2019 Kia Sorento: hesitation when accelerating

Filed May 15, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · AZ

The vehicle involved is a 2019 Kia Sorento with approximately 111,000 miles. Over the course of ownership, the vehicle has experienced numerous unresolved mechanical and safety-related issues, including ongoing fuel leak concerns, excessive oil consumption/loss of oil, rough shifting, shift solenoid problems, rattling noises, shaking/vibration while driving, and repeated drivability issues. The primary safety concern at this time is a suspected fuel leak that multiple independent mechanics have identified. I have been told by at least three separate mechanics that the vehicle appears to have a fuel leak. During my most recent oil change at Valvoline, the technician expressed concern about the safety of driving the vehicle in this condition and warned me that driving a vehicle with a fuel leak could be dangerous. I previously brought the vehicle to Kia dealerships multiple times while the extended warranty was active and specifically requested inspection for the suspected fuel leak. On at least three separate visits, I was informed by the dealership that they could not find or confirm a leak. Because the issue was never resolved or properly diagnosed while under warranty, I am now out of warranty coverage and facing potentially dangerous and costly repairs. This issue has placed my safety and the safety of others at risk due to fear of possible fire hazards, stalling, or sudden vehicle failure while driving. Because of these concerns, I have significantly reduced driving the vehicle and currently do not feel safe operating it regularly. This has created substantial hardship because this is my only vehicle for work and daily life. Additional unresolved issues with the vehicle include: - Persistent rough shifting and shifting hesitation - Shift solenoid issues - Ongoing excessive oil consumption/loss of oil with no confirmed source - Constant rattling noises - Excessive vibration/shaking while driving - AC system failure around 60,000 miles - Electrical seat failur

Filed Jan 16, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 100,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The contact became aware of puddles of oil on the driveway while the vehicle was parked. Additionally, the transmission warning light was displayed, and the vehicle hesitated to start while pressing the Push to Start button. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the oil level was extremely low. The vehicle had been taken to two separate independent mechanics, who both confirmed that the vehicle was losing oil very quickly; however, an oil leak was not found. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Jan 16, 2026 · Engine · LA

The engine is completely burning all of the oil. I can feel a hesitation in the engine while driving

Filed Sep 6, 2025 · Lights · FL

The right headlight has stopped working as of 1 week ago. The car was returned to the KIA dealership for this issue as well as a hesitation while driving and a chronic bumping sound in the car while driving. The car was kept at the dealership for 3 days Sept 3,4 & 5 2025 and the headlights per the dealership were realigned. The Right headlight was on at the dealership but on Sept 6 2025 is back out. No warning showing on the dash and no warning on the dash when the light was first noticed being off. I have used all the light selector switch settings and nothing changes, moved wires on the back of the light housing, nothing. Tapped on the light front and back, nothing. My concern is the light is out so no night driving and the lack of the sensors warning the light is out. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

Filed Dec 18, 2024 · Fuel system · FL

. In October 2023 (see KIA service ticket) my KIA was brought into Jackson KIA Cocoa, FL, for something not operating correctly. The vehicle periodically would hesitate when pressing the accelerator and other times when you had pressed the accelerator to go faster and removed your foot from the accelerator, the vehicle would not slow down, rather continue to speed up even if you tapped the brakes. The service technician had the vehicle for two days and confirmed during several of his test drives that the vehicle would hesitate and speed up with your foot off the accelerator. The service technician said the fuel pump was the issue; however, to cover it under our vehicle warranty, the vehicle would need to generate either a service code error or the indicator light would have to turn on. Neither of these happened during the service technician’s test drives. The service technician wanting to confirm his assessment that the fuel pump was faulty, replaced the fuel pump with a new one and test drove the vehicle. The issues of hesitation and acceleration didn’t happen as they did with old fuel pump. The service technician put the old fuel pump back in because I refused to accept a charge for replacing the fuel pump when it was under warranty. I made an appointment with Jackson Kia in August 2024, explaining that the vehicle had not improved and no error codes and no indication lights but the vehicle was accelerating and hesitating even more than it was almost a year ago when their service technician confirmed the issue with the fuel pump. I left the vehicle with Jackson KIA again for three days for them to diagnose the problem and confirm that the fuel pump was faulty. The service technician confirmed that the other service technician from a year ago diagnosed the problem correctly. It was in fact the fuel pump and is exhibiting the conditions as outlined in the KIA Motors Fuel Pump notice, except the vehicle did not have any diagnostic error codes nor any lights

Filed Jun 3, 2024 · Engine · FL

I bought this KIA used, one owner from a dealership 4 months ago. It had only 71000 miles on it. Since day one, we noticed it hesitates to get out of 1st gear into second. It also takes for ever to excel at speed on merge on a highway. We've had it inspected and even paid to have a FULL inspection done and all they said is this is a known KIA problem for this year and nothing they can do. I am now thinking the transmission is about to go out on this car I just bought, that the KIA dealership said is a known problem with no fix EXCEPT to replace the transmission. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 31, 2024 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · AA

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module (TCM). The mechanic determined that the transmission needed to be flush and the TCM needed to be reprogrammed to the factory settings. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Oct 5, 2022 · WA

The Transmission for my 2019 Kia Sorento V6 AWD stumbles and hesitates when accelerating. It is a safety issue. When I attempt to accelerate the transmission does not engage for a second or two which is critical in normal driving. This hesitation could easily cause an accident. It is available for inspection upon request. I have reported to KIA dealers on multiple occasions and to KIA consumer affairs and they have performed two Technical Service Bulletins that did not correct the problem. The dealer reproduced the problem but indicate that it may be a design flaw by KIA but they do not have a fix at this time. There are no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure. The issue first appeared since the vehicle was purchased in 2018. There are numerous complaints for the same concern on the federal safety agency -Power Train Problems for 2019 Kia Sorento.

Filed Aug 1, 2022 · Engine · KY

The car has issues with accelerating, with huge hesitations that almost feel like the car is going to stop, causing a jerking feeling. This especially happens on the expressway, initially at around 20 mph and then around 50+ mph. Have taken the car to be serviced with no resolution for the issue after over two weeks and now my check engine light constantlystays on. Other Kia owners have expressed noticing similar issues with their Sorento. This is a big concern, as it has the potential to cause several accidents nationwide.

Filed Feb 9, 2022 · Transmission · NC

Vehicle hesitates upon acceleration on takeoff. At times it will almost stop. This has been a problem since purchase date 7/11/2019. Dealer has no solution and there has been no recall. Dealer has other 2019 Sorentos with the same problem, but has not been able to duplicate the problem with our vehicle. This is very problematic when pulling into traffic from a standstill or accelerating from a stop light. No inspections have been made other than dealer. No warning signals have ever appeared.....JUST A DEFINITE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION.

Filed Aug 7, 2020 · Engine · 23,000 miles · CA

Engine hesitates or jerks until it warms up. Vehicle was bought new and have had it to the dealership and they say it is nothing is wrong. Based on all the complaints with this same problem it definitely is not normal.

Filed Jul 31, 2020 · Brakes, Engine · 12,600 miles · AZ

When accelerating from stop (19th ave and vineyard) the car will hesitate then take off at a fast rate of speed. There has been instances where the brake system hesitates to stop, almost like a delayed reaction (mostly while traveling on local streets such as west bound baseline rd). The brakes squill (all the time when braking) so bad and so loud. I feel like I've been ripped off on a car that's already giving problems less than six months of purchase. The city of all instances is phoenix, az.