2019 Kia Sorento: check engine light

Filed Oct 23, 2026 · Engine · TX

My check engine light came on. I took my vehicle to AutoZone so that they could tell me what the code read. The code read, cylinder 2 and cylinder 3 misfire. I replaced all 4 cylinders and spark plugs. 6 months after replacing all the parts, I had the check in light come on (flashing) while driving out of town. I was able to drive the vehicle back to town and after the vehicle sat majority of the day, it cleared on its own. Almost a year to the original date, I had my check engine light come back on. I took my vehicle back to AutoZone and the code read, cylinder 3 misfire. They were able to clear the code but it came back on within 30 seconds.

Filed Jun 27, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · AZ

My 2019 Kia Sorento suddenly began making loud knocking noises from the engine and immediately lost all acceleration while I was driving with my children in the car. The vehicle would not respond when pressing the gas, and the check engine light came on. This created a terrifying situation because I had no power to merge or move out of traffic, and I had my [XXX], [XXX] and [XXX] children with me.The engine now knocks severely and has almost no power at all. The oil level is full, so this is not due to low oil or lack of maintenance. This appears to be a sudden internal engine failure consistent with known Kia engine defects involving rod bearings, timing issues, and loss of compression.I am reporting this because the vehicle is unsafe to drive and put my children at risk. Kia is refusing to cover the engine failure even though this matches the same symptoms seen in other Kia engine recalls. I am extremely concerned that this defect could have caused an accident or left us stranded in a dangerous situation. I need this investigated as a serious safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 20, 2026 · Engine · CA

The engine failed and is now inoperable. The vehicle has been consuming excessive oil since I purchased it in 2022. I have all oil change records and top offs documented. In May 2026 the engine had a total failure, was making excessive noise, was shuddering and vibrating, blowing lots of smoke from the exhaust and then would not start. The check engine light came on. I towed it to Roseville Kia for diagnosis. Kia refused to honor the lifetime warranty under the class action lawsuit, claiming the engineer failure was due to a damaged exhaust valve. The did not complete the diagnosis. They did not follow the federal safety agency engine replacement flowchart past flowchart A because code p1326 was not present. However the flowchart specifies engine noise and failure to turn over qualify the technician to perform flowcharts B and C. Kia is refusing to complete the diagnosis and evaluate the rod bearings for damage, which would likely qualify the engine for replacement under warranty.

Filed May 28, 2026 · Engine · 186,016 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that a few days later, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with detached cylinder head bolts and a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 186,016.

Filed May 20, 2026 · Engine · AZ

My 2019 Kia Sorento equipped with a Theta II engine entered limp mode and displayed a flashing check engine light along with an active P1326 diagnostic trouble code. The P1326 code is a proprietary Kia/Hyundai specific code that can only be generated when the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update is present on the vehicle. This software was developed and distributed by Kia specifically to detect Theta II engine bearing failure and rod bearing wear before catastrophic engine damage occurs. The presence of the P1326 code is confirmation by Kia's own proprietary detection system that this engine is experiencing the exact failure pattern associated with the Theta II engine defect. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Kia dealership. The dealership refused to perform a BTC test or enter the vehicle into Techline, citing that the VIN does not appear in the Theta II settlement database. Kia America customer care has also denied coverage. The vehicle remains inoperable. Safety risk is significant. The Theta II engine defect has been directly linked to engine fires in Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Limp mode and sudden loss of power while driving creates serious risk of accidents, injury, or death to the driver and other motorists. The 2012-2019 Kia Sorento is a model year range specifically identified in Theta II multidistrict litigation. Kia's own KSDS software flagging a P1326 code on this vehicle while Kia simultaneously denies any defect-related coverage is contradictory and raises serious safety concerns for owners whose VINs were excluded from settlement but whose vehicles are exhibiting identical failure symptoms.

Filed Apr 22, 2026 · Engine · NY

Vehicle: 2019 Kia Sorento Issue: Engine Failure / Safety Concern Complaint: I am filing a complaint regarding a 2019 Kia Sorento that experienced sudden engine failure after clear warning signs that created a serious safety concern. The vehicle began making a loud ticking/knocking noise that progressively worsened over time. While driving, the vehicle struggled to accelerate and lost power. The noise became louder when pressing the gas. Shortly after, the vehicle shut off completely and is now unable to start at all. This failure occurred without any warning lights appearing on the dashboard, including no check engine light, which prevented me from knowing the severity of the issue in advance. After contacting Kia, I was informed that there were multiple recalls on the vehicle that were not completed. However, I was never notified of these recalls as the current owner. I was told that recall notifications were sent to the previous owner, and no effort was made to notify me directly. Kia has refused to assist with the engine failure, stating that recalls must be completed first. However, the vehicle is now completely inoperable and cannot be driven to complete recall repairs. Requiring a non-running vehicle to complete recall updates is unreasonable and places consumers at risk. This situation raises serious safety concerns because: The vehicle lost power while in operation, creating a dangerous driving condition There were no warning indicators prior to failure The engine failure appears consistent with known issues involving Kia engines I am requesting that this matter be investigated, including Kia’s handling of recall notifications and their refusal to assist with a known engine failure issue under these circumstances.

Filed Mar 25, 2026 · Engine · 91,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle bucked abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The mechanic informed the contact that the failure was related to an unknown engine recall, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

Filed Mar 11, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · ME

The vehicle just had an oil change. It was driven after that approximately 25 miles when there was a loud noise and the wheels locked up. The vehicle was shifted into neutral and coasted to the end of a dirt road. Could smell oil burning. Upon inspection of the underside there was oil blown onto the exhaust and down the underside of the vehicle. After looking further, I noticed a semi rectangular hole in the narrow end of the oil pan just above the exhaust pipe. Some oil had drained out but the dip stick was reading full. This incident could have resulted in losing control of the vehicle when the tires locked up or caused a fire when the oil hit the exhaust. It could have cause an accident if another vehicle was following. No lights were on until after the incident when the check engine and oil light came on. It still has not been diagnosed by the dealer because they are all backed up until May. Have to rent a vehicle due now and probably look for an independent garage.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Engine · TX

I am the original owner of this vehicle. The engine is consuming approximately 5 quarts of oil every 7–10 days while I drive about 300 miles per week. The rear of the vehicle is covered in black soot from the exhaust, indicating severe oil burning. I have been topping off oil constantly to prevent engine damage. No knocking, ticking, or check engine light has appeared yet. This level of oil consumption is far beyond normal and poses a serious risk of engine failure.

Filed Jan 20, 2026 · Engine · FL

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, and oil needed to be added to the engine every 30 days. Additionally, the vehicle was difficult to start, and there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle at start-up. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the fuel pump, the starter, and the timing chain cover were replaced; however, the excessive oil consumption persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed of an unknown engine recall and that the engine could seize. The dealer replaced the engine; however, the engine failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start, and the engine was making abnormal clanking sounds while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several times. The dealer replaced the gas cap, and the check engine warning light was reset; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Nov 21, 2025 · Engine · 65,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact checked the oil level after arriving at the residence and noticed that it was very low, almost empty. The contact added two quarts of oil to the engine. Several weeks later, the oil pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that an oil consumption test needed to be performed. The contact stated that the vehicle passed the oil consumption test. The dealer cleaned off the top of the engine. The contact needed to add two quarts of oil every 1,500 to 2,000 miles driven. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's husband was able to drive back to the residence at a slower speed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. In addition, the contact was told that the manifold had melted and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the engine had failed. The contact was informed that a bearing clearance test needed to be performed. The vehicle failed to pass the test. The contact was informed that cylinders #1 and #4 had misfired. The dealer changed the ignition coils. The contact stated that the failure had recurred, and the vehicle was parked and was no longer driven due to safety concerns. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Filed Oct 29, 2025 · Engine · 113,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that an oil consumption test needed to be performed and instructed the contact to return after driving 1,000 miles. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be returned to the dealer on multiple occasions due to exceeding the 1,000-mile interval. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.