Analysis
By model year, Electrical complaints peak with the 2019 model (57, 14% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2021 model (4). 60 Electrical complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 28 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
Owners most often describe: “typically travel”, “investigated appropriately”, “free gps”, “ability hands” and “interferes ability”. 14 of these reports (7.9%) describe a crash or fire, with 2 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
6 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V046000 (2026-01-27, model years 2025).
Related recalls
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL Campaign 26V046000 · 2026-01-27 · Model years: 2025
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
Remedy: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS Campaign 25V649000 · 2025-09-25 · Model years: 2021, 2022, 2023
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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE Campaign 25V006000 · 2025-01-13 · Model years: 2024, 2025
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Sorento, 2025 Sorento Hybrid, and 2025 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. A software error in the Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) may cause a loss of low beam headlights and taillights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy: Dealers will update the BDC software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC331.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING Campaign 24V287000 · 2024-04-23 · Model years: 2024
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 Sorento vehicles. The motor driven power steering (MDPS) wiring harness may be incorrectly assembled, which can result in a loss of power steering assist.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the MDPS wiring harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 7, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC309.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 23V639000 · 2023-09-15 · Model years: 2019
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Sorento vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, water may leak into the rearview camera, which can cause the rearview camera image not to appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and add additional water proofing to the camera harness, or replace the camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 8, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC282.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 23V610000 · 2023-08-31 · Model years: 2022, 2023
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."
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.
Frequently asked questions
How common are Electrical problems on the Kia Sorento?
178 of the 1,382 complaints about the Kia Sorento (12.9%) concern Electrical, making it the model's second-largest problem area. That share is 0.8× the Electrical share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Kia Sorento model years have the most Electrical complaints?
By model year, Electrical complaints peak with the 2019 model (57, 14% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2021 model (4).
Is there a recall for Kia Sorento Electrical problems?
6 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V046000 (2026-01-27, model years 2025).