KnownCarProblems2025 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Kia Sorento, most often about the electrical (29% of complaints). It is 20th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2025 Kia Sorento problems
Electrical
22 complaints · 29%The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the braking system became inoperable and failed to function properly. Additionally, while the vehicle was parked, it…
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that an unknown, sticky fluid had spilled through the slits of the mode selector which was a dial that can be selected for driving during different road conditions. Upon start of the vehicle, the 4WD mode selector would intermittently flash on the instrument…
Other or unspecified
20 complaints · 26%Transmission
19 complaints · 25%The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. Upon starting the vehicle and shifting into reverse(r); the vehicle failed to respond with the message "service in" displayed on the instrument panel. The contact repeatedly depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact placed the gear shifter back…
Engine
19 complaints · 25%The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 60-65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 20 MPH and the vehicle went into limp mode. The contact stated that the message âvehicle speed restricted to 20 mphâ was displayed. The failure had occurred four times while…
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the rear windshield wiper was moving with the switch turned off. The contact turned the rear windshield wiper to high, then low, and the wiper finally turned off. The contact continued driving and the vehicle suddenly…
Driver assistance
10 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, warnings, warning.
Speed control
7 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: cruise control.
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 60-65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 20 MPH and the vehicle went into limp mode. The contact stated that the message âvehicle speed restricted to 20 mphâ was displayed. The failure had occurred four times while…
Brakes
6 complaints · 8%Visibility and wipers
6 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: windshield wiper/washer.
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 25 MPH in the snow with the windshield wipers activated, the windshield wipers became stuck in the middle of the windshield due to snow accumulation in the area between the windshield and the hood. The contact's wife…
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the rear windshield wiper was moving with the switch turned off. The contact turned the rear windshield wiper to high, then low, and the wiper finally turned off. The contact continued driving and the vehicle suddenly…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2025 Kia Sorento recalls
Electrical: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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."
Engine: critical fasteners
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the sub engine assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed september 12, 2025. Owners may contact kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc349.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2025 k4 and sorento vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power.
Electrical: software
Risk: A loss of headlights and taillights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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."
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 2025 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2025 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (22 complaints); other or unspecified (20 complaints); transmission (19 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2025 Kia Sorento have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 26, 2026 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2025 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 20th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 76 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.