2023 Kia Sorento Problems

During normal operation the vehicle will randomly decelerate (no brake lights). This has happened on the highway and on city streets. I repeat on the highway this vehicle will go from 75mph to 40mph with no lights or warnings. The issue happened with my wife and child in the car and I was able to replicate the issue. I refuse to put my family in the car at this point. The Dealership says they cannot replicate the issue but is also lying about driving it diagnostically. The issue is video documented on two occasions. Since vehicle is under warranty it was brought to the dealership both times and have had zero resolution. During its last visit I was without the car for a month. I Contacted KIA corporate who denied a buy back. This vehicle will undoubtedly kill or injure my family or more if driven. I have been responsible and not done so to protect the public. But I need the car. Car is available for inspection at anytime. Videos available upon request.

The 12-volt battery system repeatedly collapses while the 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is parked, leaving the vehicle completely immobilized: the doors will not unlock/open normally and the vehicle cannot be started, even though the high-voltage hybrid battery and fuel are ample. On November 2, 2026, after six days parked, the 12-volt system measured approximately 6 volts, about half of nominal. The vehicle could not be revived by 14+ hours on a battery maintainer; on November 3, 2026, roadside assistance revived it with a jump pack applied for about 1.4 seconds, confirming a system failure rather than an energy shortage. The defect has previously locked the owner out of the vehicle at -12 degrees Fahrenheit in upstate New York, a safety hazard in cold climates. The owner's instrumented findings, reported to Kia America in writing on February 9, 2026 and again November 2, 2026, show persistent parasitic draw during idle states, inconsistent charging of the 12-volt battery by the DC-DC converter, and no logic to re-energize the 12-volt system from the charged high-voltage battery. Kia has provided no substantive technical response. The vehicle/component is available for inspection upon request. No crash, no fire, no injuries. Manufacturer and dealer were notified in writing.

My 2023 Kia Sorento has experienced continuous mechanical failures, including a serious engine fire in December 2025 while I was driving on the [XXX], which put my life at risk. Following that incident, my vehicle remained in the shop for nearly three months while the engine and related components were replaced, only to experience another failure in March 2026 requiring a transmission replacement, followed by electrical issues in April requiring a wiring harness replacement. In June 2026, my vehicle broke down again and required yet another transmission replacement, leaving me without my vehicle for several additional months. [XXX], my vehicle failed AGAIN while I was in Houston and had to be towed, proving that nearly a year of extensive repairs has failed to resolve these ongoing mechanical issues. This vehicle is a serious safety concern, and I have completely lost confidence in its reliability, especially after experiencing an engine fire, repeated breakdowns, and dangerous acceleration issues. I have continued making monthly payments on a vehicle that has spent more time in the repair shop than in my possession, causing significant financial strain, stress, and inconvenience. After nearly a year of unsuccessful repair attempts, I am demanding an immediate and permanent resolution, including a vehicle buyback or replacement, as I should not be expected to continue driving a vehicle that repeatedly jeopardizes my safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

When traveling up an incline or when gassing the car to accelerate quickly my car registers a spike in heat causing my car to go into limp mode creating a dangerous situation where I can not accelerate at the cars normal rate. When I lift off the gas the temperature normalizes and the car goes back to normal. I have taken the car to two Kia dealerships and they both charged for an assessment and gaslighted me saying they don’t see the issue even tho there are reports all over the internet with the same issue. I also presented a video showing the problem. Two years ago around 35000 miles I had the same issue and the dealership replaced the itm module which corrected the problem. The problem returned at 82000 miles and now they are saying my car is fine which it is not.

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.

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.

During normal operation the vehicle will randomly decelerate (no brake lights). This has happened on the highway and on city streets. I repeat on the highway this vehicle will go from 75mph to 40mph with no lights or warnings. The issue happened with my wife and child in the car and I was able to replicate the issue. I refuse to put my family in the car at this point. The Dealership says they cannot replicate the issue but is also lying about driving it diagnostically. The issue is video documented on two occasions. Since vehicle is under warranty it was brought to the dealership both times and have had zero resolution. During its last visit I was without the car for a month. I Contacted KIA corporate who denied a buy back. This vehicle will undoubtedly kill or injure my family or more if driven. I have been responsible and not done so to protect the public. But I need the car. Car is available for inspection at anytime. Videos available upon request.

The vehicle experienced a sudden transmission malfunction while operation on public roads. The check engine light illuminated on the dashboard, and a diagnostic scan from the app revealed active error code P1C2D03. This specific component failure looks like it relates directly to Kia Safety Recall SC250 (NHTSA Campaign 22V760) regarding the 8-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT). Although my specific vin shows no active recalls. The failure presents an immediate safety risk as it causes an abrupt, unexpected loss of all motive power while driving in traffic.

During normal operation the vehicle will randomly decelerate (no brake lights). This has happened on the highway and on city streets. I repeat on the highway this vehicle will go from 75mph to 40mph with no lights or warnings. The issue happened with my wife and child in the car and I was able to replicate the issue. I refuse to put my family in the car at this point. The Dealership says they cannot replicate the issue but is also lying about driving it diagnostically. The issue is video documented on two occasions. Since vehicle is under warranty it was brought to the dealership both times and have had zero resolution. During its last visit I was without the car for a month. I Contacted KIA corporate who denied a buy back. This vehicle will undoubtedly kill or injure my family or more if driven. I have been responsible and not done so to protect the public. But I need the car. Car is available for inspection at anytime. Videos available upon request.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

VEHICLE: 2023 Kia Sorento, VIN [XXX] , currently 48,000 miles. Vehicle has never been in a collision. DEFECT: FUEL FILLER DOOR ACTUATOR WITH NO EMERGENCY RELEASE — STRANDING HAZARD The fuel filler door actuator fails to release on demand intermittently. When the actuator fails, the door must be pried open with tools or force, which is inconsistent and not always possible. The dealership service advisor has stated that this model is not equipped with any emergency release mechanism for the fuel filler door. With no emergency release, the actuator is the only mechanism by which the fuel door can be opened. SAFETY IMPLICATION: An intermittent actuator failure with no backup release mechanism creates a stranding hazard. If the actuator fails when the vehicle is low on fuel — particularly in remote areas, in cold weather, at night, or in emergency situations requiring refueling to reach safety or medical care — the vehicle cannot be refueled and becomes immobilized. This is a single-point-of-failure design on a system required for vehicle operation. The condition has been reported to the dealership and remains unresolved. The vehicle remains within the 5-year / 60,000-mile basic warranty period. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

[XXX] was shopping for new vehicle and compared advertised window sticker safety rating to NHTSA rating. The rating on the window sticker was incorrect (stated 5 stars when NHTSA confirms 4 stars). Concerned that this is false advertising and misleading for consumers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THIS IS THE SECOND REPORT I AM MAKING. As in my last report this involves the driver’s seat and changing profiles on the infotainment system. - The driver’s seat/profile will keep my settings for a few weeks or months and then it randomly forgets and resets to the factory settings. - On June 18, 2024 the infotainment profile was set for my husband. I switched to my profile and was backing out of my garage and the seat switched to factory settings while the car was actively in reverse. I am short and could not reach the break or gas pedal! - The dealer has not had any other complaints like this.

There are two user profiles on the main infotainment system for this vehicle and there are two seat position memory buttons on the door. I am the main driver of the vehicle and have input my seat position into seat memory button #1 on my door making sure my profile on the infotainment is up and the position is confirmed. The system will randomly delete my position and the seat will move to what appears to be the factory setting. I am 5’ 2” so the seat moves lower and so far back I cannot reach the gas nor break pedals. As this has happened what seems like at least 100 times, I mention the problem to the dealer in early August 2023, they had not heard of a similar problem and they ran a diagnostic and all was fine. On Saturday, Sept 9, 2023, I was in the driver seat and put the vehicle into drive. A few seconds later my husband changed the infotainment system from his profile to my profile and the seat went to the factory setting while the vehicle was in drive and I could not reach the gas nor the break pedals. Luckily I had not pressed the gas yet and we were on a flat side street and the vehicle did not move but we were in a residential neighborhood. The second problem has happened around five times with the latest incident on Friday, September 8th. I was on the interstate traveling at 75 mph with light traffic I came up on a few vehicles and noticed the blindspot detectors on both sides of the vehicle did not work while passing the other vehicles. I have also had this happen in heavy traffic with speeds in the 30-50 mph range.

Front panel of panoramic sunroof shattered while driving on Interstate 90 at approx 65mpg. Sunroof was fully closed. Exploded on its own with no outside influence. Conditions were clear and dry. Sounded like a gun shot and glass was flying everywhere. Fortunately shade was closed with no glass entering passenger compartment. Could have resulted in injuries or accident if glass entered the driving inside area.

Issue occurred and came to like during the past winter snow storm. The hood of the SUV does not allow and blocks the wiper blade arm from being lifted in order to clean ice off the wiper blade nor can the wiper arm be lifted to clear ice and snow under the wiper arm to allow proper operation. This design flaw does not allow safe and clear sight function of the windshield wipers.

Vehicles instrument cluster goes black at times ( speedometer, tach and all exterior lights and turn signals are inoperative during this time) I took it to the dealership and they said they couldn’t duplicate the problem

My passenger interior dash and glove box trim are melted. I’ve had it checked out by Kia, however they do not see where an origin could have come from. The day i noticed it, my vehicle had been hit on the front right passenger fender. The melting looked to be electrical or caused by a combustion of sort but we also believe it could have been caused by reflection off of the interior of my vehicle to that spot. I live in Michigan, the temperature was above 80*.