Kia SORENTO PHEV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
43 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2022 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 43 complaints (30.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 23.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 18.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 9.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 7.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 3 |
Electrical System: 13; Power Train: 13; Engine: 10; Unknown Or Other: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Service Brakes: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (5). 36 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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2022: 10; 2023: 5; 2024: 8; 2025: 7; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 11498899 · 2022-12-26 (December 26, 2022)
Multiple times I have experienced weirdness with the Transmission in my 2022 Sorento PHEV. One specific situation has happened to me multiple times and is a safety risk. Occasionally while stopped at a red light or stop sign with a reasonable incline it seems the electric motor fails to engage and it never switches to the ICE engine either. Step by step 1 - Stopped at Stop Sign or Red light 2- Release Brake an Hit Gas 3- Vehicle does not move forward no matter how hard you hit the gas (Doesnt seem to engage electric or traditional engine)…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11498899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11638383 · 2025-01-24 (January 24, 2025)
Several times over the past 12 months, the car has applied emergency braking when a car approaches me from behind in the lane to my left. The dealer was not able to replicate the problem but I have captured it twice on my dash cam. I was only able to intentionally replicate the problem once on my own but it has happened 15-20 times. If I do not press the accelerator, the car will come to a stop without me pushing the brake. When the emergency brake is applied, the warning sound is heard in the car and the dash lights up with the emergency braki…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11638383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11560570 · 2023-12-17 (December 17, 2023)
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. This problem creates imminent danger and potential peril. KIA maintenance looked at the vehicle after the last two events and reported that they can't do anything because there aren't any recorded fau…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11560570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11627399 · 2024-11-26 (November 26, 2024)
While driving down the highway the EV side of my PHEV wouldn't switch to gas. The car wouldn't accelerate past 40-50 mph and drained the remaining battery till my car shut off and forced me to the side of the road. Been to the dealer multiple times (over 4) for the same issue. They claim they recreate it and no resolution has been done.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11627399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11630256 · 2024-12-11 (December 11, 2024)
1. First incident occurred on 10/29/24. My wife pulled into driveway and placed car into Park. When she shifted to reverse, the transmission didn't respond and the car revved to a very high RPM when she took foot off of brake, no foot on gas. Unable to shift it to go forward or backward. She then turned car off, back on, and was able to reverse it. This situation occurred numerous times. 2. Sometimes, after this happened, she'd place it into drive, and the vehicle would only crawl (<5 mph) forward and not accelerate, though gas pedal was to…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11630256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11662012 · 2025-05-20 (May 20, 2025)
I have gotten the notice Refill Inverter Coolant and Hybrid System Failure and lost acceleration and the all power. The first time this happened was in Dec 2024 with about 60,000 miles on the car. Dealer flushed system and it worked fine until April 2025 at about 71000 miles Hybrid system failure alert again, barely able to accelerate from stop light, made to a parking space just as I lost power steering. After about 2 hours to cool off car started and could be driven home. Got Refill inverter coolant alert.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11662012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11572301 · 2024-02-16 (February 16, 2024)
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the steering column. Additionally, the steering wheel felt tight while turning in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11572301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11748461 · 2026-07-06 (July 6, 2026)
1st incident: Vehicle was unable to accelerate when attempting to speed up on freeway entrance ramp- high RPMs while continuing to decelerate and eventually vehicle would not move at all anymore. The driver assist system continued to activate the brakes due to high RPMs even though the vehicle could not accelerate. Very unsafe driving conditions on a busy freeway as the car could not go faster than 30 mph, and eventually stalled out completely. Vehicle brought to dealership and replaced fuel pump as they said there was a leak found. 2nd incide…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11748461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11755517 · 2026-08-07 (August 7, 2026)
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that on two occasions while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and the message "Hybrid System Failure" was displayed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted, but the failure persisted, and the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred a week later. The vehicle was taken to another deal…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11755517 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2022: 5; 2023: 2; 2024: 0; 2025: 3; 2026: 1