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ProblemsByVin Index / 2019-KIA-SORENTO / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2019 Kia Sorento owner complaints

412 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 3 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

engine 6 complaints shown

115 total in this category · severe · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
12/30/2025 ODI #11707881.0

At 79,000, the engine started running very rough. I took it to the dealer. It’s got a cylinder that won’t fire. I have an extended warranty( big $!) but I’m getting the runaround from Kia. It’s been almost 3 weeks. They’re dragging their feet because they know these Theta II engines are JUNK! I’ve maintained my own vehicles my entire adult life, and I don’t drive crazy either. It also had a knock sensor recall, which most likely kept this issue from being a recall

12/23/2024 ODI #11632185.0

The engine blew up. I have all of my oil change receipts and gave them to West Herr Kia, and per Kia West Herr, Kia denied covering the blown engine because the piston went through the engine with great force. This happened at approximately 110,000 miles. West Herr Kia quoted 10,400 to replace the engine. Please let me know if you would like copies of the oil changes. I won't be able to upload all.of them.

12/19/2025 ODI #11706175.0

Oil pressure sensor light came on when I would stop or park after 10-20 minutes of driving. Vehicle was low on oil so I added a quart. About a week later the light came on again so I took it to get oil changed at an independent shop. They said a change wasn’t necessary as I still had 2000 miles left, but said they would top it off if needed. It was half a quart low so they topped it off. On the way home the light came on again. Took it to the dealership where it was diagnosed as an oil pressure sensor failure. Vehicle has 103,000 miles so I was out of warranty. This vehicle is not eligible for the extended warranty for the oil pressure sensor issue provided by Kia as the extended warranty was only for models up to 2018, or vehicles manufactured up until March 2018. This is a 2019 that was

12/19/2022 90,000 mi Fire ODI #11498031.0

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the check engine light illuminated the instrument panel. The next day, the contact stated that while driving into her independent mechanic's shop, white smoke began to emit from the vehicle as the vehicle caught fire. The contact immediately exited the vehicle with her grandchildren as the independent mechanic managed to extinguish the vehicle with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was not notified of the failure. The contact sustained severe trauma as a result of the fire. The dealer was notified of the failure and gave her an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred to the NHTSA. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of th

12/16/2020 ODI #11383813.0

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.

12/14/2022 Fire ODI #11497498.0

The evening of December 13, the driver noticed an engine rattle when accelerating. No “check engine” or other warnings were displayed. The morning of December 14, the vehicle stalled. The driver waited then restarted the vehicle, which immediately turned over. The driver perceived no issues with electronics or engine and, again, the vehicle displayed no warnings or alerts. Upon accelerating from the location at which the vehicle was stopped, the driver heard a “boom” and the vehicle cabin filled with smoke. Upon exiting the vehicle and attempting to ascertain the issue, the driver noticed flames. The entire engine became engulfed.

other 6 complaints shown

12/29/2023 ODI #11562669.0

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 prob

12/28/2025 ODI #11707323.0

A noisy steering wheel column while driving ,car suspension was check everything was ok

12/24/2024 ODI #11632284.0

Master warning, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, and high beam assist warning lights on. Message boards mention similar problems and there have been front and rear camera recalls for Telluride and other models of Kia, but not for Sorento. Similar problem occurred a few months ago when car died while going at highway speeds. This resolved after cleaning radar cover, cameras and sensors, but are not resolving current problem. Lane assist and departure are not working. We have not taken it to dealer yet. Our 2019 Sorento has not been included in recalls for this specific problem.

12/18/2025 ODI #11705940.0

The paint peeled off on my hood in several places and on the fenders, I was driving in the rain and a big sheet of the paint on my hood peeled off and flew up on my windshield on the driver side causing me to run off the road because I couldn’t see, I took it to the Jenkins Kia dealership in Ocala, Fl and was told by the service people there that they would not fix it that it was my responsibility, they were very rude even though I was really shaken after running off the road now I have small rust spots all over my car , can you please help me?

12/18/2024 ODI #11631513.0

. In October 2023 (see KIA service ticket) my KIA was brought into Jackson KIA Cocoa, FL, for something not operating correctly. The vehicle periodically would hesitate when pressing the accelerator and other times when you had pressed the accelerator to go faster and removed your foot from the accelerator, the vehicle would not slow down, rather continue to speed up even if you tapped the brakes. The service technician had the vehicle for two days and confirmed during several of his test drives that the vehicle would hesitate and speed up with your foot off the accelerator. The service technician said the fuel pump was the issue; however, to cover it under our vehicle warranty, the vehicle would need to generate either a service code error or the indicator light would have to turn on.

12/16/2024 ODI #11630983.0

Snow White Pearl Paint, there are several vehicles including mine that have peeling paint all over the vehicle, in both Kia and Hyundai vehicles, the paint peels when it rains or anything else! No one at the Corporate office or dealership will speak to this, and says that after 36 months it isn't their problem, I have been told that this is a wide spread issue and that it is on most of all vehicles that are this color.

body 4 complaints shown

33 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $1,500 · see body cluster analysis →
12/29/2025 ODI #11707683.0

Paint peeling issues with the snow white paint

12/26/2025 ODI #11707140.0

The Snow White Pearl Paint Color is peeling off my entire car, compromising the vehicle since the metal is no longer being protected. I took it into a KIA dealership and they acknowledged the paint defect but said they can’t do anything about it even though they know that there is a manufacture defect with this specific paint color. There was no warning, my car is parked in the garage and so it’s not even exposed to the elements all the time and the paint just started peeling. This paint color has a known defect for not adhering to the primer and KIA won’t do anything about it.

12/22/2021 ODI #11444660.0

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.

12/19/2022 ODI #11498038.0

Paint is peeling and flaking off rapidly on my Kia. I had rocks kicked back on my vehicle while driving causing the paint to crack down to the 2nd layer of primer. It is snow white pearl color and it was told to me by a mechanic and by the insurance representative that there is a manufacturer error in the paint color on my specific model. I will continue to have these issues, forking out thousands of dollars to have the paint repaired, for every incident that may happen. I'm concerned that this will create a safety hazard while driving for me as the driver as well as other drivers. I called Kia to see what they would do about it and they said nothing because there's no recall.

electrical 1 complaint shown

62 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/17/2025 Fire ODI #11705499.0

On December 16, 2025 at approximately 0830 hrs. EST my wife attempted to start the above vehicle. There was an "odd" odor in the garage by the vehicle at the time. She was unable to start the vehicle, there were not functional lights and no other accessories were functional. I perfomed a test on the battery later in the afternoon using a battery testing probe, it indicated the battery was non-functional. At approximately 1515 hrs. EST I replaced the battery in the above vehicle. Upon replacement of the battery the vehicle was started and run for approximately 3 minutes to ensure all systems checked alright and there was no damage from the loss of the. I then was standing at the back of the vehicle and noted smoke coming from the tail lights and from under the liftgate. I opened the rear l

lighting 1 complaint shown

16 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $250 · see lighting cluster analysis →
12/15/2025 ODI #11705005.0

Headlights burn out within weeks to months after replacing them, overheat, flicker when driving. Has been a recurring problem since being bought in 2019.

visibility 1 complaint shown

8 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $350 · see visibility cluster analysis →
12/15/2023 ODI #11560350.0

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.

powertrain 1 complaint shown

47 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/14/2020 20,000 mi ODI #11383367.0

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.

Showing 300 of 412 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Kia/Sorento#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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