Engine burning oil Failed oil consumption test done by dealership - had to get engine replaced Still noticing stuttering and fluctuating power at times. Failure of Snow White Pearl paint delamination issue causing the top-coat to lift off of underlying primer. Rust has started in some of the spots
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sorento years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
110 reportsThe paint is peeling in sheets, especially above the windshield, leaving the vehicle unprotected and vulnerable to rust. There were no chips or damage in this area prior to the paint beginning to peel away and once it started it's been progressing very quickly. Other owners have reported similar issues with this paint color (I b…
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The paint is peeling in sheets, especially above the windshield, leaving the vehicle unprotected and vulnerable to rust. There were no chips or damage in this area prior to the paint beginning to peel away and once it started it's been progressing very quickly. Other owners have reported similar issues with this paint color (I believe it's pearl white) in Kia other forums online
My rear backup camera stopped working this year it's either a black screen or blinking screen no video will play. When I first started the video was foggy like moisture was in the camera and now it shows nothing. Other Kia sorento's my same model year have had a recall for the backup camera but mine is not on the recall list for…
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My rear backup camera stopped working this year it's either a black screen or blinking screen no video will play. When I first started the video was foggy like moisture was in the camera and now it shows nothing. Other Kia sorento's my same model year have had a recall for the backup camera but mine is not on the recall list for some reason.
I have a 2019 Sorento my car was loud when I start it so I took it into my KIA dealership. They found that my muffler had come apart at the seam, but that it is not under warrenty. My concern is that if anyone is sitting in a parked car with the windows up they could be overcome by the exhault fumes.
My Kia Sorrento 2019 model has dashboard cracks on the driver as well as the passenger side. I tried calling the KIA dealership that sold me the car to help me with the goodwill repair and they refused to do so. Its very expensive to replace or repair but most importantly it poses a grave risk to me and my family. Airbag Danger:…
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My Kia Sorrento 2019 model has dashboard cracks on the driver as well as the passenger side. I tried calling the KIA dealership that sold me the car to help me with the goodwill repair and they refused to do so. Its very expensive to replace or repair but most importantly it poses a grave risk to me and my family. Airbag Danger: Cracks near the passenger airbag can become shrapnel during deployment.Electronics: Dust and moisture can fall into the cracks and ruin hidden wires causing extensive damage to the car. KIA needs to take responsibility for this and either change the material used to make this for the future and repair the existing customers cars.
My 2019 Kia Sorento suddenly began making loud knocking noises from the engine and immediately lost all acceleration while I was driving with my children in the car. The vehicle would not respond when pressing the gas, and the check engine light came on. This created a terrifying situation because I had no power to merge or move…
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My 2019 Kia Sorento suddenly began making loud knocking noises from the engine and immediately lost all acceleration while I was driving with my children in the car. The vehicle would not respond when pressing the gas, and the check engine light came on. This created a terrifying situation because I had no power to merge or move out of traffic, and I had my [XXX], [XXX] and [XXX] children with me.The engine now knocks severely and has almost no power at all. The oil level is full, so this is not due to low oil or lack of maintenance. This appears to be a sudden internal engine failure consistent with known Kia engine defects involving rod bearings, timing issues, and loss of compression.I am reporting this because the vehicle is unsafe to drive and put my children at risk. Kia is refusing to cover the engine failure even though this matches the same symptoms seen in other Kia engine recalls. I am extremely concerned that this defect could have caused an accident or left us stranded in a dangerous situation. I need this investigated as a serious safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am filing a safety complaint regarding my vehicle following service performed at a Kia dealership. My vehicle was returned to me on April 25, 2026, after being at the dealership for approximately one week. When it was returned, it had missing bolts/screws that were not missing prior to the service visit and were not related t…
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I am filing a safety complaint regarding my vehicle following service performed at a Kia dealership. My vehicle was returned to me on April 25, 2026, after being at the dealership for approximately one week. When it was returned, it had missing bolts/screws that were not missing prior to the service visit and were not related to the reason I originally brought the vehicle in. The missing components create a safety concern, and I do not feel safe operating the vehicle in its current condition. This issue was reported immediately. My husband left a voicemail with the dealership (Evans Kia) reporting the problem, and I reported the issue to Kia America that following Monday. Since then, I have made multiple attempts to resolve this issue through Kia America. I opened a case on April 17, 2026, and have followed up several times. The case has been escalated multiple times (including April 22 and April 28). I was informed that Kia America also reached out to the dealership, but despite this, I have not received any direct response from the dealership or instructions to bring the vehicle in for repair. Despite clearly stating that the vehicle may be unsafe to drive, there has been no urgency in correcting the issue. I am requesting that this matter be reviewed as a potential safety concern involving improper vehicle servicing and release of a potentially unsafe vehicle. I can provide photos and documentation showing the missing bolts/screws if needed.
Vehicle starting 'eating' excessive amounts of oil about 95,000 miles. We are now about 115,000 miles and I am adding nearly 5 quarts of oil every 3,000 miles
Shifter stuck in park
I took my 2019 Kia Sorento to Alan Jay Kia 0n 12/05/2025 because of the 2 slits on the top of the dashboard. I spoke to the Service Manager, and he sent the General Sales Manager out to take pictures of the dashboard. He stated that the slits are outlines of the air bag. I asked if it would be ok to drive since I was going out o…
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I took my 2019 Kia Sorento to Alan Jay Kia 0n 12/05/2025 because of the 2 slits on the top of the dashboard. I spoke to the Service Manager, and he sent the General Sales Manager out to take pictures of the dashboard. He stated that the slits are outlines of the air bag. I asked if it would be ok to drive since I was going out of town for a month and he said it was ok to drive. I also showed him all of my rims that are peeling. The Service Manager said he would send the information to Kia and will contact me when he gets a response. I didn't hear from him, so I scheduled service om my vehicle on Jan. 9, 2026. I inquired about the dashboard and the Service manager said he couldn't find anything in the computer. On Friday, Jan 16,2026, I stopped back and spoke to the Service Manager, and he said he heard back from Kia, and they will not fix the dashboard or the peeling rims because of the age of the car and it's not under warranty. I researched the NHTS and found that it is a safety issue.
Official recalls
223V639000 · 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
1DP22003 · 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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