KIA Sorento Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 143 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the KIA Sorento across 21 model years. The 2011 model year has the most (24). The words owners use most often: “sunroof exploded” (18% of reports).
- 143visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 73%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Sunroof exploded: mentioned in 26 of 143 complaints (18%)
- Sun roof: mentioned in 26 of 143 complaints (18%)
- Heard loud: mentioned in 12 of 143 complaints (8%)
- Shade closed: mentioned in 8 of 143 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do visibility problems happen?
Based on 105 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 143 complaints, 1 a fire, 10 an injury.
KIA Sorento visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sorento | 1 | 1% | 1,600 |
| 2024 Sorento | 1 | 2% | 25,199 |
| 2023 Sorento | 4 | 3% | 43,500 |
| 2022 Sorento | 9 | 5% | 86,296 |
| 2021 Sorento | 8 | 3% | 75,000 |
| 2020 Sorento | 3 | 2% | 4,357 |
| 2019 Sorento | 5 | 1% | 35,450 |
| 2018 Sorento | 2 | 1% | 65,000 |
| 2017 Sorento | 5 | 1% | 42,000 |
| 2016 Sorento | 7 | 1% | 35,100 |
| 2015 Sorento | 3 | 0% | 41,000 |
| 2014 Sorento | 18 | 2% | 12,960 |
| 2013 Sorento | 23 | 2% | 29,350 |
| 2012 Sorento | 17 | 2% | 50,400 |
| 2011 Sorento | 24 | 2% | 31,500 |
| 2008 Sorento | 1 | 0% | 7,300 |
| 2007 Sorento | 2 | 1% | 63,400 |
| 2006 Sorento | 2 | 1% | 38,400 |
| 2005 Sorento | 2 | 1% | 58,890 |
| 2004 Sorento | 2 | 1% | 64,000 |
| 2003 Sorento | 4 | 1% | 55,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:fan/motor; electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Model years: 2021, 2022, 2023
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Sorento vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55-60 MPH, a loud boom suddenly occurred. The contact pulled to the side of the road and exited the vehicle with three passengers, including a nephew in a car seat. The passengers noticed that the panoramic…
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V649000 (Electrical System, Visibility), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer; the recall repair was performed several weeks prior; however, the VIN status was not updated, and the recall remained…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving, a sound of an explosion was heard and the sunroof shattered, the slider of the sunroof was closed so the glass did not enter the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the…
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the panoramic sunroof failed to properly close. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an inoperable motor and fractured cables. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously…
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 10 MPH, after making a left turn, the sunroof shattered with the sunroof cover closed. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and inspected, but the contact was unaware that the sunroof had exploded…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Sorentos have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 143 owner complaints about visibility for the KIA Sorento. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Sorento visibility?
Yes: 1 safety recall list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the KIA Sorento?
The most frequent phrase is “sunroof exploded”, in 26 of 143 complaints, followed by “sun roof” (26).
Other KIA Sorento problems
- Engine problems (3,846)
- Electrical System problems (1,395)
- Power Train problems (1,186)
- Structure problems (936)
- Exterior Lighting problems (845)
- Air Bags problems (717)
- Steering problems (542)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (409)
See all KIA Sorento problems.