general problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sorento - part 1

On December 16, 2025 at approximately 0830 hrs. Est my wife attempted to start the above vehicle. There was an "odd" odor in the garage by the vehicle at the time. She was unable to start the vehicle, there were not functional lights and no other accessories were functional. I perfomed a test on the battery later in the afternoon using a battery testing probe, it indicated the battery was non-functional. At approximately 1515 hrs. Est I replaced the battery in the above vehicle. Upon replacement of the battery the vehicle was started and run for approximately 3 minutes to ensure all systems checked alright and there was no damage from the loss of the. I then was standing at the back of the vehicle and noted smoke coming from the tail lights and from under the liftgate. I opened the rear liftgate and felt heat and saw smoke. As I was removing the trim from around the vehicle to access the area of origin for the smoke, the rear bumper cover melted and flames were visible where the bumper cover had melted. I used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the visible fire then accessed the area under the bumper to ensure the fire had been fully extinguished. Visible under the bumper was the tow wiring whch was visibly damaged by fire. I reported the fire to kia of muncie from where the vehicle was purchased new in December 2018 and to the kia care line. Pictures of the damage were sent to both. The vehicle had been checked and cleared of all recalls associated with the tow wiring recall.

Adding to NHTSA safety issue id # 11685509. The car was taken back to the dealership on 9/8/2025 and the maintenance department was showed were the junction box that controls a lot of safety features could be the issue and why normal diagnostics tools used could not isolated the issue to it. Online research shows that this junction box is a common issue and an undiagnosed issue with major safety issues. Actually the maintenance department had no clue as to were it was even located on a 2019 kia sonata. Please look into this issue. I am having mine replaced but it will take a week to do it. It maybe because of the unavailability because of quality fixing the issue.

Upon starting my vehicle after going to the grocery store, the abs, esc, check forward collision-avoidance assist system, and auto hold warning lights illuminated. The cruise control was then inadvertently deactivated. When vehicle is started the check forward collision error comes on. After a few months when entering the freeway and accelerating I received an error regarding unknown engine issue. Took vehicle to kia dealership and was who diagnosed that the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) needed to be replaced. Manufacturer being notified, vehicle not repaired at dealer due to cost.

This morning my 2019 kia Sorento lost power all while driving on a busy highway going 70 miles per hour. When this occured the battery light flashed twice and then the instrument cluster had all warning lights. Then the cluster started flashing and the infotainment center lost power. I lost power steering and brakes. This is not the first time this has happened and I am extremely upset. I drove to the nearest dealership because it was the next exit off of the highway. The engine was running but nothing else was working. The dealership could not get it out of park after I arrived and then it would not start. This same issue occured in 2023 and the dealer had it for over 90 days. They claimed everything was fixed and multiple things were not resolved. My cluster has sparatically flashed since 15k miles and this is ridiculous. Kia will not honor warranty or admit that this is a lemon.

My car has been in recall with Kia Motors and nothing has been changed or done.

Vehicle has lka fca and hba error lights on. Dealer inspection found active dtc c180508 lkas can-signal error. C160649 ecu software error. Can line inspection found incorrect can-signal from multifunction camera.

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.

Infotainment/back up camera failure when reversing and while driving today. Kia corporate has been aware of issue since April 2021 and has yet to resolve to attempt to fully diagnose. Dealership claimed they checked "every" wiring harness for water exposure due to ongoing water issues from dash. Kia claimed they would work with me during our bbb arbitration and have had zero contact since. Car was manufacturered weeks before current back up camera recall on other 2019 Sorentos. Camera in car shows no work was done. Car sat on dealership lot on 2 different occasions for 27 days in 2022 and then over 87 days. Per kia "they can't throw parts at it" this has caused an accident and is concerning regarding backing up with children. "safety features" do not actually work for safety purposes. Kia states they are not meant for safety during recorded arbitration.

Infotainment center no longer has option for date/time. Option is grayed out. Dealership had vehicle for 89 days and returned it not fixed after claiming they resolved everything.

Infotainment center failure that hat been ongoing since 2019 and kia will not address.

Back up camera failure while attempting to drive. Ongoing since water issues in 2019 due to "manufacturers design flaw". Manufacturer will not resolve.

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 car will not turn on, there was no warning light or maintenance required message. Also the two passenger seats recline back but will not go back to forward position.

Check forwarded collision was on and it has disabled my traction control and abs light was on kia had me make an appointment 3 weeks out. Was leaving for work and it was rainy I was doing 30 in a 40 and I tried stopping to slow down because there was a car in front of me stopped at a yeld so I tired to stop harder but back of car stating sliding our so I had to quickly make a move to get to the lane next to me and there is no one over there and I went over a curb and resulting in totalling my car.

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.

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 hom to some 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.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? infotainment screen and back up camera, it is available for kia at anytime they choose. A complaint has been filed with kia and they have yet to respond. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? failure of the system causes safety issues for passengers as well as anyone outside of the vehicle while operating said vehicle. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? it is unclear whether or not they have made a legitimate attempt to reproduce the issues. The dealership that it was purchased at refused to make any attempt to acknowledge the issue. Kia requested that it be serviced at a dealership, they had it for 27 days consecutively in 2022 and 91 days in 2023 and made no attempt to reproduce the issue. Multiple recordings have been provided to kia. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? yes. Kia has had possession of the vehicle 27 consecutive days on 2022 and 91 consecutive days in 2023 were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no. Screen malfunctions during use. Flash black last date of malfunction 11. 21. 2023. There was a heavy rain 11. 20 to 11. 21.

Ongoing headlight malfunction since 2022, ongoing electrical issues with vehicle. Vehicle headlight does not work on multple occasions despite being serviced at the dealership and replaced 4 times in 2 years. This occurs to both headlights. It is currently random for the right but constant for the left cover (backing) of headlight looks like it exploded. Plastic is puffed out. Dealership had vehicle from 5/4/2023 to 8/1/2023. Returned unresolved.

I received a safety recall letter from kia America July 2023 and Dec 2024 and called jerry seiner kia salt lake city and they will not help me. I then called kia customer care number on the recall letter 800-333-4542 and it goes to roadside assistance and they cannot help me. I then called the usgov safety hotline listed on the recall letter 888-327-4236 and that goes to coach elkhart. So the kia customer care number is incorrect and the usgov safety hotline number is incorrect and no one except me knows this? zombieland America. Anyone out their know why the usgov safety hotline number lists coach elkhart phone number? I have had 3 other people look to see how crazy this all is.

Unknown, heard a pop when starting the vehicle, got out to look under the hood, and found smoke and then fire coming from under the hood. Fire report was filed and insurance claim was made. Insurance company deemed it a total loss.

Backup camera and infotainment screens failed while driving 4/18/2023 . As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable as required by michigan law. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. Date and time functions no longer available as an option of the infotaiment center. Dashes replace time kia has been aware of issue since April 2021. Has yet to resolve the issue. Refuses to respond since 2022.

Backup camera and infotainment screens failed while driving 4/7/2023. As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable as required by michigan law. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. Failed 4/1/2023 as well. I was instructed by kia to record the issues per my invoice from dealership when they had vehicle for 27 days in 2022 kia has been aware of issue since April 2021. Has yet to resolve the issue. Refuses to respond since 2022.

Backup camera and infotainment screens failed while driving 4/1/2023. As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable as required by michigan law. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. Kia has been aware of issue since April 2021. Has yet to resolve the issue. Refuses to respond since 2022.

Backup camera and infotainment screens failed while driving 3/29/2023. As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable as required by michigan law. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. Kia has been aware of issue since April 2021. Has yet to resolve the issue. Refuses to respond since 2022.

Blind spot collision system failure ongoing off and on since 2021 alarms are a distraction while driving 70 on highway roads when it is icy kia aware of issue due to multiple cases opened.

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.

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.

Infotainment screens failed while driving after failing 3 days prior on 7/3/2022. As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. . Kia emailed directly due to ongoing case regarding ongoing electical issues causing accident in April 2021. Kia unable to provide rental/transportation due to "covid" and "shortages". Appointment was missed 10/30/2021 due to unavailable transportation and issues potentially taking weeks to diagnose at dealership. Kia did not arrange/approve transportation as promised. Kia had vehicle 3/3/2022 to 3/30/2022.

Infotainment screens failed while driving. As a result call failed and this makes hands free phone usage unavailable. Kia case manager emailed directly due to open case regarding ongoing electical issues causing accident earlier in year. Kia unable to provide rental/transportation due to "covid" and "shortages". Appointment was missed 10/30/2021 due to unavailable transportation and issues potentially taking weeks to diagnose at dealership. Kia did not arrange/approve transportation as promised. Kia had vehicle 3/3/2022 to 3/30/2022.

There is a hiss noise coming from the steering when you are making a left or right turn.

Back up camera/infotainement screen went black while backing up twice in driveway. About 10 minutes later infotainment center restarted it's self and prompted me to verify safety while driving. Kia case manager emailed directly due to open case regarding ongoing electical issues causing accident earlier in year. Kia unable to provide rental/transportation due to "covid" and "shortages". Appointment was missed 10/30/2021 due to unavailable transportation and issues potentially taking weeks to diagnose at dealership. Kia did not arrange/approve transportation as promised.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? infotainment center and back up camera failure as well as multiple other system failures that have been ongoing since 2020 after water damage when ac drain hose backed up. Kia has been contacted multiple times since April 2021 regarding this issue after it caused an accident while backing up in April 2021. Kia did not inspect the vehicle until March 2022 due to failure to arrange appropriate appointments and transportation. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the ongoing failures are a safety issue because they make it impossible to safely drive and not be distracted. The screen failures when backing up make it unsafe regarding backover protection and the sensors also fail for back up and blind spot. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? unknown. The manufacturer has been provided with multiple videos of the issue and has had the vehicle for over 100 days total. Kia states they have the right to manufacture vehicles with features and that they should not be relied upon for safety, under oath and recorded. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? manufacturer has had access to the vehicle. They are not sharing what occured when they had it. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? failure is not consistent or anticipated. It does occur more often when it has rained.

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.

Infotainment center glitching while driving, 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.

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.