Last updated: 2026-03-04
Kia Sorento vs Nissan Rogue: Reliability Compared
Kia Sorento
Nissan Rogue
Choosing between the Kia Sorento and the Nissan Rogue? 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 midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Nissan Rogue currently leads with an average score of 74/100 compared to 70/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Kia Sorento and Nissan Rogue Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Rogue is more reliable than the Kia Sorento, scoring 74/100 vs 70/100.
The Nissan Rogue and Kia Sorento are closely matched in reliability, with average scores of 80 and 81 out of 100, respectively. Both vehicles have the same number of recalls over nine years, but the Rogue has a slightly lower owner complaint rate of 6.2 per 10,000 sold compared to the Sorento's 7.4. While the Rogue's estimated annual repair cost is lower at $467 versus the Sorento's $533, both SUVs share common issues in power train and electrical systems. Overall, the Rogue edges out slightly in terms of lower complaint rate and repair costs, making it a marginally more reliable choice.
Key Differences
- 1Nissan Rogue costs $66 less per year to repair
- 2Nissan Rogue scores 4 points higher in reliability
- 3Nissan Rogue has 1.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Kia Sorento vs Nissan Rogue: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Kia Sorento | Nissan Rogue |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 70/100 | 74/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 43 | 43 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 7.4 | 6.2 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $533/yr | $467/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 11% | 12% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | Not rated | |
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 (1 tied) | 6 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Kia Sorento and Nissan Rogue?
The Nissan Rogue and Kia Sorento exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Rogue experiencing a higher volume of overall complaints, particularly in the areas of service brakes and forward collision avoidance, which are linked to 15 and 8 crashes respectively. In contrast, the Kia Sorento's most frequent issues are with the power train and engine, although these categories have fewer crash-linked incidents compared to the Rogue. Both vehicles face significant challenges with their electrical systems, but the Rogue has a higher number of crash-linked complaints in this category. Notably, the Rogue's vehicle speed control issues result in a disproportionately high number of crashes, suggesting a heightened safety concern in this area compared to the Sorento.
| Component | Kia Sorento | Nissan Rogue |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1.4Low | 0.7Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.5Low | 0.5Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.1Low | 0.7Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.8Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| STRUCTURE | —None | —None |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Kia Sorento or Nissan Rogue?
How Does Kia Sorento vs Nissan Rogue Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Kia Sorento | Nissan Rogue | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75/1008R / 72C | 84/1001R / 103C | Nissan Rogue |
| 2024 | 79/1002R / 35C | 79/1002R / 116C | Tie |
| 2023 | 70/1007R / 120C | 68/1005R / 519C | Kia Sorento |
| 2022 | 66/10010R / 171C | 70/1007R / 211C | Nissan Rogue |
| 2021 | 66/1006R / 217C | 70/10013R / 269C | Nissan Rogue |
| 2020 | 71/1001R / 115C | 79/1002R / 185C | Nissan Rogue |
| 2019 | 64/1002R / 383C | 73/1006R / 409C | Nissan Rogue |
| 2018 | 68/1003R / 232C | 70/1006R / 718C | Nissan Rogue |
| 2026(predicted) | 75/100(predicted) | 77/100(predicted) | Nissan Rogue |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Kia Sorento scored 79/100 and the 2025 Nissan Rogue scored 84/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Kia Sorento vs the Nissan Rogue?
Kia Sorento vs Nissan Rogue: Common Questions
- Is the Kia Sorento more reliable than the Nissan Rogue?
- Based on our data, the Nissan Rogue is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 70/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Kia Sorento or the Nissan Rogue?
- Both have 43 recalls across their tracked years. Review individual year pages for details on what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Kia Sorento or the Nissan Rogue?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Rogue has a lower complaint rate at 6.2 per 10,000 sold versus 7.4 for the Kia Sorento. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Kia Sorento or the Nissan Rogue?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Rogue is cheaper to maintain at $467/year versus $533/year for the Kia Sorento.
- Is the Kia Sorento or Nissan Rogue safer?
- Both the Kia Sorento and Nissan Rogue 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
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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.
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