TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPAIR (WTY031) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Multifunction Switch Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY031) to repair the multifunction switch knob on 2016-2018MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles, produced at Kia Georgia from October 27, 2014 through March 7, 2018, which may exhibit an intermittent headlamp flickering. The vehicle’s warranty for this issue will be extended from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, sta
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Kia Sorento visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Kia Sorento have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Sorento | 29 |
| 2014 Sorento | 22 |
| 2015 Sorento | 3 |
| 2016 Sorento | 13 |
| 2017 Sorento (this page) | 5 |
| 2018 Sorento | 4 |
| 2019 Sorento | 8 |
| 2020 Sorento | 4 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (WTY031) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the multi-function switch assembly on 2016-2017 MY Sorento vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. The contact points in the multi-function switch in your vehicle may become worn, and it could result in intermittent headlamp flickering.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PITSTOP: OUTSIDE MIRROR GLASS CONTROL INOPERATIVE - This Pitstop provides information on the repair procedure for an inoperative mirror glass on the outside door mirrors for 2016-2019MY Optima (JFa) and Sorento (UMa) vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PITSTOP: BLOCKED WINDSHIELD WASHER NOZZLES ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH WASHER HEATERS - This Pitstop provides information regarding blocked windshield wiper nozzles on some 2016MY~ Sorento (UMa) and 2017MY~ Sportage (QL) vehicles equipped with windshield washer heaters (A). Mixing tap water (?) and concentrated windshield washer fluid can cause corrosion of the heater element due to the mineral content of tap water.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: SERVICE ACTION: PANORAMIC SUNSHADE ROLLER GUIDE ADJUSTMENT (SA291A) - This bulletin provides the procedure to adjust the panoramic sunshade roller guide on some 2017MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles, produced from November 16, 2016 to February 3, 2017, which may experience a slow sunshade operation or squeak noise when the sunshade is reaching the closed position. The concern is caused by interference of the sunshade to the roller guides. Follow the procedure outlined in this bulletin to adjust the sunshade roller guide. Sunroof assembly replacement is not required to repair this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had visibility trouble with your 2017 Kia Sorento?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2017 Kia Sorento?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 41,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Kia/Sorento.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.