2019 Kia Sorento problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (106) · Power Train (45) · Structure:body (31)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Sorento model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
114 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2023-09-15 · campaign 23V639000 · 83,667 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Trailer Hitches 2022-09-19 · campaign 22V703000 · 70,887 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (118)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-10 · SC365_OWNR_UM · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (sc365) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting an important voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic control module (ecm) to ensure compliance with emissi
Engine 2026-09-09 · SC365_STKR · Emissions
sc365_stkr: voluntary emissions service campaign completion label/sticker
Engine 2026-09-09 · SC365_POC · Emissions
sc365_poc: proof of correction card
Engine 2026-09-09 · SC365_QA · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: question and answer (sc365) – this document is the question and answer guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding voluntary emissions service campaign sc365.
Engine 2026-09-09 · SC365_DPSM · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: dealer parts and service manager memo (sc365) - this document is the announcement to dealer parts and service managers advising that kia is conducting an important voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic con
Engine 2026-09-09 · SC365_DP · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: dealer principal memo (sc365) - this document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that kia is conducting an important voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic control module (ecm) to ensure
Showing the 6 most recent of 118 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-27 · Engine“my car started to have extreme oil consumption around 100,000 miles i was able to keep it maintained by adding oil frequently but finally part of my motor stopped functioning and i was forced to replace my motor. i got my car back june 22,2026 but the new motor also has had the same issue. i did purchase a warranty for 3 years but unfortunately it …”
2026-10-23 · Engine“my check engine light came on. i took my vehicle to autozone so that they could tell me what the code read. the code read, cylinder 2 and cylinder 3 misfire. i replaced all 4 cylinders and spark plugs. 6 months after replacing all the parts, i had the check in light come on (flashing) while driving out of town. i was able to drive the vehicle back …”
2026-10-14 · Unknown Or Other“summer 2024: the paint began peeling significantly off the hood. when i contacted kia support, i was told the vehicle was out of warranty. subsequent repairs: expecting a minor issue, i paid $412 out-of-pocket to repaint the hood. shortly after, the new paint failed to adhere due to the defect and i attempted minor touch-ups myself. current statu…”
2026-10-10 · Engine“the engin cought on fire while driving. the entire car burnt. the engin burns 1 quart of oil per tank of gass consuming approximately 20 quarts beetween oil changes. …”
2026-10-10 · Engine“on october 3, 2026, at approximately 12:30 p.m., my 2019 kia sorento, with fewer than 100,000 miles, experienced an unexpected engine failure while i was driving on the highway in the chicago, illinois, area. component or system failure: the vehicle's engine failed unexpectedly while the vehicle was being operated on the highway. the exact intern…”
2026-09-27 · Structure:body“case number 25530365 discussed with vanguard kia. paint not adhering. flakes off when washing by hand.…”
2026-09-25 · Engine“ i was driving to work on the interstate and my car went into limp mode almost causing me to get hit at those speeds. i sent it to my mechanic but was told about the theta2 lawsuit so i had it towed to kia. was charged $300 and it wasn’t even diagnosed or looked at due to missing oil change receipts. i have since contacted bbb and kia headquarte…”
2026-09-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System“gasoline smell is coming with the left side of vehicle. gasoline is leaking from the fuel pump causing the gas to puddle creating the gasoline smell. …”
2026-09-04 · Engine“i am filing this complaint regarding my 2019 kia sorento and an engine failure related to kia’s product improvement campaign/ksds (knock sensor detection system) campaign. i purchased this vehicle used in 2022. prior to the engine failure, i was never notified of any product improvement campaign affecting my vehicle. had i been notified, i would h…”
2026-09-04 · Power Train“engine seized per kia inspected by kia after aaa towed and could not start car warning lamps have been on for over 6 months. kia inspected and ran diagnostics at that time and said it was nothing to fix just an annoying dashboard malfunction. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.