AI Damage2019 KIA Sorento: common problems
Owners of the 2019 KIA Sorento filed 433 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 87 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 433
- involving a crash
- 10
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 87
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 36% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- 8 Forward collision avoidance 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 158 complaints (36% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 24.
- Electrical system: 68 complaints (16% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 38.
- Structure: 56 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Powertrain: 51 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 24 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 3 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 433 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 158 | 2 | 24 |
| Electrical system | 68 | 3 | 38 |
| Structure | 56 | 1 | 5 |
| Powertrain | 51 | 0 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 1 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| Engine and cooling | 14 | 0 | 12 |
| Service brakes | 14 | 3 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 11 | 1 | 7 |
| Backover prevention | 6 | 1 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
During the crash the vehicle was destroyed but the air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained multiple rib fractures, lower back, and right knee injuries and was transported to the hospital. The driver of the second vehicle had also sustained unknown injuries and was also transported to the hospital.
The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact's wife later received medical treatment for a fractured vertebra, right hip, and groin injury. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
My window was buss out and they stole my vehicle. After over two weeks my vehicle was finally retrieved by the police and city of Milwaukee tow lot. I was told by financing company as well as police department to go get pictures of vehicle as reported from tow company that my vehicle was completely totaled out.
On 7/25/2020, my 2019 kia sorento had complete brake failure, for the third time in 4 months. I took my sorento to my dealership service department where I was told that the problem was a "deformed booster brakes vacuum hose"which they replaced (2 days in the shop march 23rd too much 25th).
On august 25, 2019, while driving home to new york, my wife sat in the front passenger seat and my daughter sat in the second row seat behind my wife, I stopped at a rest stop for gasoline at about 12:15 pm as I pulled into the area with my foot on the break to slow down, the car surged forward and I pressed hard to…
After driving for an hour or so, the motor overheats significantly. 4. Finally, the car rolled back from the parking lot (while on the park mode ) and injured two people, and damaged another car.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 128 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sorento has 305 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 433, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- 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…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: This bulletin provides the procedure to update the emissions‑related logic of the Engine Control Unit (ECU) system software on certain 2019–2020MY Sorento (UMa) and 2019–2021MY…
- SC365_STKR
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN COMPLETION LABEL/STICKER
- SC365_POC
PROOF OF CORRECTION CARD
- 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.
- 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…
- 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…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSION SECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REV 4) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 103 / UM) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic…
NHTSA lists 87 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 KIA Sorento?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, structure. Total complaints: 433. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (25%), oil leak or consumption (14%), infotainment or screen glitches (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 KIA Sorento?
NHTSA lists 87 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 KIA Sorento from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.