Is the Honda CR-V more reliable than the KIA Sorento?

Yes, but only slightly. The CR-V costs less to repair each year, and any given repair is less likely to be major. The Sorento actually draws a few fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold, 7.4 against 8. So the gap is narrow, and it comes down mostly to how serious and costly the repairs get.

Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the Sorento?

The Honda CR-V has slightly more, with 46 recalls across nine model years against 43 for the KIA Sorento. That difference is too small to decide between them. For any specific car, look up the VIN in federal recall records and confirm open recalls were done before you buy.

Does the KIA Sorento burn oil?

Oil burning is the most common Sorento engine complaint. Owners report losses from about a quart every 400 miles to several quarts between changes, with no visible leak and no warning light. Many cases progress to knocking, smoke, or a highway stall. Failures tend to appear between 90,000 and 116,000 miles, and some owners say coverage was refused after the warranty ran out.

What is the steering problem on the Honda CR-V?

Owners say the wheel sticks or catches near center, then releases suddenly, which causes overcorrection. They often mention clicking or popping, plus extra effort returning to straight at 40 to 50 mph. Reports cluster around 47,000 to 53,000 miles. Dealers usually blame the steering rack or gearbox and quote $3,500 to $4,478. Steering is the CR-V's largest complaint area, with 24 crash-linked reports.

Which is cheaper to repair, the CR-V or the Sorento?

The Honda CR-V is cheaper to keep running, with estimated repair costs near $407 a year compared with $533 for the KIA Sorento. Unscheduled service comes up about equally often for the two. A Sorento repair is a little more likely to turn into a major job.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Honda CR-V

Good

Kia Sorento

Good

The Honda CR-V holds a slight reliability edge over the KIA Sorento, mainly because its repairs cost less and are less often major. Steering and automatic braking complaints weigh on the CR-V. The Sorento's main weakness is engine oil burning that can end in a replacement engine.

How Do the Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento Generations Compare?

Most used CR-Vs in this range are fifth-generation cars. That generation ran from 2017 to 2022 and got a facelift for 2020. The weak 2018 and 2019 came before that facelift. The sixth generation arrived for 2023, and those years have had less time on the road. On the Sorento side, the third generation ran from 2016 to 2020, with a facelift in 2019, which makes the weak 2019 a facelift year. Its fourth generation launched for 2021, which turned out to be its weakest year. A refresh followed for 2024, which ranks among its stronger years.

Verdict

The Honda CR-V is more reliable than the Kia Sorento, scoring 75/100 vs 71/100.

A slight edge goes to the Honda CR-V. Its repairs cost less each year and are less likely to be major. The KIA Sorento's most common engine complaint is oil burning, and it often ends with a dealer recommending a new engine somewhere between 90,000 and 116,000 miles. The gap is narrow. The Sorento draws slightly fewer complaints per vehicle sold, and the CR-V has more steering and automatic braking complaints with crash reports attached. The CR-V comes out ahead because it brings fewer costly surprises.

Key Differences

1Honda CR-V costs $126 less per year to repair
2Honda CR-V scores 4 points higher in reliability
3Kia Sorento has 3 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

3Honda CR-V

—

2Kia Sorento

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda CR-V	Kia Sorento
Reliability Score	75/100	71/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	46	43
Complaints per 10k Sold	8	7.4
Annual Repair Cost	$407/yr	$533/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	9%	11%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	7	2

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento?

Steering and surprise braking lead the CR-V's complaint record. Owners describe a wheel that sticks near center and then lets go, usually traced to the steering rack. They also describe a collision avoidance system that brakes hard with nothing ahead. That braking area has 13 crash-linked reports, and the Sorento has no matching problem area. The Sorento's trouble is in the engine: oil disappears between changes, then knocking, smoke, or a stall at highway speed follows. Its headlights can also shut off at night, usually in Auto right after signaling. The Sorento has steering complaints too, but far fewer, and none are listed as crash-linked.

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda CR-V	Kia Sorento
STEERING	1.8Low	0.3Very Low
ENGINE	0.7Very Low	1.4Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	1.1Low
POWER TRAIN	0.2Very Low	1.5Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.3Very Low
TRAILER HITCHES	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda CR-V or Kia Sorento?

Independent repair-cost data puts the CR-V at about $407 a year and the Sorento at $533. That $126 gap adds up to roughly $630 over five years. Each averages 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, so the difference comes from what a visit costs, not how often you go. On the CR-V, 9% of repairs are major, compared with 11% on the Sorento. That fits the Sorento's record of engine replacements.

How Does Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda CR-V	Kia Sorento	Edge
2026	83/1000R / 35C	80/1004R / 0C	Honda CR-V
2025	80/1006R / 201C	75/1008R / 72C	Honda CR-V
2024	77/1004R / 406C	79/1002R / 35C	Kia Sorento
2023	72/1007R / 578C	70/1007R / 120C	Honda CR-V
2022	76/1005R / 242C	66/10010R / 171C	Honda CR-V
2021	77/1003R / 241C	66/1006R / 217C	Honda CR-V
2020	74/10010R / 358C	71/1001R / 115C	Honda CR-V
2019	69/1007R / 996C	64/1002R / 383C	Honda CR-V
2018	65/1004R / 1960C	68/1003R / 232C	Kia Sorento

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Honda CR-V scored 77/100 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 Honda CR-V vs the Kia Sorento?

Pick the CR-V if you want lower running costs or plan to keep the car into high mileage, since Sorento engine failures tend to show up between 90,000 and 116,000 miles. Avoid the 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. The 2025 ranks among its stronger years, though it has had less time on the road to collect complaints. On a test drive at 40 to 50 mph, feel for a wheel that catches near center or needs extra effort to return to straight. Choose the Sorento if you need midsize room, and buy with the engine in mind. Skip the 2019 and 2021, its weakest years. The 2024 ranks among its better years, with the same caveat about time on the road. Ask how much oil the engine uses between changes, and walk away from a car that needs frequent top-ups. Test the headlights in Auto mode while using the turn signal. Budget a bit more each year for repairs.

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento: Common Questions

Is the Honda CR-V more reliable than the KIA Sorento?: Yes, but only slightly. The CR-V costs less to repair each year, and any given repair is less likely to be major. The Sorento actually draws a few fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold, 7.4 against 8. So the gap is narrow, and it comes down mostly to how serious and costly the repairs get.
Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the Sorento?: The Honda CR-V has slightly more, with 46 recalls across nine model years against 43 for the KIA Sorento. That difference is too small to decide between them. For any specific car, look up the VIN in federal recall records and confirm open recalls were done before you buy.
Does the KIA Sorento burn oil?: Oil burning is the most common Sorento engine complaint. Owners report losses from about a quart every 400 miles to several quarts between changes, with no visible leak and no warning light. Many cases progress to knocking, smoke, or a highway stall. Failures tend to appear between 90,000 and 116,000 miles, and some owners say coverage was refused after the warranty ran out.
What is the steering problem on the Honda CR-V?: Owners say the wheel sticks or catches near center, then releases suddenly, which causes overcorrection. They often mention clicking or popping, plus extra effort returning to straight at 40 to 50 mph. Reports cluster around 47,000 to 53,000 miles. Dealers usually blame the steering rack or gearbox and quote $3,500 to $4,478. Steering is the CR-V's largest complaint area, with 24 crash-linked reports.
Which is cheaper to repair, the CR-V or the Sorento?: The Honda CR-V is cheaper to keep running, with estimated repair costs near $407 a year compared with $533 for the KIA Sorento. Unscheduled service comes up about equally often for the two. A Sorento repair is a little more likely to turn into a major job.

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Decided between Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Honda CR-V 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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