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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | STEERING | IN STATIONARY POSITION. CAR OFF. THE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF. THE PLASTIC CONNECTING THEM DID NOT MATCH AND IS OF POOR DESIGN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,700 |
| Apr 2019 | SEAT BELTS | REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT STAY LATCHED. I HAVE CAR SEATS INSTALLED WITH THE SEAT BELTS AND THE KEEP COMING UNDONE, WHETHER THERE IS A CHILD IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AT 167 MILES!! AM AT 417 NOW AND IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 MORE TIMES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 167 |
| Feb 2019 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM ARE AIMED TOO HIGH AND ARE BLINDING AT NIGHT. EVERY CAR THAT PASSES ME AT NIGHT FLASHES THEIR HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AT ME; EVEN A STATE TROOPER FLASHED HIS LIGHTS AT ME AND BLUE LIGHTS, HE DIDN'T PULL ME OVER. I FEEL BAD DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT, PEOPLE ARE THINKING I'M RUDE FOR DRIVING WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON, WHEN I'M USING MY LOW BEAMS. THE HIGH BEAMS ON THIS VEHICLE OFFER NO ADDITIONAL LIGHTING OF THE ROAD, BUT THEY DO LIGHT UP THE TOPS OF TREES VERY WELL. ALSO, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE POINTED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND LEAVE A LARGE DARK " V " SHAPED VOID IN THE MIDDLE, EXACTLY WHERE MY EYES FOCUS ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER CHECKED EVERYTHING, STATES OPERATING AS DESIGNED, THEY HAVE NO ABILITY TO ADJUST THE LIGHTS. PER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT: THE KIA TECH LINE PERSONNEL ARE DENYING THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS. THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING KIA NEEDS TO FIX. THE LIGHTS ARE THE ONLY THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THE VEHICLE, AND IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 1400 MILES SO FAR. THE PROBLEM IS MOSTLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK UNLIT ROADS, HIGHWAYS OR RURAL DRIVING. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I WAS DRIVING IN A NORMAL FREEWAY, BEAUTIFUL DAY, SUDDENLY FOR NOT REASON MY FRON WINDSHIELD GOT A CRACK, OUT OF THE BLUE, VERY SCARY. I DID CALL KIA RIGHT THE WAY, I TOLD THEM I WAS DRIVING FROM LA TO SAN FRANCISCO ON THE FREEWAY 5, ON VACATION FOR 4 DAYS, WHAT HAPPEN, I WAS AFRAID THE CRACK CONTINUE EXPANDING, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER & THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT - WHEN I CAME BACK AFTER MY VACATION WITH THE KIDS, WE CALLED WENT TO DEALER KIA IN GLENDALE, THEY SAID WAS A ROCK!! WON'T COVER IT, I CALLED MANUFACTURER AGAIN, THEY SAID DON'T WORRY GO AGAIN TO DEALER THEY WILL HELP YOU OUT, NOBODY IS HELPING US, CAR IS NOT SAFE, WE HAD BEEN MISTREATED, VERBALLY ABUSE 7 NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING TO HELP US OUT. CAR WAS BRAND NEW, LESS THAN 30 DAYS, DEFECTIVE, YOU CAN TRUST THIS CAR, IT IS A RIP OFF!! VERY UPSTED & DEAPOINTED WITH KIA, 1ST AND LAST TIME. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 30 YEARS, NEVER HAD A SITUATION LIKE THIS WITH ANY CAR | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | BLIND SPOT WARNING QUITS AFTER EXTENDED DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. WHICH I UNDERSTAND BUT IT WILL NOT WORK FOR A WEEK OR SO AFTER. DEALER WORKED ON IT TWICE ALREADY. KIA TEC SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL IF, IT JUST STOPPED WORKING DURING THE RAIN IS ONE THING, BUT NOT TO WORK FOR A WEEK AFTER IS NOT RIGHT. BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY FEATURE AND PAID GOOD MONEY FOR IT. THE DEALER AGREES WITH ME AND ALSO SAYS ITS NOT RIGHT ,BUT KIA DOES NOT WANT TO BACK UP THIS WARRANTY. KIA HAS A 9 OR 10 POINT BULLETIN ON WHEN THIS FEATURE WILL NOT WORK BUT WILL NOT TELL YOU BEFORE YOU BUY THE CAR. THE DEALER AGREED WITH ME KIA HAS A MOISTURE PROBLEM, BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Nov 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | REFER TO COMPLAINTS 11111999 (7/17/18) AND 11142824 (10/26/18) ON THIS SITE WHICH ARE SIMILAR. WHEN DRIVING IN DARK, RURAL AREAS WITH LOW BEAMS ON, TWO INVERTED "HALF MOON" SHADOWS DISRUPT THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE. AS THE VEHICLE TURNS, THESE HEADLIGHTS ALSO TURN (AS THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO) AND THIS MAKES THE DISRUPTION TO SAFE OPERATION EVEN WORSE. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AFTER DELIVERY (8/2018) AND WE WERE REFERRED TO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THEY OPENED A "CASE", THEN CLOSED IT ABRUPTLY, AND AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINT, HAVE REOPENED A NEW "CASE". THEY HAVE STATED THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS THEIR POSITION IF THAT THE VEHICLE IS "PERFORMING AS DESIGNED". AS THEY ABRUPTLY CLOSED THE FIRST CASE THEY OFFERED "FREE 3-YEAR MAINTENANCE" (OIL CHANGES) WHICH WE REFUSED AS THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. WE CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, NOR USE THIS 7-PASSENGER VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT OUR GRANDCHILDREN, MAKING IT VIRTUALLY USELESS FOR OUR NEEDS. KIA HAS CONFIRMED THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS "CASE" OTHER THAN TO LEAVE IT "OPEN" WE URGE NHTSA TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE AND THE NON-RESPONSIVE KIA ORGANIZATION WHO ARE REFUSING ACTION AND HIDING BEHIND THEIR "PERFORMING AS DESIGNED" EXCUSE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Oct 2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | IN ANY DARK AREA WHEN USING LOW BEAMS ARE USED A SHADE COMES DOWN ACROSS FRONT WINDSHIELD AND YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT IN MOTION AND STATIONARY DARK CITY STREETS , BACK RDS.ANY WHERE IT IS PITCH DARK. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2018 | SEAT BELTS | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALERT DID NOT CHIME WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED. THE CONTACT CALLED SOUTH HILLS KIA AT 724-942-3000 (LOCATED AT 3644 WASHINGTON RD, MCMURRAY, PA 15317) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN PROMISED TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND CALL THE CONTACT BACK, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800. *TT CONSUMER STATED PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT NO WARNING LIGHT OR SOUND. UPDATED 11/28/18*JB *JS | Crash: No Fire: No | 800 |
| Aug 2018 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | CAR HAS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING IN ECONO MODE. WILL HESITATE WHEN GIVEN GAS IN MORNING AND AT TIMES WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. NOTE NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE PROBLEM BEFORE LEASING OF CAR. TOLD BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR OTHER DRIVERS OR ACCIDENTS. NOTE BY MILEAGE WAS NEVER TEST DRIVEN AFTER SO CALLED FIX. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | AT NIGHT TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE HEAD LAMPS ARE ON, THERE ARE TWO TRIANGULAR SHAPED OBJECTS THAT ARE SHADOWED FROM PART OF THE HEAD LAMP HOUSING. THESE PROJECT INTO THE DISTANCE AND ARE AN OBSTRUCTION AND MAKE THE DRIVER DIZZY AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THERE IS SOMETHING AHEAD THAT YOU MAY HIT. THESE SHAPES ALSO MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS YOU DRIVE AROUND BENDS IN THE ROAD MAKING IT EVEN WORSE AND MAKING THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS DIZZY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WILL LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AT NIGHT DUE TO THIS FLAW IN THE DESIGN. I HAVE A CASE LOGGED WITH KIA AND THEY SAY THAT THE DESIGN CANNOT CHANGE AND THAT THEY HAVE MANUFACTURED OVER 10,00+ OF THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND IT IS VERY POORLY DESIGNED AND VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE EVENING. EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW THIS AND NOT BUY THIS CAR, I ALSO NOW HAVE TO FIGHT WITH KIA TO GET MY MONEY BACK WHICH WILL NOT BE FUN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27 |