Used car safety, rank #30 of 188
Kia Sorento 2WD Safety Rating (2021-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2021-23 Kia Sorento 2WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Honorable MentionIIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2021-23 Kia Sorento 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 12 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24, which is 50% below the class average. That places it #30 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 79.8/100, earning our Honorable Mention designation.
What the Kia Sorento death rate means
At 12 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Kia Sorento 2WD beats the midsize SUVs average of 24 by 50%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 26, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 78 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Kia Sorento. Its 95% confidence interval is 35β121. 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 2WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas 2WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 16) | 89.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (1 to 13) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Atlas 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 16) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Telluride 2WD | 2020-23 | 8 (0 to 22) | 84.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Bronco 4WD | 2021-23 | 10 (1 to 19) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2022-23 | 10 (0 to 23) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander hybrid 4WD | 2020-23 | 11 (1 to 20) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 4WD | 2022-23 | 11 (0 to 25) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Sorento 2WD (this page) | 2021-23 | 12 (0 to 26) | 79.8 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24 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+ | 95.4 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 79.8 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Kia Sorento 2WD
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.
4 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering electrical system, back over prevention, equipment, trailer hitches.
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Electrical system: wiring, fuses and circuit breakers
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera housing, as necessary, free of charge.
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Equipment: other, labels
Risk: A detached air bag warning label will not warn occupants about the risks of air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver and front passenger sun visors, as necessary, free of charge.
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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.
Partial lookup: At least one NHTSA model-variant request failed. The campaigns shown were returned successfully; additional campaigns may be missing. Check your VIN.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. 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 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Kia Sorento 2WD: Common Questions
Is the Kia Sorento 2WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 12 per million registered vehicle years for the 2021-23 Kia Sorento 2WD, 50% below the class average (24 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 79.8 out of 100 and rank #30 of 188 used vehicles, with a Honorable Mention designation.
What is the Kia Sorento 2WD driver death rate?
12 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 26. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Kia Sorento died at a rate of 78 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2021-23 models.
How does the Kia Sorento 2WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24 driver deaths per million; the Kia Sorento 2WD sits at 12. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD with a death rate of 5.