10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,453 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2019 Kia Sorento engine problems

engine problem

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2019 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #64

Jul 082024

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

UNKNOWN Excessive oil burning, Engine stalling, car shaking loss of power, misfiring,

- Eufaula , AL, USA

problem #63

Jul 062020

Sorento

  • miles
Vehicle would not turn off. had an earlier issue this day with loss of controls of anything electrical on steering wheel/dash/infotainment center. When vehicle was turned off and keys removed electrical compents would not turn off, Radio/AC/Fan. Attempted to turn car off and on again. Did not resolve the issue. Attempted to call dealership service department, No answer. Called family for help because I was concerned the batter would die. We were traveling and I did not want to leave vehicle in parking lot with elrectical running on a hot day. Advised by family to attempt disconnecting battery. Disconnected battery and electrical turned off. Dealership called on date with no answer. message left. Dealership informed at next in person visit and dealership said there was nothing that could be done because it was not occuring at that time. Video was obtained because of ongoing issues with electrical components with same response from dealership and lack of attempt to make any effort to diagnose @ Taylor Kia Toledo Ohio. Staff still said they could not do anything.

- Monroe, MI, USA

problem #62

Apr 022023

Sorento

  • miles
I bought this KIA used, one owner from a dealership 4 months ago. It had only 71000 miles on it. Since day one, we noticed it hesitates to get out of 1st gear into second. It also takes for ever to excel at speed on merge on a highway. We've had it inspected and even paid to have a FULL inspection done and all they said is this is a known KIA problem for this year and nothing they can do. I am now thinking the transmission is about to go out on this car I just bought, that the KIA dealership said is a known problem with no fix EXCEPT to replace the transmission. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #61

Feb 262024

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At my last oil change, I was told by Kia that the oil was extremely low, which shouldn't be the case as I was not overdue for an oil change. They told me they couldn't tell me why, and I could try an engine cleaning service for $300 or $400 dollars that would have maybe a 60% chance of working. If it didn't work, then the engine was the problem and I was basically just screwed. I decided to seek a second opinion at a different shop and per the mechanic, "Engine has no leaks/found oil around top valve cover - removed oil cap and found engine had excessive blow by crank case pressure valve cover - piston rings worn." I was told the engine needs to be replaced. I have about 94,000 miles on the vehicle, and have always done all the maintenance at the Kia dealership that Kia recommends. The mechanic told me this has to be a manufacturing defect. There were no warning lights or anything to alert me to this problem. I was shocked when I was told about it at a routine oil change. If my engine goes out, blows, stops working, etc. I feel this is a major safety concern, particularly if it occurs while driving. I also feel that the Kia dealership isn't being honest about a known engine failure.

- Blissfield, MI, USA

problem #60

May 192024

Sorento

  • miles
While driving the vehicle up a steep hill at 45mph, it began making a ticking noise, within seconds, the engine seized and the car died. There were no warning lights. The vehicle is available to be inspected, it has been towed to a Kia dealership and is currently awaiting inspection. Safety was a concern due to lack of power of the vehicle. Luckily we were going up hill and were able to stop the vehicle quickly.

- Lucasville, OH, USA

problem #59

May 062024

Sorento

  • miles
As I was driving on the road, the engine suddenly died. Tried to restart a couple of times without success. When I tried 3rd time, the engine started.

- Bolingbrook, IL, USA

problem #58

Nov 152023

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine oil has been burning at a fast rate. Smoke from exhaust. About 5-6 months ago i Got a oil change and was told my engine oil was extremely low and if i had any warning lights. I said no. Got my oil change, .... started noticing a white smoke coming from exhaust pipe at all times of the day. about 3 months later got another oil change and i asked by any chance was the oil low again and they said yes. They Asked if any warning lights were on and i said no. I asked if i had a leak. They said no. Its been. About a month after this last oil change, i checked my engine oil at home because my car started feeling a bit rough and making making odd noises.. sure enough engine oil was low... so i had to buy some engine oil. Just made an appointment with kia but it will be a month before being looked at. Yes it is available for inspection. This is unsafe while driving and especially when i have children and family in my car which i always do.

- West Covina, CA, USA

problem #57

Mar 202024

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving on the highway and the engine started shaking and slowing down and wouldn-??t allow me to put power towards the vehicle. Had towed back to my house

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #56

Mar 092024

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving on the highway with my two children when my car initially kept overheating so I pulled over to let it cool and add water to the anti coolant piece as it had been leaking. Then once my car cooled all the way down I proceeded to drive that is when it started to fluctuate and kept going hot then cool and it did that for a while before it overheated again. So I pulled over again and this time when I turned my car off it wouldn-??t start. And there was a burning smell. My brother came to get us and he-??s a mechanic so when he got there he said it smelled like oil and anti coolant were mixing. And that I would probably need a new engine. Towed ot to the dealership ran the diagnostic and they said it was a blown head gasket and I need a new engine. Not once did any of my dash lights come on, and I-??ve had the dash reset several times because every time something goes down in my car the light for it never comes on. My kids life and mine as well were put at risk because my he motor could-??ve caught fire or we could-??ve gotten hit if it would have locked in the middle of me driving.

- Columbia , SC, USA

problem #55

Mar 062024

Sorento

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and then lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed 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 failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #54

Feb 272024

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The Kia burns oil quickly. The oil light used to come in between oil changes. Last oil change the service station said the dip stick was dry but the oil light hadn-??t come on at all. A week after the oil change we checked the oil level and the stick came out clean(no oil)

- Greenpond, SC, USA

problem #53

Jan 302024

Sorento

  • miles
Vehicle has engine oil leak, started months ago but no warning lights - determined there was a problem due to the oil drippage on driveway. Took vehicle to dealership, known problem of oil filter housing and it has to be replaced. Part on back order. Not repairing the problem can force the engine to seize and stall while driving, hence, I haven't been driving the vehicle due to concerns about it seizing. This is a known problem subject to two class action settlement suits and the problem STILL occurs. Why isn't a recall being done to address this problem at no cost to the customers?

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #52

Feb 182024

Sorento

  • miles
Oil pan cracked to the right side of the drain plug about an inch long

- Forrest City, AR, USA

problem #51

Feb 042024

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving and car lost power, couldn-??t drive anymore

- Federal Way, WA, USA

problem #50

Feb 022024

Sorento

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while reversing into the garage, the contact-??s husband noticed a large amount of oil on the ground. The check oil warning light illuminated when the vehicle was stopped. The contact-??s husband changed the oil and added 8 quarts of oil to the engine and within a week, the check engine warning light illuminated again. The contacts husband rechecked the oil level and there was no oil in the oil pan. The contact-??s husband took off the front passenger tire and saw that the oil filter housing was leaking. The dealer was contacted to purchase the oil filter housing part; however, the contact was informed the part was on backorder with no estimated time for arrival of the parts. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that without the part, the vehicle was undrivable. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

- Amelia Court House, VA, USA

problem #49

Feb 042024

Sorento

  • miles
My cars white paint is coming off the body. My car is loosing oil really fast.

- Highland City, FL, USA

problem #48

Dec 282023

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving down the road, no service lights were on and my car backfired twice and was engulfed in flames within seconds. My car completely burned, it was a total loss, but I-??m being told my vehicles vin wasn-??t included in the recalls when it very well should be.

- Gordon, GA, USA

problem #47

Dec 012023

Sorento

  • miles
Driving to the store and l smell smoke. Pull up to Walmart entrance because l seen a fireman going in. So, l got out to ask him to come help me l smell smoke by time l got back to the car fire started. He was able to put it out but my vent in my second row is burn, side my driver seat a burn a little and rug on the floor. And now my engine stop working mechanics said it a recall on these vehicles.

- Justin, TX, USA

problem #46

May 122023

Sorento

  • miles
Using a lot of oil. Making a noice whenever driving the vehicle - a click noise - whenever accelerating.

- North Wales, PA, USA

problem #45

Oct 052019

Sorento

  • 149,904 miles
KIA and HYUNDAI - all of their cars are unsafe. I have attached a letter to the NJ State Attorney General to explain some of the issues. These cars are absolutely unsafe and we have no peace of mind. They are killing us, literally. Please do all you can to immediately stop them. I cannot explain how upsetting this is. Please may you help our families. Our children drive these cars. Our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, neighbors, parents and all of us are in jeopardy of losing our lives. Thank you.

- Hammonton , NJ, USA

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