2022 Kia Sorento Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2022 Kia Sorento ranks 12th out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 45 and a Caution verdict, capped from a lower complaint level because of a park-outside fire recall. NHTSA lists 189 complaints, 6 recalls, and a top problem area of Transmission & Powertrain (34% of complaints).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 45/100
- #12 of 21 Sorento years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 189
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- 1 Park Outside
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 23 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2022 Kia Sorento problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain64 (34%)
- Engine63 (33%)
- Other39 (21%)
- Electrical System32 (17%)
- Brakes18 (10%)
- Visibility & Wipers16 (8%)
- Fuel System14 (7%)
- Steering10 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras9 (5%)
- Structure & Body8 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report the transmission failing early, with the car banging back into first gear after a 1-2 shift or losing forward motion.
- Vehicles have reportedly rolled away or shifted out of park unexpectedly while parked or idling, in one case rolling into a lake.
- Owners describe electrical fires starting near the tow hitch receptacle area, in one case engulfing the rear of the vehicle.
- Windshields have cracked spontaneously or from small debris strikes shortly after purchase, starting near the sunroof edge in some cases.
- Brake rotors reportedly warp and vibrate under normal braking at low mileage, with dealers offering only rotor resurfacing.
- A steering column has been reported to emit a squeaking noise that is hard to reproduce for dealership technicians.
2022 Kia Sorento recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V649000Sep 25, 2025HVAC39,536 vehicles
Visibility:defroster/defogger/HVAC system:fan/motor
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Sorento vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC351. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 9, 2025.
- NHTSA 23V610000Aug 31, 2023Collision Avoidance & Cameras144,979 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. The mounting clips for the rearview camera may break, which can cause the rearview camera image not to appear properly on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC280.
- NHTSA 22V760000Oct 11, 2022Transmission & Powertrain69,038 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.
2022 Kia Sorento fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,600
- 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.
2022 compared with other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2022 Kia Sorento reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2022 Sorento a complaint index of 45 and a Caution verdict, ranking 12th out of 21 model years. Its verdict is capped due to a park-outside fire recall rather than reflecting an unusually high complaint volume.
- What are the most common problems with the 2022 Kia Sorento?
- NHTSA complaint data shows Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 34% of complaints, followed closely by Engine problems at 33% and Electrical System issues at 17%.
- Does the 2022 Kia Sorento have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2022 Sorento, including a tow hitch harness fire risk that requires owners to park outside, a turbocharger oil supply pipe that may crack, and a transmission fail-safe defect.
- How does the 2022 Sorento compare to other years?
- The 2022 model's complaint index of 45 is much lower than the worst years like 2011 (index 100, Avoid) and 2016 (index 95, Avoid), but higher than the 2024 model, which has the lowest index at 15 and a Best verdict.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Kia Sorento?
- EPA rates the 2022 Sorento at 25 mpg combined (23 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600.