10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,351 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #37

May 212023

Sorento

  • miles
I was told by the dealer, that we had to have it dropped off at {400 miles from home}, that the oil drain plug fell out and the engine seized. there are are no previous warning lights no temperature rise the car just stalls, then the warning lights for engine and oil come and by this time your engine is dead. Thank God we where stuck in traffic. Otherwise at cruising speed this could have been a very catastrophic event with the possibility of lose of life.

- Long Beach, NY, USA

problem #36

May 252022

Sorento

  • miles
When driving at certain lower speeds the vehicle is jerky. The car will go into high RPM's when excelerating even when not fully pressing the gas pedal. The engine is burning through oil very quickly. In less than a month from my oil change I have had to put 5 quarts in. When the cruise control is on it sometimes excelerates faster than what it is set for. This has been ongoing for about a year. I have confirmed with 2 shops that I do not have an oil leak.

- Galena, KS, USA

problem #35

May 212023

Sorento

  • 83,537 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, he started smelling a burning odor. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated. The contacted pulled over and checked the dip stick which indicated that there was no oil in the oil pan. The contact stated that he had had an oil change several months prior to the failure and had not noticed any oil leaks. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,537.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #34

Jan 012023

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
My vehicle has the leaking oil pressure sensor. I have brought my car to Kia multiple times since either 65-89k based on loosing too much oil between oil changes with NO check oil light. I lost an extreme amount of oil between 113k and 115k after they changed my filter and checked my oil levels. Always told there is no leak. Now at 115k and 120k miles I am told that not only is the oil pressure sender leaking but it has been leaking on my wire harness which can create a fire. The oil presser sender has a recall of the 3.3 up until March of 2018, my car has a manufacture date of June of 2018.

- Frederick, CO, USA

problem #33

May 142022

Sorento

  • miles
2019 Kia Sorento- Consumer Complaint- Engine went out after 7 months in to lease. Consumer blamed for damaged done to leased vehicle. Dealership will not honor warranty to repair or exchange. Attached Letter from Office of Attorney General Office Illinois, Retail installment Agreement, GAP Addendum, Vehicle Service Contract, Repair Order, Mechanic Info, & Bill of Sale.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #32

May 022023

Sorento

  • miles
Engine light and oil light came on. Car was running strange. We checked the oil and there was no oil on the dipstick. We put 2 quarts of oil in and drove to Kia of Bradley Illinois. On the way the car stalled without warning.

- Grant Park, IL, USA

problem #31

Jan 012023

Sorento

  • miles
I have a fuel consumption problem and have read/heard of other Kia owners that are having the same problem.

- Plano, IL, USA

problem #30

Mar 242023

Sorento

  • miles
I have a 2019 Kia Sorento with 79096 miles and on 3/24/2023 after taking it to the dealership for an engine diagnostic the car cut off while i was driving it in traffic. No warning or anything. The dealer state that a new engine is needed however the VIN is not on the Kia Recall settlement however i bought this car certified used i am the second owner and the car is still fairly new to have died so soon after having regular mainenance.

- Beverly Hills, MI, USA

problem #29

Mar 232023

Sorento

  • miles
My car has had oil changes regularly, all of a sudden the oil light comes on I check it and it's bone dry 3 quarts of oil just disappeared. There was no smoke coming from the car and no signs of a leak.

- Toccoa, GA, USA

problem #28

Aug 012019

Sorento

  • 100 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, while the engine was idling there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed a software update, but the knocking sound persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 100.

- Mabelvale, AR, USA

problem #27

Jun 272022

Sorento

  • miles
Traveling out of town on the highway from Pennsylvania to Virginia in June 2022 and our 2019 Kia Sorrento started shaking at the steering wheel and lost complete power in the engine. I was unable to accelerate with busy highway traffice behind me. I barely made it to th shoulder of the road without being rear ended with my wife and two children in the car. The forst thing I check is engine oil and it was bone dry. We just had it serviced in May at Sipala Kia before we left for our trip. I limped to a small service station in Virginia where he plugged into it but was unale to diagnose. He has us towed to Charlie O'Baugh Kia for repairs. We had this Kia Sorrento to two of our local dealers, Sipala Kia of West Chester and Scott Kia of Springfield, PA for oil leak or oil consumption but both dealers kept telling me nothing wa wrong. In addition to regualar oil and filter change I continue to check the engine oil on a regualr basis where it seems to be buring engine oil at a higher than normal rate.

- West Grove, PA, USA

problem #26

Dec 162022

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the check engine light illuminated the instrument panel. The next day, the contact stated that while driving into her independent mechanic's shop, white smoke began to emit from the vehicle as the vehicle caught fire. The contact immediately exited the vehicle with her grandchildren as the independent mechanic managed to extinguish the vehicle with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was not notified of the failure. The contact sustained severe trauma as a result of the fire. The dealer was notified of the failure and gave her an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred to the NHTSA. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #25

Dec 142022

Sorento

  • miles
The evening of December 13, the driver noticed an engine rattle when accelerating. No -€œcheck engine-€ or other warnings were displayed. The morning of December 14, the vehicle stalled. The driver waited then restarted the vehicle, which immediately turned over. The driver perceived no issues with electronics or engine and, again, the vehicle displayed no warnings or alerts. Upon accelerating from the location at which the vehicle was stopped, the driver heard a -€œboom-€ and the vehicle cabin filled with smoke. Upon exiting the vehicle and attempting to ascertain the issue, the driver noticed flames. The entire engine became engulfed.

- New Cumberland, PA, USA

problem #24

Dec 082022

Sorento

  • miles
2019 Kia sorento caught on fire while driving. Drivers behind my wife saw flames coming from under motor. They signaled her to pull over and she got out just in time before entire car went up in flames. We believe the fuel pump was faulty as entire motor was on fire.

- Nashville , TN, USA

problem #23

Jul 112022

Sorento

  • miles
The car has issues with accelerating, with huge hesitations that almost feel like the car is going to stop, causing a jerking feeling. This especially happens on the expressway, initially at around 20 mph and then around 50+ mph. Have taken the car to be serviced with no resolution for the issue after over two weeks and now my check engine light constantlystays on. Other Kia owners have expressed noticing similar issues with their Sorento. This is a big concern, as it has the potential to cause several accidents nationwide.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #22

Jul 102022

Sorento

  • miles
Engine stutters and jerks upon acceleration. Happens in every driving mode (Comfort / Eco / Smart / Sport). This has been a persistent safety issue, and judging by the number of similar complaints, a speedy resolution is needed.

- Indian Trail , NC, USA

problem #21

Sep 012021

Sorento

  • 56,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. Additionally, the front passenger's seat was not able to move forward or backward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

- Amity, PA, USA

problem #20

Apr 112021

Sorento

  • 40,000 miles
Car lost power while drving and a semi truck almost ran into me. Have taken car to Kia dealership and throttle body was replaced and week later same problem exist. I have taken the car there 3 times for the same problem haven't had the car 3 months have had this problem since I purchased the car.

- Saint Pauls, NC, USA

problem #19

Oct 012018

Sorento

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while stationary at a traffic light and making a left turn, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her destination. The vehicle was taken to Kia of cleveland (2492 S. lee hwy, cleveland, tn 37311; (423)693-0505) however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times and occurred intermittently. The manufacturer was informed of failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Cleveland, TN, USA

problem #18

Nov 232020

Sorento

  • 4,800 miles
Engine trouble. Engine failure and stalling problems.

- Warrenton, OR, USA

Read the next 17 complaints »