Nine recalls across three versions, and the complaint file is dominated by one gearbox.

Kia is recalling 2022 Sorentos because "the oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment." NHTSA's consequence line: "An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire." Dealers replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe free of charge; Kia's code is SC233 and owner letters went out in April 2022. This one is engine-specific to the turbo, and it is worth pairing with what the owner file shows on the same engine: "2022 Kia Sorento X-line SX Premier model (89435 miles) 2.5 l Turbo GDI is going into limp mode when trying to accelerate." GDI there is Gasoline Direct Injection, where fuel is sprayed straight into the cylinder, and limp mode is the reduced-power setting the car drops into to protect itself. A published 40,000-mile long-term test of this generation also found "a leaking oil pan gasket that was repaired under warranty", so an oil weep under a 2.5 turbo is worth a proper diagnosis rather than a wipe and a shrug.

The newest campaign on this car and the one most likely still open. Kia is recalling 2021 to 2023 Sorentos because "the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire." The HVAC system is the heating and air-conditioning unit and the blower motor is the fan that pushes air through the vents. NHTSA's consequence: "A fire increases the risk of injury." Dealers "will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge", Kia code SC351, with owner notification letters mailed on 23 January 2026. NHTSA received the report in September 2025. A seller who bought the car new in 2022 may genuinely never have heard of this one.

The hybrid and plug-in hybrid carry a pair of linked campaigns and the order matters. Recall 22V127 covers 2022 Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid vehicles: "in the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment", projecting metal fragments into the cabin. Its remedy was replacing the pretensioners; Kia code SC231. Recall 22V447 then covers 2021 to 2022 Sorento Hybrids and 2022 Sorento Plug-in Hybrids with a different remedy — dealers "will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge" — and Kia's own text says it plainly: "This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 22V-127. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed." Kia code SC241. A hybrid showing only 22V127 as complete still needs work. One owner in this file describes the recall being done wrong: a dealership "did not connect my seatbelts and air bags properly - they stated they missed that step when completing the recalls."

Specific to one version and one year. Kia is recalling 2022 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vehicles because "the fuel tank may have been improperly molded, which can result in a fuel leak", and a fuel leak near an ignition source is a fire risk. Dealers inspect and replace the fuel tank as necessary, free of charge; Kia's code is SC261 and owner letters were mailed in March 2023. PHEV is the industry's shorthand for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle — a hybrid with a bigger battery you can charge from a socket. If the car you are looking at is the plug-in, this campaign belongs on the VIN check alongside the pretensioner pair.

Across the 12 hybrid and 21 plug-in filings, one event repeats. A hybrid owner merging onto a 70 mph interstate: "the vehicle suddenly lost all acceleration capabilities… a warning popped up 'Check Hybrid system, Stop safely'… the vehicle slowed itself to a complete stop at which point the car put itself in Park and engaged the Emergency Brake." A plug-in owner: "My 2022 KIA Sorrento PHEV periodically gives a 'Check Hybrid System, Stop Safely' emergency warning. When this happens the vehicle will not accelerate and can only be limped to a stop. This has occurred 4 times in 18 months… In three instances the vehicle was limped to a safe stop but on the other occasion it left us stranded in an intersection." Both report the same aftermath: no stored fault codes, and a dealer who cannot act. There is no recall covering this on the 2022 hybrids. What Kia does have nearby is service campaign SC325, which inspects and if necessary replaces "the Auxiliary Electric Water Pump (AEWP), control harness wiring, and/or engine room junction box for coolant intrusion and/or corrosion on certain 2022-2023MY Kia Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid vehicles", because the pump "may crack internally and allow coolant to intrude into the AEWP circuitry." Worth asking about by name. There is a second, more specific document for the plug-in. One 2022 plug-in owner wrote: "My Sorento PHEV popped a P0c4e code and now the car is gutless on electric power… Kia said that it might be a sensor in the electric motor but it's not replaceable and you have to replace the whole motor. Even though it's under warranty, it's 15 hours labor." Kia's technical service bulletin for 2022 to 2024 Sorento Plug-In Hybrids with the 1.6-litre turbo and all-wheel drive instructs dealers to "replace the transaxle assembly and upgrade the Hybrid Control Unit Low-Voltage DC Converter (HCULDC) software" on cars with "DTC P0C4E00 stored, accompanied by a rough transition when the vehicle switches between EV and HEV motive power" — the same code, and a documented remedy. A DTC is a Diagnostic Trouble Code, the number a car stores when it detects a fault; EV and HEV are Kia's shorthand for running on battery alone and running as a petrol-electric hybrid.

Two more campaigns, both cheap to close. 22V509 covers 2022 Sorento and Telluride vehicles that "may be equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS)", failing federal standard FMVSS 110 on tyre selection and rims. The anti-lock braking system stops the wheels locking under hard braking; traction control limits wheelspin. Free inspection and replacement, Kia code SC244. It is worth opening the boot floor and looking, because a wrong spare only reveals itself on the day you need it. 22V703 covers Sorentos, Sorento Hybrids and Sorento Plug-In Hybrids fitted with a Kia tow-hitch harness: debris and moisture on the harness module's circuit board "may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire", parked or driving, with a park-outside advisory until repaired. Free fuse and/or module, Kia code SC249. Several 2022 owners filed complaints about waiting for parts on this one.

Kia is recalling 2022 and 2023 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid vehicles because "the mounting clips for the rearview camera may break, which can cause the rearview camera image not to appear properly on the display", failing federal rear-visibility standard FMVSS 111. Dealers inspect and replace the rearview camera housing as necessary, free of charge; Kia's code is SC280 and owner letters went out in October 2023. One owner reports reversing into a mailbox with a distorted image and misaligned grid lines. Reverse the car on the test drive and look at the screen properly, not at the mirrors.

Three smaller patterns. First, cooling: one owner reports "Thermal Module went out, causing car to not accelerate when pressing on the gas pedal. Mileage at 76,000", and a published 40,000-mile long-term test of this generation found the same thing — "the culprit was a coolant valve remaining closed due to an internal failure. The thermal management system was replaced under warranty." Second, the panoramic sunroof shatters. It appears in all three 2022 files, and the accounts are consistent: driving normally, a bang like a gunshot, glass. "I experienced a sudden loud BANG, followed by a shower of shattered glass. The front panel of my panoramic sunroof exploded, sending glass into the vehicle." There is no recall for it. Third, something free: Kia's Warranty Extension Program WTY042 covers a horn sound malfunction on 2021 to 2025 Sorentos, Sorento Hybrids and 2022 to 2025 plug-in hybrids, extending coverage "from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 10 years / 120,000 miles." Press the horn before you sign.