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Kia Optima and Kia Sorento Lemon Odds and Nada Odds for the Year Ending June 30, 2018

An asterisk (*) marks results based on small sample sizes.

Year Make/Model Nada Odds per 100 Cars Lemon Odds per 100 Cars    
41 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 30500 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year. Glitchy. Generally minor issues.
2016
Kia Sorento
[?] see reported repairs
  41 vehicles, 11.7 months per vehicle, 30500 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year. Glitchy. Generally minor issues.
26 vehicles, 11.8 months per vehicle, 73200 miles driven2013 Kia Optima Join or sign in to view   see reported repairs
  26 vehicles, 11.8 months per vehicle, 73200 miles driven
28 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 86900 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year.
2011
Kia Sorento Join or sign in to view   see reported repairs
  28 vehicles, 11.5 months per vehicle, 86900 miles driven

Redesigned for this model year.

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Kia Optima vs. Kia Sorento Lemon Odds and Nada Odds

Other sources of Kia Optima and Kia Sorento reliability data provide only averages, which can conceal as much as they reveal. So we also report the percentage of Kia Optimas and Kia Sorentos with no repairs at all in the past year and the percentage of Kia Optimas and Kia Sorentos that are lemons (required three or more repair trips in the past year). These figures might surprise you.

These stats are promptly updated four times a year, to closely track Kia Optima and Kia Sorento lemon odds as the cars age. Others can be over a year behind. Only TrueDelta tells you how reliable the Kia Optima and Kia Sorento have been recently.

To see how frequently Kia Optima and Kia Sorento problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.

What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Kia Optima

Kia Optima Brand Reputation: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2013 4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
Kia doesn't have the best reputation, though I get the sense that it's slowly improving. Speaking personally, I would have laughed at the idea of buying/leasing anything from Kia even three years ago. However, in that time, I've had two: a 2011 Kia Sportage EX and, now, a 2013 Kia Optima SX Limited. The mediocre brand image is a unfortunate, because if you slapped another make's emblem on this car, people would probably be absolutely gushing over it. As I said, I don't think their image is improving, though. see full Kia Optima review
2007 4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4
5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
poor trade in value but intend to keep long time due to great warranty; Kia discounting cars in USA to gain brand penetration; much better priced here than in Europe for the same car. see full Kia Optima review
 

TrueDelta Reviews the Brand Reputation of the Kia Sorento

Kia Sorento Brand Reputation: Cons
YearComment
2011 The number one reason most people seem to have for not buying a Kia is that it's a Kia. As noted in the introduction, negative brand perceptions linger. see full Kia Sorento review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Kia Sorento

Kia Sorento Brand Reputation: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2011 4dr SUV 276-horsepower 3.5L V6
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
in the past, not known to be good brand and still new to car industry. see full Kia Sorento review
2011 4dr SUV 175-horsepower 2.4L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
Unsure about long term reliability and overall build quality see full Kia Sorento review
2003 4dr SUV 192-horsepower 3.5L V6
4-speed automatic AWD w/low range
Poor brand reputation - cheap car image see full Kia Sorento review