Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while reversing in rainy weather, the rearview camera image was distorted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V639000 (Back Over Prevention), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where additional water proofing to the camera harness was added, but the rearview camera was not replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted after the recall repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
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
While driving with cruise control enabled, the cruise control suddenly disengaged and became inoperative, and the following warning lights (icons) and warning messages displayed on dashboard: > "Check Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist System" warning message > Master warning mode light > ABS warning light > Forward collision assist warning light > Electronic stability control indicator light, and > Auto Hold indicator light. Vehicle continued to operate normally except for those error warnings; cruise control remained disengaged and inoperative. After pulling off the roadway, turning the vehicle off and restarting engine, vehicle operated normally, cruise control could be re-enabled normally, but eventually the same warning lights and warning messages displayed on dashboard and cruise control again disengaged and remained inoperative. This happened multiple times over a number of days. …
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. …
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. …
Days prior to routine scheduled maintenance, several warning lights came on. There was a display of Front Collision Warning. Service department could not replicate the warning lights. Days later, the warning and lights came on more frequently. Took car into dealership and they confirmed a problem. Service department replaced: BR001 HECU 26238 C and 58910-C9600 Hydraulic Unit Assy. As I understand this motor is the main component in having the anti-lock braking system functioning normally. The service department told me to keep the receipt, since it wasn't under warranty, in the event there was a product recall. My concern: Even though there were warning lights the warning wasn't significant enough to indicate that there was a potential safety hazard with a malfunctioning brake system. …
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
Whenever I am stopped at a stoplight and in the close vicinity of a vehicle powered by electricity (specifically Tesla) or dual powered vehicles, the front warning lights start acting up. First going to (green) warning, then to (yellow) warning, and sometimes all the way to (red) warning. This happens even when the stopped vehicle is in the lane next to me and is parallel to me. The whole time all vehicles are stopped and waiting for the traffic to start moving. In my opinion this is very dangerous. Hopefully this is not affecting any of the other computer functions. This has been going on for at least 5 months. Consumer stated it only started about 6 months ago and really is only the late model Tesla an Prius models that cause the crash sensors to go off.
I bought this car back in January 2024. I had it for about a week and the check engine light came on. When I had it read it was a torque converter clutch solenoid. I took it to Kia they said it needed reprogrammed, it was fine. Then a few months go by and I take it back in and they told me I needed to spend $5,000 for a new Transmission at less than 100,000 miles. When doing research a lot of others have had this issue as well. They said there maybe a recall eventually but until then I had to pay for it. I paid for it there is still no recall. Also the rear cross traffic goes off as a car is behind you, there's not really a warning before the car is behind you
Master warning, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, and high beam assist warning lights on. Message boards mention similar problems and there have been front and rear camera recalls for Telluride and other models of Kia, but not for Sorento. Similar problem occurred a few months ago when car died while going at highway speeds. This resolved after cleaning radar cover, cameras and sensors, but are not resolving current problem. Lane assist and departure are not working. We have not taken it to dealer yet. Our 2019 Sorento has not been included in recalls for this specific problem.
Related recalls
Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera
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.
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.
Collision Avoidance complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are collision avoidance problems on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the driver assistance of the 2019 Kia Sorento, 6% of the model year's 431 complaints. The component named most often is warnings (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2019 Kia Sorento collision avoidance problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 23V-639 (camera, Sep 15, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2019 Kia Sorento collision avoidance problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 21,000 miles, and 75% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to driver assistance problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.