Last updated: 2026-03-04
Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sorento: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sorento
Choosing between the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sorento? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Hyundai Tucson currently leads with an average score of 73/100 compared to 70/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sorento Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Hyundai Tucson is more reliable than the Kia Sorento, scoring 73/100 vs 70/100.
The Hyundai Tucson scores slightly higher in reliability with an average score of 83/100 compared to the Kia Sorento's 81/100. While the Tucson has had fewer recalls, 23 over nine years, the Sorento faces a higher number at 43, indicating a potential advantage for Tucson in terms of manufacturing consistency. However, the Sorento has a lower owner complaint rate of 7.4 per 10,000 sold, compared to the Tucson's 8.9, which may suggest better user satisfaction. The Tucson benefits from lower estimated annual repair costs at $426 versus the Sorento's $533, making it the more economically appealing choice for reliability-conscious buyers.
Key Differences
- 1Hyundai Tucson costs $107 less per year to repair
- 2Hyundai Tucson has 20 fewer total recalls
- 3Hyundai Tucson scores 3 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sorento: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Hyundai Tucson | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 73/100 | 70/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 23 | 43 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 8.9 | 7.4 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $426/yr | $533/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 10% | 11% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 4 (3 tied) | 1 (3 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sorento?
Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sorento both exhibit significant issues with their power train and engine systems, with Tucson having slightly more engine-related complaints at 397 compared to Sorento's 260. Tucson stands out with a higher incidence of crash-linked complaints in several categories, notably service brakes with 15 and forward collision avoidance with 12, indicating potential safety concerns. In contrast, Sorento shows a concentrated problem profile in the power train category with 269 complaints but has fewer crash-linked issues overall. Both models experience numerous electrical system complaints, yet Tucson's service brake and forward collision avoidance problems suggest a more critical area of concern in safety-related systems.
| Component | Hyundai Tucson | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1.9Low | 1.4Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.3Low | 1.5Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.1Low | 1.1Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1Very Low | 1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1.1Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.3Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sorento?
How Does Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sorento Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Hyundai Tucson | Kia Sorento | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75/1006R / 251C | 75/1008R / 72C | Tie |
| 2024 | 77/1004R / 87C | 79/1002R / 35C | Kia Sorento |
| 2023 | 75/1002R / 142C | 70/1007R / 120C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2022 | 66/1003R / 433C | 66/10010R / 171C | Tie |
| 2021 | 78/1001R / 58C | 66/1006R / 217C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2020 | 73/1001R / 153C | 71/1001R / 115C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2019 | 68/1001R / 349C | 64/1002R / 383C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2018 | 68/1001R / 362C | 68/1003R / 232C | Tie |
| 2026(predicted) | 76/100(predicted) | 75/100(predicted) | Hyundai Tucson |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2021 Hyundai Tucson scored 78/100 and the 2024 Kia Sorento scored 79/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Hyundai Tucson vs the Kia Sorento?
Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sorento: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Tucson more reliable than the Kia Sorento?
- Based on our data, the Hyundai Tucson is more reliable with an average score of 73/100 compared to 70/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sorento?
- The Kia Sorento has more recalls (43) compared to the Hyundai Tucson (23). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sorento?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Kia Sorento has a lower complaint rate at 7.4 per 10,000 sold versus 8.9 for the Hyundai Tucson. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sorento?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Tucson is cheaper to maintain at $426/year versus $533/year for the Kia Sorento.
- Is the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sorento safer?
- Both the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sorento received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Hyundai Tucson comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue