The Lemon IndexAll cars · Kia Sorento · 2023
2023 Kia Sorento. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 7
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybrid | Auto (AM-S6) | FWD | 39 / 35 / 37 | Regular | $1,700 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybrid | Auto (AM-S6) | AWD | 36 / 33 / 34 | Regular | $1,850 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid | Auto (AM-S6) | AWD | 35 / 33 / 34 | Regular | $1,850 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto (S8) | FWD | 24 / 29 / 26 | Regular | $2,400 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto (S8) | AWD | 23 / 25 / 24 | Regular | $2,600 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM-S8) | FWD | 22 / 29 / 25 | Regular | $2,500 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM-S8) | AWD | 22 / 27 / 24 | Regular | $2,600 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,100 and 38,000 miles. Median 15,800, from 16 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical | 5,000 | 1,600–36,500 | 5 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 29% |
| Electrical | 28% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 17% |
| Automatic emergency braking | 12% |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 10% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 156 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 4
25V649000 Sep 2025 Electrical System / Wiring / Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Sorento vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.
Risk. A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC351. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 9, 2025.
23V610000 Aug 2023 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera
Defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. The mounting clips for the rearview camera may break, which can cause the rearview camera image not to appear properly on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk. A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC280.
23V579000 Aug 2023 Equipment / Other / Labels
Defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sorento vehicles. The air bag warning labels on the driver and front passenger sun visors may detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk. A detached air bag warning label will not warn occupants about the risks of air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the driver and front passenger sun visors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 10, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC277.
22V703000 Sep 2022 Trailer Hitches
Defect. 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 dealership. 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.
Risk. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
Manufacturer communications 71
Kia filed 71 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 8-SPEED WDCT REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS - This bulletin provides…
- Potential low oil pressure due to filter drain plug that was left in filter - this bulletin…
- Technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: anti-theft s/w logic upgrade & decal…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento HEV SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sorento HEV SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Standard | Standard |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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