2019 Kia Sorento Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The oil pressure switch is faulty. The oil indicator light comes on when I'm idling, and I'm also losing 1 quart of oil every 1,000 miles. This was reported on previous Kia models of this make and model, which extended the warranty to 15 years/150k miles. Kia isn't honoring this anymore, even though my switch was diagnosed as bad. Seems Kia never fixed the problem, as my Kia has 113,000 miles and would have been covered by a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) for the same issue a year earlier.
Car has 77,593 miles. The oil light came on only at idle. Immediately hauled to dealership and was told it was a faulty pressure switch and not covered by the warranty even though its part of the powertrain and the earlier models had the same problem and were extended. Should I expect every 77,000 miles or so to have to spend $1700? The tech said no because they are replacing the known faulty switch with new version of it.
I am reporting a recurring defect with my 2019 Kia Sorento’s front axle assembly, which has failed multiple times despite repeated replacements. The vehicle was serviced at Ron Tonkin Kia, where the front axle assembly was replaced three times due to leaks: •January 2022 – First replacement •November 2022 – Second replacement •March 2023 – Third replacement The issue is happening again, indicating a persistent defect. Each time, the axle assembly has been replaced under warranty, but the problem continues to recur, raising concerns about long-term safety and reliability. I am concerned about the potential risk of axle failure while driving, which could lead to loss of vehicle control or other safety hazards. I am requesting an investigation into whether this issue is widespread and whether Kia should be required to address it through a recall or permanent fix.
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module (TCM). The mechanic determined that the transmission needed to be flush and the TCM needed to be reprogrammed to the factory settings. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.
Kia has a known excessive oil consumption issue. This issue has caused my car to suddenly stall while driving which is a huge a safety concern for myself, my passengars and other drivers on the road. If the oil is being sucked into the intake, it will eventually cause engine failure. The Engine Defect is life-threatening and dangerous. As a result of latent design, manufacturing, material, and/or workmanship defects, the Affected Vehicles are prone to excessive oil consumption and/or the restriction of oil flow through the connecting rod bearings as well as to other vital areas of the Engine, causing the Affected Vehicles to experience sudden vehicle stalling, catastrophic engine failure, and/or non-collision engine fires during operation.
The transmission is not shifting from first to second or third to fourth gear. RPMs jump between 4-5 and it won't accelerate. Dealership was able to replicate issue but no codes appeared during scan. They put in a ticket. It has stopped in traffic already. I was able to shut off and restart but this is dangerous.
Vehicle hesitates upon acceleration on takeoff. At times it will almost stop. This has been a problem since purchase date 7/11/2019. Dealer has no solution and there has been no recall. Dealer has other 2019 Sorentos with the same problem, but has not been able to duplicate the problem with our vehicle. This is very problematic when pulling into traffic from a standstill or accelerating from a stop light. No inspections have been made other than dealer. No warning signals have ever appeared.....JUST A DEFINITE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION.
JERKS IN LOWER GEARS AND SOMETIMES SPEADS UP WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO STOP AND/OR SLOW DOWN & WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN, CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT ON i95 WHILE MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME!!!! WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK THE CAR SLIGHTLY SPED UP BEFORE STOPPING CAUSING ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS MY SECOND KIA CAR, THE FIRST WAS AN OPTIMA. I THOUGHT KIA'S WERE STRONG, RELIABLE AND SAFE CARS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!
We have been experiencing a lost of power. The engine sputters and loses power when accelerating. This has happened on several occasions. Today, 10/11/2021, we were nearly hit four times on interstate 580 in Oakland. We were travelling in the number two lane at sixty miles per hour. I began to accelerate to reach the speed limit when the Sorento began to sputter and lost power to five miles per hour. As we lost power the vehicle behind me nearly rear-ended our vehicle. As we moved to the shoulder we were almost struck two more times. Once on the shoulder I turned the Kia off and back on. I attempted to accelerate on the shoulder and it sputtered and lost powers at twenty miles per hour to five miles per hour. I have done research and its apparent there is a major safety issue with this year. Its unfortunate it take a loss of life (or lives) to have a major recall.
JERKS IN LOWER GEARS WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO STOP AND/OR SLOW IT DOWN WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN, BAD WORKMANSHIP ON KIA'S PART. KEEPS HAPPENING EVERYTIME. THIS IS MY SECOND CAR, THE FIRST IS SEDONA, THOUGHT KIA'S WERE STRONG, RELIABLE AND STURDY CARS, BUT SADLY DISAPPOINTED. NEVER AGAIN ANOTHER KIA.
TRANSMISSION HESITATES FROM A STOP AND DURING ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS. CANNOT SEEM TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT SPEED AND ACCELERATION. DANGEROUS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC WITH A HESITATION. TRANSMISSION FEELS SKITTISH AS IF IT IS JUMPING BETWEEN GEARS UNTIL YOU ARE UP TO SPEED AROUND 50 MILES PER HOUR.
INCONSISTENT POWER TO THE WHEELS ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD BUT ALSO ON FREEWAY. UNEVEN DELIVERY OF POWER TO THE WHEELS IS USUALLY CALLED TRANSMISSION SURGE FROM A LACK OF CONSISTENT FLUID PRESSURE BEING MAINTAINED IN EACH GEAR. HAS BUCKED HARD ENOUGH IN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR TO ROCK MY HEAD FORWARD AND BACK. IN ECO MODE IT'S DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. MORE THAN ONCE I THOUGHT I'D BE HT BY ANOTHER CAR TRYING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY CITY STREET. DOES THIS LESS IN COMFORT MODE. THIS HAPPENED ON MANY DATES BUT BELOW YOU ONLY ALLOW TP PICK ONE SO I [PICKED ONE DATE. IT DOESN'T BUCK IN COMFORT MDE BUT THE STUTTER OR SURGE IS STILL THERE. IN THE FIRST 4-5,000 MILES, MAYBE 10 TIMES OR SO, AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON A CITY STREET WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKES, I HAVE FELT IT DROP INTO FIRST GEAR. THREE OR FOUR OF THOSE TIMES IT WAS SUCH A DISTINCT THUD I COULD FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE SEAT AND THE FLOORBOARD. EITHER IT HADN'T FULLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST BY THE TIME I STOPPED, OR IT DOWNSHIFTED ALL THE WAY INTO 1ST THEN INTO TO NEUTRAL, AND WHAT I'M FEELING IS IT FALL BACK INTO 1ST. DEALER SAID MECHANIC COULDN'T DUPLICATE MY SURGE PROBLEM. I DEMANDED A TEST DRIVE WITH THE MECHANIC AND WENT TO A SMOOTH PART OF A NEARBY ROAD WHERE HE SAID HE 'COULD FEEL IT SOME BUT IT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH FOR KIA TO FIX IT. LET US KNOW IF IT GETS WORSE'. THE FLIP SIDE OF THIS STATEMENT IS: GEE, TOO BAD YOUR ANTICIPATED NEW CAR JOY ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT KIA IS HAPPY WITH IT'S ANTICIPATED PROFIT, AND WON'T ACT ON THIS UNLESS IT GETS WORSE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO SAY COSTCO GAS IS THE PROBLEM.
THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING. ACCELERATION IS VERY SLOW IN EVERY MODE EXCEPT SPORT. THE TRANSMISSION STILL HESITATES. VERY UNSAFE. THIS OCCURS WHEN KIA IS FIRST STARTED OR ACCELERATING AFTER A TURN. IT'S ALSO NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING WHILE MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE.
TRANSMISSION IS GIVING HESITATION FROM 1ST TO 2AND GEAR AND POSSIBLY 3RD.
WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 14000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED TWICE NOW FOR THE TRANSMISSION HAVING A PROBLEM. YET THE "DEALERSHIP" KEEPS TELLING US THAT IT IS NOT "REPRODUCIBLE" YET THEY "TELL ME THEY RESET THE COMPUTER" EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT KICK ANY CODES. THE TRANSMISSION - IS VERY SLUGGISH IN GETTING INTO GEAR. (ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING WARMED UP OR NOT) THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS WITH KIA IS THE GAP IN THE INTERIOR CARPET OF THE THIRD ROW. THE DEALERSHIPS HIDE IT AND WHEN ADDRESSED WITH KIA THEY TRY TO COVER IT UP. THE CARPET IS GAPPED ON THE FLOOR BOARD. *TR
PURCHASED NEW 2/22/19. REPORTED ACCELERATION HESITATION PROBLEM TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP OVER 30 DAYS. CONSISTENTLY HESITATION AND STUMBLES ON ACCELERATION. KIA MOTOR CO, HAS DENIED THEIR IS AN ISSUE AND VEHICLE IS RUNNING PROPERLY ACCORDING TO DESIGN. KIA ENGINEERS AGREED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR BUT NO FIX AVAILABLE. I DROVE 3 DIFFERENT BRAND NEW SORENTO'S WITH EXACT DRIVETRAIN AND THEY ALL PERFORMED EXACTLY AS MY CAR. ALMOST GOT RUN OVER LAST WEEK TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON AN INTERSTATE ON RAMP.
I NOTICED AN ENGINE/ TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY HAVE 6500 MILES ON MY 2019 SORENTO EX V6 AWD.. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE HESITATION ESPECIALLY IN ECO AND SMART MODES. SOMETIMES IT HESITATES INITIALLY FROM A STOPPED POSITION BUT THE REAL CONCERN IT HESITATES AFTER YOU PULL INTO AN INTERSECTION WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT PREVENTS YOU FROM DRIVING AWAY FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. I MENTIONED THIS TO TWO KIA EMPLOYEES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR KIA VEHICLES. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY CHECKED MY VEHICLE AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM BUT THE 'RESET' THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE TWO OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE AND MANY REPORTS OF THIS ON THE KIA SORENTO FORUM. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED.
TRANSMISSION STUMBLES / HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING UP HILL OR ON LEVEL SURFACE AT LOW SPEEDS. VEHICLE BRIEFLY AND REPEATEDLY LURCHES UNDER ACCELERATION AS IF DRIVING ON PATCHY ICE-COVERED ROAD SURFACE. NOTICEABLE TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. WORST IN COMFORT, SMART AND ECO MODES. NOT AS PRONOUNCED, BUT STILL PRESENT IN SPORT MODE. MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING SHORTLY AFTER START-UP. LESS NOTICEABLE AFTER 10-15 MINUTES DRIVING.
MY 2019 KIA SORENTO HAS HESITATIONS WHILE RAMPING UP IN SPEED. TOLD DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AFTER THE 1ST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP. TOLD IT WAS NOTHING SINCE IT DIDN'T SHOW UP IN SPORT MODE. I'M SEEING IN FORUMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 8 SPEED TRANS. DROPPING OFF TO DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN.
MY 2019 V6 KIA SORENTO STUMBLES AND HESITATES UNDER PART THROTTLE, LOW RPM, ACCELERATION REGARDLESS OF SPEED. IT'S MORE NOTICEABLE IN CITY DRIVING, BUT IS PRESENT WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. KEEPING THE TRANSMISSION IN 'SPORT' MODE REDUCES THE SEVERITY, BUT DOES NOT ELIMINATE IT. WHEN I PLACE THE GEAR SELECTOR IN MANUAL MODE, AND LOCK IN A HIGHER (NUMERICALLY) GEAR, I CAN DUPLICATE THE HESITATION. I HAD MY DEALERSHIP REFLASH THE LOGIC CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION, PER A TSB, BUT THAT ONLY PARTIALLY ADDRESSED THE ISSUE SO IT MAY BE A COMBINATION OF FUEL DELIVERY/AUTOMATIC GEAR SELECTION. I BELIEVE IT'S MORE OF A FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM, THOUGH. SOMETIMES THE HESITATION IS SUCH THAT IT PREVENTS PROMPT ACCELERATION, POSING A SAFETY CONCERN. I'VE USED VARIOUS FUEL SYSTEM CLEANERS DESIGNED FOR GDI ENGINES WITH LIMITED SUCCESS. MY VEHICLE HAS 13K MILES ON IT, AND IT HAS PERFORMED IN THIS MANNER SINCEI BOUGHT IT APX. 2K MILES, AND TWO MONTHS, AGO.
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Quick Summary
The 2019 Kia Sorento has 20 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.