YearToAvoid

2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 5 Sorento Hybrid years

The 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid has 42 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 100, and ranks worst (1st) among the 5 model years with data, earning an Avoid verdict. Engine problems dominate at 55% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 6,650 miles.

Complaints
42
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
35
35 city / 35 hwy

Top 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine23 (55%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain17 (40%)
  3. Fuel System14 (33%)
  4. Electrical System9 (21%)
  5. Other9 (21%)
  6. Airbags1 (2%)
  7. Lane Departure1 (2%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power suddenly while driving at highway speeds, with the vehicle coasting down before EV power takes over.
  • Vehicle stalls or refuses to accelerate past 20-25 mph when merging onto highways from an on-ramp.
  • Loss of power occurs on hills or flat roads, sometimes displaying a low fluids warning tied to an inverter coolant issue.
  • Transmission shows a noticeable delay or lag when shifting, especially accelerating from a stop or on an incline.
  • Electrical system triggers repeated highway power loss events, prompting the car to instruct drivers to pull over and let the battery recharge.
  • Lane keep assist causes the vehicle to wobble side to side within the lane, described by multiple owners as disorienting.
2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month10Feb 2025Jul 2025Nov 2025Jan 2026Mar 2026Jun 2026Aug 2026
75 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2025 to Sep 2026; peak Feb 2026 (10).

2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V046000Jan 26, 2026Electrical System42,677 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."

    Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 25V006000Jan 13, 2025Electrical System74,469 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:headlights

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Sorento, 2025 Sorento Hybrid, and 2025 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. A software error in the Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) may cause a loss of low beam headlights and taillights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: A loss of headlights and taillights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the BDC software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC331.

2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
35 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
35 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,850
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2025 compared with other Sorento Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2023Avoid7530235.5
2024Best06035.5
2025Avoid10042235

All Kia Sorento Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2025 Sorento Hybrid ranks worst among the 5 model years with data, with a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict relative to other Sorento Hybrid years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid?
Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 55% of complaints (23 complaints), with a median mileage at failure of 6,650 miles.
Does the 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2025 Sorento Hybrid, both involving the electrical system: one for instrument panel display software and one for a Body Domain Control Unit software error that could cause loss of low beam headlights.
How does the 2025 Sorento Hybrid compare to other years?
NHTSA data shows the 2024 model is rated Best with a complaint index of 0, while 2023 also carries an Avoid verdict with a complaint index of 75; the 2025 model has the highest index at 100 among all years with data.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2025 Sorento Hybrid at 35 mpg combined (35 city/35 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,850.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.