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
189 reports, newest first.
Power train, Engine, Dec 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an unknown software update was completed; however, the failure reoccurred while driving 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the same software update was completed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train), which she related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown.
Forward collision avoidance, Dec 26, 2022
The emergency break goes on even when I’m driving straight in the freeway with no cars close to me. It’s terrifying. Has occurred multiple times
Trailer hitches, Dec 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 8, 2022
We purchased a 2022 Kia Sorento in August of this year. Our front windshield from the seal to the middle of the window on the driver side has dots and they are migrating now to the passenger side as well. We took the Kia to the Kia dealership in Princeton, WV and they opened a ticket on the vehicle and a few days later we were called and told Kia recommended us to use Bar Keepers Friend on the windshield, which is a very abrasive cleaner and using it on the inside would scratch it. We then took it down the road to SafeLite for a second opinion to see what they would have to say. The gentleman cleaned the windshield with a magic eraser and cleaner and the window looked great, but not even for 24 hours. We called Battleground Kia to ask them if it was one piece window or a two piece, which they stated there was no such thing as a two piece window which there is. We took the vehicle back down to Battleground Kia in Greensboro, NC where we purchased the vehicle at, and were asked questions such as if we had an air freshener in the vehicle or had sprayed any kind of cleaner in the vents all which to our answers were no. Battleground Kia told us that there was nothing else that they could do for our windshield. If you are driving into any kind of light it is like putting a white sheet up and you can't see anything. Having a child of our own it is dangerous to put our lives in danger or anyone else's driving with the windshield the way it is. They have refused to replace the windshield multiple times and it's brand new. It is currently in the service department for a brand new transmission as well. This makes the third time it has been in service for a transmission issue.
Engine, Dec 1, 2022
Around 9:45 on December 29 my check engine light came on stating I had a powertrain issue for the engine control system. This car is only 5 1/2 months old since I bought it. I do all my maintenance get it checked. And they always tell me my SUV is in great condition. Well yesterday. December 30 at about 12:40 PM my car did not want to maintain engine power. What I mean by this is when I try to turn my car on it started shaking and you heard the engine dying out. My battery was perfect all the lights radio and Bluetooth connected just fine And at that point my car did not function. I am a very cautious driver. I believe that this is a malfunction. There are many people who have made the same complaint about the powertrain and their engine for a 2022 Kia Sorrento and have had this issue within the first year of purchasing the car . The whole purpose of purchasing a brand new car is not to have these issues within the first five years. This is ridiculous and I don't think he is taking it serious. They are having many of these issues regarding the engine and powertrain of the engine system control. I got my car towed by Kia to the local dealership in Naperville and they have not looked over my car nor have they offered me a loaner. I am a healthcare worker and do not have a time to takeoff of work and do not have an extra car, I want Kia to fix this issue or replace my car because there is no way that my car should be having this issue within the first six months.
Power train, Nov 23, 2022
This has happened to this car 2 times already. First when the vehicle only had 12k miles, an MIL showed up. Took it to the dealer and they said they could not find any DTC codes in there. When they gave it back to me the MIL light was off... Surprisingly. 2nd time, 16k miles, the transmission gear was slipping some of the gears and we have never taken this vehicle to off road. The MIL light came back on and also a message saying "Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately". After this message came to the dashboard , the transmission started to fail and like going into limp mode - could not drive this vehicle over 20mph. Fortunately , this issue happened during the day so I took my kia 2022 Sorento AWD to the dealer. Now my vehicle is there for 4 days now and they dont know what is really going on with it. They are now talking with the headquarters Engineers to see if they can figure this out but so far nothing yet. The dealer still have my vehicle trying to figure this out.
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 22, 2022
Vehicle's rpm goes up but the vehicle does not move and then goes back into shift or shifts into neutral without manually doing it. It stalls and refusing to shift while driving, coasting or at stoplight/sign. It unpredictable when it's going to happen, Have almost gotten hit from being since it looks like I'm going and the car is not. No lights come on and I have reached out to numerous Kia services and keep getting runaround. I was told that there was no recall and looked it up and there is. Power window and reverse camera continue to not function correctly either. This care is dangerous to drive!
Visibility/wiper, Nov 19, 2022
My Sorento was purchased on 17/01/22. My windshield started cracking on the middle to the passenger’s side from the hood to the sunroof. I am unaware of how it even got there.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 14, 2022
I was pulling out to cross a highway with my 13 year old daughter in the passenger seat when my brand new 2022 Kia Sorento completely lost power and we were almost T-boned by a white Ford F150 (I have all of this drivers info if needed). The screens went black like it simply shut off & I had no control of the vehicle whatsoever. I quite literally could not move my vehicle. We sat helpless, my daughter screaming bloody murder, watching a truck barrel towards us. By what could only be the grace of god, this man came to a screeching hault mere inches from my daughters windows. The car started back up like it never happened & I was able to drive almost 10 miles homes before suddenly losing power again, only this time, the screens turned black for a moment and it started back up on its own. I do not trust this car & I will be taking it back to the dealership today to demand a different car or a refund. This vehicle WILL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 6, 2022
Transmission will not shift or rev to high for next gear then will drop back to correct rpm an shift. Car will stall out or not shift.Problem has been duplicated at dealer. Was at dealership with no correction available at time KIA Engr. advised no call back. Engine light stayed on would not reset at all dealer plus was told transmission replacements is only correction .Car had10K on it less then year.
Power train, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 4, 2022
I got a Kia Sorento 2022 in May of 2022. I was very happy with the car but I noticed an issue with brakes within a few weeks. The brakes would feel as if it grind on the road when pushed down on a sudden stop. A little over 5 months and I was due for an oil change, I was informed there was a recall on the transmission system and it just needed to be updated, I was shocked I was not informed, nor did I see a recall online. I figured I would mention the brake issue. Upon getting the car back I was told the brake issue was due to "debris or pebbles found." I was told to change the rotators/pads if it continued (the car was only 5 months old?) NOW the car drives strange. When shifting gears the car makes a loud clicking sound. When braking the car lunges forward and the car jerks. I do not feel safe in the car. It only has under 4000 miles. It is currently at the dealership for Transmission Diagnosis(NotShiftingProperly,Leaks,Other).
Visibility, Nov 1, 2022
I HAVE REPLACED MY DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER BLADE THREE TIMES AND CONTINUE TO GET STREAKS IN MY FEILD OF VISION CAUSING BLIND SPOTS ON MY WINDSHEILD
Power train, Oct 29, 2022
After applying brakes and momentarily stopping the car surged forward as if the transmission didnt properly disengage and required me to apply max force to brakes in order to not move forward.This happens every time I come to a stop .
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 24, 2022
Vehicle not shifting properly..sometimes when you let off gas it will accelerate and rpms shoot up..I believe it's a transmission issue..dealership was able to confirm this happened...definitely not safe if a car is in front of you and it just decides to accelerate on its own
Power train, Oct 19, 2022
I purchased a new 2022 Kia Sorento in March of 2022. By the end of April, at 1626 miles, the vehicle started giving me a warning on the dash stating "Transmission System Error! Check transmission oil immediately." The problem was intermittent and the dealer was not able to reproduce it. The difficulty is that the transmission does not have a method to check the transmission oil level. I have returned this vehicle to the dealer three times for this same problem. When the message is displayed, the transmission only provides power to the wheels in the odd numbered gears (1, 3, 5, 7) and slips badly in the even numbered gears. During slippage, the engine revs to 4,000 RPM. Unknown damage has most likely been done to my transmission at this point and Kia refuses to take care of their customers.
Seat belts, Oct 17, 2022
I have tried to work with the dealer who sold me the car and they are either unresponsive or don't have the parts to fix the concern.
Service brakes, Sep 23, 2022
Intermittent brake issues without error code or visual indication. On or about July 27, 2022 my wife was driving away from our house in our neighborhood when she noticed the brakes weren't responding normally & she was able to press the brake pedal all the way to the floor. This happened again the following day & she recognized that something was wrong. She called roadside assistance to assess towing but the first available service appointment in our area was August 17, 2022 at Lee Johnson Kia in Kirkland, WA. The vehicle wasn't driven due to safety concerns & was towed to Lee Johnson Kia on August 16, 2022. The service department has been unable to fix the car as of September 23, 2022. The brake master cylinder has been replaced twice & evidently has a leak issue. Kia America Customer Case #15006678.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 20, 2022
We have a new 2022 kia Sorento. the windshield without any impacts at all cracked overnight in our garage. from lower driver corner up across to passenger side right in line of sight of driver. Kia refuses to answer there phones to remedy this problem. there are several complaints and a possibly class action suit.
Engine, Sep 8, 2022
My inverter radiator was punctured by road debris while driving down a highway and caused the coolant to leak out of the radiator. I received a "Refill inverter coolant" service warning then "Service Hybrid System Immediately Stop Safely" service warning and had to pull the car onto the shoulder. I called KIA roadside assistance to have my car towed to the KIA dealership and was informed the following day (9/2/22) of the damage. Unfortunately, this damage was not covered under warranty because it was external damage. However, due to the design of the front grill, debris is easily able to pass through the grill and strike the radiator because the grill has large spaces for debris to pass through and the inverter radiator sits directly behind the grill. THIS IS A DESIGN OF MANUFACTURING ISSUE and should be recalled and covered under warranty.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 4, 2022
Smell something burning like electric
Visibility, Aug 28, 2022
I purchased my 2022 Sorento brand new in Dec 2021 and by end of January 2022 a small crack appeared near the top left corner (driver side) of the windshield near the edge; note the windshield is frameless/no cover or border on the glass. There is no indication that anything caused the crack; there is no indention as if anything hit it. I park in a private temperature controlled garage at my home. The crack has grown diagonally across the front of my entire windshield at this point since the dealership refused to help and I was quoted 1,300 to replace which is unfair. I am driving a 2022 which is visibly unsafe and who has an extra $1,000 to fix a defective windshield on top of paying a car note. This is a inconvenience and a safety issue because of my increased risk of crash or injury. I have seen numerous posts about this problem which indicates this is not just a me problem. I believe my windshield cracking is a defect caused by the manufacturer and I should not be responsible for the repair.
Power train, Aug 25, 2022
While driving on the highway, a warning message came on the screen that read "Stop Car Immediately". After getting off the highway, the car suddenly slowed down on the major road. Fortunately, I was in the right lane and able to turn off the road into a nearby parking lot. I had to get the car towed to the dealership overnight. In the morning, a representative of the dealership drove it around their building and said he didn't notice anything wrong. However, when I went to pick up the vehicle and tried to drive it off the lot, the same message appeared again, and the car wouldn't move. I went into the dealership and got the service tech. I showed him what was going on, and he confirmed the problem. They kept the vehicle to run more tests to determine the problem.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 23, 2022, fire
Last Tuesday, August 16, I parked in the driveway at around 8 PM. After about 2 hours I heard car alarm. I looked out window and saw flames engulfing rear of vehicle. Called 911. Firefighters extinguished flames. Fire crew stated fire was likely electrical and started near tow hitch receptacle. Tow hitch was installed by Kia dealer weeks after I bought car; they told me it was an OEM hitch. I'd never used the hitch until the day of the fire. That afternoon I bought a Kuuat bicycle rack with lights. Bike store installed the rack and plugged it into the hitch receptacle. I did errands for several hours with nothing appearing amiss. Then parked, and fire started hours later. No injuries and no other damage. Looks like total loss, but State Farm hasn't confirmed yet.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 17, 2022, crash
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that their vehicle was parked in their driveway with the vehicle off and unattended, an hour later the vehicle rolled away and crashed into a neighbor’s fence. The vehicle came to a stop in the neighbor's ditch. No warning lights were illuminated. There was damage to the neighbor's fence as a result of the crash. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they rejected to diagnose the vehicle until the cosmetic repairs were completed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact mentioned that in order to prevent another roll away when parking he utilizes rocks under the tires and activates the emergency brakes. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.
Power train, Aug 8, 2022
CODE P1C2D03 POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. Kia Red Engine displays on dashboard,as the transmission disengages and will not engage in Drive or Reverse.Transmision locked up on highway and engine revved up to 5800 rpm's.Kia started to smoke and AAA towing needed to be called.The Kia sits at Dealership with another Kia Sorento brought in a week earlier with same problem.Kia Engineers are evaluating the problem since it's 2022 with 2017 miles and this is the first year with a new transmission.