YearToAvoid

2023 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 41 engine complaints for the 2023 Kia Sorento, 34% of its 119 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 7,000 miles. No related recall is listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
41
34% of 119
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
7,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles reportedly lose acceleration or stall suddenly while driving, sometimes with a transmission error warning light.
  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration, including one case where cruise control kept increasing speed despite braking.
  • Some vehicles reportedly lost power and smoked, with one case involving a flame under the hood.
  • Owners report the engine hesitates or lacks power when driving uphill in eco mode.
  • Multiple warning lights and error messages reportedly flash on the dash along with engine or transmission malfunction codes, sometimes forcing a restart.
  • The engine start/stop feature reportedly causes the vehicle to stall or restart unexpectedly while stopped.

When 2023 Kia Sorento engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 23, 2023, latest Sep 9, 2026.

2023 Kia Sorento engine complaints: complaints filed per month6Mar 2023Oct 2023May 2024Oct 2024Nov 2025Mar 2026Sep 2026
41 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2023 to Sep 2026; peak May 2026 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2023 Kia Sorento

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sorento model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20101 (33%)
  2. 2011359 (24%)
  3. 2012490 (56%)
  4. 2013521 (53%)
  5. 2014422 (43%)
  6. 2015377 (50%)
  7. 2016748 (60%)
  8. 2017414 (51%)
  9. 2018115 (45%)
  10. 2019176 (41%)
  11. 202069 (51%)
  12. 202174 (30%)
  13. 202263 (33%)
  14. 202341 (34%)
  15. 20246 (15%)
  16. 202524 (32%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2023 Kia Sorento have?
NHTSA lists 41 engine complaints for the 2023 Sorento, which is 34% of the 119 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2023 Kia Sorento engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint area.
At what mileage do 2023 Sorento engine problems happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine issue is 7,000 miles.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to these complaints?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash, 1 fire, and 2 injuries associated with the reported engine complaints for the 2023 Sorento.
How does the 2023 Sorento compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2023 Sorento's engine complaints make up 34% of its total complaints, lower than years like 2016 (60%) and 2013 (53%), based on NHTSA data.

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.