The Lemon Index2022 Kia Sorento.
The 2022 Kia Sorento is worse than average by owner complaints: 163 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 154, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 24 to 37 mpg combined. The best Kia Sorento year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 205 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Sorento year. 2022 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 14K to 56K miles on the car (25 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 6
- electrical 2025
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.
- back over prevention 2023
The mounting clips for the rearview camera may break, which can cause the rearview camera image not to appear properly on the display.
- transmission & drivetrain 2022
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.
Show all 6 recalls
- trailer hitches 2022
Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
- tires 2022
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).
- engine 2022
The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 106 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Technical service bulletin: service action: acceleration logic improvement (ecu & tcu) (sa490)…
- Potential low oil pressure due to filter drain plug that was left in filter - attention…
- Technical service bulletin: 8 speed wet dual clutch transmission (wdct) judder evaluation -…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedSeat belt pretensioners may rupture2022–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1750–2700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
My car lost power & completely shut down at 70 mph on the highway. My dash lights went place & I had no control of vehicle other than to go straight & come to a rolling stop. It has shut off repeatedly while driving
2022 Kia Sorento owner · NHTSA complaint 11553282
More owner reports
Transmission loses power.Does not go foward after being in park. Have to turn off car and start it again making weird noise never heard before when it starts and when you turn it off. Has happened several times while driving.
NHTSA complaint 11665218
Transmission failed at 1561 miles. Will accelerate to 3000rpm do a 1-2 shift then immediately bang back into 1st. Car was flat bedded to dealer. Awaiting new transmission which is on backorder.
NHTSA complaint 11454126
Quick answers
Is the 2022 Kia Sorento reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 154; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Sorento year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2022 Kia Sorento problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (33%), engine (29%) and electrical (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2022 Kia Sorento have?
6 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2022 Kia Sorento get?
24 to 37 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2022 Kia Sorento safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2022 Kia Sorento problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 14,400 and 56,000 miles. The middle report was at 26,000 miles, from 25 complaints.
Does the 2022 Kia Sorento have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 33% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2022 Kia Sorento cost in fuel a year?
About $1750 to $2700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2022 Kia Sorento have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Kia Sorento year is better than the 2022?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2020 and 2012.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works