2019 Kia Sorento complaints

The right headlight has stopped working as of 1 week ago. The car was returned to the KIA dealership for this issue as well as a hesitation while driving and a chronic bumping sound in the car while driving. The car was kept at the dealership for 3 days Sept 3,4 & 5 2025 and the headlights per the dealership were realigned. The Right headlight was on at the dealership but on Sept 6 2025 is back out. No warning showing on the dash and no warning on the dash when the light was first noticed being off. I have used all the light selector switch settings and nothing changes, moved wires on the back of the light housing, nothing. Tapped on the light front and back, nothing. My concern is the light is out so no night driving and the lack of the sensors warning the light is out. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

My car is consuming oil. I was two and a half quarts down when I checked it and the oil light never came on! I'm glad I checked it when I did! The car is consuming oil and has to be checked every day to every other day. I called the local KIA dealership and of course, NO RECALLS. What do I do now?

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and waited for several minutes before the vehicle started working as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced, and that the transmission fluid was burnt. The contact had experienced the failure on several occasions. The transmission was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 71,682.

Engine consumes oil. Have to add oil all the time. No leaks

Excessively burn oil, have to put in a quart or more every 1,000 miles. Recently started sputtering like there was a miss in the engine when idling or barely pushing at acceleration pedal. Bad oil consumption started around 70k miles Engine sputtering started around 100k miles

There is almost no engine oil in the engine room. This phenomenon does not happen once, but continuously.

My car started to act crazy not wanting to move when in traffic.

Car suffered catastrophic internal engine failure due to rod bearings. Began having problems with engine stuttering then knocking July 2025. Car was taken to local mechanic stated that the engine failed. Followed up with local Kia dealer and they verified that the engine had indeed failed. Car is in my possession and available for inspection. My safety and the safety of other drivers was compromised in that all engine systems failed rendering me incapable of driving vehicle and needing to push the car manually. Dealer has reproduced and confirmed the engine failure. Car inspected by dealership only. No warning lights came on. The only lights that have EVER come on in my vehicle are the low tire pressure sensor and the scheduled maintenance light. NEITHER of these sensors came on during these events.

Purchased this vehicle in June 17 2025 from a used car dealer, as i was driving from time to time, i noticed that the vehecle would hesatate, and at times would stall, i had the spark plugs and coild replaced along with a new high pressure fuel pump, it still hesatates when pulling out into traffic, from a stop, this places the vehicle in a very dangerous position in that it can be broadsided, or another form of collision with on comming traffic, I looked on line on various sites and there are quite a number of kias with this issue, some contacted the mfg and were told that it is withing the 8 speed transmission, something about the servers inside it, this appears to be an issue with several year models, and the mfg does not repair or replace the defective part, so i am quite sure they are awar of it, i am not aware of any loss of life for this priblem, i have also seen that by placing the selective system out of eco, economy or comfort mode into ( sport ) mode that it does not do it as often, but at time does, this mode also has a determental effect on millage. i am sure that many KIS SORENTO owners have the same issue and shoudl be fixed under a nationwide recall, ASAP before anyone is hurt or killed like stalling out when pulling out into highway traffic.

Engine started to knock, had it towed to KIA dealership it's been there for 6 weeks. Dealership stated needs new engine, Warranty company refuses to honor coverage and replace engine. 2019 KIA Sorento known for engine failures. Have provided oil receipts which is not needed. (Nothing stated in our contract) If we continued to drive the car the engine would have seized or caught fire. There were no lights on the dash for oil change or engine lights on. There are reports on the internet/social media of many people having the same issue with this engine. There should be a recall on this engine. And it shouldn't be this hard to get KIA or the warranty company to step up and fix a known problem. We paid for the warranty and expect it to work for us. Right now the car is still at KIA of Huntington. We have made a complaint with the BBB and with KIA Headquarters in CA hopefully this will be resolved soon.

I bought this car back in January 2024. I had it for about a week and the check engine light came on. When I had it read it was a torque converter clutch solenoid. I took it to Kia they said it needed reprogrammed, it was fine. Then a few months go by and I take it back in and they told me I needed to spend $5,000 for a new Transmission at less than 100,000 miles. When doing research a lot of others have had this issue as well. They said there maybe a recall eventually but until then I had to pay for it. I paid for it there is still no recall. Also the rear cross traffic goes off as a car is behind you, there’s not really a warning before the car is behind you

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The fuel odor was also outside the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. An appointment with the dealer was scheduled for the vehicle to be inspected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Excessive oil burning Burns an insane amount of oil every week, 2-3 quarts of oil has to be added every week. Started noticing slightly low oil a year ago wasn’t a lot but it has gotten worse.

Car burns oil excessively. It is an ongoing problem. I also had a kia soul before this that also burned oil excessively

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 95 MPH. The check engine and hazard warning lights were illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to respond as needed, and the steering wheel seized. The contact turned off the vehicle and was able to stop the vehicle on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the throttle shaft was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred the following day, and while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 80 MPH. The contact pulled over to the side lane and turned off the vehicle, and the vehicle gradually slowed to a stop. The check engine warning light and hazard light were illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and slowly driven back to the same deale,r and the contact was informed that additional diagnostic tests were needed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle abnormally shuddered, with the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to excessive oil consumption. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the diagnostic result was confirmed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 74,750.

The oil was changed with no leak, and less than 1000 miles later, it all disappeared. Now, it has gone into limp mode and thrown a knock code due to no oil. Having it sent to a shop four times in a week is not okay. If there's no leak and no gasket problems, where did all the oil go? I have more posts about this daily. I have 96,000 miles on this engine with full synthetic changes every time. It was healthy, and now it's not because it's overeating oil. Make it make sense, please.

Oil Consumption: flickering intermittent oil light at various times. Occurred after routine maintenance and oil changes. Various reasons were given when serviced including leak at the cap or via a screw. Multiple trips to the dealer for service. Engine has no oil and light did not remain illuminated, only flickering occasionally. Performed combustions clean out 4 weeks ago with top off of oil. Light came on, notified that the vehicle is very low on oil since that time again with light flickering.

2019 Kia Sorento White Pearl Paint began peeling. Spoke with Kia Dealership about issue due to sister company Hyundai having the same issue which resulted in an extended warranty. I began communication with dealership on June 2, 2025. During this time, it had been told that other Kia White Pearl Paint has been defective, but nothing has been done on Kia's side as of now. My dealership has "attempted" to get a Goodwill coverage due to paint warranty expired after 36 months of the vehicle which was in 2022. I have been put back and forth and not given specific answers on how to move forward with getting my car fix for a manufacturing/defective paint error. I have also priced out other body shops and the price estimate was over $2500. I am frustrated as I do not believe I should have to take care of an error based on Kia's issue.

Fuel pump main high pressure connection to line got hairline crack on main fuel connection line resorting to fuel leak and smell outside and inside of vehicle.

The engine consumes alot of oil. There are no oil leaks. I have to refill the engine with 1 quart of oil weekly. The vehicle is available for inspection. If this is not checked week, the engine could lock-up for low to no oil. The service representative at Kia in Wendell, NC, verbally stated to me the engines do burn alot of oil and to monitor it regularly. He confirmed there are no recalls on the engine though. No official inspection has been performed. But the vehicle is available for inspection by an official. There have been no warning lamps or messages. The symptom here is constant checking of the oil levels with the dip stick and refilling the engine with oil weekly.

I have a 2019 Kia Sorento that is available upon request for any inspection needed. I replaced the passenger headlight bulb for the low beams 4 times. Each time the bulb go out after a few days. Now, both headlights are out and I can only use my high beams which can cause a safety concern to other drivers as well as myself and family. Vehicle has been inspected by a licensed mechanic. The mechanic stated its a dealer issue after the replacement of the bulb 4 different times. No warning issues prior to failure just when it initially happened the dash warning light regarding low beams lights out starting with the passenger side now both passenger and drivers side. Kia dealer states my car vin number does not have a recall. But there is a current recall for same issue for 2019 Kia Sorento and I was sent a letter in the mail in Febuary 2025. But when I called to confirm the dealer stated my car vin number did not come up under the recall.

Pearl white paint peeling off doors, hood, roof…less than 40,000 miles

I'm writing to formally report a serious and potentially dangerous issue with my 2019 Kia Sorento (VIN: [XXX] ), which is experiencing excessive engine oil consumption. This problem began around 55,000 miles and has progressively worsened to the point where I must either frequently top off oil between scheduled changes or get oil changes well ahead of schedule. Despite having two documented dealership oil changes within approximately 2,000 miles and three months, I have received no support from Kia or my extended warranty provider (JM&A). Kia Customer Care has acknowledged the issue, but refuses to inspect, test, or address it unless the KSDS sensor is triggered or the engine seizes — essentially requiring catastrophic engine failure before they will consider any action. JM&A has similarly denied coverage, stating that oil consumption is excluded under their warranty plan. This approach is not only unreasonable — it is dangerous. Running low on oil can lead to sudden engine failure while driving, posing a real risk to both my safety and that of others on the road. I have not been offered any proactive oil consumption test or preventive service by Kia, despite repeated concerns. I am aware that excessive oil consumption is the subject of class action litigation involving Kia vehicles, and that this may reflect a broader pattern of engine-related defects. I believe this situation deserves formal investigation and review, potentially qualifying for recall consideration or an exp

Pearl White Paint has suddenly begun flaking off from roof of my 2019 SorentoSXL. It is running above the length of the driver side door. Paint should not be doing that. Looks like a factory defect. Noticed many other complaints for the exact same issue. Kia defers to the warranty but Kia should fix this regardless of warranty timeline since this is not as a result of external forces or owner error.

Upon starting my vehicle after going to the grocery store, the ABS, ESC, Check Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist System, and Auto Hold warning lights illuminated. The cruise control was then inadvertently deactivated. When vehicle is started the Check Forward Collision error comes on. After a few months when entering the freeway and accelerating I received an error regarding unknown engine issue. Took vehicle to Kia dealership and was who diagnosed that the hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) needed to be replaced. Manufacturer being notified, vehicle not repaired at dealer due to cost.

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had overheated and fractured. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 97,000.

Snow white pearl paint is not bonding to kia sorento roof

HI, MY CAR HAS INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION.EVERY WEEK, IAM TOPING OFF THE OIL, 1 QRT EVERY WEEK NOW.I BROUGHT THIS TO KIA'S ATTENTION, HAD THE TEST DONE AS THEY SUGGESTED.THEY OFFERRED ME ONLY THIS: A/C EVAP CLEAN, COOLANT FLUID EXCHANGE, SPARK PLUG REPLACE, 3 PT INDUCTION SVC, WHICH DOESNT FIX THE PROBLEM. I ALSO WANTED THE EXISTING RECALL TO BE ADRESSED, BUT THEY IGNORED.

I am the original owner of my vehicle, which I purchased brand new from the dealership in December, 2017]. The car is now five years old and has been regularly maintained. However, I have observed significant issues with the paint, which is bubbling and peeling off in large amounts in several areas of the vehicle. This condition is concerning, as it not only affects the vehicle’s appearance but also has the potential to cause rust and other mechanical issues if left unaddressed. Given that the peeling is occurring despite proper care and no external factors such as accidents or environmental damage, I believe this may be a manufacturing defect. I am requesting an evaluation of this issue and any available remedies under the manufacturer’s warranty, especially considering the potential for long-term damage to the vehicle’s structure and mechanical components. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] 2019 Kia Sorento [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I’m contacting you regarding my 2019 Kia Sorento (VIN: [XXX] ), which was completely destroyed in a fire on [XXX]. I had gone for a run at the city park, and as I was walking back, I saw my vehicle in flames. Police were already on-site, and just as I approached, the back windshield exploded. The fire department arrived shortly after and extinguished the flames. The vehicle is a total loss. After reviewing the VIN, I found the vehicle is subject to Recall SC249F / NHTSA 22V703 for a fire risk related to trailer hitch wiring. I want to emphasize that this vehicle did not have a trailer hitch installed, which raises concerns that it may have been pre-wired at the factory or otherwise contained faulty components. Additionally, I had previously brought the vehicle to the dealership twice for electrical problems, including complete failure of all lights, the windshield wiper motor, and power outlets. These issues were never fully resolved and may have been early signs of the defect that led to the fire. I am requesting: 1.A factory build sheet or Monroney label to confirm if any recall-related components were installed. 2.Guidance on how to initiate an official claim or investigation with Kia. 3.Clarification on whether Recall SC249F applies to vehicles without a hitch but with related electrical systems. Photos of the fire damage are available INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Kia is well known for their engine problems. I had my engine light come on and was flashing so I pulled over and shut the car off. After a few minutes I turned it back on and the light was still on, but no longer flashing. I was able to get it to my local mechanic who told me it needed a new engine. I had it towed to the Kia dealer where I purchased it. They were able to replace it was a refurbished motor, but Kia indicated it was not part of the current recall. I feel it should be part of the current engine recall, but if it truly is not then I felt you should be made aware of the issue.

We have noticed a great amount of oil consumption in the engine. We first thought we needed an oil change. We keep up on maintenance of our vehicles. When we took it in to get the oil changed, they said we had almost no oil in the vehicle. So once we had an oil change, we took it to Kia of Alcoa and they said there was nothing wrong with it. We drove it a while and again low on oil. We take it back to Kia of Alcoa and they do an oil consumption test. We drove it 1,000 miles like they said to do and we came back. They checked the oil level and they said the oil consumption was normal. So again we drive it and still having issues with oil consumption. We always have to put anywhere from 1 to 5 quarts of oil in the vehicle on a regular basis. We should not have to add oil in between oil changes. Now we have a rattling going on and we are taking it back to Kia Alcoa soon to get looked at. We believe that rattling is from the high oil consumption. Nobody seems to have a solution and everyone thinks there is nothing wrong with the vehicle.

I own a 2019 Kia Sorento SX V6 that I purchase in January 2024 that now has 73k miles. I recently started encountering a problem where the oil light would come on and stay on while my car is an idle position. I went to City Kia of Greater Orlando to get an oil change because I assumed that was the problem. Sometime after the oil change the light continued to go on when my car was in idle position and my engine oil that was just replaced had been severely depleted so I returned to Kia to have a diagnostic done and was advised that the oil filter housing gasket, oil pressure regulator valve needed to be replaced along with some other repairs for leaks so I approved the repairs but after the repairs were completed and I retrieved my vehicle the same problem of the oil light coming own when idle continued. I returned one again to Kia and had another diagnostic done and they found that now the oil pressure switch with harness needed to be replaced which I questioned because why wasn’t this issue found with the first diagnostic. Why so many issues with parts related to my engine and is not covered under warranty or as part of a recall. I’ve done some research and found numerous complaints of the 2019 kia sorento having the same engine issues and having the same parts replaced. I strongly believe that this is a defect on this car and should be addressed immediately and these issues scrutinized.

Paint is peeling. Only have 100,000 miles. Paint is peeling off badly.

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a local AutoZone, where a representative inspected the vehicle and advised the contact that the engine oil was extremely low. The contact added engine oil, and within two weeks, the engine oil was extremely low again. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that several local dealers were contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was advised that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced a settlement under Kia Engine Litigation: Case [XXX] as possibly related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Oil consumption

My oil level in my car keeps going low. Service department at Kia states they cannot find another problem. I’ve had regular oil changes. I met someone at the dealership experiencing the same problem.

I started burning oil faster than my oil changes were due. One of the techs told me he had seen far too many Kias with this known issue. My Checked engine light came on a couple months after. When I took it in the shop they ran a compression test and advised that the engine was on its way out and stated they would recommend replacing the engine due to oil consumption and low engine compression. I am the 2nd owner to this vehicle and have maintained all the maintenance on it. Its crazy that I still have 3 more years paying for it at 148,000. As many complaints as there are online for this vehicle Kia should definitely be looking into it. At least up the warranty mileage. I drive my kids with this vehicle and feel at any minute its just going to give out on the highway.

We have received the security update for the ignition system over a year ago for the recall. Even with this recall fix our vehicle was still stolen, so this solution clearly didn't work.

I have a 2019 Kia Sorento which I bought new and changed the oil every 5-8k miles. I was told this was fine with newer vehicles that use synthetic oil. I started having issues with my car burning oil really fast around 60-70k miles. The oil would be dark and low without any warning light, well before my window sticker indicated I should need service. The shop where I take my car warned me this was happening with Kia engines. They also shared with my that my dashboard light was not coming on because it had not been "re set." I have always had a problem with the oil light coming on when I don't need oil and it not coming on when I do. I had my oil changed and was back after 3k miles because my engine was dry. A week later I stopped for gas on my way home from work at 1am, and its a good thing I checked my oil because it was dry. I have young children I drive around town daily. This is terrifying for me- not knowing if my engine could blow up any time, without warning. So I took my car to Kia where they started an oil consumption test. Which was time consuming and stressful to deal with. I have a maintenance gap that took place during Covid. Likely because my father in law changed my oil. I am hoping we can get receipts for this or apparently I am screwed, but this was 3 years ago! :( On top of it, the back of my white car is now grey because of all of the oil I am burning. Which explains the awful smell that fills my home when I open the garage door with my car running. That re

We were driving home Saturday and our 2019 Kia Sorento EX V6, 3.3L engine with 24000 miles, just stopped running. We got the car pulled over and noticed smoke coming out of the hood. The tow truck towed it to the dealership: seized engine. We are the second owners of this vehicle, we purchased it from a Honda dealership 20K miles on it and have not had one moment's trouble with it until this happened. We have had regular maintenance done, etc. So now I have a vehicle that I owe several thousands of dollars on that is completely useless.

Vehicle has frequent oil consumption issues. It’s burning oil way too fast and causing a potential issue with the engine. According to the staff at the car shop, there is no way to fix it. You have to just kind of deal with it. It seems to be a defect that has not been addressed and is only for first owners. Bought my vehicle from a dealership and apparently this isn’t covered. This is a Lemon and it’s clearly unknown issue based on the workers at the car shop that have not been addressed and is causing an issue with my engine.

Engine burns too much oil

I am reporting a recurring defect with my 2019 Kia Sorento’s front axle assembly, which has failed multiple times despite repeated replacements. The vehicle was serviced at Ron Tonkin Kia, where the front axle assembly was replaced three times due to leaks: •January 2022 – First replacement •November 2022 – Second replacement •March 2023 – Third replacement The issue is happening again, indicating a persistent defect. Each time, the axle assembly has been replaced under warranty, but the problem continues to recur, raising concerns about long-term safety and reliability. I am concerned about the potential risk of axle failure while driving, which could lead to loss of vehicle control or other safety hazards. I am requesting an investigation into whether this issue is widespread and whether Kia should be required to address it through a recall or permanent fix.

This Type of vehicle has a Recall for Oil Pressure Sensor Switch. I Contact Dealer prior my Warranty Covers. But they keep denying the Repairs. Saying tis types of works its not cover on this Warranty. This Vehicle its a Recall for this Oil Pressure Sensor Switch. The Dealer Kia Dont Want to work with the Client other than offering you. A Trade for a new Vehicle Not A Good Bussiness from Kia. Very Dissapointed

I am the owner of the aforementioned KIA Sorento EX SUV which I leased when new from TASCA KIA then purchased at the end of my lease. It should be noted that my new address is [XXX] as I moved from the Coventry address on May 26, 2023. I religiously have my oil changed (have all receipts since 2019) at the manufacturers recommendation. At around 55,000 miles I started noticed wet spots on the driveway below the engine and was not sure if it was anti-freeze or oil. As the mileage on my vehicle increased over time I noticed the spots on the driveway getting bigger. A fellow KIA owner who incidently owned a 2019 Sorento Platinum with a V-6 like mine stated that they developed a sizeable oil leak in their vehicle at around 50K miles. My vehicle had close to 74K miles and I noticed that my oil level was dipping down. On December 9, 2024, I drove my vehicle over to KIA of Attleboro, MA and after a mechanics inspection it was determined that was engine was in fact leaking oil from both the filter housing which is plastic and also from the area where the wiring harness connects to the oil pan that indicates low oil pressure which never notified of low oil. On December 10, 2024, I brought my KIA Sorento back to the same dealership in Massachusetts where the oil leaks were repaired at a cost of $912.43. I subsequently went on the web and discovered that this was a growing problem with this year and model KIA along with other years with some owners seizing their motors. I never received

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 75-80 MPH, there was oil leaking from the vehicle. The contact also noticed that there was oil on the garage floor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V202000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the oil pan needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 101,011.

The Sorento is coated with a "Snow White Pearl" paint that started delaminating rapidly. I took it to the dealership at first for a pen touch up, but it started chipping and peeling exponentially quicker lately. This is a serious issue as the paint is the only protector of the body from rust and wear.

There is delamination of the snow pearl white paint. It has been reported and noted at the Kia dealership. Starting on the hood and passenger driver side door. It is literally falling off after a bubble formed under the paint. Kia has pictures of this