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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Infotainment center and back up camera failure as well as multiple other system failures that have been ongoing since 2020 after water damage when ac drain hose backed up. Kia has been contacted multiple times since April 2021 regarding this issue after it caused an accident while backing up in April 2021. Kia did not inspect the vehicle until March 2022 due to failure to arrange appropriate appointments and transportation. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The ongoing failures are a safety issue because they make it impossible to safely drive and not be distracted. The screen failures when backing up make it unsafe regarding backover protection and the sensors also fail for back up and blind spot. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Unknown. The manufacturer has been provided with multiple videos of the issue and has had the vehicle for over 100 days total. Kia states they have the right to manufacture vehicles with features and that they should not be relied upon for safety, under oath and recorded. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Manufacturer has had access to the vehicle. They are not sharing what occured when they had it. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Failure is not consistent or anticipated. It does occur more often when it has rained. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | ENGINE | I was driving from Los Angeles to Concord, CA when my car stalled on the highway. The last few miles I was driving a red oil light came on, which I found unusual since I wasn't due for another oil change for about 1000 more miles. I get my car towed to the nearest auto shop and they said the drain plug for my oil had fallen off and the tow truck bed was covered in oil as well as the entire backside of my vehicle. And now my engine is done for. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | My wife was driving and this is what she had happen—I was at the atm, put my car in park. I was to short to reach the atm so I cracked the door open just enough to reach out to the atm to do what I needed to do, when the car jumped out of park into somehow it rolling forward.I then fell out of the car head first, smashing my knee and arm in the ground, then getting run over by the Kia. I was also smashed between the cement pulled the curb and door when it smashed shut My arm leg foot ankle all got run over. I then had to somehow manage to get up and run after the moving car open the door jump into the living car to hit the break to stop the car from causing an accident on a busy road. I then came home.the pain over took my body and I needed up so my husband pulled me up and took my kids to my in-laws house to have them watch the kids so I could be checked out. I then knew I needed help as the adrenaline wore off it was bad, we called an ambulance to come get me and take me to the hospital. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle began shaking and a burning odor emanated from the 12V accessory outlet. The contact stated that the instrument and meter did not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the radio needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 65,000 |
| Oct 2023 | ENGINE | Oil plug fell out | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Unknown- Paint is peeling excessively. Coming off and sheets. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Engine Trouble: 1. Throttle Actuator Control (past issue, not sure if problem still exists). 2. Combustion Issue: (past and present) engine consuming excessive amounts of oil. Needing additional oil between oils changes. Dealer claimed ‘Combustion Cleaning’ was performed April/May 2023 and issue was resolved. I have had to add oil twice since then. Oil Lamp indicator would signaled, or engine would sound loud and over worked. I would then check the oil and add oil as needed. 3. Driving Mode: The vehicle can on be driven in ‘Comfort’ mode. If I drive in ‘Sport’, specifically, the car will start to malfunction and stall. When driving in any of the other modes the engine will become sluggish and eventually malfunction and stall. All of these problems occurred this year, 2023. I have service documents from the dealership. My cell phone is old and doesn’t take clear photos so I can’t upload them. I can provide the documents later if requested. Please contact me by email as I am in the process of moving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | UNKNOWN, HEARD A POP WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND SMOKE AND THEN FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND INSURANCE CLAIM WAS MADE. INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Paint is chipping and peeling off, we notified Kia and they did an estimate and told us it was out of warranty. We took the vehicle to another body shop who told us that they were seeing many of these Kia's with the same issue. They told us that it is due to UV rays penetrating the paint and causing the primer to get chalky, which causes the paint to delaminate chip and peel. Their estimate was 6566.86, due to having to take the vehicle apart, sand down the vehicle reprime and paint. This estimate was from Stingray Chevrolet in Plant City, Florida | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | STRUCTURE | After a particular strong rainstorm I found 4 areas on the driver hood right above the headlight and 6 spots above the windshield that were cracked, bubbled and pealed off all the way down to the metal frame. The areas on the hood remain small. They bubble and chip off a little at a time. The areas above the windshield is completely stripped 75% across the top and 4-6 inches deep. The paint continues to sheer off in large chunks all the way down to the metal. I purchased my Sorento in January 2019 brand new. Color is pearl white. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | TRAILER HITCHES | The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool showed no open recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | POWER TRAIN | Kia has a known excessive oil consumption issue. This issue has caused my car to suddenly stall while driving which is a huge a safety concern for myself, my passengars and other drivers on the road. If the oil is being sucked into the intake, it will eventually cause engine failure. The Engine Defect is life-threatening and dangerous. As a result of latent design, manufacturing, material, and/or workmanship defects, the Affected Vehicles are prone to excessive oil consumption and/or the restriction of oil flow through the connecting rod bearings as well as to other vital areas of the Engine, causing the Affected Vehicles to experience sudden vehicle stalling, catastrophic engine failure, and/or non-collision engine fires during operation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Kia America sent me a letter on June 30, 2023, which alerted owners of 2018-2019 Kia vehicles of a possible low-pressure fuel pump leak and explaining a warranty extension. I am distressed and disgruntled, frankly, by this strategy to wait until there is a fuel leak before repairing the problem. My wife and I are in our 70s and travel in the car often on overnight and even two-month trips. We now have to worry that we’ll start to smell fumes while far away from home. This is unacceptable. Why is Kia waiting until owners experience problems before fixing it? I asked our Kia dealer how much it would cost me out of pocket to get the fuel pump replaced now before we are stranded on the road. The dealer would not give an estimate. In addition, I wrote to Kia America and their Customer Care Center about this problem and after a month they have not responded. Finally, I called the Care Center hotline and waited for an hour and finally someone answered, but the connection was lost or the person hung up on me before I could even explain the problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | ENGINE | On a Sunday morning, approximately 168 miles away from my hometown of Fresno,Ca I was on a family road trip to Pismo, Ca when without warning I began to hear a loud knocking noise coming from the Sorento engine.Since the check engine light was not illuminating, I opened the hood of the Sorento to inspect for any obvious signs of what is causing this sound such as any loose part or oil lose. Nothing was apparent loose and full measured at full. I attempted to check the local area for a mechanic to assist but none were open due to the weekend. The vehicle was left parked at this time. Approximately 7 hours later, I attempted to drive the Sorento home when It started to loose power and began to shake while operating it on a heavy trafficked highway CA-101. I had to quickly exit the highway and park the Sorento on the side of the road. Due to the hour of the day, I left the Sorento on the side of the road in front of a GMC dealership in Paso Robles, Ca and received a ride back home to Fresno,Ca. The following morning with the local businesses open, I returned back to Paso Robles and had the Sorento towed to the local Paso Robles Kia by utilizing my roadside assistance towing through my insurance company, GEICO. After about a hour of being at Paso Robles Kia, I received a call from a rep stating that I would need a new engine because it is damaged. I then arranged a $400 tow from Paso Robles, CA to Coalinga, CA where I work to have the car more accessible for me to access during a repair and I could obtain a second opinion on the repair. They too informed me that I would require a new engine. I called Kia and discussed this issue with them due to this issue being a common occurrence, a partially with the 2019 Kia Sorento Model where a Class action suit was initiated. Kia informed me since my VIN was not part of the suit they would not cover the cost. I would like to note that this issued directly reflects the issues reported in the class action suit against Kia. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | AIR BAGS | The contact owned a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH the vehicle crashed head on into a second vehicle. During the crash the vehicle was destroyed but the air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained multiple rib fractures, lower back, and right knee injuries and was transported to the hospital. The driver of the second vehicle had also sustained unknown injuries and was also transported to the hospital. The cause of the failure was not determined. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 60,000. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | 60,000 |
| Jul 2023 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Letter date 6/30/2023= Low pressure fuel pump leak . this should be a recall to fix the problem this saftey problem. Not a extension of the warranty | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | STRUCTURE | My Kia Sorrento Snow White Paint Peeling Chipping Flaking. Rapid peeling of paint. Delamination. My Kia is just a little over three years old. Should not be peeling. This is my second kia. My older one same color no paint issues even after 6 years. Paint is bubbling in some areas and seems like a manufacturer faulty paint job. Paint is coming off in big flakes on doors sides, around windshield and rear hatch area. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES | There are times when I brake, my brakes will jump or skip before completely braking. My brakes have been checked and replaced. I have seen recalls on the Kia Sportage for the braking system and I believe that the Kia Sorento has the same issues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | I was told by the dealer, that we had to have it dropped off at {400 miles from home}, that the oil drain plug fell out and the engine seized. there are are no previous warning lights no temperature rise the car just stalls, then the warning lights for engine and oil come and by this time your engine is dead. Thank God we where stuck in traffic. Otherwise at cruising speed this could have been a very catastrophic event with the possibility of lose of life. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | When driving at certain lower speeds the vehicle is jerky. The car will go into high RPM's when excelerating even when not fully pressing the gas pedal. The engine is burning through oil very quickly. In less than a month from my oil change I have had to put 5 quarts in. When the cruise control is on it sometimes excelerates faster than what it is set for. This has been ongoing for about a year. I have confirmed with 2 shops that I do not have an oil leak. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, he started smelling a burning odor. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated. The contacted pulled over and checked the dip stick which indicated that there was no oil in the oil pan. The contact stated that he had had an oil change several months prior to the failure and had not noticed any oil leaks. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,537. | Crash: No Fire: No | 83,537 |
| May 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | My vehicle has the leaking oil pressure sensor. I have brought my car to Kia multiple times since either 65-89k based on loosing too much oil between oil changes with NO check oil light. I lost an extreme amount of oil between 113k and 115k after they changed my filter and checked my oil levels. Always told there is no leak. Now at 115k and 120k miles I am told that not only is the oil pressure sender leaking but it has been leaking on my wire harness which can create a fire. The oil presser sender has a recall of the 3.3 up until March of 2018, my car has a manufacture date of June of 2018. | Crash: No Fire: No | 150,000 |
| May 2023 | ENGINE | 2019 Kia Sorento- Consumer Complaint- Engine went out after 7 months in to lease. Consumer blamed for damaged done to leased vehicle. Dealership will not honor warranty to repair or exchange. Attached Letter from Office of Attorney General Office Illinois, Retail installment Agreement, GAP Addendum, Vehicle Service Contract, Repair Order, Mechanic Info, & Bill of Sale. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY | 2019 KIA Sorento SXL SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF EXPLOSION, 05/06/13 Car is still under warranty. Conditions: --Open, well maintained highway, nothing nearby (overpass, trees, traffic, etc) to suggest the sunroof was damaged by any foreign object. --Clear, dry, predominately straight roadway, time of day about 7:30pm, temperature about 70°, very light traffic. Was driving south on Maryland Route 6, a 4-lane divided state roadway, when suddenly and without warning the sunroof exploded. Both the sunroof and the interior sunshade were closed at the time. The incident began with a very loud BANG!, followed immediately by the sounds of rushing wind, and the rattling of broken glass on top of the sunshade. A very startling event. Immediately pulled over to the shoulder and found about 60% of the sunroof gone, with some glass debris on the sunshade. The missing glass was from the center of the sunroof, while some glass, though cracked, remained in the frame of the sunroof, on all sides. Drove home at a slower speed and parked car in the garage. Monday, 05/08/23, contacted [XXX], service manager at Bayside KIA of Waldorf. Described the event to [XXX], who immediately indicated the sunroof repair would most likely not be covered under warranty because there would be no way to prove the sunroof damage was the result of a manufacturing defect. He did, reluctantly, offer to examine the damage if I brought the car in to their service department, but the earliest service opening would be on 05/19/23...11 days away! When asked if the dealership could/would provide a loner vehicle in the interim, [XXX] advised all of their loner vehicles were currently in use. Because I need the car repaired as soon as possible, I am working with my insurer who has agreed to cover the repair under my comprehensive coverage (though I, of course, will have to pay the $100 deductible). INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | UNKNOWN: Rapid DELAMINATION of paint (Snow White Pearl). Metal that is not protected, will lead to accelerated and premature rusting. Many Kia owners with Snow White Pearl paint have been encountering the same problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |