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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
| Oct 2020 | ENGINE | WHEN TAKING OFF, IT SPITS AND SPUTTERS AND THE RPMS GO DOWN TO ZERO AS PULLING OUT IN THE HIGHWAY. SAFETY ISSUE! THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,300 |
| Sep 2020 | POWER TRAIN | INCONSISTENT POWER TO THE WHEELS ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD BUT ALSO ON FREEWAY. UNEVEN DELIVERY OF POWER TO THE WHEELS IS USUALLY CALLED TRANSMISSION SURGE FROM A LACK OF CONSISTENT FLUID PRESSURE BEING MAINTAINED IN EACH GEAR. HAS BUCKED HARD ENOUGH IN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR TO ROCK MY HEAD FORWARD AND BACK. IN ECO MODE IT'S DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. MORE THAN ONCE I THOUGHT I'D BE HT BY ANOTHER CAR TRYING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY CITY STREET. DOES THIS LESS IN COMFORT MODE. THIS HAPPENED ON MANY DATES BUT BELOW YOU ONLY ALLOW TP PICK ONE SO I [PICKED ONE DATE. IT DOESN'T BUCK IN COMFORT MDE BUT THE STUTTER OR SURGE IS STILL THERE. IN THE FIRST 4-5,000 MILES, MAYBE 10 TIMES OR SO, AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON A CITY STREET WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKES, I HAVE FELT IT DROP INTO FIRST GEAR. THREE OR FOUR OF THOSE TIMES IT WAS SUCH A DISTINCT THUD I COULD FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE SEAT AND THE FLOORBOARD. EITHER IT HADN'T FULLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST BY THE TIME I STOPPED, OR IT DOWNSHIFTED ALL THE WAY INTO 1ST THEN INTO TO NEUTRAL, AND WHAT I'M FEELING IS IT FALL BACK INTO 1ST. DEALER SAID MECHANIC COULDN'T DUPLICATE MY SURGE PROBLEM. I DEMANDED A TEST DRIVE WITH THE MECHANIC AND WENT TO A SMOOTH PART OF A NEARBY ROAD WHERE HE SAID HE 'COULD FEEL IT SOME BUT IT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH FOR KIA TO FIX IT. LET US KNOW IF IT GETS WORSE'. THE FLIP SIDE OF THIS STATEMENT IS: GEE, TOO BAD YOUR ANTICIPATED NEW CAR JOY ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT KIA IS HAPPY WITH IT'S ANTICIPATED PROFIT, AND WON'T ACT ON THIS UNLESS IT GETS WORSE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO SAY COSTCO GAS IS THE PROBLEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | ENGINE | ENGINE HESITATES OR JERKS UNTIL IT WARMS UP. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY IT IS NOTHING IS WRONG. BASED ON ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM IT DEFINITELY IS NOT NORMAL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 23,000 |
| Aug 2020 | SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES | ON 7/25/2020, MY 2019 KIA SORENTO HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 4 MONTHS. I TOOK MY SORENTO TO MY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A "DEFORMED BOOSTER BRAKES VACUUM HOSE"WHICH THEY REPLACED (2 DAYS IN THE SHOP MARCH 23RD TOO MUCH 25TH). ON JULY 13, 2020 IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, FOR THE SECOND TIME. A WEEK LATER(JULY 25TH) THEY CALL TO ME TO PICK UP THE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACE THE HOST WITH AN UPDATED VACUUM HOSE, AND THAT KIA COOPERATION ENGINEERS WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. ON SATURDAY 5 DAYS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WHICH RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS CALLING IT A TOTAL LOST. MY CAR IS A LEASE WITH 9,800 MILES ONLY.I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR ONLY. MY WAS NOT THE ONLY KIA SORENTO BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT SHOULD I DO? | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | 9,850 |
| Jul 2020 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP (19TH AVE AND VINEYARD) THE CAR WILL HESITATE THEN TAKE OFF AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED. THERE HAS BEEN INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKE SYSTEM HESITATES TO STOP, ALMOST LIKE A DELAYED REACTION (MOSTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON LOCAL STREETS SUCH AS WEST BOUND BASELINE RD). THE BRAKES SQUILL (ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKING) SO BAD AND SO LOUD. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN RIPPED OFF ON A CAR THAT'S ALREADY GIVING PROBLEMS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS OF PURCHASE. THE CITY OF ALL INSTANCES IS PHOENIX, AZ. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2020 | POWER TRAIN | THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING. ACCELERATION IS VERY SLOW IN EVERY MODE EXCEPT SPORT. THE TRANSMISSION STILL HESITATES. VERY UNSAFE. THIS OCCURS WHEN KIA IS FIRST STARTED OR ACCELERATING AFTER A TURN. IT'S ALSO NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING WHILE MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |