2019 KIA SORENTO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
577
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
29
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2019 KIA SORENTO
The 2019 KIA SORENTO has received a total of 577 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 10 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. 29 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (134 complaints), Unknown Or Other (102 complaints), and Electrical System (66 complaints).
Recalls for the 2019 KIA SORENTO
NHTSA has recorded 10 recalls for the 2019 KIA SORENTO, potentially affecting up to 747,210 vehicles.
Recall 23V639000 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
| 83,667 vehicles affected
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."
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....
View full details →Recall 23V639000 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
| 83,667 vehicles affected
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."
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....
View full details →Recall 23V639000 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
| 83,667 vehicles affected
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."
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....
View full details →Recall 22V703000 — TRAILER HITCHES
| 70,887 vehicles affected
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,...
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...
View full details →Recall 22V703000 — TRAILER HITCHES
| 70,887 vehicles affected
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,...
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...
View full details →Recall 22V703000 — TRAILER HITCHES
| 70,887 vehicles affected
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,...
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...
View full details →Recall 22V703000 — TRAILER HITCHES
| 70,887 vehicles affected
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,...
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...
View full details →Recall 22V703000 — TRAILER HITCHES
| 70,887 vehicles affected
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,...
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...
View full details →Recall 22V703000 — TRAILER HITCHES
| 70,887 vehicles affected
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,...
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...
View full details →Recall 22V703000 — TRAILER HITCHES
| 70,887 vehicles affected
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,...
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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2019 KIA SORENTO
577 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2019 KIA SORENTO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Car would randomly stall and jerk while accelerating. Unsafe to drive. May cause accident. Having to constantly set hazard lights to prevent accident.
Car would randomly stall and jerk while accelerating. Unsafe to drive. May cause accident. Having to constantly set hazard lights to prevent accident.
Car would randomly stall and jerk while accelerating. Unsafe to drive. May cause accident. Having to constantly set hazard lights to prevent accident.
Shifter stuck in park
On Saturday February 7th, while driving home, the vehicle suddenly caught fire without any warning. Within moments, the fire intensified, and I was forced to jump out of the vehicle to save my life. Shortly afterward, the vehicle exploded. The car was completely destroyed. Every item inside was charred, and I barely escaped with my life. A police report was filed. Both the manufacturer and insurance company were notified as well as the bank that the vehicle was purchased from. There were no warning lights or messages prior to. When the vehicle caught fire, all warning lights came on at the same time. Following this incident, I began researching similar cases and was alarmed to learn that fires and engine‑related failures appear to be a common issue in this model. Despite this, I was never notified of any recall, safety advisory, or service campaign related to fire risks. Had I been informed, I would have taken immediate action to prevent such a catastrophic and dangerous event.
Safety Rating for the 2019 KIA SORENTO
The 2019 KIA SORENTO received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2019 KIA SORENTO
Kia America, Inc. has issued 29 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2019 KIA SORENTO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
WTY034_OWNR_UM — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY034) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the high-pressure fuel pump in certain 2019-2020 MY Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L V6 Engines from 5 years / 60,000 miles to...
PI1805YZ_TSB — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT (PI1805Y/Z) - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in (PI1805) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement" for certain 2019MY Optima (JFa), Sorento (UMa) and Sportage (QL) vehicles equipped with a 2.4L GDI or 2.0L T-GDI engine....
TSB_FUE064 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: FUEL PUMP INSPECTION AND UPPER FUEL PUMP MODULE REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information associated with the 'Fuel Pump Warranty Extension Program' (WTY033) to inspect the low-pressure fuel pump on 2018-2019MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles produced from March 31, 2017 through July 24, 2019. The low-pressure fuel pump...
WTY033_OWNR — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WARRANTY EXTENSION: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the announcement to the vehicle owners that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the low-pressure fuel pump on 2018-2019 MY Sorento vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / unlimited miles, whichever...
WTY033_DP — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WARRANTY EXTENSION: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the low-pressure fuel pump on 2018-2019 MY Sorento vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / unlimited miles,...
WTY033_DPSM — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WARRANTY EXTENSION: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the low-pressure fuel pump on 2018-2019 MY Sorento vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / unlimited miles,...
WTY033_QA — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WARRANTY EXTENSION: QUESTION AND ANSWER - This document is a Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Warranty Extension (WTY033).
CS2304B_OWNR — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia has developed a software upgrade that can be installed on the vehicle to restrict the operation of the vehicle's ignition system should a locked vehicle be the subject of a break-in and theft attempt without...
TSB_ELE261 — TRAILER HITCHES
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRAILER HITCH ACCESSORY FUSE REQUIREMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding the trailer hitch accessory installation on some 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles. Note that the Kia trailer hitch accessory kit requires the use of a 15 Amp fuse rating to be used. The manufacturer of the trailer...
TSB_ELE248 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: OUTSIDE REAR COMBINATION LAMP HARNESS REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace both outside rear combination lamp harnesses on some 2018-2019MY Sorento (UMA) vehicles, produced from January 2, 2018, through September 30, 2018, which may exhibit an intermittent inoperative brake light with the possibility of...
Showing 10 of 29 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2019 KIA SORENTO
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the KIA SORENTO
- 2014 KIA SORENTO — 1,345 complaints
- 2015 KIA SORENTO — 935 complaints
- 2016 KIA SORENTO — 1,569 complaints
- 2017 KIA SORENTO — 979 complaints
- 2018 KIA SORENTO — 305 complaints
- 2019 KIA SORENTO (current)
- 2020 KIA SORENTO — 165 complaints
- 2021 KIA SORENTO — 281 complaints
- 2022 KIA SORENTO — 245 complaints
- 2023 KIA SORENTO — 148 complaints
- 2024 KIA SORENTO — 44 complaints
Other KIA Models
- KIA OPTIMA — 10,045 total complaints
- KIA SOUL — 7,147 total complaints
- KIA SPORTAGE — 6,540 total complaints
- KIA FORTE — 3,450 total complaints
- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints
- KIA RIO — 1,784 total complaints