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Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

Kia · Compact SUV

2023 Kia Sorento

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

66 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 4 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.

Recalls2 critical 4

Complaints4 crash · 2 fire · 7 injured reported 165

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 37 mpg

Starting MSRP16 trims · manufacturer $30,390

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2023 Kia Sorento is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sorento Hybrid FWD, is EPA-rated at 37 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 165 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $30,390 to $49,990 across 16 trims.

Kia Sorento — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Kia Sorento · Photo: © M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
LX	Gas	FWD	$30,390	191 hp	181 lb-ft	26 mpg	7	38.5 cu-ft	17 in
LX	Gas	AWD	$32,190	191 hp	181 lb-ft	24 mpg	7	38.5 cu-ft	17 in
S	Gas	FWD	$32,890	191 hp	181 lb-ft	26 mpg	7	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
S	Gas	AWD	—	191 hp	181 lb-ft	24 mpg	7	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
X-Line S	Gas	AWD	$34,890	191 hp	181 lb-ft	24 mpg	7	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
EX	Gas	FWD	$36,290	281 hp	311 lb-ft	25 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
EX	Gas	AWD	$39,990	281 hp	311 lb-ft	24 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
X-Line EX	Gas	AWD	$39,990	281 hp	311 lb-ft	24 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	18 in
SX	Gas	FWD	$39,190	281 hp	311 lb-ft	25 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
SX	Gas	AWD	$40,990	281 hp	311 lb-ft	24 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
SX Prestige	Gas	AWD	$43,790	281 hp	311 lb-ft	24 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
X-Line SX Prestige	Gas	AWD	$43,990	281 hp	311 lb-ft	24 mpg	6	38.5 cu-ft	20 in
HEV EX	Hybrid	FWD	$36,690	227 hp	258 lb-ft	37 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	17 in
HEV EX	Hybrid	AWD	$38,990	227 hp	258 lb-ft	35 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	17 in
HEV SX-Prestige	Hybrid	AWD	$42,490	227 hp	258 lb-ft	35 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	17 in
PHEV SX Prestige	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	$49,990	261 hp	258 lb-ft	52 mpg	—	38.5 cu-ft	19 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
Sorento Plug-in Hybrid	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 67 kW AC PMSM	35	33	34 (52 MPGe blended)	32 mi electric	43	3.4 h	$1,950
Sorento Hybrid FWD	Hybrid	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion	39	35	37	—	—	—	$1,800
Sorento Hybrid AWD	Hybrid	AWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion	36	33	34	—	—	—	$1,950
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	24	29	26	—	—	—	$2,600
Sorento FWD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	22	29	25	—	—	—	$2,700
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	23	25	24	—	—	—	$2,800
Sorento AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	22	27	24	—	—	—	$2,800

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 47222, 45538, 45555, 46065, 46066, 46072, 46073.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Sorento Hybrid AWD, Sorento Plug-in Hybrid	7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Sorento Hybrid FWD	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Sorento AWD, Sorento FWD	5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sorento FWD	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Electrical System

SC351

39,536 vehicles 40% reported repaired

Problem 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. 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V649000 reported Sep 25, 2025 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

SC280

144,979 vehicles 86% reported repaired

Problem 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." 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V610000 reported Aug 31, 2023 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Equipment

SC277

50,517 vehicles 89% reported repaired

Problem 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." 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V579000 reported Aug 15, 2023 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Trailer Hitches

SC249

Park outside 70,887 vehicles 30% reported repaired Hybrid only Plug-in hybrid only

Problem 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. Risk A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V703000 reported Sep 19, 2022 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sorento

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 Kia Sorento, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

165complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported

15 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 109,676 Sorento built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 2 · 2023: 30 · 2024: 47 · 2025: 33 · 2026: 53

Most-cited components

Engine 49

Electrical System 48

Unspecified 43

Power Train 27

Forward Collision Avoidance 17

Service Brakes 12

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

While driving my 2023 Sorento plug-in hybrid a msg appeared that Charging Stopped Check Cable. When you stop the car and try to drive it will not go into any gear, msg says Shifting Conditions Not Met and Unplug Vehicle to Start and the wheels are locked up (E-brake) and needs a tow truck with dollies in order to load.

Electrical System Dec 3, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11702648

Critical Issue: Gasoline leaks into engine. That causes increasing engine oil level significantly and mixed with engine oil. I dropped off me car (mileage: 11731) at Kia Pro in Glendale, CA on 5/1/2025 as soon as I confirmed that engine oil level exceeds the maximum (twice of max) and smelled Gasoline from the dipstick.

Engine May 2, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11658457

1. First incident occurred on 10/29/24. My wife pulled into driveway and placed car into Park. When she shifted to reverse, the transmission didn't respond and the car revved to a very high RPM when she took foot off of brake, no foot on gas. Unable to shift it to go forward or backward.

Power Train Dec 11, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11630256

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the steering column. Additionally, the steering wheel felt tight while turning in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure.

Steering at 50,000 miles Feb 16, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11572301

We were driving on the highway at about 65 MPH. Without warning, the vehicle suddenly started to struggle and slowed to about 40 MPH. We were able to safely pull over, but we were in an acceleration lane merging onto another highway and didn't feel safe due to the sudden deceleration. This is a plug-in hybrid.

Vehicle Speed Control Aug 28, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11541153

On passenger side interior between glove box and dashboard, there is a textured, metallic trim plate that during a sunny mid day, casts a reflection on the passenger side window over the top of the where the passenger side rear view mirror is

Visibility/Wiper Sep 18, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11688202

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Kia itself: 11 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 17 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 10 per 100,000 built. Every Sorento model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 20k

miles, typically

Half the 17 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 39,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 17 on file: 6 under 10k, 3 10k–20k, 2 20k–30k, 2 30k–40k, 1 40k–50k, 1 50k–60k, 1 60k–70k, 1 150k +.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV AWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first · Kia warranty extension WTY043CAMPAIGN: REAR RH DOOR CURTAIN INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT (WTY043) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY043) inspect and, if necessary replace the…
10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first · Kia warranty extension WTY042CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS & SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY042) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Kia warranty extension (28) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 148

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-28

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 105 service bulletins, 27 warranty extensions, 12 emissionss

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Power Train, Structure, Visibility/Wiper.

TSB_CLI049_R2 Service bulletin
2026-08-28 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR – ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of the Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor assembly on some 2011MY~ Optima Hybrid (TF HEV, JF HEV/PHEV), 2015MY~
TSB_BOD336 Service bulletin
2026-06-04 · Structure — Body
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: KEY AND CYLINDER SET REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to replace the driver’s door lock and trunk lid key cylinders on some 2019-2024MY Kia vehicles listed below. On affected vehicles, the stored key code may not correspond to the mechanical key profile, which can result in incorrect key cutting when the original key is lost or damaged.
WTY043_TSB Warranty extension
2026-06-03 · Structure — Body
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REAR RH DOOR CURTAIN INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT (WTY043) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY043) inspect and, if necessary replace the rear RH door curtain on certain 2023 - 2026MY Sorento Hybrid (MQ4 HEV) SX Prestige vehicles produced from June 27, 2022 through December 05, 2025 and certa
TSB_ELE422 Service bulletin
2026-05-28 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE. KIA. COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for sup
TSB_CHA126_R2 Service bulletin
2026-05-06 · Service Brakes
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: FRONT BRAKE DISC REPLACEMENT & BURNISHING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the front brake discs on certain 2021-2024MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced from July 26, 2021 through March 28, 2024 and 202
TSB_ELE417 Service bulletin
2026-04-14 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software downloads and USB preparation process is similar across all supported platforms; however, in‑vehicle installation procedures vary by head unit type.
WTY042_OWNR Warranty extension
2026-03-26 · Electrical System
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY042) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the horn assembly in certain 2021-2025 MY Sorento, 2021-2025 MY Sorento Hybrid (HEV), and 2022-2025 MY Sorento Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 10 years / 120,
TSB_ELE394 Service bulletin
2026-03-26 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AVN5.0W DTC P17A000 DAIGNOSTIC PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information regarding a potential illuminated Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) accompanied by DTC P17A000 on some 2022-2025MY Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) equipped with AVN5.0Wide head units listed below. This condition occurs when the Global Positioning Syste

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0171 P0171 on Kia →	The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →	2 owner reports

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.54%

failed emissions

3,175 initial inspections of 3,123 vehicles.

Measure	The 2023 Sorento	Every 2023 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.54%	1.6%	3,165
Failed the safety inspection	1.1%	1.1%	3,175
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.28%	0.16%	3,175
Miles driven a year	10,580	10,038	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	34,267	32,673	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Sorento by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 37 mpg 2026 B 2 9 37 mpg 2025 C 4 134 36 mpg 2024 B 2 51 37 mpg 2023 this page D 4 165 Park outside 2022 F 9 227 Park outside 2021 F 5 275 Park outside 2020 B 1 139 Park outside 2019 B 2 433 Park outside 2018 D 3 255 Park outside 2017 D 4 808 Park outside 2016 F 8 1,258 Park outside

Common questions about the 2023 Sorento

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2023 Kia Sorento cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $30,390 for the LX FWD to $49,990 for the PHEV SX Prestige AWD, across 15 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2023 Kia Sorento have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 Kia Sorento, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V649000, covering Electrical System. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 Kia Sorento?

NHTSA gave the 2023 Kia Sorento 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (66/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Kia Sorento?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Kia Sorento, the best EPA combined figure is 37 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Kia Sorento?

Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Sorento, most often about engine, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 7 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2023 Kia Sorento?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Kia Sorento runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Kia Sorento?

The manufacturer has filed 148 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Kia Sorento, most often covering electrical system, engine, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-08-28. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2023 Kia Sorento do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Kia Sorento failed the emissions check on 0.54% of first inspections — lower than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.1% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Which 2023 Kia Sorento trim is the best value?

$19,600 separates the cheapest of the 15 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	7 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	4	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	165	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	4 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	148	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	16 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API

2023 Kia Sorento

Trims & pricing

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (4)

Electrical System

Back Over Prevention

Equipment

Trailer Hitches

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sorento

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2023 Kia Sorento

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

When owners reported it

miles, typically

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Sorento by model year

Common questions about the 2023 Sorento

How much does the 2023 Kia Sorento cost?

Does the 2023 Kia Sorento have any recalls?

How safe is the 2023 Kia Sorento?

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Kia Sorento?

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Kia Sorento?

How clean is the 2023 Kia Sorento?

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Kia Sorento?

How does the 2023 Kia Sorento do at state inspection?

Which 2023 Kia Sorento trim is the best value?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method