2022 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 189 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2022 reports, 4 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, wiring, fuses and circuit breakersSep 25, 2025
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.
A fire increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 25V649000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraAug 31, 2023
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."
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V610000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 11, 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.
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.
Campaign 22V760000 on NHTSA.gov
Trailer hitchesPark outsideSep 19, 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 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.
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 22V703000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, temporary/emergency spare tireJul 19, 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 to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Impaired anti-lock braking or traction control systems can increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the spare tire, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC244.
Campaign 22V509000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, gasoline, turbo/superchargerMar 29, 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.
An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC233.
Campaign 22V202000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
38 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2026
Se rompio la bomba de aceite electrica de mi auto. La investigación de Kia reveló que la bomba de aceite eléctrica de la transmisión DCT de 8 velocidades puede sufrir una falla interna debido a un defecto de calidad en el proveedor. Un componente de la placa de circuito de la bomba puede desprenderse por una soldadura deficiente.
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2026
I am writing to report a recurring issue with the center navigation and infotainment screen in my 2022 Kia Sorento. The screen periodically goes completely black while I am driving. Occasionally, the display glitches before failing, while at other times, it goes dark without any warning. This is particularly concerning when I am relying on the navigation system for directions. I have previously taken the vehicle to the dealer, but they were unable to replicate the issue and therefore have not yet performed a repair.
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, Apr 30, 2026
on my way home Friday evening from work. After exiting the expressway , I made a right turn on the street going towards my house. My steering wheel locked to the right and almost caused me to run into another car. If I had not be driving slow than the speed limit or still on the expressway, this would have been a very bad accident, if not fatal! This is after the dealership made repairs on my vehicle and deemed it safe to drive.
Other or unspecified, Mar 23, 2026
My AC system has failed due to leak in the evaporator core. It has been inspected by 2 mechanics (one including the Kia dealership) the extreme Texas heat puts myself and small children at risk. I’ve been told the evaporator core has been made with cheap thin metal and has small pinholes in it. I will allow my car to be inspected and there were no warning lights before or after this happened.
Other or unspecified, Mar 21, 2026
1. Panoramic sunroof 2. Sunroof exploded while parked sounding like a gun shot. 3. Dealer/Kia Customer Care has informed me this is a known issue. 4. Dealer said they looked at my car but never looked at it. I confirmed this with the service manager at University Kia in Waco Tx. He admitted to falsifying the paperwork, I had him redo the paperwork showing nothing was inspected. Now Kia won't look at it again. 5. No warnings, just spontaneous exploding glass.
Other or unspecified, Mar 20, 2026
When I turned my car on and started to drive, an orange a popped up and started blinking. It looked like the automatic stop and start light. My car would not shift and I could not go above 60 mph. I had to turn my car off and turn it back on for it to stop doing what it was doing.
Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2026
Vehicle purchased August 2022. July 13, 2023: Vehicle experienced sudden loss of acceleration while driving. The vehicle would not properly accelerate with traffic flow and another vehicle nearly struck me due to the unexpected loss of propulsion. Vehicle was towed to Kia dealership in Duluth, GA. I was told the issue was repaired and an electrical recall was completed. December 8, 2025: Acceleration failure reoccurred while driving. Vehicle drifted and would not accelerate. A vehicle behind me nearly collided with my car because I could not accelerate normally. After restarting the vehicle multiple times, I was able to reach home. December 11, 2025: Vehicle again failed to accelerate while stopped on an incline. The vehicle would not move forward properly and created a rollback hazard. A vehicle approached from behind and I was placed in a dangerous position due to inability to accelerate. Vehicle was towed by insurance. Dealership diagnostics reportedly cannot detect an issue. I have been instructed to operate the vehicle with a monitoring device installed to capture driving data. Repeated loss of acceleration and multiple near-collision events present a significant safety hazard and risk of serious accident. The issue remains unresolved.
Other or unspecified, Jan 14, 2026
Radiator has had a leak twice in the past three months. This has cause me to have to get it fully replaced at my own cost. This is a design flaw and is at no part my fault.
Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2025
All 2020 through 2022 Kia Nightfall Edition vehicles (top-trim packages) are experiencing premature and widespread exterior trim fading, indicating a manufacturing or material defect rather than normal wear and tear. This issue is consistent across multiple model years, strongly suggesting a systemic problem with the product used on these vehicles. Despite repeated complaints, Kia has not issued a recall nor provided a permanent remedy. Dealerships are inconsistently addressing the issue and are actively denying or resisting full corrective action, leaving many owners without resolution. When repairs are approved, the only offered solution is replacement with the same defective trim, which predictably fades again—often within one year—demonstrating that the problem is unresolved and ongoing. Kia has provided conflicting and illogical explanations, including claims that the fading is caused by vehicles being washed too frequently or not frequently enough. These explanations are contradictory and inconsistent with proper vehicle use and maintenance. Owners have followed standard care guidelines, yet the defect persists, further reinforcing that this is a product defect, not consumer misuse. This situation places an unreasonable financial burden on consumers, diminishes vehicle value, and undermines consumer trust. More importantly, Kia’s refusal to acknowledge the defect and provide a permanent fix reflects a failure to meet manufacturer responsibility standards. Kia representatives and dealerships have acknowledged the issue but have instructed affected owners to contact NHTSA instead of addressing the root cause. Because: The defect affects multiple model years The failure is predictable and repeatable The manufacturer offers no permanent repair Responsibility is being shifted onto consumers Dealerships are blocking consistent corrective action this issue meets the criteria for federal investigation and recall consideration.
Other or unspecified, Dec 16, 2025
My vehicle has a recall that says potential fire could occur yet there’s no solution for the recall. I think that is something that should be replaced immediately considering it’s 15 degrees outside and I have to run my heat in my vehicle.
Other or unspecified, Dec 4, 2025
i want to file a complaint about my recall having no remedy and it’s affecting me. i need kia to buy my car back
Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2025
On Dec 1, 2025 we were driving down the freeway at approx 70 MPH when we heard a loud bang. At first, we thought a tire had blown but that wasn't the case. We started hearing more road and wind noise from above the shade screen. We were close to our Kia dealership so we went directly there. The sunroof glass about the driver and front passenger seats had a large hole and the glass around it was shattered. No object was found. Additionally, we didn't see any road debris kicked up before the loud bang nor we were near any overpass.
Other or unspecified, Nov 24, 2025
My vehicle has an active fire-risk safety recall, but Kia states the remedy is not available yet. The recall notice explains that the wiring harness for the HVAC blower motor may be inadequate and can cause a vehicle fire. I am concerned for my safety and my family’s safety because I have small children who ride in this vehicle daily. I contacted my Kia dealership, but they will not provide a rental or alternative transportation and will not confirm whether the vehicle is safe to drive while waiting for the remedy. I am being forced to continue driving a vehicle that may catch fire, and Kia has provided no temporary safety solution. I am requesting NHTSA to review this situation because Kia is not offering any safe option for owners while the recall is unresolved. The recall involves a potential fire inside the vehicle cabin, and yet there is no inspection, workaround, or transportation assistance available. This puts consumers at risk.
Other or unspecified, Nov 22, 2025
Driving down the freeway and heard a loud explosion and sunroof shattered with glass falling into the car. It was very discontenting and if there were more cars on the freeway overpass at the time it could have caused an accident as I was stunned by what had happened and lowered my speed. This could have easily led to a collision Went to Kia and mechanic inspected roof and said it appeared to have blown outward and was not struck by an object. He further said it was not safe to drive as the small glass pieces could get imbedded in the frame and come loose at a later date and cause harm.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 17, 2025
the rear backup camera brackets inside are broken, causing the camera to dangle down. There was a recall on 2022 kia sorentos for this, but my VIN number is not coming up as part of the recall when it should be. This causes me to not be able to visibly see the things in the rear when the car is in reverse. There are no warning lights, lamps or messages to notify of thus.
Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2025
Jenkins kia of Ocala Florida sold me this car as a certified used car on July 4 2025 without fixing or disclosing the fact this vehicle has 2 recalls! I want to file a formal complaint with you against this company. This car should never have been sold as a certified used vehicle with these 2 safety recalls not being addressed, fixed or mentioned!
Other or unspecified, Apr 24, 2025
Upon normal driving the vehicle suddenly lost power and would only go around 20 to 30 mph. This has happened twice in the past week. Very slow acceleration from a stop and had to actually pull off the road into a parking lot to let traffic pass. Took it to dealer and they said there were no active codes or anything visually presenting and they could do nothing to remedy the problem. My wife uses this vehicle in her work sometimes and has to drive sometimes 30 to 40 miles on her job and if this happened suddenly on an interstate it could be catastrophic. I'm afraid to let her drive it. No check engine or other warning lights come on. The vehicle has 58xxx miles and I hope I'm not being given the run around till the warranty expires. I notice there was a recall on this type of vehicle for this exact thing happening on 2022 models manufactured before August 2022 which ours was, taking delivery on 1/31/2022. It has the 2.5L turbo GDI engine as in the recall but is AWD.
Other or unspecified, Apr 1, 2025
The AC condenser has failed. Kia said the condenser is damaged in the far corner of the condenser where it meets the rubber. They said the warranty would not cover the repair but could not explain the damage. I have reviewed a webpage where many Kia Sorento owners had this issue. The techs all said the same thing: the rock-damaged condenser and warranty won't cover the cost of almost 1500 dollars. Now, they are stating a rock didn't damage it, but there is unexplainable damage, and they won't cover any costs. The vehicle is a 2022 with 29,000 miles.
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2025
Driving down the road and the sunroof exploded. No other cars were around me so no project was thrown from another vehicle. Took the vehicle to the dealership. The service tech confirmed nothing was thrown and it appears the glass imploded from the inside. We are over 60,000 so not covered by warranty. He stated he would send through to Kia to see if they would replace and was rejected. Was told to take it some place else to get it fixed. Contacted a local auto glass, they will not even touch it. Contacted another, the entire panoramic roof must be replaced even though it was only the front moving part that shattered. I am out $1,300 and a vehicle until the glass arrives which I was told will take weeks. Searching the internet I see there have been numerous complaints of this issue. Something needs to be done. No there was no crash, but very easily could have.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 26, 2025
The vehicle experienced multiple critical mechanical failures, including defective injectors, transmission issues, and a malfunctioning differential. The dealer repaired some of the previous issues, such as the differential in August 2024 and the transmission in October 2024 (which required three weeks of repair). However, they refused to repair the defective injectors, even after the NHTSA issued an alert on September 1, 2024, regarding injector problems. I was never notified of this alert. On January 8, 2025, while driving with my family, the vehicle suddenly stalled without any warning, creating a dangerous situation on the road and putting our safety at significant risk. This resulted in additional expenses, including towing costs ($300) and alternative transportation by taxi ($150). I had to pay $1,851.98 out of pocket to repair the injectors with an independent mechanic after the dealer refused to cover it. There were no warning lights or messages before the sudden stalling incident. These issues have been partially inspected and addressed by the dealer and independent service centers, but the recurring failures persist, posing ongoing safety risks.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 9, 2024
I've taken my vehicle to the dealership and explained what issues I'm having. I was told that the TEC experienced the same issues. When I asked for a loaner car until they make the repairs needed I was told that they don't give loaners out unless I call customer relations which I did and filed a complaint. My complaint was escalated to corporate and the person that was handling my complaint told me due to the regulations in my state they're not able to assist me with my concerns. I explained to her that I could not go over 5miles, the truck would and has shut down on me and my family while driving on the interstate. I've had my truck towed three times. Then the transmission light comes on the dealership stated they can't find anything wrong with the truck. At this point I don't even want the truck anymore I don't feel safe driving the vehicle anymore. I explained my concerns to the dealership and corporate office customer escalated Case Representative (Tiffany) and still no one CARES is it going to take for myself or my kids to lose their life in order for them to take this seriously!!!!! Case # [XXX] is my case number.... Please assist me with this matter as I'm currently deployed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 5, 2024
I was driving on a busy road when the computer system completely stopped the engine from running and gave a message/notice appear, accompanied with an alarm stating "engine failure." I had to put the car in neutral and try to pull over to safety. This is the third time this has happened. The second time, the dealer repair shop ran a diagnostic test and told me that they reset the computer, and nothing was wrong mechanically. This time, it is sitting at the dealership waiting to have a diagnostic test done, but I was told it was likely just a computer issue. Prior to the engine being completely stopped, the car will jump gears while driving [i.e., from 1st to 5th while going 25 miles an hour and not accelerating], and the car feels like it is misfiring. The car is two years old and has 50,000 miles. It should not have any of these issues. A car should not be putting my life in danger while driving for no reason and without any effort to fix it.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Sep 23, 2024
WHILE PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. I STARTED CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE. CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE WHEN I APPLIED GAS. I SHIFTED TO DRIVE. CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD WHEN I APPLIED GAS. REPEATED ATTEMPT TO REVERSE. NO MOVEMENT. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND AFTER APPLYING MORE PEDAL , ALMOST TO FLOOR, CAR LURCHED FORWARD. IN JUST ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN REVERSING. IT DID GO FORWARD IN DRIVE THE SECOND TIME. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN DEALING WITH A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE CAR GOING INTO LIMP MODE WHILE MERGING IN TRAFFIC ...AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS AT 25,000 MILES. THEY HAVE "RESET" THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO A RECALL NOTICE BUT SAY THEY CAN NOT REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT A "CODE" THAT VERIFIES IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A NEW ISSUE BUT ALSO UNABLE TO PULL ANY CODES. THERE IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN WITH DRIVING THIS CAR. WHAT CAN I DO.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 26, 2024
Automatic stop start admission. Was turning right on a green light. The vehicle stalled while trying to take the turn. All the dash lights flickered and the dashboard made a buzzing sound. Then vehicle then shut off, while trying to take the turn. There was 4 people in the vehicle 2 of them small children. We almost got hit on the left side of the vehicle. Because the light that was green had turned red. This is the fourth time the vehicle had failed us. By shutting off while driving. We having taken the vehicle in 2 times to be inspected by Kia, but have been told there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. But we are still having issues. There is no warning signs that the vehicle is going to shut off. It shows it after the fact.
Other or unspecified, Feb 15, 2024
The sunroof imploded on its own while driving with no cars around. The implosion was so loud it caused me to swerve to other lanes and caused temporary sound loss. There was no warning and would have been worse if the sunshade wasn't on. Insurance is reviewing