Loss of drive power, transmission, electrical system, and exploding sunroofs are among the main causes of complaints.
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Originally launched in 2002 as a utilitarian all-terrain vehicle, the Kia Sorento is now a large, family-friendly SUV. But not everyone who drives the 2023 model is happy. Owners report losing power on the road, facing transmission malfunctions, and grappling with electrical system issues. There are also complaints about sunroofs exploding.
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Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) about the 2023 Kia Sorento are varied. However, the main causes of complaints relate to the engine, electrical system, and the powertrain. There are also a fairly substantial number of complaints about exploding sunroofs.
Other components and systems that have been causing concern include equipment, the electrical system, exterior lighting, forward collision avoidance, fuel/propulsion system, land departure, seats, service brakes, steering, structure, traction control system, vehicle speed control, and the wheels of the Sorento.
There are also two recalls that affect the 2023 Kia Sorento, both issued in August 2023.
A total of 50,517 2023 Sorento vehicles are thought to have airbag warning labels on the diver and front passenger sun visors that may detach. If they do detach, there won’t be a label that warns occupants about the risks of airbag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The other recall relates to the mounting clips for rear view cameras that might break. This affects 144,979 2022-2023 Sorento vehicles, including the hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV). If the clips do break, the camera image may not display properly, reducing the driver’s rear visibility. Not being able to see behind increases the risk of a crash.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Electrical System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Power Train | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | |
| Steering |
While there aren’t many complaints about mounting clips failing, it is worth mentioning that some owners have had this nasty experience.
A complaint from a Maryland owner listed as Unknown or Other in October 2024 states that the “mounting bracket for the backup camera failed and caused the camera to dangle from the car.” The result was that the driver wasn’t able to use the camera to view objects and surroundings directly behind the vehicle. “A dealer said they fixed the part back when it was originally recalled, but the new bracket broke and the dealer is refusing to fix the issue. They said the initial recall was completed and the part is now out of warranty and therefore they will not fix it, even though the exact part that was recalled originally has now failed again.”
An owner from Mississippi also experienced failed clips. “I was cleaning my Kia and (while) I was wiping the backup camera, the camera housing clip broke and I didn’t even put any pressure (on it).”
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Many 2022 Kia Sorento owners have complained about losing motive power. It is also a problem with Kia K5 models. There is a current recall for 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 models, but not for the 2023 Sorento. The recall states that a loss of drive power is caused by an impaired “fail-safe” limited-mobility drive mode. This is prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction that can result in “a complete loss of drive power.”
It’s not clear whether the owner of a 2023 Kia Sorento is facing this same issue, but there are an increasing number of complaints that may be related.
An early complaint from an owner in Virginia states that when the SUV is “in eco mode and pulling onto a road with a steep grade the car lacks power to safely drive.” The owner has tested this four times and always gets the same result. “The hesitation lasts for about 3 seconds with the gas pedal fully depressed. The vehicle moves about 2 mph, maybe slightly faster, but it’s noticeable.”
A much more recent complaint listed in October 2024 by an owner in Illinois states, “While driving (the) vehicle loses throttle power (and) goes into limp mode.” There are no error codes, but the SUV turns off and then comes back on. The complaint states that it’s happened many times. However, because there are no error codes, “nothing can be fixed. It’s a major safety issue! This car is not safe to drive.”
Another owner states that the Sorento would lose power and not respond to acceleration. Warning lights came on along with three codes, including an engine malfunction. But because the dealership wasn’t able to duplicate the problem, they weren’t able to fix it. “I am concerned that the car will cause a fatality.”
Recorded as both powertrain and engine problems, a growing number of owners have been reporting issues related to faulty transmissions. Here are a few examples of complaints.
An owner from New York states that when the transmission warning indicator appears on the dash, the vehicle “bucks and stalls and won’t shift properly.” According to the dealer, the transmission “was never filled properly” and was “below specifications.” The complaint states that Kia Service verified that “the fluid level was extremely low and not filled to specification from (the) factory. The dealership filled (the) transmission to (the) proper level and test drove (the) vehicle.” While the issue seemed to be fixed, a month later, the problem started recurring with “bucking and not shifting properly (and) causing erratic vehicle behavior and safety issues.”
An owner from North Carolina states the SUV gets stuck in first or second gear and then revs all the way up. The complaint states that this has happened multiple times at intersections or getting onto highways. “This has almost caused multiple accidents for me. You can push the pedal to the floor and it won’t do anything. The only temporary fix is turning (the) car off and back on.”
In a short, telling complaint, an owner from Texas states that the transmission oil light came on and the vehicle lost power. “It was determined that the transmission was faulty with only 3,800 miles.”
As is normal, many of the problems reported about the electrical system also relate to other components including the powertrain and engine. They include battery issues, faulty alarms, dashboard error messages, and even the glove box trim melting.
In a complaint that is listed as an electrical system, vehicle speed control, and forward collision avoidance problem, an owner from Arizona describes several safety issues. These included “flashing lights, dashboard error messages, and malfunctions, despite the vehicle being unused for several days with no visible damage. The air conditioning system malfunctioned, blowing hot air even when turned off. Upon inspection at the dealership, I was told the front sensor was damaged, with a repair estimate of $1700.” Incredibly, the dealership noted that “35 others faced similar problems, raising concerns of a manufacturing issue. Despite persistent efforts and a replacement part installed nearly two weeks later, the problem persists.”
Another owner tells how the Sorento shut off without warning on a highway. “I was stuck in the travel lane with cars flying by me going 50 plus mph. My vehicle has 7,000 miles on it. According to KIA the hybrid battery failed and they don’t know why. KIA has been no help and as far as I know they are not looking into this issue. Upon further research, there have been multiple instances where this hybrid model has just shut down while the vehicle is moving and KIA has been unable to resolve the issue.”
An owner from Nevada doesn’t provide details but states, “Battery draining on new car after new battery replacement.”
Exploding sunroofs and cracking windshields have been the topic of consumer complaints about the Kia Sorento for several years. So, it’s not much of a surprise to discover that owners of the 2023 Sorento are also experiencing issues with cracking, chipping, and exploding glass.
The owner of a 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid was driving along a freeway within the speed limit when the sunroof suddenly exploded. “Initially, I thought that it was a gunshot and someone was shooting at me. I sped up and then thought I had a flat tire. After pulling over, I realized it was in fact my sunroof which randomly exploded. Luckily I had the shade up, so the glass didn’t fall into the vehicle. This could’ve caused a horrible accident if any cars were around me, or if I wasn’t able to stay calm. It sounded like a shotgun went off in my ear.” The complaint adds that there were no warning signs that the glass was cracking. Also, nothing had hit the vehicle at any time.
The owner took it back to be fixed. When it was returned, there were still glass shards in the top of the SUV. “When I pushed the sunroof back the first two times I could hear glass shards pushing in the tracks and forcing it back into position.” He returned it and the dealer said they were “working on a fix.”
Because he considers it to be a safety issue, the owner states, “ I do not feel safe myself driving in the vehicle nor having my children travel in the vehicle. I’ve let it be known I do not want the car back and I want out of the loan. I had the car for a total of 53 days and it’s been in the shop 75+ days now.”
Another owner heard an explosion overhead, smelled smoke, and heard glass rattling. He was shocked to find that “The glass on the sunroof had exploded upward and metal was sticking upward as well.”
If you have a 2023 Kia Sorento that you think might be a lemon, Lemberg Law is available to assess your problems. Because the law says that Kia must pay the bills for lemon law cases, it’s not going to cost you a cent. After all, every year automakers, including Kia, replace, buyback, or pay cash settlements to thousands of vehicle owners who find they have bought lemons.
If you want Lemberg Law to help free of charge, please call our Helpline or fill out a contact form.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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My new 23 Sorento lost all its fuel due to the drive shaft rubbing holes in the gas tank in 3 spots, that was at 5000 miles, the radio doesn’t work and hasn’t for months, safety features work intermittently, now at 10000 miles dealership says I need new brake rotors…..
I have a new KIA less than a moth old. I bought it at KIA of LaGrange, Ga. The trim on the top of the door has come loose at the edge so that all of the trim could easily be pulled off. It can pushed back in but it always pops back up. There is no evidence of an attempt of a break in. I owned a 2020 KIA Sorento that was built Solid but someone hit me on the highway in Alabama and totaled it. It was only 3 years old with 32,000 miles on it. I miss the space.
No longer than three months after getting my new 2023 Kia Sorrento sx did I notice a small chip at the top of my windshield. Within two weeks, the chip turned into a crack across my windshield affecting my line of vision. Due to reported windshield glass shortage, nationwide from Kia safelight auto repair ported the replacements at $1,700. Moreover, they don’t know when the glass part will come in, it’s been 6 months.