Kia Sorento vs Volkswagen Atlas
Midsize SUV · 2015–2025 · 4,695 federal complaints
Kia Sorento
2,318 complaints · 7 engines
Most-complained engine: LAMBDA-II · 3.3L V6
Full breakdown for Kia Sorento →
Volkswagen Atlas
2,377 complaints · 2 engines
Most-complained engine: FSI · 3.6L V6
Full breakdown for Volkswagen Atlas →At a glance
Side by side. EPA figures are the model's median across its test variants; price is the base-trim MSRP (CarAPI), median across covered model years.
| Kia Sorento | Volkswagen Atlas | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $25,750 | $30,750 |
| Most common engine | LAMBDA-II · 3.3L V6 | FSI · 3.6L V6 |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated | Naturally aspirated |
| Fuel economy | 24 MPG | 21 MPG |
| Running cost | $2,550/yr | $2,950/yr |
| Low emissions | 377 g/mi | 422 g/mi |
| Displacement | 2.5 L | 2.0 L |
| NHTSA overall crash rating | ★★★★★ (2025) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Rollover risk (NHTSA) | 15.9% | 15.9% |
| Engines with enough data | 7 | 2 |
Side by side
Both cars scored as percentiles within Midsize SUV, so the shapes are directly comparable. Built from EPA test data.
What each one's complaints are about
Showing each car's highest-volume engine. Share of component mentions — not a failure rate, and not a ranking between the two.
Kia Sorento
Volkswagen Atlas
How often each one's complaints involve a fire, crash or injury
Shares of each car's own complaints — sales volume cancels out of a within-car ratio, so these two can be compared. The vertical mark is the all-vehicle average.
all vehicles — Fire 1.1% · Crash 4.4% · Injury 2.6%
Every engine with enough data
Complaint counts per engine are shown for scale only — they track how many were sold, not how often they fail.
Kia Sorento
- LAMBDA-II · 3.3L V6Naturally aspirated811
- THETA-II · 2.4L I4Naturally aspirated662
- LAMBDA II · 3.3L V6Naturally aspirated287
- THETA-III · 2.5L I4 281hp239
- THETA-III · 2.5L I4 191hp116
- GAMMA-II · 1.6L I4Turbo110
- THETA-II · 2.0L I4Turbo75
Volkswagen Atlas
- FSI · 3.6L V6Naturally aspirated1,717
- TSI · 2.0L I4Turbo660
Recalls where NHTSA said stop driving or park outside
The severest recall class only. Model-level, manufacturer-confirmed. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, whatever the car's age.
Kia Sorento
- Trailer Hitches (park outside, 2016–2022) 22V703000
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (park outside, 2015–2015) 21V331000
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (park outside, 2015–2015) 20V519000
Volkswagen Atlas
- Steering (stop driving, 2021–2021) 20V712000
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper (stop driving, 2018–2018) 18V369000
One car having more complaints than the other mostly reflects how many were sold, not how often they break. Compare each car's own mix of problems — not the totals.