Head-to-head reliability
KIA Sorento vs FORD F 150
How the KIA Sorento and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
KIA Sorento vs FORD F 150: The Sorento averages 204 complaints per year with 30 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131 complaints per year with 145 recalls. Both have reported stalling and transmission issues, but the F-150 has more than five times the complaint rate. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Sorento or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA Sorento
The Kia Sorento is a mid-size SUV that, based on NHTSA data, generates about 204 complaints per year over the past decade. The most common owner-reported issues involve the engine, electrical system, and power train, with symptoms like stalling, sudden shutoffs, and transmission warnings. There are also 30 recalls and 62 crash-related complaints, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is wise.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averages about 1,131 complaints per year, far more than the Sorento. Owners most often report power train problems, especially hard or delayed shifts and sudden loss of power, along with electrical glitches. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, it's a high-volume vehicle with a high volume of reported issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Sorento | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,037 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 62 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 203.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 80 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
KIA Sorento
- 01ENGINE811
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER375
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM309
- 04POWER TRAIN226
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING201
Owners report stalling while driving, including while going up a hill, and sudden shutoffs during maneuvers like U-turns. These can leave you without power in traffic, which is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include transmission warning lights and messages about the Transmission Control System, as well as stalling while braking at intersections. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and may lead to unexpected breakdowns.
Reports describe the vehicle stalling and shutting off, requiring a manual restart, often when braking or at low speeds. This pattern suggests transmission or control module issues that could recur.
Some owners report the car suddenly shutting off during a U-turn or stalling on a hill, with no specific component identified. These vague but dangerous failures highlight the need for a thorough diagnostic check.
“The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the rear windshield wiper was moving with the switch turned off. The contact turned the rear windshield wiper to high, then low, and the wiper finally turned off.…”
“On March 19 I completed my 8,000 mile oil change and then drove to Florida. I had a warning light to change my oil since the company did not reset it. Unsure of the other warning lights. As I was driving in Florida on the interstate the car started having iss…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, especially between 7th and 8th gear, and sudden loss of power while driving. Some describe jerking, clunking, and the vehicle shutting off and drifting, which is a major safety risk.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing at startup. These electronic faults can disable safety features and are often recurring.
While less common than power train issues, engine-related complaints exist and may involve stalling or poor performance. Given the F-150's size, any engine problem can be costly to repair.
There are over 1,100 complaints about exterior lighting, which could include headlight failures or malfunctions. Poor lighting affects visibility and safety, especially at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
KIA Sorento — 30 recalls
The defect: Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
The risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC214.
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a…
The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification lett…
The defect: Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Sorento vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.
The risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC351. Veh…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
KIA Sorento or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Kia Sorento has far fewer complaints per year (about 204) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131). In practice, this means you're likely to see fewer reported issues with the Sorento, but both vehicles have notable safety-related complaints that require careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has about 5.5 times more complaints per year than the Kia Sorento (1,131 vs. 204).
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission problems like hard shifts and sudden power loss, while Sorento owners report stalling and electrical warnings.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 30 for the Sorento, indicating more widespread safety fixes.
- Both vehicles have crash-related complaints, but the F-150 has 328 compared to 62 for the Sorento.
- Check for any history of stalling or sudden shutoffs, especially during low-speed maneuvers or while braking; test drive in stop-and-go traffic.
- Look for transmission warning lights or messages about the Transmission Control System; have a mechanic scan for stored codes.
- Test the transmission for hard or delayed shifts, especially between 7th and 8th gear, and listen for clunks or jerks.
- Check for recurring electrical warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' at startup.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, stalling, or rough shifting.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and software updates.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | KIA Sorento | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 24 |
| 2025 | 73 | 329 |
| 2024 | 38 | 617 |
| 2023 | 118 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 186 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 8 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 134 | 33 |
| 2019 | 423 | 36 |
| 2018 | 252 | 56 |
| 2017 | 800 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific KIA Sorento or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Sorento vs FORD F 150
- KIA Sorento total complaints
- 2,037
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- KIA Sorento total recalls
- 30
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- KIA Sorento avg complaints/year
- 203.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- KIA Sorento
- KIA Sorento top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN