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2023 Kia Sorento

Plug-in hybridHybridGas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
54 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA156
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA37 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

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 F. Owners have filed 156 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Sorento Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybridAWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 67 kW AC PMSM353334 (52 MPGe blended)32 mi electric433.4 h$1,850
Sorento Hybrid FWDHybridFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion393537———$1,700
Sorento Hybrid AWDHybridAWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion363334———$1,850
Sorento FWDGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl242926———$2,400
Sorento FWDGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo222925———$2,500
Sorento AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl232524———$2,600
Sorento AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo222724———$2,600

*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.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Kia Sorento is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Electrical System

SC351
39,536 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA fire increases the risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V649000reported Sep 25, 2025Kia America, Inc.
▲high

Back Over Prevention

SC280
144,979 vehicles
ProblemKia 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."RiskA rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V610000reported Aug 31, 2023Kia America, Inc.
▲high

Equipment

SC277
50,517 vehicles
ProblemKia 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."RiskA detached air bag warning label will not warn occupants about the risks of air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V579000reported Aug 15, 2023Kia America, Inc.
!critical

Trailer Hitches

SC249
Park outside70,887 vehiclesHybrid onlyPlug-in hybrid only
ProblemKia 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.RiskA fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.FixOwners 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V703000reported Sep 19, 2022Kia America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
156complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2022: 2 · 2023: 30 · 2024: 47 · 2025: 33 · 2026: 44

Most-cited components

Electrical System47
Engine44
Unspecified38
Power Train25
Forward Collision Avoidance17
Vehicle Speed Control12

What owners describe

“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.…”Dec 3, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“When trying to accelerate from a standing stop, there is a one or two second delay, once the accelerator pedal is depressed, before the car moves. Extremely dangerous when pulling out into traffic. I had it back to the dealership to address this problem but they found nothing wrong. I guarantee you , the problem contin…”Dec 21, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“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. She then turned car off, back o…”Dec 11, 2024 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover 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.

Other Sorento model years

A

2027 Kia Sorento

0 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2026 Kia Sorento

2 recalls · 5 complaints

D

2025 Kia Sorento

4 recalls · 125 complaints

B

2024 Kia Sorento

2 recalls · 47 complaints

F

2022 Kia Sorento

9 recalls · 221 complaints

F

2021 Kia Sorento

5 recalls · 263 complaints

B

2020 Kia Sorento

1 recalls · 134 complaints

C

2019 Kia Sorento

2 recalls · 426 complaints

D

2018 Kia Sorento

3 recalls · 252 complaints

F

2017 Kia Sorento

4 recalls · 801 complaints

F

2016 Kia Sorento

8 recalls · 1,248 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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