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2019 Kia Sorento

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Kia Sorento do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 242.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

114 reports with mileage · 312 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 155 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports19 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

68 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2023
Back Over PreventionElectrical System

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Infotainment screen and back up camera, it is available for Kia at anytime they choose. A complaint has been filed with kia and they have yet to respond. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Failure of the s…

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What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Infotainment screen and back up camera, it is available for Kia at anytime they choose. A complaint has been filed with kia and they have yet to respond. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Failure of the system causes Safety issues for passengers as well as anyone outside of the vehicle while operating said vehicle. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? It is unclear whether or not they have made a Legitimate attempt To reproduce the issues. The Dealership that it was purchased at refused to make any attempt to acknowledge the issue. Kia requested that it Be serviced at a dealership, they had it for 27 days consecutively in 2022 and 91 days in 2023 and made no attempt to reproduce the issue. multiple recordings have been provided to Kia. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes. Kia has had possession of the vehicle 27 consecutive days on 2022 and 91 consecutive days in 2023 Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. Screen malfunctions during use. Flash black Last date of malfunction 11.21.2023. There was a heavy rain 11.20 to 11.21

NHTSA ODI #11557124

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2023
Back Over PreventionElectrical SystemCrash

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 reg…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11551510

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

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.

NHTSA ODI #11547460

150,000 miles · May 18, 2023
Electrical SystemEngine

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11522709

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2023
Back Over PreventionElectrical SystemLane Departure

Unknown Shortly after purchasing this (6 to 8 weeks) rainwater began collecting and falling into the cabin from the dash area when turning. Not long after this started occuring I began to have issues with the infotainment center or other electrical items in the car sporadically restarting while driving. There was one incident…

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Unknown Shortly after purchasing this (6 to 8 weeks) rainwater began collecting and falling into the cabin from the dash area when turning. Not long after this started occuring I began to have issues with the infotainment center or other electrical items in the car sporadically restarting while driving. There was one incident in July 2020 where I called the dealership I purchased this at because we were at the beach in Wisconsin and the car was off. The key was out. The doors were open and the radio would not turn off and the ac was on. I got no response from them. When I had mentioned the issues about things restarting they just said that if it was not happening at that moment they couldn't do anything. Then it started where the screens were restarting and glitching when I was backing up. As a result there was an incident where this occured. My screen (where the back up camera works) went black and the blind spot warning was not working either. I hit a pole trying to get out of a spot I was blocked in at a gas station. It all happened very quickly. Kia was contacted. It took almost 11 months for them to actually take possession of the vehicle at a dealership due to them not having loaner/rental cars or appointments available. They had the vehicle for I believe 28 days. I have documents from the dealership. Per kia I was to take it there so a tech could evaluate it. When I picked it up they said Kia just told them to make sure that the back up camera works. I have provided multiple videos from various incidents over the last 3 years. This is truly becoming a safety issue. I travel 44 miles of major expressway in Michigan daily each way to/from work in Ann Arbor. Having everything turn off/restart/being unable to control/or just not work at all is worse than texting and driving. I never know when something is going to happen https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kRD0RehofbZ818V-GCUhykoeOeL23LeT

NHTSA ODI #11516068

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2022
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

2019 Kia sorento caught on fire while driving. Drivers behind my wife saw flames coming from under motor. They signaled her to pull over and she got out just in time before entire car went up in flames. We believe the fuel pump was faulty as entire motor was on fire.

NHTSA ODI #11496522

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2022
Electrical SystemSteering

There is a hiss noise coming from the steering when you are making a left or right turn.

NHTSA ODI #11465443

40,000 miles · Apr 12, 2021
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #11407538

46,500 miles · Jan 22, 2021
Electrical SystemFire

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 B…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11389438

18,000 miles · Jun 29, 2020
Electrical System

THE POWER WINDOWS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY ARE ALL ON AN AUTOMATIC FEATURE, SO WHEN YOU TOUCH THE BUTTON THEY WILL EITHER GO DOWN OR GO UP ALL THE WAY, AND YOU CANNOT STOP THEM. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN OR UP PART OF THE WAY. MY CHILD'S FINGER GOT CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW WHEN I TRIED TO RAISE IT UP HALF WAY. I TO…

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THE POWER WINDOWS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY ARE ALL ON AN AUTOMATIC FEATURE, SO WHEN YOU TOUCH THE BUTTON THEY WILL EITHER GO DOWN OR GO UP ALL THE WAY, AND YOU CANNOT STOP THEM. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN OR UP PART OF THE WAY. MY CHILD'S FINGER GOT CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW WHEN I TRIED TO RAISE IT UP HALF WAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT'S THE WAY KIA DESIGNED IT, NOTHING CAN BE DONE. THEN I SAW THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BEING HANDLED BY A LAW FIRM BASED ON KIA AND HYUNDAI MODELS FROM 2016-2020. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD THIS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. KIA NEEDS TO BE PROSECUTED. HTTPS://TOPCLASSACTIONS.COM/LAWSUIT-SETTLEMENTS/AUTO-NEWS/VEHICLE-SAFETY-DEFECT-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-INVESTIGATION/

NHTSA ODI #11331407

Official recalls

2

23V639000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Sep 15, 2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Sorento vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, water may leak into the rearview camera, which can cause the rearview camera image not to appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and add additional water proofing to the camera harness, or replace the camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 8, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC282.

22V703000 · Trailer Hitches

Sep 19, 2022

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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