2022 Kia Sorento Other Problems
26 owner-reported other complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (26)
Your car has experienced sudden loss of acceleration while driving on multiple occasions—first in July 2023 and again in December 2025—leaving you unable to keep up with traffic or accelerate on hills. These incidents created dangerous situations where other vehicles nearly hit you because you couldn't propel the car normally. Despite a dealership repair and electrical recall in 2023, the problem has returned, and the dealership hasn't been able to identify the cause even with diagnostic testing.
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Your vehicle has an open recall for a potential fire hazard, but no fix is currently available. This is concerning given cold weather conditions when you need to use your heater. You should contact your Kia dealer to inquire about the status of this recall and when a repair solution will be available.
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Your air conditioning system has stopped working because of a leak in the evaporator core, which has been confirmed by two mechanics including your Kia dealership. The evaporator core appears to have been manufactured with thin metal that developed small pinhole leaks. In hot Texas weather, this leaves you and your children without cooling, which poses a safety risk. Fixing this will likely require replacing the evaporator core.
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Your panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered while the vehicle was parked, making a loud noise like a gunshot. Kia has acknowledged this is a known issue, but the dealer initially falsified service paperwork instead of actually inspecting the damage. After the paperwork was corrected, Kia refused to examine the sunroof again. The glass failed without any warning.
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When you started your car and began driving, an orange warning light appeared and blinked that resembled the automatic stop-start indicator. Your transmission wouldn't shift properly and your car was limited to 60 mph maximum speed. The issue resolved after you turned the engine off and back on.
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Your radiator has leaked twice within three months, requiring a complete replacement at your expense. The owner believes this is a design defect rather than a maintenance or driving issue. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the radiator and refilling the cooling system.
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You have an open recall on your 2022 Kia Sorento, but Kia has not provided a fix or remedy for the issue. This unresolved recall is causing you problems, and you're requesting that Kia repurchase the vehicle from you.
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Your Kia Sorento's exterior trim is fading prematurely, and this problem appears to affect multiple 2020-2022 Nightfall Edition vehicles. When dealers replace the trim, it fades again within about a year, suggesting the replacement uses the same defective material. Kia has declined to issue a recall and has given conflicting explanations about the cause, leaving owners to pay for repairs out of pocket.
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My vehicle has an active fire-risk safety recall, but Kia states the remedy is not available yet. The recall notice explains that the wiring harness for the HVAC blower motor may be inadequate and can cause a vehicle fire. I am concerned for my safety and my family’s safety because I have small children who ride in this vehicle daily. I contacted my Kia dealership, but they will not provide a rental or alternative transportation and will not confirm whether the vehicle is safe to drive while waiting for the remedy. I am being forced to continue driving a vehicle that may catch fire, and Kia has provided no temporary safety solution. I am requesting NHTSA to review this situation because Kia is not offering any safe option for owners while the recall is unresolved. The recall involves a potential fire inside the vehicle cabin, and yet there is no inspection, workaround, or transportation assistance available. This puts consumers at risk.
Driving down the freeway and heard a loud explosion and sunroof shattered with glass falling into the car. It was very discontenting and if there were more cars on the freeway overpass at the time it could have caused an accident as I was stunned by what had happened and lowered my speed. This could have easily led to a collision Went to Kia and mechanic inspected roof and said it appeared to have blown outward and was not struck by an object. He further said it was not safe to drive as the small glass pieces could get imbedded in the frame and come loose at a later date and cause harm.
the rear backup camera brackets inside are broken, causing the camera to dangle down. There was a recall on 2022 kia sorentos for this, but my VIN number is not coming up as part of the recall when it should be. This causes me to not be able to visibly see the things in the rear when the car is in reverse. There are no warning lights, lamps or messages to notify of thus.
Jenkins kia of Ocala Florida sold me this car as a certified used car on July 4 2025 without fixing or disclosing the fact this vehicle has 2 recalls! I want to file a formal complaint with you against this company. This car should never have been sold as a certified used vehicle with these 2 safety recalls not being addressed, fixed or mentioned!
Upon normal driving the vehicle suddenly lost power and would only go around 20 to 30 mph. This has happened twice in the past week. Very slow acceleration from a stop and had to actually pull off the road into a parking lot to let traffic pass. Took it to dealer and they said there were no active codes or anything visually presenting and they could do nothing to remedy the problem. My wife uses this vehicle in her work sometimes and has to drive sometimes 30 to 40 miles on her job and if this happened suddenly on an interstate it could be catastrophic. I'm afraid to let her drive it. No check engine or other warning lights come on. The vehicle has 58xxx miles and I hope I'm not being given the run around till the warranty expires. I notice there was a recall on this type of vehicle for this exact thing happening on 2022 models manufactured before August 2022 which ours was, taking delivery on 1/31/2022. It has the 2.5L turbo GDI engine as in the recall but is AWD.
The AC condenser has failed. Kia said the condenser is damaged in the far corner of the condenser where it meets the rubber. They said the warranty would not cover the repair but could not explain the damage. I have reviewed a webpage where many Kia Sorento owners had this issue. The techs all said the same thing: the rock-damaged condenser and warranty won't cover the cost of almost 1500 dollars. Now, they are stating a rock didn't damage it, but there is unexplainable damage, and they won't cover any costs. The vehicle is a 2022 with 29,000 miles.
Driving down the road and the sunroof exploded. No other cars were around me so no project was thrown from another vehicle. Took the vehicle to the dealership. The service tech confirmed nothing was thrown and it appears the glass imploded from the inside. We are over 60,000 so not covered by warranty. He stated he would send through to Kia to see if they would replace and was rejected. Was told to take it some place else to get it fixed. Contacted a local auto glass, they will not even touch it. Contacted another, the entire panoramic roof must be replaced even though it was only the front moving part that shattered. I am out $1,300 and a vehicle until the glass arrives which I was told will take weeks. Searching the internet I see there have been numerous complaints of this issue. Something needs to be done. No there was no crash, but very easily could have.
The vehicle experienced multiple critical mechanical failures, including defective injectors, transmission issues, and a malfunctioning differential. The dealer repaired some of the previous issues, such as the differential in August 2024 and the transmission in October 2024 (which required three weeks of repair). However, they refused to repair the defective injectors, even after the NHTSA issued an alert on September 1, 2024, regarding injector problems. I was never notified of this alert. On January 8, 2025, while driving with my family, the vehicle suddenly stalled without any warning, creating a dangerous situation on the road and putting our safety at significant risk. This resulted in additional expenses, including towing costs ($300) and alternative transportation by taxi ($150). I had to pay $1,851.98 out of pocket to repair the injectors with an independent mechanic after the dealer refused to cover it. There were no warning lights or messages before the sudden stalling incident. These issues have been partially inspected and addressed by the dealer and independent service centers, but the recurring failures persist, posing ongoing safety risks.
The sunroof imploded on its own while driving with no cars around. The implosion was so loud it caused me to swerve to other lanes and caused temporary sound loss. There was no warning and would have been worse if the sunshade wasn't on. Insurance is reviewing
I recently got this vehicle and only has 26k miles on it. I have always been a good driver and have taken care of this vehicle, but this vehicle has brought too much stress in my life recently. Keeps breaking down, and i have to repeatedly go to the service center. My value for time is gone. The service team are not welcoming and they never give you a replacement car. Not everyone has a replacement car for when it will break down. It messed up with all of my schedule, my family's schedule, kid not being able to go to school. Me not being able to go to work. Today i had to take my car to service again, second time. Last time i had to book a rental car from my own pocket for 2 whole week. And it broke down again today, i have no car and it has been a worst experience. KIA needs to do something about this. I will never be a KIA customer again in my life. KIA has a worst engine and worst customer service.
The heater does not work when the vehicle is running, it only works when parked. I have done research & I am not the only one experiencing the same issue. There was another Sorento owner that was at the same car shop that I went to with the exact same issue. No one is diagnosing it including the dealership, I’ve taken the car to two different once’s & other shops as well.
The car jerks periodically when pressing on the gas from a stop. The RPM also goes up without warning even if I'm not pressing hard on the gas pedal.
I was driving down the highway and the car stalled out the lights dimmed and the car shut off luckily I was able to get over and stopped the steering wheel was locked up almost like the battery went out. I was able to put it in park and restart the car. I got off the highway at the next exit and went through town and about half way home I was sitting at a stop light and the car died again. I put it in park and started the car again I took it straight over to the dealership and they hooked into it and scanned the car they said they couldn't find anything it continues to happen and I keep asking the dealership about it but they can't recreate the problem. I have also almost been in several wrecks do to this problem. I have also had the car slam on the breaks going over 40 and say caution ️ and the breaks lock up for a few minutes.
This is the second occurrence of this issue. Suddenly all warning lights appear and the car loses power. When press the accelerator there is no revs increase and the engine misfires. I photographed the dashboard and will try to attach. The car becomes impossible to drive and my wife is scared to use it. Luckily in both cases I have been able to stop in a safe area. Switching off and restarting the engine a couple of times re-established normal engine running the issue but left the ECU warning light on.
Have token vehicle to dealer ship twice and no resolution
While traveling on the highway about 70m/hr. the glass sunroof exploded while operation the vehicle. The glass explored/shattered in upwards direction. There was not trucks or overpass around for any object to fall from or strike the vehicle/sunroof. The explosion was comparable to shotguns or "like a bomb". My first thought was that tire blown but I didn't loose steering. After the assurance, I pull over immediately to the side of the route in safe place to inspect the vehicle. After the inspection of the vehicle, I noticed that sunroof glass shattered in pieces. Thanks god the curtained was closed at the time of the incident. This is something I never experienced in my life. Based on the information available on the website, this is not the first time happened and there is complains already filed. It is defiantly dangers and may result in crash, face injury and possible death caused by collision. Kia Dealership has been informed and appointment has been scheduled. Kia motors did not made decision on repair yet to classify as manufacturing defect.
I went to take my husband coffee put my car in park got out to get my son out of the back passenger side seat of the car and when I got to the back passenger side seat, I try to unlock the door the door was locked so I went back around to get back to the driver seat to unlock the door and before I could get all the way back to the driver side door I heard a loud click and my car jolted forward and crashed into my husband’s truck with my two year old in the backseat. I notified Kia. They towed it to the nearest dealership. It’s been there for a week, but they’re refusing to do anything or provide me with a loaner vehicle at this time. I’ve been working with a representative and his Only concern seems to be getting pictures of the damage that was done to the front of the vehicle when in reality, they really need to be looking at the computer in my car to see what actually happened. Although it caused damage to both my vehicle and my husband’s vehicle, I am grateful that my husband’s vehicle was there to stop my car because It could have been so much worse!
My vehicle has only 8,672 miles and the vehicle brake rotors are warped and shake violently from normal driving. I seen other complaints online with the same issue saying the vehicle has a undersized brake system that produces a lot of heat. Also I have had a issue where I would be coming to a stop slowly and the brake pedal feels like it grinds or makes a crunch noise, also I have had twice where I get a message on my dashboard saying “check ESC” I’ve called dealer and they told me I can drop off vehicle to get it looked at but if the warning lights or messages don’t stay on then for me to come back when they are on constantly.