2021-2022 Kia Sorento Trailer Hitch Recall (22V703)
Kia America, Inc. · 70,887 vehicles · Reported September 19, 2022
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 70,887 2021-2022 Kia Sorento; 2021-2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid; 2022-2023 Kia Sorento PHEV; 2021-2022 Kia Sportage vehicles. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Park outside and away from buildings until it is repaired.
Recall 22V703 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V703000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC249 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 19, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Kia Sorento; 2021-2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid; 2022-2023 Kia Sorento PHEV; 2021-2022 Kia Sportage |
| Units affected | 70,887 |
| Component | Trailer Hitches |
| Safety risk | A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Kia Sorento in recall 22V703?
Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Sorento with recall 22V703?
Park it outside. NHTSA lists a fire risk for recall 22V703, so keep the vehicle away from buildings until it is repaired.
NHTSA lists this as a Park Outside recall because of a fire risk. Park the vehicle outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, even if you have not noticed any problem.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V703?
Recall 22V703 covers 70,887 vehicles: 2021-2022 Kia Sorento; 2021-2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid; 2022-2023 Kia Sorento PHEV; 2021-2022 Kia Sportage.
NHTSA lists 70,887 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Kia | Sorento |
| 2021-2023 | Kia | Sorento Hybrid |
| 2022-2023 | Kia | Sorento PHEV |
| 2021-2022 | Kia | Sportage |
What is the fix for the Sorento trailer hitch recall?
Yes. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
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.
When was recall 22V703 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 22V703 to NHTSA on September 19, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 11, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 19, 2022 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V703000. |
| August 11, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 49 months ago. If your Sorento was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Sorento is part of recall 22V703?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V703 is open on your Sorento, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V703000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Sorento owners do about recall 22V703?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V703000 applies to your Sorento.
- Park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.
- Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the trailer hitches happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Sorento owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 629 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 109 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 22V703 was reported on September 19, 2022, owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 15 of them (18%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the other equipment and were received on or after September 19, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 629 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 109 of them involve the other equipment. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Kia Sorento: 248 complaints in total, 39 about the other equipment
- 2022 Kia Sorento: 189 complaints in total, 38 about the other equipment
- 2021 Kia Sportage: 53 complaints in total, 15 about the other equipment
- 2022 Kia Sportage: 46 complaints in total, 4 about the other equipment
- 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid: 30 complaints in total, 2 about the other equipment
- 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV: 22 complaints in total, 0 about the other equipment
- 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid: 21 complaints in total, 6 about the other equipment
- 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid: 12 complaints in total, 2 about the other equipment
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side tire was punctured. The contact stated that while using the factory OEM jack to raise the vehicle to change the tire, the jack fractured causing the vehicle to collapse.
2021 Kia Sportage owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11487970, filed October 5, 2022
My car is burning oil like crazy. I’ve had to put 2 quarts in one week. Took it to dealership because of warranty. They ran an oil consumption test and told me pistons may be bad drive it another 1000 miles then we check it again. Why not fix problems then.
2021 Kia Sportage owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11671641, filed July 7, 2025
The car alarm keeps going off randomly and from googling it. Several people have reported an issue with the 2021 Kia Sportage it’s a known issue.
2021 Kia Sportage owner, MO, NHTSA complaint 11673246, filed July 14, 2025
Can recall 22V703 make my Sorento a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 22V703000 does not automatically make your Sorento a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
What matters for a lemon law claim is not the recall label but whether the defect substantially impairs the 2021-2022 Kia Sorento and whether the dealer can fix it in a reasonable number of tries.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2022 Kia Sorento has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Sorento been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Sorento recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V703
Did the recall 22V703 fix work?
Since recall 22V703 was reported on September 19, 2022, owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 15 of them (18%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed August 11, 2023.
Is the 22V703000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Sorento is part of recall 22V703000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V703000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.