KnownCarProblems2023 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Sorento, most often about the electrical (30% of complaints). It is 19th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2023 Kia Sorento problems
Electrical
37 complaints · 30%The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights and messages flashed on the instrument panel. The contact was forced to pull over and restart the vehicle due to the failure. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer on…
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the engine start/stop feature was malfunctioning. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the engine start/stop system caused the vehicle to restart, and then to stall, nearly causing a crash. The battery warning light was illuminated and the…
Other or unspecified
36 complaints · 29%Engine
33 complaints · 27%The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights and messages flashed on the instrument panel. The contact was forced to pull over and restart the vehicle due to the failure. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer on…
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the engine start/stop feature was malfunctioning. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the engine start/stop system caused the vehicle to restart, and then to stall, nearly causing a crash. The battery warning light was illuminated and the…
Transmission
22 complaints · 18%The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle independently decelerated with the transmission error warning light illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.…
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was shifted into drive, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to move forward. No warning lights were illuminated.…
Driver assistance
18 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: warnings, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, assist.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes spontaneously engaged. The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact stated there was no other vehicles nearby when the failure occurred on several occasions. Additionally, the sunroof was deactivated…
Brakes
12 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: foundation components.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes spontaneously engaged. The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact stated there was no other vehicles nearby when the failure occurred on several occasions. Additionally, the sunroof was deactivated…
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH or higher, the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brakes seized with an abnormal sound coming from the brakes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed…
Speed control
11 complaints · 9%The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle independently decelerated with the transmission error warning light illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.…
Visibility and wipers
11 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while attempting to activate the HVAC system, there was an abnormal burning plastic odor inside the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the blower motor…
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 10 MPH, after making a left turn, the sunroof shattered with the sunroof cover closed. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and inspected, but the contact was unaware that the sunroof had exploded. The vehicle was taken…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2023 Kia Sorento recalls
Visibility and wipers: fan/motor
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Backup camera: camera
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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."
Equipment: labels
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2023 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2023 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (37 complaints); other or unspecified (36 complaints); engine (33 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Sorento have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2025 (visibility and wipers). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2023 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 19th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 124 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.