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Kia Sorento vs Toyota Highlander: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 448 complaints per model year about the Kia Sorento and 219 about the Toyota Highlander.

Side by side

Kia SorentoToyota Highlander
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints9,4124,608
Complaints per model year448219
Recalls3945
Years to avoid20112012201320142016201720192021
Best years200720202022200720092016
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-37 mpg combined (2026)24-35 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Kia Sorento: 2422006 Toyota Highlander: 27920062007 Kia Sorento: 1542007 Toyota Highlander: 1242008 Kia Sorento: 2172008 Toyota Highlander: 40620082009 Kia Sorento: 552009 Toyota Highlander: 1342010 Kia Sorento: 32010 Toyota Highlander: 21620102011 Kia Sorento: 1,5202011 Toyota Highlander: 1822012 Kia Sorento: 8802012 Toyota Highlander: 18220122013 Kia Sorento: 9852013 Toyota Highlander: 2072014 Kia Sorento: 9892014 Toyota Highlander: 13620142015 Kia Sorento: 7552015 Toyota Highlander: 1932016 Kia Sorento: 1,2632016 Toyota Highlander: 11120162017 Kia Sorento: 8112017 Toyota Highlander: 2722018 Kia Sorento: 2552018 Toyota Highlander: 27620182019 Kia Sorento: 4372019 Toyota Highlander: 5112020 Kia Sorento: 1402020 Toyota Highlander: 32320202021 Kia Sorento: 2572021 Toyota Highlander: 5392022 Kia Sorento: 1942022 Toyota Highlander: 26720222023 Kia Sorento: 1282023 Toyota Highlander: 1922024 Kia Sorento: 442024 Toyota Highlander: 4320242025 Kia Sorento: 772025 Toyota Highlander: 112026 Kia Sorento: 62026 Toyota Highlander: 42026
Kia SorentoToyota Highlander

Problems compared

SorentoHighlander
Engine3,890539
Electrical1,297560
Transmission1,091921
Body883375
Lights76790
Brakes650649
Fuel system405336

Questions about the Kia Sorento vs Toyota Highlander

Which is more reliable, the Kia Sorento or the Toyota Highlander?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Kia Sorento has 6 years to avoid and the Toyota Highlander 2. The Toyota Highlander has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Toyota Highlander drew fewer complaints per model year (219 vs 448), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Sorento or the Toyota Highlander?

From 2006 to 2026, the Kia Sorento was covered by 39 recalls and the Toyota Highlander by 45.

What years of the Kia Sorento and Toyota Highlander should you avoid?

Kia Sorento: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Toyota Highlander: 2019 and 2021.

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