BestCarRank
Kia

2022 Kia SORENTO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2022 Kia SORENTO has 278 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 613. The most common issue is transmission problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: transmission failed at 1561 miles. will accelerate to 3000rpm do a 1-2 shift then immediately bang back into 1st. car was flat bedded to dealer. awaiting new transmission which is on backorder.. There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 4 crash reports 5 injuries

278

Total Complaints

6

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

59 complaints
21%
  • Transmission failed at 1561 miles. Will accelerate to 3000rpm do a 1-2 shift then immediately bang back into 1st. Car was flat bedded to dealer. Awaiting new transmission which is on backorder.
  • CODE P1C2D03 POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. Kia Red Engine displays on dashboard,as the transmission disengages and will not engage in Drive or Reverse.Transmision locked up on highway and engine revved up to 5800 rpm's.Kia started to smoke and AAA towing needed to be called.Th
  • While driving on the highway, a warning message came on the screen that read "Stop Car Immediately". After getting off the highway, the car suddenly slowed down on the major road. Fortunately, I was in the right lane and able to turn off the road into a nearby parking lot. I had to get the car to
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

Transmission failed at 1561 miles. Will accelerate to 3000rpm do a 1-2 shift then immediately bang back into 1st. Car was flat bedded to dealer. Awaiting new transmission which is on backorder.

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2022 Kia SORENTO

Based on 24 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 27K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
15
30-60K
5
60-100K
4
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 26K mi · 7 reports
0-30K
4
30-60K
2
60-100K
1
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 20K mi · 7 reports
0-30K
5
30-60K
2
60-100K
0
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred. This vehicle is under 5 years old, so most of the fleet hasn't accumulated high mileage yet — low-mileage peaks reflect fleet age, not necessarily premature failure.

Recalls (6)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER29/03/2022

Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Sorento vehicles. The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.

Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC233.

High theft risk

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2022 Kia SORENTO

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,001
Per month
$167
Per mile
16.7¢
MPG
24
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$2,182/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,778/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2022 Kia SORENTO

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$2,080
Full coverage / month
$173
Liability only / year
$626
vs US avg
+24%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x
× theft risk1.15x
× safety rating0.98x
× vehicle age1.05x
= Full coverage estimate$2080

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Kia SORENTO Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
24 months
Transmission fluid
60K mi
Engine coolant
60K mi
Spark plugs
90K mi
Cabin air filter
15K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
60K mi

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

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
5 yr / 60K mi
Powertrain
10 yr / 100K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
10 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
5 yr / 100K mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

10 year powertrain not transferable to subsequent owners

These are the terms for a new Kia. If you're buying a used 2022 SORENTO, 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

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
VISIBILITY(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 278 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • TRANSMISSION: Transmission failed at 1561 miles. Will accelerate to 3000rpm do a 1-2 shift then immediately bang back into 1st. Car was flat bedded to dealer. Awaiting new transmission which is on backorder.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ENGINE: Suddenly, my vehicle Kia Sorento Ex AWD X-LINE lost power while exiting a NY Highway. I and my partner And possibly other drivers on the road could have been seriously injured if there were cars behind us. Possibly, we could have lost our lives if malfunction occured while driving on the Highway.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • OTHER: My vehicle has only 8,672 miles and the vehicle brake rotors are warped and shake violently from normal driving. I seen other complaints online with the same issue saying the vehicle has a undersized brake system that produces a lot of heat. Also I have had a issue where I would be coming to a stop

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRICAL: While driving at highway speed the vehicle lost power and all warning lights on the dash came on. Fortunately the traffic was light and I was able to get off the highway. It was early Sunday morning but if I had been in heavy traffic or construction it could have been much worse. The vehicle die

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Kia dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

At a Glance

Complaints
278
Recalls
6
Fire reports
2
Crash reports
4
Injury reports
5
Segment avg
613

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2022 Kia SORENTO