2023 Kia SORENTO HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
12,350 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 30 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 26.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 |
Engine: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Electrical System: 7; Power Train: 5; Structure:Body: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility:Windshield: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2023: 10; 2024: 11; 2025: 6; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11553611 · 2023-11-04 (November 4, 2023)
Vehicle loses power from combustion engine and drives only on electric battery. Hybrid system doesn’t engage correctly and vehicle will accelerate extremely slowly after a delay and will only achieve roughly 30 mph with accelerator fully pressed. This vehicle has been sent to the dealer multiple times and they have recreated the problem. However even after parts being replaced and connections being replaced the problem persists. Vehicle can be inspected anytime. My family has been in several near collisions with oncoming traffic due to th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11553611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11565469 · 2024-01-14 (January 14, 2024)
My vehicle died inThe middle of an extremely busy four lane road. A light came on That said to turn the car off immediately. The engine light and battery light flashed on. It sounds like the engine recall for the 22 and 21 hybrid sorento’s. I had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership, it is only 7 mos old.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11565469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11689872 · 2025-09-26 (September 26, 2025)
While driving on September 15, 2025, the vehicle displayed a loud beeping and the warning message “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely.” The vehicle restarted about an hour later, but the combustion engine ran very rough. The Kia dealer inspected it but reported no stored error codes. On September 23, 2025, the vehicle suddenly lost power while driving. It appeared to operate only on electric at low speed, then died completely in the roadway. The vehicle would not power down until the start/stop button was held. It required a tow back to the deal…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11689872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11718445 · 2026-02-17 (February 17, 2026)
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH on several occasions, the vehicle stalled after the battery became drained. The vehicle was able to restart each time after waiting for the battery to recharge. The vehicle was taken to two different dealers on three occasions. During the first two visits, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. On the third visit, the failure was duplicated, but the dealer was unable to provide a cause for the failure. During a visit to the dealer, the vehic…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11718445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11597574 · 2024-06-28 (June 28, 2024)
This is the third time my car has had code p0171 and p0191 pop into the system of the car. I just picked up my car on [XXX] and after I left the parking lot it didn't feel right. I had to press the gas pedal a lot harder to get it to move. This is after they replaced the high pressure fuel pump twice within a week and I believe under 200 miles of driving the car. Luckily Florida is a pretty flat state so the hill I have between my work and home isn't very steep but I go from 40 mphs down to 30 once I reach the top of it. I'm supposed to be…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11597574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11658457 · 2025-05-02 (May 2, 2025)
Critical Issue: Gasoline leaks into engine. That causes increasing engine oil level significantly and mixed with engine oil. I dropped off me car (mileage: 11731) at Kia Pro in Glendale, CA on 5/1/2025 as soon as I confirmed that engine oil level exceeds the maximum (twice of max) and smelled Gasoline from the dipstick. The service advisor and a tech confirmed that the excessive engine oil level and gasoline smell. However, they refused to repair it under warranty because they don't see any physical leaks and error codes. In addition to that, t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11658457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11587476 · 2024-05-07 (May 7, 2024)
The forward collision warning system and emergency braking were engaged when no forward object was present. Amount of times 2 Driver side rear quarter panel falsely detected a car swerving into my lane and engaged an emergency maneuver to avoid collision even though there was no car there. Amount of times 1
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11587476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11559412 · 2023-12-11 (December 11, 2023)
There is a loud squeaking sound that sounds like a rodent or bird that occurs intermittently at cold temperatures from the steering column. It has been mentioned in several forums and Facebook communities. Some dealers are aware, others are not. The repair requires a steering column replacement according to those who have had service completed. Dealers are requiring they directly hear the issue despite recorded video proof. I have a copy of my issue in hand.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11559412 at NHTSA ↗