Trailer hitch may detach or fail

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.

Vehicles covered: 2016 to 2022
Evidence level: Official safety recall
Information reviewed: August 3, 2026
Jurisdiction: United States

What the reviewed source says

Start with the documented condition, not a parts guess.

NHTSA campaign 22V703000 includes certain 2016 to 2022 Kia Sorento vehicles. 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. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Words owners may use

Does this match the moment?

“trailer hitch feels loose”“tow hitch recall”“trailer disconnected”“receiver hitch cracked”“trailer coupling failed”“noise from tow hitch”

Symptoms in the pattern

The hitch, receiver or coupling may loosen, crack or fail, sometimes without advance warning
An open campaign appears when the complete VIN is checked
Some recalled vehicles may show no advance warning before the component fails

Vehicles and scope

2016 to 2022 Kia Sorento
NHTSA campaign 22V703000
The manufacturer filing lists 70,887 potentially affected units across the complete campaign.
VIN eligibility determines whether this recall applies to an individual vehicle
NHTSA marks this campaign with a Park Outside advisory

Manufacturer position

What the official procedure directs

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.

Mileage context

Safety recall eligibility is based on the VIN and campaign scope, not ordinary warranty mileage. Check the complete VIN even when the vehicle is outside its original warranty.

Original evidence

Open the documents behind this page.

NHTSA safety recall · 22V703000 · Sep 19, 2022

Official campaign record for Kia Sorento

NHTSA campaign data lists the defect, safety consequence and manufacturer remedy. The manufacturer filing lists 70,887 potentially affected units across the complete campaign.

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Repair paths and safe checks

Separate the diagnosis from the action.

Official repair pathAuthorised dealer · Confirm with VIN

Use the official recall remedy

Boundary

Do not buy parts from the campaign description alone. VIN scope, superseded remedies and parts availability can change.

What owners reported

Did this repair fix the same symptom on your car?

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Which vehicle? optional

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Safe owner checkBasic check · 5 minutes

Check the complete VIN before arranging work

Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup and ask the manufacturer or an authorised dealer to confirm whether the campaign is open for this vehicle.

Boundary

A year, make and model match does not prove that every vehicle is included. The VIN result controls eligibility.

What owners reported

Did this repair fix the same symptom on your car?

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Which vehicle? optional

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Useful before authorizing work

Read the method beside the problem

These guides explain the safety and evidence checks that apply to this problem file.

Safety6 min read

Check recalls by VIN

A VIN search checks the displayed NHTSA records for an unrepaired safety recall associated with one vehicle. A model search shows only the wider campaign population.

Read guide ↗

Safety and triage8 min read

When a car is unsafe

A warning light does not always mean the same thing, but weak brakes or smoke leave little room for experimentation. Damaged tires and certain recall instructions can do the same.

Read guide ↗

Diagnosis and symptoms8 min read