Body problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sorento - part 1

About 1 month ago, I noticed on the hood, several areas (10-12) of bubbling and peeling of the paint. On the side upright panel next to the windshield on the passenger side, there is a big area of peeling and bubbling paint. Paint is called snow white pearl. On the driver side panel above the handle, there is more bubbling of the paint. There are several other areas all over the car that is bubbling up and will peel soon. This will start to rust very soon. It was inspected by the local dealer and confirmed. This should not happen to any car. I was told it was defective paint/sealer from manufacturer. I am on restricted income and can not afford to pay for this repainting of my car.

The paint is peeling off the roof and front of vehicle. The car is (2019) out of the 3\36 warranty and the dealer says there is nothing they can do to help me. I asked the service writer if this is a common problem with these vehicles. His comment was what color is your car (it is white) he said the white cars are having a major problem with paint peeling.

After purchasing from carmax 6 months later the paint above the windshield is peeling off in huge chunks. The color is snow pearl white. Having large chunks of solid paint flying around can decrease visibility for both the driver of the vehicle and others should the pieces go on the windshield obstructing full view, this is a safety issue. I have called carmax and have not heard back - it has been a month. There was no warning, no noted bubbling of paint or paint rising up in any areas.

Paint peeling issues with the snow white paint.

The paint is peeling terrible. Has not been inspected by anyone.

The snow white pearl paint color is peeling off my entire car, compromising the vehicle since the metal is no longer being protected. I took it into a kia dealership and they acknowledged the paint defect but said they can’t do anything about it even though they know that there is a manufacture defect with this specific paint color. There was no warning, my car is parked in the garage and so it’s not even exposed to the elements all the time and the paint just started peeling. This paint color has a known defect for not adhering to the primer and kia won’t do anything about it.

2019 kia Sorento white pearl paint began peeling. Spoke with kia dealership about issue due to sister company Hyundai having the same issue which resulted in an extended warranty. I began communication with dealership on June 2, 2025. During this time, it had been told that other kia white pearl paint has been defective, but nothing has been done on kia's side as of now. My dealership has "attempted" to get a goodwill coverage due to paint warranty expired after 36 months of the vehicle which was in 2022. I have been put back and forth and not given specific answers on how to move forward with getting my car fix for a manufacturing/defective paint error. I have also priced out other body shops and the price estimate was over $2500. I am frustrated as I do not believe I should have to take care of an error based on kia's issue.

All my paint is chipping on my vehicle. I can't even go to the car wash and wash my car cause the paint comes off. It is snow white pearl paint. I needed to have half my car painted now the other side is doing the same thing.

I have a 2019 kia Sorento that the paint is pealing all the way down to the metal on the roof and the hood of the car. I am past my 3 year 36k mile warranty and I've been to the dealership and they have told me there is nothing they can do for me. I have taken care of my car and kept up with all the maintenance.

Pearl white paint has suddenly begun flaking off from roof of my 2019 Sorentosxl. It is running above the length of the driver side door. Paint should not be doing that. Looks like a factory defect. Noticed many other complaints for the exact same issue. Kia defers to the warranty but kia should fix this regardless of warranty timeline since this is not as a result of external forces or owner error.

Snow white pearl paint is not bonding to kia Sorento roof.

The Sorento is coated with a "snow white pearl" paint that started delaminating rapidly. I took it to the dealership at first for a pen touch up, but it started chipping and peeling exponentially quicker lately. This is a serious issue as the paint is the only protector of the body from rust and wear.

The paint is peeling everywhere on my vehicle.

There is delamination of the snow pearl white paint. It has been reported and noted at the kia dealership. Starting on the hood and passenger driver side door. It is literally falling off after a bubble formed under the paint. Kia has pictures of this.

My pearl white 2019 kia Sorento lx is peeling terribly. It's very ugly and is causing my car to rust in spots.

Infotainment center continues to have issues/restarting as if the car was just started. Attempted to resolve with kia after ongoing issues but they do not feel that this is a safety concern or feel it needs to be investigated appropriately. This occurs when driving typically on the highway because most of my travel is highway. When this occurs it is a distraction for the driver. It interferes with the ability to use hands free/calls/gps. Timestamped photos and video available.

Paint is peeling off the hood of the car.

Attempted theft with injury kia's reputation has caused this vehicle to be at risk for theft. Many resulting in injury. Kia had vehicle in 2023 and completed "upgrade" and placed stickers on the windows. Vehicle was still targeted. Insurance rates are insane for this as a result.

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

Delamination of my pearl white paint started occurring at 44,000 miles on my 2019 kia Sorento. Now at 54,000 miles it's gotten worse and continues to expand. Occurring on the hood and the roof.

My kia sorrento snow white paint peeling chipping flaking. Rapid peeling of paint. Delamination. My kia is just a little over three years old. Should not be peeling. This is my second kia. My older one same color no paint issues even after 6 years. Paint is bubbling in some areas and seems like a manufacturer faulty paint job. Paint is coming off in big flakes on doors sides, around windshield and rear hatch area.

The paint on the hood and roof have been peeling and metal is now exposed. There appears to be a primer or paint defect. This occurred 4 years into owning the vehicle. Kia connect and dealership refuse to do anything since they said paint warranty is only for 3 years or 36,000 miles. But this is negligence from the manufacturer.

2019 kia Sorento snow white peal peeling paint on hood and roof of car. Per body shop this "delamination".

Had large paint chip come off hood and stuck on windsheild. Was driving on interstate which caused blind spot while driving 60 mph. Had to pull to side of road to clear windsheild.

After a particular strong rainstorm I found 4 areas on the driver hood right above the headlight and 6 spots above the windshield that were cracked, bubbled and pealed off all the way down to the metal frame. The areas on the hood remain small. They bubble and chip off a little at a time. The areas above the windshield is completely stripped 75% across the top and 4-6 inches deep. The paint continues to sheer off in large chunks all the way down to the metal. I purchased my Sorento in January 2019 brand new. Color is pearl white.

Paint is peeling and flaking off rapidly on my kia. I had rocks kicked back on my vehicle while driving causing the paint to crack down to the 2nd layer of primer. It is snow white pearl color and it was told to me by a mechanic and by the insurance representative that there is a manufacturer error in the paint color on my specific model. I will continue to have these issues, forking out thousands of dollars to have the paint repaired, for every incident that may happen. I'm concerned that this will create a safety hazard while driving for me as the driver as well as other drivers. I called kia to see what they would do about it and they said nothing because there's no recall.

Pieces and or flakes of vehicle paint are falling off the body of the vehicle. Mainly affected areas is the top front portion of the roof above the windshield and front of the hood. Paint started peeling off around the 28,000 mile mark. I’m currently at 30,000 miles. Keeps getting worse. A piece of paint peeled off and was stuck to my windshield and I could not visibly see the road. Had to pull over and remove the peeled off piece of paint.

The white pearl paint on my 2019 kia Sorento has started chipping in some spots without any impacts or action that would affect it. I feel that this could expand and maybe chip a large portion of the hood paint while I am driving, which may cause me to react erratically and maybe cause an accident. I have seen many complaints online recently of other owners encountering the same problem. I have taken the SUV to the dealer many times for maintenance, but they have not attempted to repair the issue. No lights or alarms have presented themselves prior to this issue, which I first noticed while washing my car in January 2022.

My 2019 snow white kia Sorento paint started peeling up on the driver side hood and wasn't caused by any type of damage. Took the vehicle to the local kia dealership and was told that my 3 year 36000 mile warranty was expired and there was nothing they would do to correct this issue.

Front bumper (black) is peeling. Local repair shop said the bumper was not properly primed before they (kia) painted them. Peeling started 9/15/2021.

Pearl white paint peeling and chipping on hood of vehicle and bumper. Kia has known knowledge and history of this defect of the 2019 kia Sorento with the pearl white paint and hasn't stop using this color paint. Paint flakes has to go somewhere, air, water, etc. Hazardous material. This not just a touch up job, expensive procedure, have to restore the whole area, with the ensure that the paint matches up and possible cause of repainting again in the future. Kia needs to be held responsible for permitting defective equipment on the road.

My vehicle was stolen from my residential home. 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. I went and retrieved pictures seeing that my car was totaled. With this being said I don't have a vehicle for me or my children to be able to get to work and or school and daycare. I don't know what I'm going to do with trying to not jeopardize my job with getting to work. So I'm writing this so that kia company can be held accountable for not recalling these vehicles and putting me and my children during this pandemic at risk of losing everything home, job and more.

Infotainment center glitching while driving, restarting as if the car was just started. Recent water issue behind dash due to "design flaw" of a/c drain. Ongoing mold/musty smell. Attempted to resolve with kia after ongoing issues but they do not feel that this is a safety concern or feel it needs to be investigated appropriately. This occurs when driving typically on the highway because most of my travel is highway. When this occurs it is a distraction for the driver. It interferes with the ability to use hands free/calls/gps. Timestamped photos and video available.

All electrical screens went black while driving including those on the instrument cluster attempted to resolve with kia after ongoing issues but they do not feel that this is a safety concern or feel it needs to be investigated appropriately. The ongoing infotainment screen failure occurs when driving typically on the highway because most of my travel is highway. When this occurs it is a distraction for the driver. It interferes with the ability to use hands free/calls/gps. Timestamped photos and video available.

Infotainment center issues after recent a/c drain hose issue and water pouring out of dash compartment due to design flaw. Concerned about water contributing to electrical issues. Dealership will not assess because electrical issue not happening constantly attempted to resolve with kia after ongoing issues but they do not feel that this is a safety concern or feel it needs to be investigated appropriately. Ongoing issues with mold smell after water as well. Dealership gave me vehicle back with carpets soaking wet 2 years in a row. Child has asthma, father has pulmonary fibrosis and is a disabled veteran. Only vehicle for family unfortunately. This occurs when driving typically on the highway because most of my travel is highway. When this occurs it is a distraction for the driver. It interferes with the ability to use hands free/calls/gps. Timestamped photos and video available.