehicle was driven home from work, parked outside in a secluded spot. When I went to leave like an hour later, there was a huge crack in the windshield on the driver side. The crack seemingly appeared out of nowhere, and there is no chip, indicating that it was hit by something that would’ve caused the crack.
Frequently Asked Questions
'What are common electrical issues reported for the 2024 KIA Sorento?'
'Some common electrical issues include improper assembly of wiring that affects power steering assist and software failures resulting in malfunctioning headlights and taillights. These issues are significant as they directly impact vehicle control and visibility.'
'How can I ensure my KIA Sorento is safe for my family?'
'To ensure safety for your family while using a KIA Sorento, stay updated on recall notifications from Kia or NHTSA regarding your vehicle model. Regularly check if critical systems such as power steering and lights have been serviced according to recalls or TSB notices.'
📊Year-over-Year Context
➡️Stable Pattern
Compared to earlier years, the 2024 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.
🧭What This Means for You
Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.
If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.
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If You Own This Vehicle
Immediate Action: If any recalls are listed as 'incomplete', contact a certified KIA service center—repairs are performed at no cost to you.
Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
Proactive tip: Enroll in KIA's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
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If You're Buying Used
Request the VIN from the seller and verify the 'Clean' recall status via NHTSA.
This specific Sorento year is noted for its strong reliability foundations.