RoadVitals

2022 Kia Sorento Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
184
Latest Aug 11, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
16
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Sorento, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

61
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The electric oil pump circuit board for the transmission failed, causing motive power loss. The vehicle is currently located at Ourisman Chantilly Kia and is available for inspection. Safety was compromised due to sudden loss of drive power while operating on public roads, creating a severe crash hazard. The failure was diagnosed and confirmed by Ourisman Chantilly Kia service department, which retrieved active Diagnostic Trouble Code P1C2D03. The vehicle was inspected by the Kia dealership service department. Prior to failure, check engine/warning lights illuminated and transmission drive symptoms appeared. This vehicle is subject to Recall SC250. A software update was performed under a previous owner, but the physical component failed. Kia is refusing replacement because the recall was marked "closed" after the software patch, leaving a known unaddressed safety defect active on the vehicle.

NHTSA ID 11751892 · filed Jul 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted to drive; however, the transmission failed to engage as intended. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle unexpectedly rolled backwards. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The failure was a persistent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID 11751821 · filed Jul 21, 2026
All 61 reports naming powertrain (other)

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

52
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Auto Hold feature activated, and the check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and DTCs U0164, U0123, U01B0, and U1131 were retrieved. The independent mechanic stated that the battery needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic also informed the contact of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was repaired; however, the warning lights illuminated, and the failure persisted. Additionally, the parking brake warning light was illuminated. In addition, the air conditioning system was leaking refrigerant and intermittently was blowing out hot air. The A/C started blowing colder air minutes later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,900.

NHTSA ID 11756329 · filed Aug 11, 2026

2022 Kia Sorento failed to increase speed when accelerator was depressed , engine RPMs increased, but no subsequent speed increase. The Amber ISG light was flashing, with no other warning lights. The car was driven to a safe pull out, placed in park, turned off and restarted, no flashing light. The car accelerated satisfactorily afterwards. This has happened several times in the last two years. Both fuel pumps were replaced as well as the battery and computer systems were reset and the problem still intermittently persists. This is a significant safety issue if the car cannot properly accelerate when required to merge into traffic and properly maintain designated speed. Was told that Kia engineering said this maybe a heat related issue, the car is operated mainly the the southwestern US, Phoenix, Az metropolitan area.

NHTSA ID 11743350 · filed Jun 10, 2026
All 52 reports naming engine

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

29
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Auto Hold feature activated, and the check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and DTCs U0164, U0123, U01B0, and U1131 were retrieved. The independent mechanic stated that the battery needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic also informed the contact of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was repaired; however, the warning lights illuminated, and the failure persisted. Additionally, the parking brake warning light was illuminated. In addition, the air conditioning system was leaking refrigerant and intermittently was blowing out hot air. The A/C started blowing colder air minutes later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,900.

NHTSA ID 11756329 · filed Aug 11, 2026

The electric oil pump circuit board for the transmission failed, causing motive power loss. The vehicle is currently located at Ourisman Chantilly Kia and is available for inspection. Safety was compromised due to sudden loss of drive power while operating on public roads, creating a severe crash hazard. The failure was diagnosed and confirmed by Ourisman Chantilly Kia service department, which retrieved active Diagnostic Trouble Code P1C2D03. The vehicle was inspected by the Kia dealership service department. Prior to failure, check engine/warning lights illuminated and transmission drive symptoms appeared. This vehicle is subject to Recall SC250. A software update was performed under a previous owner, but the physical component failed. Kia is refusing replacement because the recall was marked "closed" after the software patch, leaving a known unaddressed safety defect active on the vehicle.

NHTSA ID 11751892 · filed Jul 21, 2026
All 29 reports naming electrical

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

25
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

2022 Kia Sorento failed to increase speed when accelerator was depressed , engine RPMs increased, but no subsequent speed increase. The Amber ISG light was flashing, with no other warning lights. The car was driven to a safe pull out, placed in park, turned off and restarted, no flashing light. The car accelerated satisfactorily afterwards. This has happened several times in the last two years. Both fuel pumps were replaced as well as the battery and computer systems were reset and the problem still intermittently persists. This is a significant safety issue if the car cannot properly accelerate when required to merge into traffic and properly maintain designated speed. Was told that Kia engineering said this maybe a heat related issue, the car is operated mainly the the southwestern US, Phoenix, Az metropolitan area.

NHTSA ID 11743350 · filed Jun 10, 2026

Idle stop and go system randomly auto disabled on start, unable to enable. Causes vehicle to be unable to accelerate faster than 25mph.

NHTSA ID 11743009 · filed Jun 9, 2026
All 25 reports naming driver assistance

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

18
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Auto Hold feature activated, and the check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and DTCs U0164, U0123, U01B0, and U1131 were retrieved. The independent mechanic stated that the battery needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic also informed the contact of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was repaired; however, the warning lights illuminated, and the failure persisted. Additionally, the parking brake warning light was illuminated. In addition, the air conditioning system was leaking refrigerant and intermittently was blowing out hot air. The A/C started blowing colder air minutes later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,900.

NHTSA ID 11756329 · filed Aug 11, 2026

Everytime i put my car in cruise control for 1-2 minutes after i take the cruise control off the breakers are gone and them come back

NHTSA ID 11686778 · filed Sep 12, 2025
All 18 reports naming brakes

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof exploded without impact. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,296.

NHTSA ID 11719848 · filed Feb 23, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID 11699870 · filed Nov 17, 2025
All 16 reports naming visibility

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

14
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding my 2022 Kia Sorento, which is experiencing a dangerous and recurring loss of engine power during acceleration. This issue presents a significant safety hazard, particularly during situations requiring immediate acceleration such as highway merging, crossing intersections, and passing traffic.

NHTSA ID 11736537 · filed May 8, 2026

The fuel door actuator failed. The gas door would not open due to the actuator being seized shut, preventing access to the fuel tank. This vehicle does not have a manual release mechanism, so there was no alternative way to open the fuel door. The dealership confirmed the actuator malfunction. My family’s safety was put at risk because we were unable to refuel the vehicle. The incident occurred during extremely cold weather, with a windchill of approximately -8°F. Due to the inability to add fuel, we were at risk of running out of gas and losing heat in the vehicle, which could have resulted in a dangerous exposure situation. There were no warning lights or messages indicating a problem prior to the failure. The issue was first noticed when attempting to refuel and the fuel door would not open.

NHTSA ID 11732430 · filed Apr 20, 2026
All 14 reports naming fuel system

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The vehicle began making a clicking/popping sound when turning the steering wheel left or right, especially at lower speeds and while turning into parking spaces or driveways. The exact component causing the issue has not yet been fully identified, but it may involve the steering or suspension system (such as the CV axle, tie rods, or steering components). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem puts my safety and the safety of others at risk because the clicking noise may indicate a failing steering or suspension component, which could potentially affect steering control or vehicle handling while driving. The problem has not yet been officially confirmed by a dealer/manufacturer, but the issue is consistently reproducible whenever the steering wheel is turned left or right. The vehicle/component has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lights or dashboard messages prior to the issue. The clicking noise first appeared while turning the steering wheel during normal driving and has continued since then.

NHTSA ID 11736463 · filed May 8, 2026

on my way home Friday evening from work. After exiting the expressway , I made a right turn on the street going towards my house. My steering wheel locked to the right and almost caused me to run into another car. If I had not be driving slow than the speed limit or still on the expressway, this would have been a very bad accident, if not fatal! This is after the dealership made repairs on my vehicle and deemed it safe to drive.

NHTSA ID 11734731 · filed Apr 30, 2026
All 10 reports naming steering

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while using the OEM jack, it became stuck underneath the vehicle. The jack was very flimsy and was bent. The contact sustained injuries to his face, but no medical attention was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,998.

NHTSA ID 11576859 · filed Mar 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that he contacted the dealer who stated that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID 11517870 · filed Apr 19, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact experienced the death wobble. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

NHTSA ID 11716781 · filed Feb 9, 2026

Strut noise

NHTSA ID 11644990 · filed Feb 26, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Rear passenger taillight assembly, specifically the turn signal light failed. Currently unable to utilize the right signal light when turning causing a safety issue for others. This taillight assembly is a sealed unit with LED lights that cannot be replaced. To fix you must purchase a new taillight assembly. These are very costly $790 from the dealer. This is an exorbitant expense for most people and will delay the consumer from replacing this assembly. Due to this exorbitant expense this is a safety hazard that I believe the manufacturer, KIA, should implement a recall and make this taillight assembly with easy to replace inexpensive light components so customers can easily afford and replace bulbs quickly and limit safety issues and prevent accidents

NHTSA ID 11735234 · filed May 1, 2026

While driving down the road at night, the headlights turn off automatically, by themselves. This caused serious distress for not only myself, but also for my children in the car at the time, as we have had instances where driving around curves at dark, the lights go out, or while on the highway at night during deer season, the lights go out. We live out in the country, so city lights are not abundant. Found on multiple sites once looked up after experiencing it: "100% of the recalled vehicles experience the issue where a software error in the Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) causes the headlights and taillights to momentarily lose power while driving. Kia is now recalling nearly 74,500 Sorento vehicles, including Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid models from the 2024-2025 model years. This issue arises from a logic flaw in the BDC, resulting in the temporary failure of the low-beam headlights and taillights, which poses a significant safety risk for drivers. Kia will provide a free software update to fix the issue" There were no warnings, warning signs, or dashboard lights, so it was very alarming.

NHTSA ID 11701605 · filed Nov 25, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The driver’s seat frame and adjustment mechanism failed. The seat broke off from the frame, resulting in the seat only being able to move left and right, with no ability to adjust forward/backward or recline. The dealership confirmed a seat frame malfunction and addressed the issue. My safety was put at risk because I was unable to properly adjust the driver’s seat to a safe driving position. Without proper positioning, I could not safely reach the pedals or maintain appropriate control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of losing control or being unable to react quickly in traffic. The dealership confirmed the seat frame malfunction and performed repairs to address the issue. No warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms were present before the failure. The issue occurred suddenly without warning.

NHTSA ID 11732433 · filed Apr 20, 2026

Drivers seat is moving all the way forward & inclining all the way towards steering wheel while operating vehicle and I am unable to stop stop it or move it back. This has happened to me 4 times now, 2 of them at high speeds & there is no rhyme or rhythm to when or if you can adjust the seat back. It stayed all the way up after parking & sitting in my driveway for about 14 hours, I was able to move it back but after driving it about 2 miles it moved all the way up again & I so far am unable to move it back. This nearly caused me to crash the first time it happened & I am simply lucky to by thin enough to fit in the tiny space & somewhat see the road long enough to stop. Someone 10 pounds heavier likely would not be so lucky & would most certainly crash.

NHTSA ID 11595416 · filed Jun 20, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the forward camera was obstructed. The steering over corrected while turned off. The vehicle was accelerating and decelerating independently. The Forward Collision Avoidance system engaged without an object being nearby. Additionally, the driver’s side seat belt randomly unlatched. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who diagnosed and determined that the transmission and seat belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case but declined to buy back the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 28,660.

NHTSA ID 11621882 · filed Oct 25, 2024

I have tried to work with the dealer who sold me the car and they are either unresponsive or don't have the parts to fix the concern.

NHTSA ID 11489638 · filed Oct 17, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Vehicle: 2022 Kia Sorento EX VIN: [XXX] Date Defects Discovered:[XXX} A Kia dealership confirmed multiple instances of airbag tampering in this vehicle: • Driver knee airbag missing • Driver A‑pillar airbag missing • Wiring harnesses cut • Electrical resistors spliced into the circuits to bypass SRS fault detection • Technician warned there may be additional missing airbags pending further disassembly • Estimate for known SRS repair is $11,294.30 Carfax shows this vehicle was involved in an airbag‑deploying crash on [XXX] prior to my purchase. No airbags were replaced before resale. This is a serious safety hazard. The airbag indicator light was prevented from illuminating due to the resistor splice, masking critical SRS faults. Additional mechanical tampering was found: • Stop-leak blocking heater core • Improper coolant bypass fitting This complaint is being filed to report the airbag safety violation and request investigation. Attachments: Exhibits A, B, D, G. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID 11712134 · filed Jan 20, 2026

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I went for my regular wheel alignment last week and was told my tires need to be replaced - the tread was down to 3/32. I only have 30000 miles on the vehicle. I called Continental and was told the tires are considered a "performance" tire and therefore have no tread warranty. I bought a new set o Michelin Defender tires today. When I look on line, Tire Rack for example says the tires should be good for 65000 miles. I did not expect to have to buy new tires this soon. I am a retired safety engineer civil servant that worked for the Army Tank Automotive Command and also NASA and was involved in several tire recalls in the 1980s for Firestone so I have some knowledge about tires. I rotate the tires every 5-7k and get a wheel alignment at the same time. I do not abuse my tires. I feel that Continental came up with a term so they do not have to stand behind their product. I will never buy their tires. This set came OEM with my new Sorento

NHTSA ID 11652327 · filed Apr 2, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

On Dec 1, 2025 we were driving down the freeway at approx 70 MPH when we heard a loud bang. At first, we thought a tire had blown but that wasn't the case. We started hearing more road and wind noise from above the shade screen. We were close to our Kia dealership so we went directly there. The sunroof glass about the driver and front passenger seats had a large hole and the glass around it was shattered. No object was found. Additionally, we didn't see any road debris kicked up before the loud bang nor we were near any overpass.

NHTSA ID 11702708 · filed Dec 3, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .