2019 KIA SORENTO Structure Problems
50 complaints about Structure
High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
All Structure Complaints (50)
All my paint is chipping on my vehicle. I can't even go to the car wash and wash my car cause the paint comes off. It is snow white pearl paint. I needed to have half my car painted now the other side is doing the same thing.
Paint peeling issues with the snow white paint
The Snow White Pearl Paint Color is peeling off my entire car, compromising the vehicle since the metal is no longer being protected. I took it into a KIA dealership and they acknowledged the paint defect but said they can’t do anything about it even though they know that there is a manufacture defect with this specific paint color. There was no warning, my car is parked in the garage and so it’s not even exposed to the elements all the time and the paint just started peeling. This paint color has a known defect for not adhering to the primer and KIA won’t do anything about it.
The paint is peeling terrible. Has not been inspected by anyone
2019 Kia Sorento White Pearl Paint began peeling. Spoke with Kia Dealership about issue due to sister company Hyundai having the same issue which resulted in an extended warranty. I began communication with dealership on June 2, 2025. During this time, it had been told that other Kia White Pearl Paint has been defective, but nothing has been done on Kia's side as of now. My dealership has "attempted" to get a Goodwill coverage due to paint warranty expired after 36 months of the vehicle which was in 2022. I have been put back and forth and not given specific answers on how to move forward with getting my car fix for a manufacturing/defective paint error. I have also priced out other body shops and the price estimate was over $2500. I am frustrated as I do not believe I should have to take care of an error based on Kia's issue.
Pearl White Paint has suddenly begun flaking off from roof of my 2019 SorentoSXL. It is running above the length of the driver side door. Paint should not be doing that. Looks like a factory defect. Noticed many other complaints for the exact same issue. Kia defers to the warranty but Kia should fix this regardless of warranty timeline since this is not as a result of external forces or owner error.
Snow white pearl paint is not bonding to kia sorento roof
I am the original owner of my vehicle, which I purchased brand new from the dealership in December, 2017]. The car is now five years old and has been regularly maintained. However, I have observed significant issues with the paint, which is bubbling and peeling off in large amounts in several areas of the vehicle. This condition is concerning, as it not only affects the vehicle’s appearance but also has the potential to cause rust and other mechanical issues if left unaddressed. Given that the peeling is occurring despite proper care and no external factors such as accidents or environmental damage, I believe this may be a manufacturing defect. I am requesting an evaluation of this issue and any available remedies under the manufacturer’s warranty, especially considering the potential for long-term damage to the vehicle’s structure and mechanical components. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] 2019 Kia Sorento [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The Sorento is coated with a "Snow White Pearl" paint that started delaminating rapidly. I took it to the dealership at first for a pen touch up, but it started chipping and peeling exponentially quicker lately. This is a serious issue as the paint is the only protector of the body from rust and wear.
There is delamination of the snow pearl white paint. It has been reported and noted at the Kia dealership. Starting on the hood and passenger driver side door. It is literally falling off after a bubble formed under the paint. Kia has pictures of this
The paint is peeling everywhere on my vehicle
Delamination of my pearl white paint started occurring at 44,000 miles on my 2019 Kia Sorento. Now at 54,000 miles it's gotten worse and continues to expand. Occurring on the hood and the roof.
PEARL WHITE PAINT STARTED PEELING ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. ABOUT 40,000 MILES
My pearl white 2019 KIA Sorento LX is peeling terribly. It's very ugly and is causing my car to rust in spots
Infotainment center glicthing 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 There is no warning before failure. Due to Covid, Parts shortatages and loaner/rental shortages this was not addressed in a timely manner by KIA however they state its my fault.
While parked in a parking lot I attempted to lower the volume of the radio and the buttons were not responding. Attemped to turn off infotainment center and it would not respond. A call came in and my phone was connected and car would not allow me to answer call. Attempted to disconnect phone from car and it would not work. 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
about an hour after earlier incident below we went to the beach. After unloading beach items and children I realized that the elctrical components of the vehicle were still running. The vechicle was off. Key was out of the ignition. All doors were open. AC/Infotainment Center/Lights would not turn off. I was concerned about what to do. I felt it was unsafe it leave it running. Called the dealership, left a message with the service advisor I was given the card for a week prior when mentioning ongoing issues. Video recorded the incident. Attempted to call again. Attempted to call other numbers for the dealership. Spoke with a friend who is a mechanic who suggested disconnecting the battery. Earlier incident below: While parked in a parking lot I attempted to lower the volume of the radio and the buttons were not responding. Attemped to turn off infotainment center and it would not respond. A call came in and my phone was connected and car would not allow me to answer call. Attempted to disconnect phone from car and it would not work. 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
Multiple infotainment center errors while driving from Wisconsin to Michigan. Freezing and then restarting as if the car was just started. Occasionally freezing on the safety acknowledgement screen. 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 glicthing while driving 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 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 center glitching while driving, Restarting as if the car was just started. Dealership, Taylor Kia Toldeo refused to address because it was not occuring the moment it was brought into the dealership. 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. recording of this available. 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. Recent water issue. Mold smell after water issue. Carpet was not appropriately addressed by dealership for A/C drain "design flaw". I have a child with asthma and disabled vetran father and spend hours commuting daily. Mold and water are a health concern. 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 issues after recent a/c drain hose issue and water pouring out of dash compartment due to design flaw. Concerned about water contributing to electrical issues. Dealership will not assess because electrical issue not happening constantly 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. Ongoing issues with mold smell after water as well. Dealership gave me vehicle back with carpets soaking wet 2 years in a row. Child has asthma, father has pulmonary fibrosis and is a disabled veteran. Only vehicle for family unfortunately. 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
all electrical screens went black while driving including those on the instrument cluster 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. The ongoing infotainment screen failure 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
About an hour after getting a car wash I noticed that the infotainment center was having issues. It would restart as if the car was just turned on and freeze. It also went black then back to the start with KIA logo. Attemped to resolve with KIA 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. There is no warning before failure.
Infotainment center failure/glitching. It would restart as if the car was just turned on and freeze. It also went black then back to the start with KIA logo. Attemped to resolve with KIA 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. There is no warning before failure.
infotainment center glitching. restart as if the car was just turned on and freeze. It also went black then back to the start with KIA logo. I was driving on roads in the country that I was not familiar with, I did record this to the best of our ability with the assitance of my child. Attemped to resolve with KIA 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. There is no warning before failure.
infotainment center glitching and restarting while driving at random times. would restart to kia logo and then freeze on the saftey message. this interferes with navigation and is a distraction while driving. Attemped to resolve with KIA 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. There is no warning before failure.
infotainment center glitching Attemped to resolve with KIA 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. There is no warning before failure.
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.
Vehicle had water falling from dash while turning. Sizzling/Hissing noise with water sloshing around in dash area. Vehicle was returned by dealership with soaking wet carpet and horrible smell after appointment a week later. Mold issues since. Vehicle used to transport Vetran with termial lung disease
Vehicle had water falling from dash while turning. Sizzling/Hissing noise with water sloshing around in dash area. Asked by dealer "where do you keep it parked" I asked them where they kept it parked back because it was purchased 8/15/2019 and began making the noises in early october when we got rain. Vehicle given back from the dealership with excessively wet carpet and smelling of mold and fish flies.
Paint is peeling off the hood of the car.
PAINT CHIPPING OFF
My cars white paint is coming off the body. My car is loosing oil really fast.
The paint on the hood and roof have been peeling and metal is now exposed. There appears to be a primer or paint defect. This occurred 4 years into owning the vehicle. Kia connect and dealership refuse to do anything since they said paint warranty is only for 3 years or 36,000 miles. But this is negligence from the manufacturer.
Pieces and or flakes of vehicle paint are falling off the body of the vehicle. Mainly affected areas is the top front portion of the roof above the windshield and front of the hood. Paint started peeling off around the 28,000 mile mark. I’m currently at 30,000 miles. Keeps getting worse. A piece of paint peeled off and was stuck to my windshield and I could not visibly see the road. Had to pull over and remove the peeled off piece of paint
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle began shaking and a burning odor emanated from the 12V accessory outlet. The contact stated that the instrument and meter did not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the radio needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Mileage: 65,000
After a particular strong rainstorm I found 4 areas on the driver hood right above the headlight and 6 spots above the windshield that were cracked, bubbled and pealed off all the way down to the metal frame. The areas on the hood remain small. They bubble and chip off a little at a time. The areas above the windshield is completely stripped 75% across the top and 4-6 inches deep. The paint continues to sheer off in large chunks all the way down to the metal. I purchased my Sorento in January 2019 brand new. Color is pearl white.
My Kia Sorrento Snow White Paint Peeling Chipping Flaking. Rapid peeling of paint. Delamination. My Kia is just a little over three years old. Should not be peeling. This is my second kia. My older one same color no paint issues even after 6 years. Paint is bubbling in some areas and seems like a manufacturer faulty paint job. Paint is coming off in big flakes on doors sides, around windshield and rear hatch area.
2019 Kia Sorento Snow White Peal peeling paint on hood and roof of car. Per body shop this "delamination"
Had large paint chip come off hood and stuck on windsheild. Was driving on interstate which caused blind spot while driving 60 mph. Had to pull to side of road to clear windsheild.
Paint is peeling and flaking off rapidly on my Kia. I had rocks kicked back on my vehicle while driving causing the paint to crack down to the 2nd layer of primer. It is snow white pearl color and it was told to me by a mechanic and by the insurance representative that there is a manufacturer error in the paint color on my specific model. I will continue to have these issues, forking out thousands of dollars to have the paint repaired, for every incident that may happen. I'm concerned that this will create a safety hazard while driving for me as the driver as well as other drivers. I called Kia to see what they would do about it and they said nothing because there's no recall.
The white pearl paint on my 2019 Kia Sorento has started chipping in some spots without any impacts or action that would affect it. I feel that this could expand and maybe chip a large portion of the hood paint while I am driving, which may cause me to react erratically and maybe cause an accident. I have seen many complaints online recently of other owners encountering the same problem. I have taken the SUV to the dealer many times for maintenance, but they have not attempted to repair the issue. No lights or alarms have presented themselves prior to this issue, which I first noticed while washing my car in January 2022.
Front bumper (black) is peeling. Local repair shop said the bumper was not properly primed before they (KIA) painted them. Peeling started 9/15/2021
My 2019 Snow White KIA Sorento paint started peeling up on the driver side hood and wasn't caused by any type of damage. Took the vehicle to the local KIA dealership and was told that my 3 year 36000 mile warranty was expired and there was nothing they would do to correct this issue.
Pearl white paint peeling and chipping on hood of vehicle and bumper. KIA has known knowledge and history of this defect of the 2019 Kia Sorento with the Pearl white paint and hasn't stop using this color paint. Paint flakes has to go somewhere, air, water, etc. Hazardous material.This not just a touch up job, expensive procedure, have to restore the whole area, with the ensure that the paint matches up and possible cause of repainting again in the future. Kia needs to be held responsible for permitting defective equipment on the road.
My Vehicle was stolen from my residential home. My window was buss out and they stole my vehicle. After over two weeks my vehicle was finally retrieved by the police and city of Milwaukee tow lot. I was told by financing company as well as police department to go get pictures of vehicle as reported from tow company that my vehicle was completely totaled out. I went and retrieved pictures seeing that my car was totaled. With this being said i don't have a vehicle for me or my children to be able to get to work and or school and daycare. I don't know what I'm going to do with trying to not jeopardize my job with getting to work. So I'm writing this so that KIA company can be held accountable for not recalling these vehicles and putting me and my children during this pandemic at risk of losing everything home, job and more.
DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-66 EAST OF CARTHARPIN ROAD, MY SORENTO'S SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AT MID-MORNING, NO CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA, SMOOTH PAVEMENT, I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH. EXPLODING SOUND, I THOUGHT IT WAS A BLOWOUT. DISCOVERED LARGE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUNROOF. PREVIOUS EVENING WE HAD DRIVING RAIN, TEMP DOWN TO ABOUT 40 OVERNIGHT, CURRENT WEATHER WAS SUNNY, 45-50 DEGREES. CAR WAS LEASED NEW, HAS ABOUT 22K MILES. *TR
Mileage: 22,000