2022 Kia SORENTO PHEV
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2022 Kia SORENTO PHEV has 36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 36. The most common issue is transmission problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: purchased the car new in early february 2022. within about six weeks, heard a loud bump from under the car as i was pulling away from the driveway, this happened 2-3 times. after these incidents the car felt like it was stuck in first gear, with whining upon acceleration and deceleration. i use t. There are 5 recalls issued for this model year.
36
Total Complaints
5
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TRANSMISSION
9 complaints- • Purchased the car new in early February 2022. Within about six weeks, heard a loud bump from under the car as I was pulling away from the driveway, this happened 2-3 times. After these incidents the car felt like it was stuck in first gear, with whining upon acceleration and deceleration. I use t
- • The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV. The contact stated that upon depression of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would hesitate without warning. The contact also stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter remained stuck in neutral(N) and the vehicle could not be moved
- • 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 a
“Purchased the car new in early February 2022. Within about six weeks, heard a loud bump from under the car as I was pulling away from the driveway, this happened 2-3 times. After these incidents the car felt like it was stuck in first gear, with whining upon acceleration and deceleration. I use t”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Recalls (5)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 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.
Risk: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seatbelt pretensioner(s), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC231. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-447. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2022 Kia SORENTO PHEV
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Kia SORENTO PHEV Service Intervals
Turbo engines (Optima 2.0T, Sorento 2.5T) may benefit from more frequent oil changes.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Kia New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
10 year powertrain not transferable to subsequent owners
These are the terms for a new Kia. If you're buying a used 2022 SORENTO PHEV, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Kia dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 36 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: Purchased the car new in early February 2022. Within about six weeks, heard a loud bump from under the car as I was pulling away from the driveway, this happened 2-3 times. After these incidents the car felt like it was stuck in first gear, with whining upon acceleration and deceleration. I use t
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV. The contact stated that upon depression of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would hesitate without warning. The contact also stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter remained stuck in neutral(N) and the vehicle could not be moved
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 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 a
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: When accelerating to pull out of driveway and enter traffic, while struggles to find correct gear causing tires to spin and loud clunking noise. Forward collision detects objects that are not there causing vehicle emergency breaking to engage
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 5 recalls have been completed — free at any Kia dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia SORENTO PHEV — Year Comparison
How does 2022 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 36
- Recalls
- 5
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 36
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2022 Kia SORENTO PHEV