YearToAvoid

2019 Kia Sorento Structure & Body Problems

Structure & Body complaints make up 65 of 426 total complaints (15%) for the 2019 Kia Sorento, mostly paint peeling and one sunroof failure, plus a related tow-hitch recall (22V703000). Median mileage at failure is 50,610 miles, with 1 crash, 1 fire, and 1 injury reported.

Structure & Body complaints
65
15% of 426
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
50,610 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Paint on the hood, bumper, and front fascia peels or chips down to the primer layer without any impact damage, often on white/pearl color vehicles.
  • The panoramic sunroof reportedly shattered or exploded while driving at highway speed with no prior warning.
  • Owners report the vehicle caught fire while parked and unoccupied, with no dashboard warning lights before the fire.
  • Some owners tied to recall 22V703000 report the tow hitch harness recall repair part was unavailable for an extended period after notification.
  • One owner reported a sudden loss of motive power along with a front passenger seat that would not move forward or backward.

When 2019 Kia Sorento body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 14, 2020, latest Apr 6, 2026.

2019 Kia Sorento structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month20Apr 2020Jul 2022Jun 2023Jan 2024Oct 2024Jun 2025Feb 2026
65 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2020 to Apr 2026; peak Jul 2024 (20).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2019 Kia Sorento

  1. NHTSA 22V703000Sep 19, 2022Structure & Body70,887 vehiclesPark Outside

    Trailer hitches

    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.

    Risk: 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.

Structure & Body complaints by Sorento model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20100 (0%)
  2. 2011314 (21%)
  3. 201248 (5%)
  4. 2013123 (13%)
  5. 2014174 (18%)
  6. 2015106 (14%)
  7. 2016129 (10%)
  8. 201725 (3%)
  9. 201818 (7%)
  10. 201965 (15%)
  11. 20209 (7%)
  12. 20217 (3%)
  13. 20228 (4%)
  14. 20234 (3%)
  15. 20248 (20%)
  16. 20251 (1%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2019 Kia Sorento have a structure or body recall?
Yes. Recall 22V703000, reported September 19, 2022, covers a tow hitch wiring harness issue on 2016-2022 Sorento and related models; owners are advised to park outside away from structures until repaired.
How common are structure and body complaints on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA lists 65 Structure & Body complaints for the 2019 Sorento, which is 15% of the 426 total complaints filed for that model year.
What is the most reported structure issue on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
Paint peeling on the hood and bumper, especially on white/pearl paint, appears repeatedly in the sample complaints, along with one sunroof failure and one parked-vehicle fire.
At what mileage do structure and body problems typically appear on the 2019 Sorento?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 50,610 miles at the time these complaints were filed.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.