NHTSA has received 162 owner complaints about the 2023 Kia Sorento, or 42.8 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (complaint index 1.06, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #62 of 92 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Kia models its rate is 23% higher; against other Midsize SUVs it is 18% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2022-11-17 and 2026-10-09. Median delay from incident to filing: 16 days.
162Complaints
42.8Complaints per year on the road
1.06Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
4Recalls · ⚠ 1
3.7%Share involving a crash or fire
61Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2022) drew 47.2 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2024) drew 17.9 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2023 model collected 79 complaints, 5% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (29.6% of complaints), followed by Electrical (16.7%) and Unspecified or other (14.2%). 6 reports (3.7%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 7 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 22 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the second year (27% of incidents). In the last 12 months 61 new complaints were filed, versus 31 in the 12 months before — up 97%.
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for this model year, 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles1.06
vs. other Kia models1.23
vs. other 2023 models1.01
vs. other Midsize SUVs0.82
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (79)0.95
The brakes failed; they felt spongy, as if my foot were pressing directly against the road. The car accelerated and I headed toward a wall; the sensors didn't stop the vehicle. It came to a halt against the wall after the impact.
Brakes · 2026-08-19 · ODI 11757893 · Crash
I am reporting a vehicle fire that occurred in June 2025 involving my Kia vehicle. On the day of the incident, I started my car and immediately noticed excessive smoke coming out of the air vents, along with a strong burning smell.
Unspecified or other · 2026-01-09 · ODI 11709869 · Fire
The vehicle experienced a sudden transmission malfunction while operation on public roads. The check engine light illuminated on the dashboard, and a diagnostic scan from the app revealed active error code P1C2D03.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-10-09 · ODI 11770257
On [XXX] at [XXX], while driving northbound on [XXX] in Montgomery County, MD, just before Exit [XXX] (about 10-15 minutes after leaving home), the engine overheat warning came on. My child was in the vehicle with me. I pulled over to the shoulder briefly.
Engine · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11769133
The car loses power, the transmission shutters and slips at low speeds
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-10-02 · ODI 11768451
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS Campaign 25V649000 · 2025-09-25
Summary: 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 23V610000 · 2023-08-31
Summary: 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.
Summary: 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.
Summary: 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.
