Diagsheet

2017 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet

Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks

  • 60owner reports
  • 32,000median miles
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Jul 30, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

97 of the 804 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 60 of those describe sticky steering.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026
No crash reportedin 60 reports

Tick what matches of 60 reports

56
17
32
5
9
5

Sticky steering on other Sorento years

201639 reports201760 reports

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.

What this problem usually is

Sticky steering is a wheel that catches or hangs for a moment before it turns, then moves in a small jerk. It's different from a wheel that's simply heavy: owners here describe a notch, and many say it's worst when making small corrections at highway speed.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the column (9 reports) and the steering rack (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 20,486 and 44,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.

Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2018: 5, 2019: 7, 2020: 7, 2021: 6, 2022: 12, 2023: 7, 2024: 8, 2025: 7, 2026: 15'187'197'206'2112'227'238'247'251'26

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Kia Sorento that deal with this problem. Newest first.

Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

What owners wrote

“continuous issues with "sticky" or "notchy" steering. Steering is not smooth and almost caused several accidents.”

Filed Dec 29, 2023

“Steering wheel sticking when driving. Kia replaced the steering column assy-steering and the gear and linkage assy. Steering is some better but still the sticking”

Filed Nov 17, 2023

“The steering is "Sticky" or feels like it gets stuck in a "Notch" while driving down the road. It is most noticeable at highway speeds and happens every trip to town. When the steering sticks is causes an overcorrection. This overcorrection is getting worse with time. I have yet to take it to the shop for inspection. No warning lamps or codes are currently present.”

Filed Jan 9, 2023

“I reported earlier that my steering became "sticky" at highway speeds. Now, the problem is occurring at lower speeds. Today it began at 35 mph. Was just driving down the country road from my house and the steering started to stick.”

Filed Apr 28, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 60 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found

Other problems on this car