Verdict
2023 Kia Sorento: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2023 Kia Sorento — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
More reported complaints than most SUV.
Owners filed 142 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 81% of 2023 SUVs. Electrical System leads the reports (26%). 3 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2023 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
142
Reports to NHTSA, 2023
Safety recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
26
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 81% of 2023 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2023 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (26% of 142 reports), followed by unknown or other (18%).
+ 12 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 142 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11540904, ODI 11708410, ODI 11740589, ODI 11738211, ODI 11734755.
Recalls(3)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Equipment · 23V579000Details +Close −
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.
Remedy: 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.
Back Over Prevention · 23V610000Details +Close −
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.
Remedy: 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.
Electrical System · 25V649000Details +Close −
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.
Remedy: 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.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2023 Kia Sorento SUV FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
2023 Kia Sorento SUV AWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorento Hybrid FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM-S6) | 39 | 35 | 37 |
| Sorento Plug-in Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM-S6) | 35 | 33 | 34 |
| Sorento Hybrid AWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM-S6) | 36 | 33 | 34 |
| Sorento FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 24 | 29 | 26 |
| Sorento FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM-S8) | 22 | 29 | 25 |
| Sorento AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 | 25 | 24 |
| Sorento AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM-S8) | 22 | 27 | 24 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2023 Kia Sorento: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2023 Kia Sorento?
Owners filed 142 NHTSA complaints about the 2023 Kia Sorento — more complaints than 81% of comparable 2023 SUVs, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2023 Kia Sorento?
The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (26% of complaints) and unknown or other (18%).
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Sorento have?
3 recalls have been issued that affect the 2023 Kia Sorento, covering components such as equipment. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Sorento get?
The EPA rates the 2023 Kia Sorento between 24 and 37 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.