Last updated: 2026-10-10
Ford Edge vs Kia Sorento: Reliability Compared
Ford Edge
Kia Sorento
The KIA Sorento edges out the Ford Edge on reliability. Owners filed fewer complaints per vehicle sold. The lead is slight, because each SUV has engine failures that can end in a replacement engine, so the service history of any used example matters.
How Do the Ford Edge and Kia Sorento Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Kia Sorento is more reliable than the Ford Edge, scoring 71/100 vs 67/100.
A slight edge goes to the Sorento. Owners filed fewer complaints per vehicle sold, and that is the deciding reason. The gap is small because each SUV has a costly engine failure pattern that can end in a replacement engine. The Sorento spreads its trouble across the engine, wiring, lighting, and steering. The Edge concentrates its trouble in the engine and powertrain. The Sorento also has more recalls on record, so the lead is narrow and a clean service history matters on either car.
Key Differences
- 1Ford Edge has 11 fewer total recalls
- 2Kia Sorento scores 4 points higher in reliability
- 3Kia Sorento has 2.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Ford Edge vs Kia Sorento: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Ford Edge | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 67/100 | 71/100 |
| Years Tracked | 7 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 32 | 43 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 9.4 | 7.4 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2024 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 3 | 4 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Edge and Kia Sorento?
Coolant leaking into the cylinders of the Edge's 2.0L EcoBoost dominates its filings, with misfires, white smoke, and quotes as high as $12,000 for a new engine. The Sorento's engine trouble is oil that vanishes with no warning light, then knocking and sudden power loss. It also has headlights that cut out at night and steering that sticks. Crash-linked reports differ. The Sorento has them in electrical, powertrain, and engine areas. The Edge has them in powertrain, electrical, and rearview camera failures, but none in its engine category.
| Component | Ford Edge | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 3.3Average | 1.5Low |
| ENGINE | 2Low | 1.4Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.6Very Low | 1Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.5Very Low | 1.1Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.9Very Low | —None |
| STRUCTURE | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 0.3Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| WHEELS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Ford Edge vs Kia Sorento Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Ford Edge | Kia Sorento | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 76/1002R / 38C | 79/1002R / 35C | Kia Sorento |
| 2023 | 74/1004R / 16C | 70/1007R / 120C | Ford Edge |
| 2022 | 69/1005R / 113C | 66/10010R / 171C | Ford Edge |
| 2021 | 69/1007R / 92C | 66/1006R / 217C | Ford Edge |
| 2020 | 64/1004R / 272C | 71/1001R / 115C | Kia Sorento |
| 2019 | 60/1003R / 687C | 64/1002R / 383C | Kia Sorento |
| 2018 | 57/1007R / 746C | 68/1003R / 232C | Kia Sorento |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Edge scored 76/100 and the 2024 Kia Sorento scored 79/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Ford Edge vs the Kia Sorento?
Ford Edge vs Kia Sorento: Common Questions
- Is the KIA Sorento more reliable than the Ford Edge?
- Yes, by a slight margin. The Sorento drew 7.4 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 9.4 for the Edge. Each has a serious engine failure pattern, which keeps the gap small. The Sorento's problems are spread across several systems, while the Edge's pile up in the engine and powertrain.
- Which has more recalls, the Sorento or the Edge?
- The Sorento has more. Federal recall records show 43 recalls across 9 model years for the Sorento and 32 across 7 model years for the Edge. Recall totals do not settle reliability by themselves, so check the VIN of any car you are considering for open recalls.
- What is the main engine problem with the Ford Edge?
- Coolant leaks into the cylinders of the 2.0L EcoBoost. The first sign is usually a check engine light with a misfire, a rough start, or coolant that keeps dropping with no puddle. Dealers usually call for a new engine, with quotes as high as $12,000. Failures cluster between about 50,000 and 100,000 miles.
- What goes wrong with the KIA Sorento engine?
- Oil disappears between changes with no visible leak and no warning light. Many cases end in knocking, misfires, heavy smoke, or a sudden loss of power at highway speed, followed by a call for a new engine. Failures tended to show up between 90,000 and 116,000 miles.
- Which Sorento and Edge model years should I avoid?
- Avoid the 2019 and 2021 Sorento, and the 2018 and 2019 Edge, since those are the weakest years for each. The newest years of both rank well, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so they are not proven better.
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Decided between Ford Edge and Kia Sorento? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Ford Edge and Kia Sorento
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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