Complaint volume
410 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2019 Kia Sorento Complaints
410 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Kia Sorento, grouped by component category.
410 Total complaints
10 Crash reports
18 Fire reports
10 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, unknown or other, structure. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 10 crash reports, 18 fire reports, 10 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 92 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 44,181 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, unknown or other, structure?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2019 Kia Sorento?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2019 Kia Sorento
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2019 Kia Sorento complaints?
10 Crash
18 Fire
10 Injury
0 Fatality
16 Towed
8 Medical attention
What are the most common 2019 Kia Sorento complaint categories?
ENGINE 94
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 45
STRUCTURE 27
POWER TRAIN 20
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9
410 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and then lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The VIN was unavailable. | Crash: No Fire: No | 70,000 |
| Mar 2024 | SUSPENSION | I purchased my 2019 Kia Sorento with 7,000 miles on it. A few moths after purchase, I began having suspension issue with it. My rear tires were being worn out very quickly and a tire repair shop suggested that I have Kia dealership check out the shocks, which I did. Kia Service Center diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the shock absorbers due to leakage. Almost 2 months later, I took my Sorento back to the same Service Center due to loud squeaking noises and the up and down of the vehicle anytime I drove over the smallest hump or bump in the road. Kia found that the strut mount and bearings were coming apart and Kia supposedly replaced the sway bar along with the bearings and struts. After one month, I had to take the vehicle back for the same issue. It was supposedly fixed again but a few moths later, the loud squeaking came back and has gotten worse over time. I took my truck to Kia again for the same issue and they are now saying that the sway bar bushings have went bad. Well they supposedly just replaced the old sway bar last year and it is already needing new bushings. I have searched online and found the front sway bar of KIA's to be a major defect problem and consumer's having to continuously replace the front sway bar on their KIA. A bad sway bar can not only impede your ability to control and handle your vehicle, but it can also be the cause of an accident. With so many consumer complaints on this issue, I am unsure why there has been no recall on the sway bar and bushings of KIA vehicles. Whether the vehicle is new with new parts or the part has been replaced, this is definitely an issue that needs to be investigated immediately. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | ENGINE | The Kia burns oil quickly. The oil light used to come in between oil changes. Last oil change the service station said the dip stick was dry but the oil light hadn’t come on at all. A week after the oil change we checked the oil level and the stick came out clean(no oil) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | ENGINE | Vehicle has engine oil leak, started months ago but no warning lights - determined there was a problem due to the oil drippage on driveway. Took vehicle to dealership, known problem of oil filter housing and it has to be replaced. Part on back order. Not repairing the problem can force the engine to seize and stall while driving, hence, I haven't been driving the vehicle due to concerns about it seizing. This is a known problem subject to two class action settlement suits and the problem STILL occurs. Why isn't a recall being done to address this problem at no cost to the customers? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | ENGINE | Oil pan cracked to the right side of the drain plug about an inch long | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | I was driving and car lost power, couldn’t drive anymore | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while reversing into the garage, the contact’s husband noticed a large amount of oil on the ground. The check oil warning light illuminated when the vehicle was stopped. The contact’s husband changed the oil and added 8 quarts of oil to the engine and within a week, the check engine warning light illuminated again. The contacts husband rechecked the oil level and there was no oil in the oil pan. The contact’s husband took off the front passenger tire and saw that the oil filter housing was leaking. The dealer was contacted to purchase the oil filter housing part; however, the contact was informed the part was on backorder with no estimated time for arrival of the parts. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that without the part, the vehicle was undrivable. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 119,000 |
| Feb 2024 | STRUCTURE,ENGINE | My cars white paint is coming off the body. My car is loosing oil really fast. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module (TCM). The mechanic determined that the transmission needed to be flush and the TCM needed to be reprogrammed to the factory settings. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 80,000 |
| Jan 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | I was driving down the road, no service lights were on and my car backfired twice and was engulfed in flames within seconds. My car completely burned, it was a total loss, but I’m being told my vehicles vin wasn’t included in the recalls when it very well should be. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The paint on the hood and roof have been peeling and metal is now exposed. There appears to be a primer or paint defect. This occurred 4 years into owning the vehicle. Kia connect and dealership refuse to do anything since they said paint warranty is only for 3 years or 36,000 miles. But this is negligence from the manufacturer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS | My car will not turn on, there was no warning light or maintenance required message. Also the two passenger seats recline back but will not go back to forward position. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Driving to the store and l smell smoke. Pull up to Walmart entrance because l seen a fireman going in. So, l got out to ask him to come help me l smell smoke by time l got back to the car fire started. He was able to put it out but my vent in my second row is burn, side my driver seat a burn a little and rug on the floor. And now my engine stop working mechanics said it a recall on these vehicles. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | There's something SERIOUSLY wrong with the Lambda Ii GDI engine similar to the theta ii. Like the SAME oil problems. I have a perfect service record at 89,600 miles and no accident and the oil light came on with solid oil, and even after the new oil, the new transmission flush and full injection service the oil light came on. They took it in numerous times and turned off the oil light and said nothing wrong but the ENGINE light went on once and I took it in 1 mile away and they cleared the light saying "no errors" and "no service problems they could see" and stated it might be the engine itself. It's acting JUST like the theta engine problems with kia sorentos. Like exactly the same. The blogs on the net are freaking out because a SLEW of people with 2019 sorentos were having the same problems. Not low on oil at ALL and the oil light keeps going off. They are helpless to fix it at Kia and said to trade in the car. There were six kia sorentos of the same make and in for repair recently and while I was in the lobby I was hearing customer ls call in complaining about oil lights going off. The blogs I'm reading have a slew of people this is happening to and I just read the California judges ruling and on the theta ii and I contacted the same lawfirm TODAY about the Lambda ii engine. I guess the feds are looking into it but it should be tied RIGHT away to the Lambda engines as well. There's something MAJOR wrong with the lambda. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | THE REAR CAMERA PICTURE HAS BECOME FOGGY AND I CAN'T SEE WHAT IS BEHIND ME. THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 23V639000 FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT COVERS THE 2019 KIA SORENTO (WHICH IS MY VEHICLE) BUT KIA SAYS MY PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. KIA NEEDS TO EXPAND THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL VIN NUMBERS INCLUDING MINE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | ENGINE | Using a lot of oil. Making a noice whenever driving the vehicle - a click noise - whenever accelerating. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | STRUCTURE | Pieces and or flakes of vehicle paint are falling off the body of the vehicle. Mainly affected areas is the top front portion of the roof above the windshield and front of the hood. Paint started peeling off around the 28,000 mile mark. I’m currently at 30,000 miles. Keeps getting worse. A piece of paint peeled off and was stuck to my windshield and I could not visibly see the road. Had to pull over and remove the peeled off piece of paint | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | KIA and HYUNDAI - all of their cars are unsafe. I have attached a letter to the NJ State Attorney General to explain some of the issues. These cars are absolutely unsafe and we have no peace of mind. They are killing us, literally. Please do all you can to immediately stop them. I cannot explain how upsetting this is. Please may you help our families. Our children drive these cars. Our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, neighbors, parents and all of us are in jeopardy of losing our lives. Thank you. | Crash: Yes Fire: Yes Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 149,904 |
| Dec 2023 | ENGINE | Driving on the xway, engine stopped. I pulled over to shoulder and noticed engine smoking. I opened hood and observed fire in the engine compartment. Put fire out with water in vehicle. Had vehicle towed to Kia dealer in urbana. Il. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,SERVICE BRAKES | The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the brakes would pulsate as the vehicle would shake until the vehicle came to a stop. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had been taken to two dealers for the issue 7 times. The contact stated that the dealer was unable to determine if the failure was an ABS brake failure or an electrical failure as the vehicle has had electrical failures. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the tire sensors more than one time, the brain of the electrical system was reprogrammed, and replaced, and the sensor was also replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was currently at the dealer and was informed that the electrical wiring harness was short circuiting and needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that the driver’s side rear passenger’s door handle had detached from the vehicle when her child attempted to open the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the door handle was not replaced as the contact was informed that the door handle was not included in the Extended Warranty. The contact mentioned that the vehicle had electrical issues since the day of purchase. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 35,000 |
| Nov 2023 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Vehicle has a strong fuel smell when driving and when park kia found leak coming from fuel pump seen fuel coming from up on top of tank kia replace fuel pump and there were no cheek eng light | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Infotainment screen and back up camera, it is available for Kia at anytime they choose. A complaint has been filed with kia and they have yet to respond. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Failure of the system causes Safety issues for passengers as well as anyone outside of the vehicle while operating said vehicle. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? It is unclear whether or not they have made a Legitimate attempt To reproduce the issues. The Dealership that it was purchased at refused to make any attempt to acknowledge the issue. Kia requested that it Be serviced at a dealership, they had it for 27 days consecutively in 2022 and 91 days in 2023 and made no attempt to reproduce the issue. multiple recordings have been provided to Kia. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes. Kia has had possession of the vehicle 27 consecutive days on 2022 and 91 consecutive days in 2023 Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. Screen malfunctions during use. Flash black Last date of malfunction 11.21.2023. There was a heavy rain 11.20 to 11.21 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | ENGINE | Oil pan crack below Plug due to changing oil. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | SEAT BELTS | While my 6 year old was attempting to put on his rear right seat belt, the belt gave way and tore in half completely unhinged at the seams. We were leaving so we move our child to the left rear seat that has hardly ever been used. As he was putting this seat belt on it also became completely torn in half at the seams . My child’s life has been at risk for the our most recent drives as the seat belt would most likely have been busted in the case of a car accident not being able to hold my child safe and secure. Dealer says they have never seen this. Dealer inspected and reported to manufacturer, stated they would only do a 1 time courtesy replacement. There were no warning lamps and zero symptoms or problems prior to malfunction. This first occurred the weekend of Oct 23rd 2023. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY | As I was merging off of a ramp onto the expressway my sunroof exploded causing glass to go everywhere almost causing me to crash the vehicle. No cars were present around me to kick up debris to hit the vehicle, and there were no potholes or anything for me to hit. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |