30 of the
179 complaints filed about the KIA Sorento Hybrid
are about the electrical system —
17% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2021.
Wireless cell phone charging pad causes phone to overheat. I have tried other vehicles (Ford Explorer) and this had no detrimental effect on cell phone. As well as heating the cell phone (Apple iPhone 16) it also doesn’t charge the phone. I have also tried other cell phones (Apple iPhone 16 and 14) and same issues were presented. The safety issue is the inability to charge the cell phone reliably as well as the very hot condition caused to the cell phone. I purchased this vehicle new in July 2025 and I realized the issue almost immediately. I did let my Kia service department know of this and was told at the time that this is very common and that a recall (repair) would likely be available soon. To be best of my knowledge this hasn’t happened. The only reason I am bringing it up now is that my son in law (the Ford Explorer) mentioned that he utilizes his with no problem. Thank you
NHTSA complaint #11748874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH on several occasions, the vehicle stalled after the battery became drained. The vehicle was able to restart each time after waiting for the battery to recharge. The vehicle was taken to two different dealers on three occasions. During the first two visits, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. On the third visit, the failure was duplicated, but the dealer was unable to provide a cause for the failure. During a visit to the dealer, the vehicle stalled while a mechanic was driving it, and the vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,000.
NHTSA complaint #11718445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. I'm not sure what component or system malfunctioned. The dealership has said something different every time it's had to be taken in. The first time they said it could have been the dip stick. The second time they said they didn't know but did an update to the car's system. Last week, was the third time we've had to take it in and they said they are doing an oil change and replacing the air intake hose assy, GDI fuel pump, High pressure fuel pump, valve cover assy, oil filter and oil but didn't say if this would fix the issue. 2. We have loss confidence in this car's safety and reliability and the dealership's ability to repair it. It's been in the shop multiple times and continues to fail. The issue with the vehicle is that when we got a warning the power to the car shuts off. It doesn't allow you to do anything with the gas pedal no matter what speed you are going. We have experienced this multiple times on city streets and the highway. The potential for an accident is very high when the car does this. 3. We have taken it to the dealership and they don't know what's wrong with it. I created a case with Kia and have not heard back from a case manager at all. 4. The vehicle has only been inspected by the dealership and no one else. They have contacted Kia corporate for solutions via messaging but this is the third time the car has just loss power while we are driving. 5. There were some warning signs like check hybrid batter system on the dashboard. The kia Access app allow shows diagnostic alerts like ADAS_DRV. I have attached some photos and some of the documentation we have. There have been multiple dates but I put the first date that the car broke down. Other dates include (1/28/26 and 2/6/26).
NHTSA complaint #11717334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Incident #1: Car suddenly and without warning had complete loss of power, with gas engine shutting off and only using battery power. Car was traveling at 45mph in morning traffic. Pedal was pushed to the floor, but car would only go a maximum of 20mph. Warning dash lights then appeared saying "Hybrid Malfunction/Pull Over Immediately/Turn off car". I was able to pull off road and turn off car and then turn back on. Car ran normally the 2 miles back home. Incident #2: 2 days later, while driving my kids to school the car again, suddenly and without warning had complete loss of power, with gas engine shutting off and only using battery power. Again, warning dash lights: "Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely!". I did so and car ran normally back to my house (distance approx: 2.5 miles). I immediately called KIA of Beaverton and they said to have it towed right away. Once at dealer, they were unable to diagnose any issues and said that no codes showed up, but also said that the car "deleted codes". Car was in shop for 2 days and determined "car operates as designed." I picked up the car. Incident #3: 7 days later, with kids in the car, again car had complete power loss with no warning. Warning lights again told of "Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely!" Pulled over (in heavy Friday rush hour traffic) and turned off car. Turned on again, but this time car drove for less than a quarter mile before complete power loss happened again with all warning lights. This time we took video of the car not having power, all the warning lights etc. as evidence. We turned off the car and upon turning it on, it instantly had no power. We pulled car over and had to park it that night at a local business for towing. Car was towed again to Beaverton KIA. Again, dealer said they were not able to replicate problem after driving 250 miles on it. Insisted we pick up car, despite numerous comm's saying how unsafe we felt taking it. Dealer claimed KIA told them to remove .5 Qt of oil.
NHTSA complaint #11715726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Was driving home from work, and suddenly all the indicator lights came on on the dash, (check engine, warring lights, indicator that the battery was critically low, etc etc.) the car notified me to safely pull off the road. I pulled off the road in limp mode, the engine would not engage when pedal was pressed, and then lost power. I was stuck in the middle of the lane on a side road in park. I turned the car off, then turned it back on and let it idle for a bit thinking it may be the battery (which is new). After several minutes drove it home and have not had any other issues. I researched this issue on the internet and there were reported similar problems exactly like this. Note. I put it on a reader at home and it did not show any codes.
NHTSA complaint #11713723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beginning at approximately 750 miles on a brand-new 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX, the vehicle experienced a flashing Check Engine Light accompanied by severe shaking while driving, rough idling, loss of power, and loud engine/exhaust noise. The vehicle became difficult and unsafe to operate due to the vibration and reduced drivability. These symptoms appeared suddenly on November 22, less than three weeks after purchase. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on November 24. Their technician retrieved diagnostic codes P0300 (Random Misfire) and P0304 (Cylinder #4 Misfire) and identified a failed ignition coil on Cylinder #4. The coil was replaced, and the dealership reported the issue resolved. However, less than 24 hours later, with the vehicle still under 800 miles, the exact same symptoms reoccurred: heavy shaking while driving, vibration while idling, loss of power, and unstable engine operation. This indicates the underlying issue may be more serious than a single coil failure. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership, and the vehicle is currently back in their possession for further inspection. A loaner vehicle was issued because the vehicle was not safe to drive. The sudden shaking, engine misfire, and loss of power created a significant safety risk, especially if this failure were to occur at highway speeds or while turning across traffic. Given the extremely low mileage and recurrence immediately after repair, this may indicate a broader defect affecting engine performance or ignition components in this model. The vehicle remains available for inspection by NHTSA, the manufacturer, or investigators.
NHTSA complaint #11702272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Safety Concern – 2025 Kia Sorento Prestige Hybrid (VIN [XXX] ) Around October 13, 2025, my leased 2025 Kia Sorento Prestige Hybrid experienced a sudden and severe loss of power while I was driving on the highway. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, where the High Power Control Unit (HPCU), part number 36601-3DPG3, was replaced. No clear explanation of the root cause was provided. Less than a month later, on November 6, the same failure occurred again—this time in heavy highway traffic—creating a serious safety risk and increasing the chance of a collision. The vehicle is primarily driven by my wife, who regularly uses highways to transport our son. The recurring and unpredictable nature of this issue has made us feel unsafe and anxious. We are deeply concerned that another failure could lead to a serious accident or fatality. We respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigate this matter as a potential safety defect. Without a clear understanding of the cause, we are documenting these incidents to encourage action. It is critical that Kia resolves this issue to protect families and maintain trust in its brand. Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11698214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on September 15, 2025, the vehicle displayed a loud beeping and the warning message “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely.” The vehicle restarted about an hour later, but the combustion engine ran very rough. The Kia dealer inspected it but reported no stored error codes. On September 23, 2025, the vehicle suddenly lost power while driving. It appeared to operate only on electric at low speed, then died completely in the roadway. The vehicle would not power down until the start/stop button was held. It required a tow back to the dealer. Prior to the first incident, a faint electrical smoldering odor was present. The vehicle remains at the Kia dealer for evaluation. This is a serious safety concern because the vehicle experienced sudden loss of motive power and stalling in traffic, which put both myself and others at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11689872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving on highway car would suddenly lose power.it has happened 7 times. 4 times the car told you to get off road pull to sideband leave engine running to have battery recharge.after doing this sometimes it would allow you to continue.not always sometimes would continue to have no power. car has been to 2 dealerships nothing resolved yet. they tell me to wait.
NHTSA complaint #11680885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front and rear passenger side windows of my 2025 Kia Sorento intermittently fail to operate. When attempting to roll them down, all that can be heard is a clicking sound, and the windows do not move. This issue occurs randomly and without warning. The malfunction poses a safety concern, as functioning windows are necessary for proper ventilation, emergency egress, and communication with others outside the vehicle, including law enforcement or toll booth operators. The issue was first reported to Kia of Bowie on December 9, 2024. However, the dealership stated they could not recreate the problem and, therefore, could not make repairs, citing that Kia would not reimburse them unless they could verify the defect. I was advised to record a video of the issue should it occur again. The problem has persisted multiple times, but due to being the driver, capturing a video was difficult. I was recently able to record the malfunction, showing both windows failing to operate with only the clicking sound audible. On February 17, 2025, I returned to the dealership with a scheduled appointment to address this issue. After waiting 2.5 hours, I was informed that they again could not recreate the issue and that my video evidence was not considered sufficient for a repair. Despite following the dealership's instructions, no resolution has been provided. Additionally, my Kia Connect system is not functioning properly, and the radio sound intermittently cuts in and out. These electrical issues raise concerns about potential broader system malfunctions that could compromise vehicle safety. No warning lights or error messages have appeared related to these issues. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11643265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On [XXX] we were driving the Kia at slow speed due to snow on the road when a warning light came on which we think said hybrid vehicle failure pull over. The car stopped and the traffic lane with the engine off. The car would not start and we were exposed to traffic. Fortunately, we were on a country road at the time about a mile from our house and we were not struck by following vehicle when the car shut off and stopped in the traffic lane. If we had been on a beltway with 60 or 65 mph traffic obviously the result would’ve been quite different. Because I felt the vehicle was not safe to drive. I had it towed to the Kia dealer in Salisbury Pocahontas Kia, who have not been able to duplicate the problem and have also not been able to tell us what was wrong with the Kia to cause this problem in the first place. Unless there is a clear reason why this happened And it can be fixed then we have no reason to believe this would not happen again and endanger our safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11637251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Battery Not Fully Charged" was displayed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine wiring harness was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #11624790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle brand new, the contact became aware that the maximum battery charge was 60-70 percent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was test-driven, and the battery was charged. The dealer confirmed the failure and reported the failure to the manufacturer. The manufacturer advised the dealer to test-drive and to charge another vehicle with the same year make and model to verify whether the failure would reoccur. The dealer followed the instructions and advised the manufacturer that the failure reoccurred. The contact followed up with the manufacturer and was advised that he would be contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200.
NHTSA complaint #11608417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked overnight and the following morning it was driven a short distance to pick up their children, upon arrival the vehicle was parked in the garage and all the occupants exited, it caught on fire. No injuries were sustained. There was no property damage to the residence. No warning light had previously been illuminated. The contact stated a few weeks prior that the vehicle had new parts installed for routine maintenance. The local fire department arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. The contact was advised by the fire department and insurance provider that the fire origin was related to the wiring behind the odometer. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was later taken to the insurance provider. The failure was being investigated by the manufacturer and insurance provider. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #11596215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving down the highway when my vehicle shut off with no warning and the parking break engaged. I was stuck in the travel lane with cars flying by me going 50 plus MPH. My vehicle has 7000 miles on it. According to KIA the hybrid battery failed and they don’t know why. KIA has been no help and as far as I know they are not looking into this issue. Upon further research there has been multiple instances where this hybrid model has just shut down while the vehicle is moving and KIA has been unable to resolve the issue. Myself and my children could have been severely injured or killed. They need to get to the bottom of what is causing these hybrid batteries to fail on brand new vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11576334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We purchased the car around Thanksgiving of last year (2023). A month and a half after purchase, we noticed all the warning lights coming on all at once. When we reported the incident and safety concern with the Kia dealership, they claimed it would be okay and we had nothing to worry about until our service appointment in Mid-March. Today, my wife was driving with my mom in the car and the brakes completely failed while they were driving on a major highway. Fortunately they were able to pull the car into an embankment before going down a large hill into the valley. We had the vehicle towed back to the Kia dealership where they’re running tests and diagnostics to identify the issue. We’ve also opened a case with customer affairs at Kia of America.
NHTSA complaint #11573528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle died inThe middle of an extremely busy four lane road. A light came on That said to turn the car off immediately. The engine light and battery light flashed on. It sounds like the engine recall for the 22 and 21 hybrid sorento’s. I had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership, it is only 7 mos old.
NHTSA complaint #11565469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle loses power from combustion engine and drives only on electric battery. Hybrid system doesn’t engage correctly and vehicle will accelerate extremely slowly after a delay and will only achieve roughly 30 mph with accelerator fully pressed. This vehicle has been sent to the dealer multiple times and they have recreated the problem. However even after parts being replaced and connections being replaced the problem persists. Vehicle can be inspected anytime. My family has been in several near collisions with oncoming traffic due to the vehicle moving after a delay and then at a much slower than expected pace. Pulling out in to traffic is nearly impossible when the vehicle malfunctions. It has also depleted the entire battery and left us motionless on the side of the road multiple times. Due to the problem being intermittent and not reliably duplicated a service technician was given permission to use the vehicle to commute to and from work for a time. This allowed him to experience the issue in person. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by the dealers service department and they have been working with engineers from the manufacturer. When this problem occurs there typically is not a warning light or a code stored. They believe it is a faulty connection. This issue will cause an accident in the future if not resolved. The manufacturer has not been able to determine what is causing the issue. They also have not been concerned with our safety and have released the vehicle back to us 3 times stating that it is fixed yet the problem persists.
NHTSA complaint #11553611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
car parked automatically while in drive. won't allow car to shift to drive or reverse due to "driving conditions not met". hybrid system light also randomly comes on.
NHTSA complaint #11516071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.