The 2019 Kia Sorento is associated with 422 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 98 reports (23% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 4 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.4l 4-cyl and 3.3l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 21 to 25 MPG combined.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 422 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Engine (98 / 23%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 10 crash / 19 fire / 10 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 21–25 MPG (4 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Sorento FWD | 2.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 22 MPG | 29 MPG | 25 MPG | — | $2,450 / yr |
| Sorento AWD | 2.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 21 MPG | 26 MPG | 23 MPG | — | $2,650 / yr |
| Sorento FWD | 3.3L 6-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 19 MPG | 26 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
| Sorento AWD | 3.3L 6-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 19 MPG | 24 MPG | 21 MPG | — | $2,950 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| SUV FWD | | | | | 15% |
| SUV AWD | | | | | 15.8% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2019 Kia Sorento models.
View complete 2019 Kia Sorento crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2019 Kia Sorento problems & component breakdown (89 categories) →
Affected Component: TRAILER HITCHES
Defect Summary: 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, which can result in a fire.
Free Manufacturer 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 August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
Affected Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Defect Summary: 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."
Free Manufacturer 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. Kia's number for this recall is SC282.
View all 2019 Kia Sorento recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →