Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Kia Sorento
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Kia Sorento has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 217 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V088000 ABS Module May Short Circuit NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V114000 Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V473000 OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 66 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 44 complaints
- Engine 35 complaints
- Electrical System 32 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 28 complaints
- Power Train 23 complaints
Of the 217 complaints on file, 15 report a crash and 9 a fire; across all 217 complaints, owners report 17 injuries and 3 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Kia Sorento has an average reliability rating due to its moderate number of complaints and recall campaigns. With three recalls and 217 complaints, the vehicle shows some issues, particularly with the air bags, ESC, and engine. Nevertheless, the overall data is not extensive enough to view this model as problematic, offering a balanced view of reliability and ownership costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | common |
| Electronic Stability Control | Unknown | $200–$1,200 | common |
| Engine | Unknown | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Tire rotations
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush
- Battery replacement
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- ESC malfunction light
- Engine overheating
- Frequent stalling
- Unusual noises from engine
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Kia Sorento at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.