Used car safety, rank #59 of 181
Kia Sorento 4WD Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Kia Sorento 4WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2017-20 Kia Sorento 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 26 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24.9, which is 4% above the class average. That places it #59 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 65.2/100.
What the Kia Sorento death rate means
At 26 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Kia Sorento 4WD is 4% worse than the midsize SUVs average of 24.9. The 95% confidence interval is 9 to 43, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 40 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Kia Sorento. It is higher than the Kia Sorento's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Kia Sorento 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pathfinder 2WD | 2018-20 | 0 (0 to 22) | 93.2 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $26,000 |
| Nissan Murano 2WD | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 12) | 90.8 | 3.5/5 | $16,000 to $25,000 |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2018-20 | 6 (0 to 13) | 88.1 | 3.0/5 | $18,000 to $30,000 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 16) | 88.1 | n/a | $22,000 to $32,000 |
| Ford Edge 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 15) | 88.1 | 3.5/5 | $17,000 to $28,000 |
| Honda Pilot 2WD | 2019-20 | 7 (0 to 20) | 84.2 | 3.5/5 | $20,000 to $32,000 |
| GMC Acadia 2WD | 2017-20 | 10 (2 to 19) | 81.9 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| GMC Acadia 4WD | 2017-20 | 11 (3 to 20) | 81.1 | 3.0/5 | n/a |
| Kia Sorento 4WD (this page) | 2017-20 | 26 (9 to 43) | 65.2 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Kia Sorento
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Kia Sorento we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kia Sorento | TSP+ | 87.9 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 65.2 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Kia Sorento 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Park outside
1 campaign tells owners to park away from buildings and other vehicles, usually a fire risk. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
1 recall campaign on the 2020 model year, covering trailer hitches.
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Trailer hitches Park outside
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Kia Sorento 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Kia Sorento 4WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 26 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Kia Sorento 4WD, 4% above the class average (24.9 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 65.2 out of 100 and rank #59 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Kia Sorento 4WD driver death rate?
26 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 9 to 43. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Kia Sorento died at a rate of 40 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Kia Sorento 4WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24.9 driver deaths per million; the Kia Sorento 4WD sits at 26. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD with a death rate of 0.