Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am reporting a serious engine defect in my 2017 Kia Sorento. The has failed and presents an ongoing safety concern. The issue is while driving on the interstate, the vehicle began shaking violently, started making a knocking noise and the check engine illuminated. The RPMs also began spiking so I slowed down and got off at the next exit. Now every time I start the vehicle it continues to shake, knock and cannot accelerate properly -- the RPMs climb as high as 5000 with very little power. This is a clear safety hazard and makes the vehicle unsafe to operate on public roads.
Car was burning oil rapidly. While driving heard loud noises, shaking, smoke started coming through vents and car turned off. Kia is stating that there are many recalls on vehicle, but the only recall I received is for a tow hitch. I don't have a tow hitch. Very dangerous if I was going somewhere with a higher speed limit. Kia dealership is saying corporation won't offer extended warranty due to recalls not being completed. Again the only recall is for a tow hitch. Kia dealership has quoted me over $10000 to fix a vehicle that is suffering from known manufacturer failures.
This is the third time I'm having to take my SUV to the Kia dealership because my check engine light begins flashing and then my car has a hard time accelerating when it gets to certain speeds. It shakes but will not go over 68 mph although it is covered under a warranty, it is very frustrating. Having to keep take my car to get fixed. There should be a more permanent solution.
My Kia Sorento uses roughly 2-4 quarts of oil every week or 2. The smell of oil is so strong in the car it's almost unbearable. Just this week the the alert about a door being open is going off and the locks are malfunctioning. It locks and unlocks at random and it keeps sayings a door is open when it isn't. The cruise control also stopped working.
Cruise control works erratically when turned on at times I can't set the speed, othertimes it won't cancel using the cancel button the only way to cancel it is to tap the brake pedsl or turn the cruise off, sometimes it will not turn on and at other times it works as it should.
I just purchased this vehicle on Saturday.And now my engine light is on.It is blinking.I did my research after getting the car and the code p1326 came up at autozone.after that it showed that code with recalls for 2011 to 2017.
The vehicle did not function when the accelerator pedal was depressed at 60 MPH. The engine RPM's droppped from 4,000 to 1,000 and the accelerator and transmission was not responding. The vehicle took multiple attempts to be operated normally. The dealer could not replicate the condition upon a test drive by their tecnician. This failure recurred on several occasions. Note: according to the NHTSA, this is the exact same thing that has happened and been reported by owners of Kia optimas. The dealer ordered a hose assembly air intake part to be installed upon arrival under sa303 procedure but denies it has anything to do with the acceleration problem.
Problem: intermittent problem with advanced Smart cruise control and autonomous braking on a new 2017 Kia Sorento with less than 500 miles. What happened: when using the advanced Smart control feature, as explained to me by the dealer, the manual, and Kia videos, the car will stop autonomously when approaching a car at a stop light. My Kia stops autonomously most of the time, but not all of the time. On three occasions, while driving with Smart cruise control, on a straight road on a clear day, my Kia slowed down but did not stop, causing me to take emergency evasive action at the last second. After two occurrences, I contacted the dealer and asked to simply have the system checked. The dealer stated that they do not handle safety concerns, and directed me to call Kia, which I did more than a month ago. …
Problem: intermittent problem with advanced Smart cruise control and autonomous braking on a new 2017 Kia Sorento with less than 1100 miles. What happened: when using the advanced Smart control feature, the Smart cruise control will shut down randomly. On four occasions, while driving with Smart cruise control, on a highway on a clear day, my Kia's dashboard lit up with "check Smart cruise control system." these additional warning lights lit up on the dashboard: anti-lock brake warning light, electronic brake force distribution system warning light, master warning light, and electronic stability control indicator light. The cruise control will not work and all lights stay on until the vehicle is turned off and then back on. After one occurrence, I took the vehicle to the dealer to diagnose the problem. As this only happens randomly they were not able to replicate the problem. …
1 week after purchasing my 2017 Kia Sorento fe AWD from rochester tom kadlec Kia in August 2019, I went to use my cruise control and it wouldn't set. "cruise" came on, but could not be set to my speed. Issue happened around 1-2 times a week on 45 mile commute on highway. Later on about a month later, I set my cruise control and once set, the speed began to climb. Starting at 65, and going up to 70 before I had to use my brakes to turn cruise control off as the buttons didn't work. On dec 16th, my car showed a check engine light then stalled after putting it into drive from reverse. I turned the car off, then back on and drove "normally". …
Acceleration complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2017 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2017 Kia Sorento, 3% of the model year's 807 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2017 Kia Sorento acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2017 Kia Sorento, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Kia Sorento acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 15,000 miles, and 71% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.