2019 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 27 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111999 at NHTSA ↗

CAR HAS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING IN ECONO MODE. WILL HESITATE WHEN GIVEN GAS IN MORNING AND AT TIMES WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. NOTE NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE PROBLEM BEFORE LEASING OF CAR. TOLD BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR OTHER DRIVERS OR ACCIDENTS. NOTE BY MILEAGE WAS NEVER TEST DRIVEN AFTER SO CALLED FIX.

Owner-reported narrative. 675 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122157 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALERT DID NOT CHIME WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED. THE CONTACT CALLED SOUTH HILLS KIA AT [phone removed] (LOCATED AT 3644 WASHINGTON RD, MCMURRAY, PA 15317) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN PROMISED TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND CALL THE CONTACT BACK, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REP…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131724 at NHTSA ↗

IN ANY DARK AREA WHEN USING LOW BEAMS ARE USED A SHADE COMES DOWN ACROSS FRONT WINDSHIELD AND YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT IN MOTION AND STATIONARY DARK CITY STREETS , BACK RDS.ANY WHERE IT IS PITCH DARK.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11142824 at NHTSA ↗

REFER TO COMPLAINTS 11111999 (7/17/18) AND 11142824 (10/26/18) ON THIS SITE WHICH ARE SIMILAR. WHEN DRIVING IN DARK, RURAL AREAS WITH LOW BEAMS ON, TWO INVERTED "HALF MOON" SHADOWS DISRUPT THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE. AS THE VEHICLE TURNS, THESE HEADLIGHTS ALSO TURN (AS THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO) AND THIS MAKES THE DISRUPTION TO SAFE OPERATION EVEN WORSE. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AFTER DELIVERY (8/2018) AND WE WERE REFERRED TO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THEY OPENED A "CASE", THEN CLOSED IT ABRUPTLY, AND AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINT, HAVE REOPEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151101 at NHTSA ↗

BLIND SPOT WARNING QUITS AFTER EXTENDED DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. WHICH I UNDERSTAND BUT IT WILL NOT WORK FOR A WEEK OR SO AFTER. DEALER WORKED ON IT TWICE ALREADY. KIA TEC SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL IF, IT JUST STOPPED WORKING DURING THE RAIN IS ONE THING, BUT NOT TO WORK FOR A WEEK AFTER IS NOT RIGHT. BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY FEATURE AND PAID GOOD MONEY FOR IT. THE DEALER AGREES WITH ME AND ALSO SAYS ITS NOT RIGHT ,BUT KIA DOES NOT WANT TO BACK UP THIS WARRANTY. KIA HAS A 9 OR 10 POINT BULLETIN ON…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11165785 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING IN A NORMAL FREEWAY, BEAUTIFUL DAY, SUDDENLY FOR NOT REASON MY FRON WINDSHIELD GOT A CRACK, OUT OF THE BLUE, VERY SCARY. I DID CALL KIA RIGHT THE WAY, I TOLD THEM I WAS DRIVING FROM LA TO SAN FRANCISCO ON THE FREEWAY 5, ON VACATION FOR 4 DAYS, WHAT HAPPEN, I WAS AFRAID THE CRACK CONTINUE EXPANDING, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER & THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT - WHEN I CAME BACK AFTER MY VACATION WITH THE KIDS, WE CALLED WENT TO DEALER KIA IN GLENDALE, THEY SAID WAS A ROCK!! WON'T COVER IT, I CALLED MANUFACTURER AGAIN, THEY …

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180092 at NHTSA ↗

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 TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181734 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2022-09-19 (September 19, 2022)

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.

Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

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.

Reported: 2023-09-15 (September 15, 2023)

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."

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.