Complaint volume
416 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
416 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Kia Sorento, grouped by component category.
416 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 112 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 41,292 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
20 Towed
8 Medical attention
What are the most common 2019 Kia Sorento complaint categories?
ENGINE 96
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 46
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
416 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2022 | STRUCTURE | Front bumper (black) is peeling. Local repair shop said the bumper was not properly primed before they (KIA) painted them. Peeling started 9/15/2021 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2022 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V519000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 75,000 |
| May 2022 | POWER TRAIN | JERKS IN LOWER GEARS AND SOMETIMES SPEADS UP WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO STOP AND/OR SLOW DOWN & WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN, CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT ON i95 WHILE MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME!!!! WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK THE CAR SLIGHTLY SPED UP BEFORE STOPPING CAUSING ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS MY SECOND KIA CAR, THE FIRST WAS AN OPTIMA. I THOUGHT KIA'S WERE STRONG, RELIABLE AND SAFE CARS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!! | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Apr 2022 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | What component failed-High pressure fuel pump. It would have to be towed from place of inspected. They cannot put the part back inside the car; the part went "poof" into big chunks after it was taken apart. Mine and my children's saftey; our lives were put at risk on April 5th, 2022. We were driving home from school in a 40 mph zone. At the stop light when the light had turned green when the gas pedal was pressed down the car drove at less then 5mph and then stalled out. There was zero power to the gas pedal. We had to pull over and restart car and hope there was power. We were only down the street from our home. I had to baby the gas pedal and could not get to pass 10 mph in a 40mph zone and then a 25mph zone. The car then sat on our driveway until we could take it to our auto shop on April 19th, 2022. The KIA then turned on and had the check engine light on now. The car would drive up to 38mph in Eco mode only before it would start to spurter and slow down itself on its own. There was hardly any power to the gas pump again. When I entered the auto parking lot there was a very faint squeal sound coming from the engine area. When the auto place called they told us when the part was taken out "the internal parts disintegratend" and the part cannot be placed back in the KIA. The high pressure fuel pump did not handle the "fuel pressure". This has been a concern for many KIA's that have come through the auto place. They had said they have seen KIA's of all styles as far back to 2017 having this issue and that the part is on a national back order with zero ETA of being back in stock. How can a car part not be on a recall and be on a national back order. I had called PEAK KIA in Littleton, CO. I was told that the high pressure fuel pump went bad on my account. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2022 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | During use wipers at times will random stop in up position on windshield. Intermittent problem will start working again after toggling wiper switch. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2022 | AIR BAGS | The contact owned a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a lamp post. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact's wife later received medical treatment for a fractured vertebra, right hip, and groin injury. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The VIN was unavailable. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 50,000 |
| Feb 2022 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Whenever I am stopped at a stoplight and in the close vicinity of a vehicle powered by electricity (specifically Tesla) or dual powered vehicles, the front warning lights start acting up. First going to (green) warning, then to (yellow) warning, and sometimes all the way to (red) warning. This happens even when the stopped vehicle is in the lane next to me and is parallel to me. The whole time all vehicles are stopped and waiting for the traffic to start moving. In my opinion this is very dangerous. Hopefully this is not affecting any of the other computer functions. This has been going on for at least 5 months. Consumer stated it only started about 6 months ago and really is only the late model Tesla an Prius models that cause the crash sensors to go off. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2022 | POWER TRAIN | Vehicle hesitates upon acceleration on takeoff. At times it will almost stop. This has been a problem since purchase date 7/11/2019. Dealer has no solution and there has been no recall. Dealer has other 2019 Sorentos with the same problem, but has not been able to duplicate the problem with our vehicle. This is very problematic when pulling into traffic from a standstill or accelerating from a stop light. No inspections have been made other than dealer. No warning signals have ever appeared.....JUST A DEFINITE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My 2019 Snow White KIA Sorento paint started peeling up on the driver side hood and wasn't caused by any type of damage. Took the vehicle to the local KIA dealership and was told that my 3 year 36000 mile warranty was expired and there was nothing they would do to correct this issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER | THIS IS ONGOING CONDITION FROM DELIVERY OF VEHICLE. BASED ON CAR COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED ON CAR COMPLAINTS.COM WE BELIEVE KIA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS SOME SORT OF RELATIONSHIP OF NIGHT DRIVING AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THAT CAUSES VERY DARK SHADOW ON WINDSHIELD THAT ABSTRUCTS DRIVER VISION. WE FURTHER ASSERT THAT KNOWING THIS KIA WILLFULLY ADJUSTS HEADLIGHTS TOO HIGH TO TRY TO CONCEAL PROBLEM.(DEALER SAID THEY WERE SET 8" TOO HIGH. BUT WHEN ADJUSTED TO FACTORY SETTINGS THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. CASE NUMBER ENTERED WITH KIA. NOW IN ESCALATION MODE ... HOWEVER WE LIVE ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN WITH 3000 FOOT DROPS IF OUR VISION IS OBSTRUCTED AND WE MISS EDGE OF ROAD. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED BACK TO THE HIGHER SETTING BUT WE FEEL THAT WILL BLIND ON COMING CARS STILL ANOTHER SAFETY DANGER. KIA MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM. i HAVE PHOTOS TO SHOW THIS LIMITED VISION NIGHT DRIVING LOW BEAM RURAL ROAD SAFETY PROB LEM | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | In September 2021 the driver side turn signal would intermediately work. Replaced the bulb twice with no difference. Upon further inspection, found 2 wires corroded together. Being the vehicle is still under warranty, the Sorento was taken to a Kia dealership in October 2021 which we were told it was damage and not under warranty, and a new harness would need to be installed. No mentioned of why the wires over heated, became brittle, and melted together. During that time, the headlight functions started to decrease drastically as I refused a new harness install being that wouldn't solve the problem of why it happened. No warning lights appeared on dash, no messages, just our first clue something was wrong was the driver turn signal was working in spurts. I ended up pig tailing the light socket in fear of a fire and to fight Kia as this is a dangerous situation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The factory design of the low beam headlights seems to have a feature that prevents up-shining into oncoming traffic. However, this design results in a dark shadow-line across the field of vision. This dark shadow-line results in poor visibility especially when driving in areas that are very dark. The shadow-line makes it look like I'm driving into the bat-cave. I have observed on some online Kia Sorento user forums of the same complaint. My Kia dealer claims that this is a factory design and there is no remedy. I have uploaded 3 photos taken from inside the car parked in front of my white garage door. You can see the horizontal shadow-line and two "teeth" that hang down in the field of view. The line is not very pronounced against the white door, but is very much so when driving on a dark road. Please investigate and advise. Thank you very much. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | When driving at night, the headlights appear to be pointed excessively in a down direction leaving me with a dark shadowy area within my line of eyesight. Headlights checked at dealership and reported back as no issues. My Kia owners manual states in chapter 4 page 129 that the headlight beam levels are automatically adjusted depending on the number of passengers and weight in the trunk and other driving conditions. Also advises to contact Kia dealership with any issues. Done! The Kia dealership informed me that my model does not have the Dynamic Bending Light referred to in Chapter 4 page 130 of the owners manual. At this point if I want to have light in my sight line, I must drive with my headlights on high beam. Oncoming drivers beware! This issue needs to be addressed by Kia. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | POWER TRAIN | We have been experiencing a lost of power. The engine sputters and loses power when accelerating. This has happened on several occasions. Today, 10/11/2021, we were nearly hit four times on interstate 580 in Oakland. We were travelling in the number two lane at sixty miles per hour. I began to accelerate to reach the speed limit when the Sorento began to sputter and lost power to five miles per hour. As we lost power the vehicle behind me nearly rear-ended our vehicle. As we moved to the shoulder we were almost struck two more times. Once on the shoulder I turned the Kia off and back on. I attempted to accelerate on the shoulder and it sputtered and lost powers at twenty miles per hour to five miles per hour. I have done research and its apparent there is a major safety issue with this year. Its unfortunate it take a loss of life (or lives) to have a major recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2021 | STRUCTURE | Pearl white paint peeling and chipping on hood of vehicle and bumper. KIA has known knowledge and history of this defect of the 2019 Kia Sorento with the Pearl white paint and hasn't stop using this color paint. Paint flakes has to go somewhere, air, water, etc. Hazardous material.This not just a touch up job, expensive procedure, have to restore the whole area, with the ensure that the paint matches up and possible cause of repainting again in the future. Kia needs to be held responsible for permitting defective equipment on the road. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | STEERING,STRUCTURE,SEATS | My Vehicle was stolen from my residential home. My window was buss out and they stole my vehicle. After over two weeks my vehicle was finally retrieved by the police and city of Milwaukee tow lot. I was told by financing company as well as police department to go get pictures of vehicle as reported from tow company that my vehicle was completely totaled out. I went and retrieved pictures seeing that my car was totaled. With this being said i don't have a vehicle for me or my children to be able to get to work and or school and daycare. I don't know what I'm going to do with trying to not jeopardize my job with getting to work. So I'm writing this so that KIA company can be held accountable for not recalling these vehicles and putting me and my children during this pandemic at risk of losing everything home, job and more. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I was driving along the road on a light traffic day, I approaching an intersection when the traffic light turned red, I tried engaging brakes and they would not engage. As I approached the intersection I became fearful of colliding with multiple vehicles and due to brakes failing I encroached the intersection when I was T-boned by another driver. I see various complaints of brakes and the lack of stopping power for this particular vehicle. I advise anyone else to avoid purchasing this vehicle if you value yours and your families safety. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 4 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Headlights causing moving shadows, blind areas, phantom objects. Unsafe because visibility is reduced, compromised. Dangerous to operators and passengers. Has a high probability of causing an accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I was driving at 65 mph on the freeway. The weather was clear and the road is clear and there was no traffic. While I was driving, I heard a loud explosion and heard wind right after. I pulled at the first exit to check what had happened and saw the sunroof was shattered with a large hole about 12 inches in diameter in the glass. The interior sunroof shade was closed the entire time I was driving. Very little glass entered the car cabin and the interior sunroof shade currently shows no signs of holes or damage. Upon initial inspection, there appears to be little glass in between the sunroof shade and sunroof. It appears the vibration of the vehicle caused the sunroof to shatter in an upward motion. In addition, please note that no items were being carried on the oem roofrack. The car windows were also closed when this happened. I have 2 babies that were sleeping in the backseat when this occurred. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRVING AND A SEMI TRUCK ALMOST RAN INTO ME. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AND WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM EXIST. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR THERE 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR 3 MONTHS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Mar 2021 | LANE DEPARTURE | WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR A DURATION OF 1 TO 3 HOURS THE "COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM" FAULTS OUT, LIGHTS A WARNING ON THE DASH AND TOTALLY STOPS FUNCTIONING. THE TEXT WARNING GOES AWAY AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND A TRIANGULAR WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. THE SYSTEM REMAINS INOPERABLE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE TRIP. OVERNIGHT SOMETIMES THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO RESET AND EVERYTHING RETURNS TO NORMAL AND THE SYSTEM AGAIN WORKS FOR 1 - 3 HOURS THEN THE CYCLE REPEATS ITSELF. WE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE. THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT RELIABLE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,350 |
| Jan 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I BEGAN SMELLING BURNT PLASTIC AND MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN MY DASHBOARD. SHORTLY AFTER, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY DASHBOARD (ENGINE, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, ETC). MY VEHICHLE WOUND UP DYING COMPLETELY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I BROUGHT IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALL OF THE INTERNAL WIRING WAS BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO TELL WHERE THE PROBLEM STARTED OR ENDED. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE DIED WHEN IT DID BECAUSE SOME OF THE BURNT WIRE WAS AN INCH AWAY FROM MY FUEL LINE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO EXPLODE IF IT WAS RUNNING ANY LONGER. THE END RESULT OF DAMAGES THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED INCLUDE A NEW ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, ENGINE HARNESS, O2 SENSOR TO NAME A FEW. ULTIMATELY THEY CLAIMED WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER AN "ACT OF GOD" SO MY INSURANCE WAS FORCED TO COVER THE COST OF THE DAMAGE. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | 46,500 |
| Dec 2020 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF CLEVELAND (2492 S. LEE HWY, CLEVELAND, TN 37311; (423)693-0505) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2020 | POWER TRAIN | JERKS IN LOWER GEARS WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO STOP AND/OR SLOW IT DOWN WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN, BAD WORKMANSHIP ON KIA'S PART. KEEPS HAPPENING EVERYTIME. THIS IS MY SECOND CAR, THE FIRST IS SEDONA, THOUGHT KIA'S WERE STRONG, RELIABLE AND STURDY CARS, BUT SADLY DISAPPOINTED. NEVER AGAIN ANOTHER KIA. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Nov 2020 | ENGINE | ENGINE TROUBLE. ENGINE FAILURE AND STALLING PROBLEMS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,800 |