Owners have filed 208 complaints
about the 2023 KIA Sorento with NHTSA between 2022 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 17 of 22 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 16
Against the median year of the KIA Sorento. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 37
7.2% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
71% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Warnings
929.0%
Blind Spot Detection
619.4%
Adaptive Cruise Control
516.1%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
39.7%
Warning
26.5%
Automatic Emergency Braking
26.5%
Assist
26.5%
Body
26.5%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
635.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
423.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
529.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
15.9%
150,000+ miles
15.9%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Frontal crash test
Side barrier crash test
Side pole crash test
Photographs taken by NHTSA during its own New Car Assessment Program crash
tests of this model year. Public domain.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2023 Kia Sorento SUV AWD
15.9% risk
2023 Kia Sorento SUV FWD
15.9% risk
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Nov 2022peak 17Sep 2026
Recalls on the 2023 KIA Sorento
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
25V649000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
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.
23V610000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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.
23V579000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20255162,284 units in Canada
Heater And Defroster
Issue: On certain vehicles, the wiring harness for the blower motor may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the wiring could overheat and melt. Note: This recall only affects Sorento LX+ models. Safety Risk: Wiring that overheats and melts can create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the blower motor wiring harness and the blower motor resistor.
Recall 2024549647,384 units in Canada
Label
Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" appear in English only, when they should be listed as "Tires/Pneus", "Rims/Jantes", "Front/Avant" and "Rear/Arriere". Canadian regulations require this information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safety Risk: These small errors do not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. Kia has corrected the compliance label for all new vehicles.
Recall 202349410,587 units in Canada
Visual System
Issue: On certain vehicles, the rearview camera mounting clips could fail. If this happens, the rearview camera could fall out of position and cause the rearview image not to display correctly. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display correctly could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the rearview camera housing, and replace it as necessary.
Recall 20234655,146 units in Canada
Label
Issue: On certain vehicles, the airbag warning labels on the driver and passenger sun visors could peel off. Canadian regulations require information about the airbag system to be provided on the sun visors. Safety Risk: The airbag warning labels provide information about the airbags and child restraint safety recommendations. Not following these recommendations could create an increased risk of injury. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and replace the driver and passenger sun visors, as needed.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Stuart, FLCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
The brakes failed; they felt spongy, as if my foot were pressing directly against the road. The car accelerated and I headed toward a wall; the sensors didn't stop the vehicle. It came to a halt against the wall after the impact. I was on my way to the repair shop for a scheduled appointment due to electrical problems.
NHTSA complaint #11757893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Antonio, TXFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am reporting a vehicle fire that occurred in June 2025 involving my Kia vehicle. On the day of the incident, I started my car and immediately noticed excessive smoke coming out of the air vents, along with a strong burning smell. I drove only a short distance and pulled into a gas station across the street to stop and check what was wrong. While stopped, my children in the back seat alerted me that there was a fire coming from the rear AC vent area. I known it was fire because I saw flames inside the AC vent located in the back seat area of the vehicle. I immediately got my children out of the car and ran inside the store to ask for help. When I walked back outside moments later, my entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. The vehicle was a total loss. At the time of the incident, there was no recall issued for my vehicle. However, in November 2025, I received a recall notice from Kia by mail that appears to be related to the cause of the fire. I purchased this vehicle from Toyota Cavender in October 2024. Since the fire, I have contacted Kia multiple times seeking assistance and resolution, but I am still waiting for a response. This fire occurred without warning and put my children and me in immediate danger.
NHTSA complaint #11709869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TXFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Was driving on Dallas North Toll way when my vehicle lost acceleration. Had to pull over and engine started smoking and lit a flame under the hood. Car is now at Clay Cooley Kia in Irving, TX. Car has been there for over two weeks and I still have no answers or information regarding the plan to fix it. Major dealership delay and all they keep saying is “Waiting on a Kia Engineer to come out but we don't have a date.”
NHTSA complaint #11708410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Was driving on Dallas North Toll way when my vehicle lost acceleration. Had to pull over and engine started smoking and lit a flame under the hood. Car is now at Clay Cooley Kia in Irving, TX. Car has been there for over two weeks and I still have no answers or information regarding the plan to fix it. Major dealership delay and all they keep saying is “Waiting on a Kia Engineer to come out but we don't have a date.”
NHTSA complaint #11708410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TXFire
ENGINE
Was driving on Dallas North Toll way when my vehicle lost acceleration. Had to pull over and engine started smoking and lit a flame under the hood. Car is now at Clay Cooley Kia in Irving, TX. Car has been there for over two weeks and I still have no answers or information regarding the plan to fix it. Major dealership delay and all they keep saying is “Waiting on a Kia Engineer to come out but we don't have a date.”
NHTSA complaint #11708410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 21,700 milesVero Beach, FLCrash
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was shifted into drive, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to move forward. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred more than five times within a month. The failure occurred after a previous repair was performed by the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that previously, while the vehicle was parked on a hill, the gear shifter was shifted into reverse, and the vehicle rolled forward and crashed into a curb. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was repaired. The contact was informed that the failures were not failures but instead the normal function of the vehicle. The contact submitted a Lemon Law claim and was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,700.
NHTSA complaint #11699126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Austin, TX
ENGINE
My 2023 Kia Sorento has experienced repeated failures involving the engine, transmission/powertrain, and electrical wiring system. The vehicle has been inspected and repaired multiple times by authorized Kia dealerships, including Kia of Round Rock and Clay Cooley Kia in Irving, and the repair history and vehicle are available for inspection upon request. The most serious incident occurred on XXX, while I was driving on the [XXX]. The vehicle suddenly lost acceleration, began smoking, and experienced a catastrophic engine-related failure, creating a serious safety concern while I was traveling on a high-speed roadway. The vehicle had to be towed to Clay Cooley Kia, where it remained for approximately three months and the engine and related components were replaced. After receiving the vehicle back on XXX, a significant oil leak developed approximately five days later. The vehicle was returned for service, the problem was confirmed, and it ultimately required a transmission replacement. On approximately XXX, multiple/all dashboard warning lights illuminated, and Kia subsequently replaced the wiring harness. The vehicle continued to experience problems and was towed to Kia again. In XXX, Kia determined that another transmission replacement was necessary. The vehicle has now had three transmissions associated with it, in addition to the replacement engine and wiring harness. XXX, the vehicle is still malfunctioning despite being on its third transmission. Current symptoms include the RPMs suddenly surging/revving higher than expected, jerking while driving, and a noticeable delay between pressing the accelerator and the vehicle accelerating. These symptoms create a safety concern because I cannot confidently predict how the vehicle will respond when accelerating, merging into traffic, crossing an intersection, or traveling at highway speeds. I am concerned that the repeated engine failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11763054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spokane, WA
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
I own two Nuna RAVA car seats, and both have developed unraveling/tearing of the two-point harness buckle/strap between the child’s legs. One seat had noticeable tearing, which prompted me to closely inspect the second seat, where I found the same area beginning to unravel. I contacted Nuna and was initially advised to use glue or tape on the damaged area. After expressing my safety concerns about that, Nuna acknowledged that the damage is a safety hazard and instructed me to discontinue use of both seats. However, they refused to repair or replace the seats and instead offered a 10% discount toward purchasing a new seat. I am concerned that the same safety-critical component is failing on two separate car seats and that Nuna is acknowledging the hazard while requiring me to pay hundreds of dollars to replace the seats. Both seats are still within the expected usable life of the product. I believe this warrants investigation as a potential safety defect.
NHTSA complaint #11761341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spokane, WA
Carry Handle, Shell, Base
I own two Nuna RAVA car seats, and both have developed unraveling/tearing of the two-point harness buckle/strap between the child’s legs. One seat had noticeable tearing, which prompted me to closely inspect the second seat, where I found the same area beginning to unravel. I contacted Nuna and was initially advised to use glue or tape on the damaged area. After expressing my safety concerns about that, Nuna acknowledged that the damage is a safety hazard and instructed me to discontinue use of both seats. However, they refused to repair or replace the seats and instead offered a 10% discount toward purchasing a new seat. I am concerned that the same safety-critical component is failing on two separate car seats and that Nuna is acknowledging the hazard while requiring me to pay hundreds of dollars to replace the seats. Both seats are still within the expected usable life of the product. I believe this warrants investigation as a potential safety defect.
NHTSA complaint #11761341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Allentown, PA
POWER TRAIN
The transmission failed for the fourth time. The transmission (Power Train) is the component that failed and is available for inspection at the dealership. The vehicle became unsafe and unreliable to drive due to the repeated transmission failures, creating a risk of sudden loss of power or control. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer on multiple occasions, most recently on August 24, 2026. The vehicle has also been inspected by Kia America as part of an open case (Case #25964896). History: The 1st transmission failure was covered under the original factory warranty. The 2nd failure occurred after the 12,000-mile transmission replacement warranty had expired, requiring an out-of-pocket repair of $5,500. The 3rd failure occurred within 12,000 miles of that replacement and was covered by Kia. On August 24, 2026, the dealer confirmed the transmission had failed again — a 4th failure of the same component. Warning symptoms typically appeared as loss of power, hesitation, or rough shifting prior to each failure.
NHTSA complaint #11759602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Swampscott, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On multiple occasions, my 2023 Kia Sorento has experienced an intermittent failure where numerous dashboard warning lights and alerts illuminate and the engine will not start. During the failure, the brake pedal becomes very stiff and the vehicle cannot be shifted out of Park. The problem is unpredictable and has left the vehicle disabled. The vehicle was taken to a Kia dealership for diagnosis. The dealer initially stated that the battery was not properly secured and was moving around, possibly contacting nearby electrical components. They told me the issue had been repaired. However, when I returned to pick up the vehicle, the exact same failure occurred again in the dealership parking lot before I was able to leave. The warning lights came on and, after the vehicle was turned off, it would not restart. The dealer has therefore been able to directly observe the repeated failure. The exact component causing the malfunction is still unknown. I am concerned that this may be an electrical or grounding issue and that the vehicle could become disabled unexpectedly while in use.
NHTSA complaint #11759161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Swampscott, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On multiple occasions, my 2023 Kia Sorento has experienced an intermittent failure where numerous dashboard warning lights and alerts illuminate and the engine will not start. During the failure, the brake pedal becomes very stiff and the vehicle cannot be shifted out of Park. The problem is unpredictable and has left the vehicle disabled. The vehicle was taken to a Kia dealership for diagnosis. The dealer initially stated that the battery was not properly secured and was moving around, possibly contacting nearby electrical components. They told me the issue had been repaired. However, when I returned to pick up the vehicle, the exact same failure occurred again in the dealership parking lot before I was able to leave. The warning lights came on and, after the vehicle was turned off, it would not restart. The dealer has therefore been able to directly observe the repeated failure. The exact component causing the malfunction is still unknown. I am concerned that this may be an electrical or grounding issue and that the vehicle could become disabled unexpectedly while in use.
NHTSA complaint #11759161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Swampscott, MA
ENGINE
On multiple occasions, my 2023 Kia Sorento has experienced an intermittent failure where numerous dashboard warning lights and alerts illuminate and the engine will not start. During the failure, the brake pedal becomes very stiff and the vehicle cannot be shifted out of Park. The problem is unpredictable and has left the vehicle disabled. The vehicle was taken to a Kia dealership for diagnosis. The dealer initially stated that the battery was not properly secured and was moving around, possibly contacting nearby electrical components. They told me the issue had been repaired. However, when I returned to pick up the vehicle, the exact same failure occurred again in the dealership parking lot before I was able to leave. The warning lights came on and, after the vehicle was turned off, it would not restart. The dealer has therefore been able to directly observe the repeated failure. The exact component causing the malfunction is still unknown. I am concerned that this may be an electrical or grounding issue and that the vehicle could become disabled unexpectedly while in use.
NHTSA complaint #11759161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stuart, FLCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
The brakes failed; they felt spongy, as if my foot were pressing directly against the road. The car accelerated and I headed toward a wall; the sensors didn't stop the vehicle. It came to a halt against the wall after the impact. I was on my way to the repair shop for a scheduled appointment due to electrical problems.
NHTSA complaint #11757893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huffman, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I believe my car should be in the ac recall for faulty ac motor/wire harness due to my ac is only cooling on passenger side. Blowing hot on driver. I’m afraid it may catch fire as I read this can happen.
NHTSA complaint #11756282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving, the dashboard lit up with warnings about forward collision, lane departure, lane keeping assistance, breaks, speed etc. that keep cycling through with alarm sounds on the dashboard. I have brought my car to the dealership few times and they reprogram the car but the issue keeps coming back randomly. Seems like a loose connection somewhere. I am afraid of driving when it happens.
NHTSA complaint #11756297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, FL
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While driving, the dashboard lit up with warnings about forward collision, lane departure, lane keeping assistance, breaks, speed etc. that keep cycling through with alarm sounds on the dashboard. I have brought my car to the dealership few times and they reprogram the car but the issue keeps coming back randomly. Seems like a loose connection somewhere. I am afraid of driving when it happens.
NHTSA complaint #11756297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverview, FL
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
While driving, the dashboard lit up with warnings about forward collision, lane departure, lane keeping assistance, breaks, speed etc. that keep cycling through with alarm sounds on the dashboard. I have brought my car to the dealership few times and they reprogram the car but the issue keeps coming back randomly. Seems like a loose connection somewhere. I am afraid of driving when it happens.
NHTSA complaint #11756297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Extension, LA
STEERING
All of the ADAS you have listed stop working on my car. I will be driving my car, stop at a red light, drive through, or just driving down the road and it starts throwing sensors. It won’t even show the MPH I’m driving and some times the steering wheel locks up, as does the car itself. I can’t shift gears, move the vehicle, or anything until leaving the vehicle alone for a while and coming back to it. I have proof of multiple repairs, call ins to Kia, and even a request for buy back which was denied on the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11755298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Extension, LA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
All of the ADAS you have listed stop working on my car. I will be driving my car, stop at a red light, drive through, or just driving down the road and it starts throwing sensors. It won’t even show the MPH I’m driving and some times the steering wheel locks up, as does the car itself. I can’t shift gears, move the vehicle, or anything until leaving the vehicle alone for a while and coming back to it. I have proof of multiple repairs, call ins to Kia, and even a request for buy back which was denied on the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11755298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Extension, LA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
All of the ADAS you have listed stop working on my car. I will be driving my car, stop at a red light, drive through, or just driving down the road and it starts throwing sensors. It won’t even show the MPH I’m driving and some times the steering wheel locks up, as does the car itself. I can’t shift gears, move the vehicle, or anything until leaving the vehicle alone for a while and coming back to it. I have proof of multiple repairs, call ins to Kia, and even a request for buy back which was denied on the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11755298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 208,600 milesHampton, GA
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop or while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The message “Transmission Fluid Low” was displayed. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V760000 (Power Train); as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 208,600.
NHTSA complaint #11754478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyde Park, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle intermittently fails to start in two different situations. First, when the auto Stop/start system shuts the engine off while the vehicle is stopped anywhere, the engine sometimes refuses to restart, leaving the vehicle immobilized. Second, there are occasions when I park the vehicle, turn it off normally, and upon returning, the engine will refuse to start.
NHTSA complaint #11754178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyde Park, MA
ENGINE
The vehicle intermittently fails to start in two different situations. First, when the auto Stop/start system shuts the engine off while the vehicle is stopped anywhere, the engine sometimes refuses to restart, leaving the vehicle immobilized. Second, there are occasions when I park the vehicle, turn it off normally, and upon returning, the engine will refuse to start.
NHTSA complaint #11754178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyde Park, MA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle intermittently fails to start in two different situations. First, when the auto Stop/start system shuts the engine off while the vehicle is stopped anywhere, the engine sometimes refuses to restart, leaving the vehicle immobilized. Second, there are occasions when I park the vehicle, turn it off normally, and upon returning, the engine will refuse to start.
NHTSA complaint #11754178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wimauma, FL
POWER TRAIN
I have a 2023 Kia Sorento with approx 60k, purchased new from New Pot Richey Kia. Approx 7 days ago, while driving home from dropping my son at school, my transmission system error warning came on as well as my check engine light. My RPM'S would increased without corresponding acceleration, which meant my transmission, was slipping. I was also experiencing jerking during shifting. In addition to that, my car would hesitate before moving. And I would also experience a slight vibrations at low speeds. All of this would make me feel unsafe when driving my car.
NHTSA complaint #11751796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Patchogue, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The panoramic sunroof on my 2023 Kia Sorento intermittently fails to close. When commanded to close, the glass travels most of the way, then stops or reverses before reaching the fully closed position. It frequently takes many repeated attempts. In some cases the panel will not seat at all until the vehicle is driven over rough pavement, and the resulting vibration allows it to complete closure. The malfunction is accompanied by a loud grinding or scraping noise from the roof assembly during travel. This condition has been present since I purchased the vehicle new. The sunroof has seen very limited use. Safety risk: the glass panel cannot be reliably secured. An open or unseated panoramic panel at highway speed presents a risk of water intrusion, wind loading on an unsecured glass panel, and loss of roof structure integrity. Repeatedly operating the switch and monitoring the panel while driving is a significant distraction from the driving task, and driving specifically to induce vibration in order to force closure is itself an unsafe workaround. Dealer history: I have reported this to a Kia dealership on multiple occasions. I was told there is no defect and that the cause is debris, which is inconsistent with a vehicle purchased new with minimal sunroof use. On one visit the dealer cleaned the assembly as a goodwill gesture. This did not correct the noise or the closure failure. The vehicle was returned to me as repaired while the noise and the failure to close were both still present. Kia issued Technical Service Bulletin BOD125 (Rev 1, 02/27/2017) describing a slow-to-close condition and abnormal closing noise on the prior-generation Sorento (UMa), remedied by cleaning and lubricating the rear guide rails and replacing the rear tilt levers. My vehicle exhibits the same failure mode described in that bulletin. The component is available for inspection on request. No warning lamps or messages preceded or accompanied the failure.
NHTSA complaint #11751824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wimauma, FL
ENGINE
I have a 2023 Kia Sorento with approx 60k, purchased new from New Pot Richey Kia. Approx 7 days ago, while driving home from dropping my son at school, my transmission system error warning came on as well as my check engine light. My RPM'S would increased without corresponding acceleration, which meant my transmission, was slipping. I was also experiencing jerking during shifting. In addition to that, my car would hesitate before moving. And I would also experience a slight vibrations at low speeds. All of this would make me feel unsafe when driving my car.
NHTSA complaint #11751796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Patchogue, NY
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The panoramic sunroof on my 2023 Kia Sorento intermittently fails to close. When commanded to close, the glass travels most of the way, then stops or reverses before reaching the fully closed position. It frequently takes many repeated attempts. In some cases the panel will not seat at all until the vehicle is driven over rough pavement, and the resulting vibration allows it to complete closure. The malfunction is accompanied by a loud grinding or scraping noise from the roof assembly during travel. This condition has been present since I purchased the vehicle new. The sunroof has seen very limited use. Safety risk: the glass panel cannot be reliably secured. An open or unseated panoramic panel at highway speed presents a risk of water intrusion, wind loading on an unsecured glass panel, and loss of roof structure integrity. Repeatedly operating the switch and monitoring the panel while driving is a significant distraction from the driving task, and driving specifically to induce vibration in order to force closure is itself an unsafe workaround. Dealer history: I have reported this to a Kia dealership on multiple occasions. I was told there is no defect and that the cause is debris, which is inconsistent with a vehicle purchased new with minimal sunroof use. On one visit the dealer cleaned the assembly as a goodwill gesture. This did not correct the noise or the closure failure. The vehicle was returned to me as repaired while the noise and the failure to close were both still present. Kia issued Technical Service Bulletin BOD125 (Rev 1, 02/27/2017) describing a slow-to-close condition and abnormal closing noise on the prior-generation Sorento (UMa), remedied by cleaning and lubricating the rear guide rails and replacing the rear tilt levers. My vehicle exhibits the same failure mode described in that bulletin. The component is available for inspection on request. No warning lamps or messages preceded or accompanied the failure.
NHTSA complaint #11751824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Delta, UT
VISIBILITY/WIPER
While traveling on a freeway, the front sliding portion of our sunroof exploded outward and upward. Sunroof was closed at the time with no impact present to cause the event. A very expensive repair for something that is clearly a defect of some sort. KIA was contacted and not willing to warranty or help cover.
NHTSA complaint #11750795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stafford Springs, CT
STEERING
Since fall of 2025, my 2023 KIA Sorento has repeatedly been in the shop for multiple issues. Most notably, a completely wrecked steering column. This issue was fixed after being in the shop for 12 days. Then in December, I started noticing the shift would lock while in park. I would need to open the top plate and stick an item down into the shifter to emergency release in order to drive. Then all of the electrical components began to state they were no longer working. No cameras, no lane assistance, no forward collision warning, etc etc. Beyond that, all automatic locks, windows and my trunk stopped working. I was locked out of my vehicle in January in CT with my son. My vehicle has now been at a KIA dealership for 5 months awaiting the part to fix my car. All of these problems have been confirmed by their technicians. I continue to pay my $600 a month vehicle payment, as well as insurance as KIA consumer refuses to assist in any way and does not have any answer as to when my vehicle will be fixed. I do not have a vehicle that will fit my family due to this issue. I have asked them to buy back my vehicle, as it is clearly a lemon, but they state I have waited too long to request the buy back under lemon law in CT. NEVER did I think it would be acceptable to be unable to fix a customers unsafe vehicle and refuse to to do anything to help for 5 months at this time and no end in sight. I also have videos it says are too large to send.
NHTSA complaint #11750686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
