NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Safety Record
The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 6 recalls and 181 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has not been evaluated by NHTSA for crashworthiness, leaving its star ratings and Safety Index undetermined. This lack of data prevents a full assessment of its protective capabilities. However, its record does show a significant recall and complaint burden: six recalls have been issued for this model year, including a park-outside advisory. Owners have filed 181 complaints. This record of post-sale issues warrants close attention, though the absence of crash-test data does not inherently imply safety or risk.
The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid was not crash-tested by NHTSA, carries a Heavy recall and complaint burden band, and is subject to six NHTSA recall campaigns, according to NHTSA data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
- shoppers who want the full federal safety picture in one place
| NHTSA crash test | Not crash-tested |
|---|---|
| Recall and complaint burden | Heavy |
| Recalls on file | 6 (includes park-outside) |
| Owner complaints | 181 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In?
The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid carries a notable burden of six recalls and 181 owner complaints, a significant volume for a vehicle four years into its service life. Among these, the recall concerning the trailer hitch carries particular urgency, as it prompted official guidance to avoid parking in enclosed structures. Further recalls address critical systems, specifically the powertrain and transmission, covering issues such as fail-safe mode operation and backup camera hardware, both directly impacting vehicle control and potential crash avoidance. Owner complaints mirror these concerns, with powertrain and engine issues collectively making up over half of all reported problems. No adjacent model years for the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid have been tested by NHTSA, leaving no comparable crash-test data for this specific platform.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In have any recalls?
The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid carries six recalls covering: HVAC blower motor wiring and fuses, a backup camera mounting clip failure, an automatic transmission fail-safe drive mode defect, a spare tire mismatch, a backup camera sensing system issue, and a trailer hitch concern. The trailer hitch campaign is designated park-outside, meaning owners were advised not to park the vehicle in an enclosed structure due to a potential fire risk.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS25V649000
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC351. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 9, 2025.
Reported 2025-09-25
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA23V610000
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC280.
Reported 2023-08-31
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION22V760000
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.
Reported 2022-10-11
TRAILER HITCHES22V703000
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
Reported 2022-09-19
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE22V509000
Risk: Impaired anti-lock braking or traction control systems can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spare tire, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC244.
Reported 2022-07-19
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER22V202000
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.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2022-03-29
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In?
Owners have filed 181 unverified allegations with NHTSA. The most frequently reported components are Power Train (59 reports), Engine (50), Unknown or Other (37), Electrical System (27), Service Brakes (17), and Vehicle Speed Control (14). These are unverified consumer allegations, not established defects. The complaint record also includes 4 alleged crashes, 1 alleged fire, and 4 alleged injuries.
181 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In?
Any used buyer should run the specific VIN through nhtsa.gov before purchase to confirm which, if any, of the six recalls remain open and unrepaired on that individual vehicle. Recall completion status varies by vehicle history.
- The 2022 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so no star ratings or Safety Index score exist for this specific model year.
- One of the six recalls for this model year is a park-outside campaign tied to the trailer hitch, meaning owners were advised to avoid enclosed parking due to a potential fire risk.
- Power Train and Engine together account for 109 of the 181 unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, and a separate recall addresses the automatic transmission fail-safe drive mode on 2021 to 2022 Sorento vehicles.
- Shoppers and current owners should verify open recall status by VIN at nhtsa.gov, as recall repair completion varies from vehicle to vehicle.
RANKINGSWhere the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In places
The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In safety questions
Was the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In crash-tested by NHTSA?
No. NHTSA has not run a New Car Assessment Program crash test on this configuration, so it carries no Safety Index. Its safety record here is built from 6 recalls and 181 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 6 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In, including a park-outside or do-not-drive campaign, which is the most serious class of recall. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 181 owner complaints are on file for the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Sorento Plug-In years
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Kia Sorento Plug-In 2022.
- SCORE This configuration was not crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. We report its recall and complaint record only.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.