Total Complaints
3 filings
KIA SORENTO · model year
2010 KIA SORENTO
3 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2010KIASORENTO carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 SORENTO is air bags with 1 filings, followed by engine (1) and suspension (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 8 investigation files overlapping the 2010 SORENTO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recalls (2)
11E04100006/10/2011
EQUIPMENT
CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 56024, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ AND KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE
13V11400001/04/2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 201
Recent Complaints
20160412SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RE-BALANCED THE TIRES AND RE-ALIGNED THE WHEELS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED TWO KIA DEALERS ABOUT THE FAILURE. BOTH DEALERS WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO VISIT A LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Mileage: 24,000
20131212CrashENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FAILED TO INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS EMPTY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CURB BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO PREMATURE OIL CONSUMPTION AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ
Mileage: 52,000
20130201CrashAIR BAGS
I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE GETTING OFF HIGHWAY THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED AND I REAR ENDED HER CAR. MY CAR WAS PUSHED IN FROM FRONT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT POP OUT. IT CONCERNS ME. AT WHAT SPEED SHOULD THEY DEPLOYED? *TR
Mileage: 40
Compare 2010KIASORENTO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2010 KIA SORENTO have?▼
The 2010 KIA SORENTO has 3 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 KIA SORENTO?▼
Yes, the 2010 KIA SORENTO has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 KIA SORENTO?▼
The most-complained component for the 2010 KIA SORENTO is AIR BAGS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and SUSPENSION.
Is the 2010 KIA SORENTO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.