The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 51 of 169 complaints (30%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 228 in 2022 to 169 in 2023.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 169
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,700–$2,600
- Combined MPG
- 24–37
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | vs. 2023 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,700–2,600 | 1,700–2,600 | 1,700–2,600 | 1,700–2,700 | 1,750–2,700 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–37 | 24–37 | 24–37 | 23–37 | 23–36 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–39 / 25–35 | 22–39 / 25–35 | 22–39 / 25–35 | 20–39 / 27–35 | 20–36 / 27–36 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 242–375 | 242–377 | 242–377 | 242–389 | 246–389 | |
| Complaints filed | 277 | 228 | 169 | 52 | 137 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 9 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Sorento have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2023 Kia Sorento?
Electrical: 51 of 169 NHTSA complaints (30%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Sorento get?
EPA rates it 24–37 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Kia Sorento?
EPA estimates $1,700–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 39 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | $1,700 (low) | 242 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 36 mpg | 33 mpg | 34 mpg | $1,850 | 262 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 24 mpg | 29 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 342 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg (low) | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 360 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 23 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 366 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 27 mpg | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 377 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 35 mpg | 33 mpg | 34 mpg | $1,850 | 105 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 49 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 51 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 31 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 46 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.