P0017 on a 2022 Kia Sorento
Crank/Cam Correlation (Bank 1 Exhaust)
P0017 on a 2022 Kia Sorento indicates crank/cam correlation (bank 1 exhaust). It usually stays drivable short-term but should be diagnosed promptly. The most common cause is stretched timing chain or worn timing chain guides (typically $800–$3,500). Confirm the root cause before replacing parts.
What does P0017 mean on a 2022 Kia Sorento?
P0017 is the exhaust-cam counterpart of P0016. The ECM compares the crankshaft position signal to the Bank 1 exhaust camshaft position signal and finds them more than a calibrated number of degrees out of alignment. This usually means timing chain stretch, a stuck cam phaser unable to return to base position, or a position sensor producing bad data. P0017 is one of the strongest indicators of timing chain wear on engines with dual VVT.
This guide covers P0017 across the 2020-2024 Kia Sorento generation — the symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps below apply to every model year from 2020 through 2024.
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Kia Sorento with P0017?
In most cases a 2022 Kia Sorento stays drivable for short trips with P0017 active, but diagnose and repair it promptly. This is a high-severity code — ignoring it can lead to further damage or a failed emissions test.
What are the symptoms of P0017 on a 2022 Kia Sorento?
- Check Engine Light is illuminated
- Cold-start rattle or chirp from the front timing cover
- Hard cold start with long crank times
- Loss of low-end torque
- Rough idle and reduced throttle response
- Reduced fuel economy
- Possible engine no-start if timing has slipped enough
What causes P0017 on a 2022 Kia Sorento?
| Cause | Likelihood | Estimated repair (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Stretched timing chain or worn timing chain guides | Most common | $800–$3,500 |
| Stuck exhaust cam phaser cannot return to base timing | Common | $400–$1,500 |
| Failed exhaust cam position sensor producing inaccurate readings | Common | $100–$400 |
| Low oil pressure preventing the phaser from holding position | Occasional | $50–$200 |
| Damaged exhaust cam reluctor wheel or tone ring | Occasional | $300–$1,500 |
| Stuck-open exhaust VVT oil control valve | Occasional | $100–$450 |
| Timing chain skipped one tooth after a tensioner failure | Rare | $1,000–$4,000 |
How to diagnose this on a 2022 Kia Sorento
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Check oil level and pressure
P0017 with low oil pressure is the exhaust phaser unable to hold commanded position. Confirm level on level ground with a warm engine and measure oil pressure with a mechanical gauge before replacing parts.
Tools: Dipstick, Mechanical oil pressure gauge
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Watch exhaust cam vs. crank position in live data
The cam-crank offset should remain fixed. An offset that drifts as RPM rises indicates timing chain stretch. A static but wrong offset can mean the chain jumped a tooth. Compare to service-manual specifications.
Tools: Scan tool with dual position PIDs
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Listen for chain noise at cold start
A 1–3 second cold-start rattle that quiets as oil pressure builds is early chain wear. Continuous rattle indicates advanced wear with imminent failure risk. Use a mechanic's stethoscope on the front timing cover.
Tools: Mechanic's stethoscope
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Test the exhaust cam sensor electrically
Disconnect the sensor and inspect the connector. With a scope, check the signal pattern — should be a clean square wave with no missing pulses. A noisy or absent signal sets P0017 even with a perfect chain.
Tools: Oscilloscope or scan tool with raw sensor PIDs, Multimeter
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Inspect the cam phaser on engines with documented failures
On Ford 5.4 3V Triton, GM 3.6 LFX/LLT, BMW N20/N26, and VW EA888 engines, the exhaust phaser is a common P0017 cause independent of chain wear. A scope on the cam sensor while bidirectionally commanding the OCV will show whether the phaser is responding.
Tools: Bidirectional scan tool, Oscilloscope (optional)
NHTSA complaints & recalls for the 2022 Kia Sorento
Owner-reported safety complaints and official recalls filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2022 Kia Sorento. Use these to gauge how common a problem is on your specific vehicle before you start chasing Kia Sorento diagnostics.
- POWER TRAIN 57
- ENGINE 49
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 36
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 26
- SERVICE BRAKES 17
6 active recalls
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER Mar 2022
Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Sorento vehicles. The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.…
NHTSA campaign 22V202000 - TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE Jul 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Sorento and Telluride vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail…
NHTSA campaign 22V509000 - TRAILER HITCHES Sep 2022
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia d…
NHTSA campaign 22V703000 - POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Oct 2022
Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.…
NHTSA campaign 22V760000
How do I fix P0017 on a 2022 Kia Sorento?
- Replace timing chain, guides, tensioner, and sprockets as a complete kit
- Replace the exhaust cam phaser / VVT actuator
- Replace the exhaust cam position sensor
- Service or replace the exhaust-side VVT oil control valve
- Address any underlying oil pressure or sludge issue
About the 2020-2024 Kia Sorento
The 2020-2024 Kia Sorento was commonly sold with the following powertrains: 2.5L I4, 2.5L Turbo I4, 1.6L Turbo Hybrid I4, 1.6L Plug-in Hybrid I4. Common trims include LX, S, EX, SX, SX-Prestige, X-Line.
P0017 on chain-stretch-prone engines
P0017 on these engines should be assumed to be a timing chain problem until proven otherwise — they all have documented chain wear issues:
- GM 3.6 LFX / LLT / LF1 — chain stretch around 80–120k miles
- BMW N20 / N26 2.0T — chronic catastrophic chain failure
- VW / Audi EA888 Gen 1 + 2 — chain stretch at 80–100k
- Ford 5.4 3V Triton V8 — combined phaser and chain failure
- Hyundai / Kia Theta II 2.4 — chain and tensioner failure
On these engines, replace the chain as a complete kit (chain, guides, tensioner, sprockets). Half-replacing leads to repeat failure within 30–50k miles.
Why ignoring P0017 risks engine destruction
The progression of timing chain wear on these engines is:
- P0017 sets intermittently — chain has stretched enough to drift
- P0017 sets every drive cycle — wear is consistent
- Chain rattle becomes audible from the cab
- Chain skips a tooth — valves contact pistons on interference engines
- Engine destroyed — bent valves, possibly damaged head and pistons
The repair bill jumps from $1,500–$3,500 (timing job) at step 2 to $4,000–$10,000+ (rebuilt head or new engine) at step 5. P0017 on a known-affected engine should be fixed within weeks.
P0017 vs P0016
- P0016 — Bank 1 intake cam correlation off
- P0017 — Bank 1 exhaust cam correlation off
Both setting together is strong evidence of timing chain wear since the chain affects both cams equally. Just one bank or one cam setting alone is more likely a single phaser or sensor.