2023 Kia Sorento: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
118 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Sorento shares Hyundai's Theta II 2.4-litre and 2.0-litre turbo engines, and the 2011 and 2016 model years are where its engine-failure complaints concentrate — the same bearing wear, knocking and stalling that hit the Sonata and Optima, covered by the same recall campaigns and warranty extensions. Between those years the record is moderate, and from 2018 the Sorento becomes one of the better three-row crossovers on the site, with the 2020 model year scoring 91. Read the full note on the model page. 2023 specifically: a year the record favours — 118 complaints, score 85/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Kia Sorento, Sportage and Soul: the recall years and the good years after them, including 2023 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 118 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 39.33
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The brakes failed; they felt spongy, as if my foot were pressing directly against the road. The car accelerated and I headed toward a wall; the sensors didn't stop the vehicle. It came to a halt against the wall after the impact. I was on my way to the repair shop for a scheduled appointment due to electrical problems.
I believe my car should be in the ac recall for faulty ac motor/wire harness due to my ac is only cooling on passenger side. Blowing hot on driver. I’m afraid it may catch fire as I read this can happen.
While driving, the dashboard lit up with warnings about forward collision, lane departure, lane keeping assistance, breaks, speed etc. that keep cycling through with alarm sounds on the dashboard. I have brought my car to the dealership few times and they reprogram the car but the issue keeps coming back randomly. Seems like a loose connection somewhere. I am afraid of driving when it happens.
Recalls: 3 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 23V579000 | Equipment:Other:Labels | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sorento vehicles. |
| 25V649000 | Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Sorento vehicles. |
| 23V610000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 24 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,550
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System37 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other35 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine29 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train20 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Forward Collision Avoidance14 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Service Brakes12 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Kia Sorento years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Kia Sorento?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (37 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2023 Kia Sorento a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 85/100, computed from 118 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2023 Kia Sorento's most common problem?
37 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2023 Kia Sorento sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2023 Kia Sorento cost to run per year?
About $4,387 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $21,935 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2023 Kia Sorento have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2023 Kia Sorento, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 15/08/2023. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2023 Kia Sorento really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 118 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 118 NHTSA complaints on record (39.3/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (62.6/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems