general problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sorento

Headlights burn out within weeks to months after replacing them, overheat, flicker when driving. Has been a recurring problem since being bought in 2019.

The right headlight has stopped working as of 1 week ago. The car was returned to the kia dealership for this issue as well as a hesitation while driving and a chronic bumping sound in the car while driving. The car was kept at the dealership for 3 days sept 3,4 & 5 2025 and the headlights per the dealership were realigned. The right headlight was on at the dealership but on sept 6 2025 is back out. No warning showing on the dash and no warning on the dash when the light was first noticed being off. I have used all the light selector switch settings and nothing changes, moved wires on the back of the light housing, nothing. Tapped on the light front and back, nothing. My concern is the light is out so no night driving and the lack of the sensors warning the light is out. Major safety issue.

I have a 2019 kia Sorento that is available upon request for any inspection needed. I replaced the passenger headlight bulb for the low beams 4 times. Each time the bulb go out after a few days. Now, both headlights are out and I can only use my high beams which can cause a safety concern to other drivers as well as myself and family. Vehicle has been inspected by a licensed mechanic. The mechanic stated its a dealer issue after the replacement of the bulb 4 different times. No warning issues prior to failure just when it initially happened the dash warning light regarding low beams lights out starting with the passenger side now both passenger and drivers side. Kia dealer states my car VIN number does not have a recall. But there is a current recall for same issue for 2019 kia Sorento and I was sent a letter in the mail in febuary 2025. But when I called to confirm the dealer stated my car VIN number did not come up under the recall.

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.

The contact owns a 2019 kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at night with the low-beam headlights activated, the light beam was bouncing up and down and moving from side to side presenting a visible shadow within the light beam, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the driver’s side headlight assembly and the movable headlight controller; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 30,000.

When driving at night, the headlights appear to be pointed excessively in a down direction leaving me with a dark shadowy area within my line of eyesight. Headlights checked at dealership and reported back as no issues. My kia owners manual states in chapter 4 page 129 that the headlight beam levels are automatically adjusted depending on the number of passengers and weight in the trunk and other driving conditions. Also advises to contact kia dealership with any issues. Done! the kia dealership informed me that my model does not have the dynamic bending light referred to in chapter 4 page 130 of the owners manual. At this point if I want to have light in my sight line, I must drive with my headlights on high beam. Oncoming drivers beware! this issue needs to be addressed by kia.

The factory design of the low beam headlights seems to have a feature that prevents up-shining into oncoming traffic. However, this design results in a dark shadow-line across the field of vision. This dark shadow-line results in poor visibility especially when driving in areas that are very dark. The shadow-line makes it look like I'm driving into the bat-cave. I have observed on some online kia Sorento user forums of the same complaint. My kia dealer claims that this is a factory design and there is no remedy. I have uploaded 3 photos taken from inside the car parked in front of my white garage door. You can see the horizontal shadow-line and two "teeth" that hang down in the field of view. The line is not very pronounced against the white door, but is very much so when driving on a dark road. Please investigate and advise. Thank you very much.

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.

Electronic functions of vehicle was unresponsive. Unable to turn off radio. Unable to change volume. Unable to control a/c. Unable to answer calls. All buttons unresponsive dealership called on date with no answer. Message left. Dealership informed at next in person visit and dealership said there was nothing that could be done because it was not occuring at that time. Video was obtained because of ongoing issues with electrical components with same response from dealership and lack of attempt to make any effort to diagnose @ taylor kia toledo ohio. Staff still said they could not do anything.

The automatic lights on low beam are aimed too high and are blinding at night. Every car that passes me at night flashes their high beam lights at me; even a state trooper flashed his lights at me and blue lights, he didn't pull me over. I feel bad driving this vehicle at night, people are thinking I'm rude for driving with my high beams on, when I'm using my low beams. The high beams on this vehicle offer no additional lighting of the road, but they do light up the tops of trees very well. Also, the low beam lights are pointed too far to the left and right and leave a large dark " v " shaped void in the middle, exactly where my eyes focus on the road. The dealer checked everything, states operating as designed, they have no ability to adjust the lights. Per the service department: the kia tech line personnel are denying there are any issues with the lights. This is definitely something kia needs to fix. The lights are the only thing I don't like about the vehicle, and it only has about 1400 miles so far. The problem is mostly noticeable when driving at night on dark unlit roads, highways or rural driving.

At night time when the vehicle head lamps are on, there are two triangular shaped objects that are shadowed from part of the head lamp housing. These project into the distance and are an obstruction and make the driver dizzy and it appears as though there is something ahead that you may hit. These shapes also move from side to side as you drive around bends in the road making it even worse and making the driver and the passengers dizzy. It is extremely dangerous and will likely cause an accident. The car is not drivable at night due to this flaw in the design. I have a case logged with kia and they say that the design cannot change and that they have manufactured over 10,00+ of these vehicles. This is a brand new car and it is very poorly designed and very unsafe to drive in the evening. Everyone needs to know this and not buy this car, I also now have to fight with kia to get my money back which will not be fun.