Head-to-head reliability
KIA Sorento vs Honda Accord
How the KIA Sorento and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: Over 10 years, the Sorento averaged 204 complaints per year with 30 recalls, while the Accord averaged 444 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Sorento's issues often involve engine stalling, whereas the Accord sees more electronic and safety system complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Sorento or Honda Accord 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 has averaged about 204 owner complaints per year over the past decade, with engine problems dominating the list at 811 complaints. Owners frequently describe stalling, sudden shutdowns, and transmission warnings that can leave them stranded. While the Sorento has fewer total complaints than the Accord, the high concentration of engine and power train issues suggests a pattern of serious mechanical failures that can be costly and dangerous.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 444 per year—but its issues are spread across more systems, including advanced driver aids and electrical components. Owners report problems with forward collision avoidance, brake system warnings, and even sunroof glass shattering. The Accord's higher complaint count doesn't necessarily mean it's less reliable, but it does indicate a wider variety of potential headaches.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Sorento | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,037 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 62 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 203.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 80 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 3 |
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, often without warning, and some say the car shuts off during U-turns or while climbing hills. This can be terrifying and may require a costly diagnostic and repair, with some owners denied goodwill coverage.
Complaints include transmission warning lights and messages about the Transmission Control System, as well as vehicles stalling while braking. These electrical glitches can lead to unexpected shutdowns and expensive module replacements.
The same transmission control warnings and stalling incidents appear under power train, indicating that the issue may involve the transmission itself. A failing transmission can cost thousands to fix and may recur even after repair.
Several owners describe sudden vehicle shutdowns, sometimes during low-speed maneuvers like U-turns, requiring a manual restart. These mysterious failures are hard to diagnose and can leave a buyer with an unreliable vehicle.
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises and critical failure warnings that cause the vehicle to lose speed and become undrivable. Some complaints involve brand-new vehicles, suggesting potential manufacturing defects that may not be resolved quickly.
Issues range from TPMS warnings leading to tire failure to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. These electrical problems can disable safety systems and lead to expensive repairs, even on low-mileage cars.
Many owners report false warnings or failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic braking. These malfunctions can be distracting and may reduce confidence in the car's safety features.
Complaints include brake system warnings and potential antilock brake control unit failures. Brake problems are a serious safety concern and can be costly to diagnose and repair.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
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…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
KIA Sorento or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Kia Sorento has fewer complaints per year (about 204 vs. 444 for the Honda Accord), but its issues are more concentrated in critical areas like the engine and transmission. The Accord's higher complaint count is spread across more systems, including advanced electronics. In practice, the Sorento may have fewer overall problems, but when they occur, they tend to be more severe and potentially dangerous.
Key differences
- The Sorento's top complaint category is engine (811 complaints), often involving stalling and shutdowns, while the Accord's top category is also engine (985 complaints) but with more varied symptoms like noise and critical failure warnings.
- The Accord has significantly more complaints about forward collision avoidance (821) and service brakes (592), which are advanced safety systems not prominent in Sorento complaints.
- The Sorento has 30 recalls over 10 years, including fuel system and transmission issues, while the Accord has 38 recalls, covering hybrid software and brake control units.
- Crash-related complaints are higher for the Accord (160 vs. 62 for the Sorento), but the Sorento has a higher proportion of engine and power train complaints that can lead to sudden loss of power.
- Check for any history of stalling or sudden shutdowns, especially during low-speed maneuvers or while braking—test drive in stop-and-go traffic and listen for unusual noises.
- Inspect for transmission warning lights or messages about the Transmission Control System; scan for stored trouble codes even if no light is currently on.
- Test all advanced driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking, for false warnings or failures.
- Inspect tires and TPMS system for proper function, and check for any signs of rodent damage to wiring harnesses, especially if the car has been parked outside.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both the Kia Sorento and Honda Accord using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine and transmission health for the Sorento and electronic safety systems for the Accord.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, stalling, or warning lights, and test all driver-assist features if equipped.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and any transmission or electrical repairs.
- Verify that all recall repairs have been completed by checking with a dealership using 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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 5 |
| 2025 | 73 | 101 |
| 2024 | 38 | 214 |
| 2023 | 118 | 224 |
| 2022 | 186 | 238 |
| 2021 | 8 | 226 |
| 2020 | 134 | 355 |
| 2019 | 423 | 677 |
| 2018 | 252 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 800 | 534 |
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Sorento vs Honda Accord
- KIA Sorento total complaints
- 2,037
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- KIA Sorento total recalls
- 30
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- KIA Sorento avg complaints/year
- 203.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- KIA Sorento
- KIA Sorento top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE