Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Leaking windshield. Water dripping into cabin. Headliner soaked with water. Windshield possibly not sealed or adhered properly. (Similarly to NHTSA Campaign 22V158000 and Kia Recall SC232 for the Kia Cadenza)
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the panoramic sunroof failed to properly close. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an inoperable motor and fractured cables. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been taken to the dealer for the same failure and was inspected for debris and damage. The debris was cleaned. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,900.
My backup camera had a safety recall issued previously. In March of 2024 I received a letter from Kia notifying me of the recall related to this issue, and offered a remedy. I took the car in for inspection, but it was working at the time. Now in Oct of 2025 the backup camera starting getting moisture inside, and has completely failed. I contacted the Kia dealership that I purchased it from, and they told me to bring it in. When I did, the technician told me that it had been a bracket that was the recall issue, and it was repaired, in direct conflict with what my paperwork said. They refused to repair the backup camera for free. Please inform me of my recourse, as my backup camera does not work at all, and it is expensive to repair/
I have been without transportation for 3 months now and I’m about to lose my Job
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 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 and using back up camera, 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
backup camera and infotainment screens failed while driving 3/29/2023. As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable as required by michigan law. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. Kia has been aware of issue since April 2021. Has yet to resolve the issue. Refuses to respond since 2022
backup camera and infotainment screens failed while driving 4/18/2023 . As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable as required by michigan law. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. Date and Time functions no longer available as an option of the infotaiment center. dashes replace time Kia has been aware of issue since April 2021. Has yet to resolve the issue. Refuses to respond since 2022
backup camera and infotainment screens failed while driving 4/7/2023. As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable as required by michigan law. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. failed 4/1/2023 as well. i was instructed by kia to record the issues per my invoice from dealership when they had vehicle for 27 days in 2022 Kia has been aware of issue since April 2021. Has yet to resolve the issue. Refuses to respond since 2022
backup camera and infotainment screens failed while driving 4/1/2023. As a result this makes hands free phone usage unavailable as required by michigan law. This is also a safety concern due to distracting the driver. Kia has been aware of issue since April 2021. Has yet to resolve the issue. Refuses to respond since 2022
back up camera/infotainement screen went black while backing up twice in driveway. About 10 minutes later infotainment center restarted it's self and prompted me to verify safety while driving. Kia case manager emailed directly due to open case regarding ongoing electical issues causing accident earlier in year. Kia unable to provide rental/transportation due to "covid" and "shortages". Appointment was missed 10/30/2021 due to unavailable transportation and issues potentially taking weeks to diagnose at dealership. Kia did not arrange/approve transportation as promised.
Back up camera failure while attempting to drive. Ongoing since water issues in 2019 due to "manufacturers design flaw". Manufacturer will not resolve.
THE REAR CAMERA PICTURE HAS BECOME FOGGY AND I CAN'T SEE WHAT IS BEHIND ME. THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 23V639000 FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT COVERS THE 2019 KIA SORENTO (WHICH IS MY VEHICLE) BUT KIA SAYS MY PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. KIA NEEDS TO EXPAND THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL VIN NUMBERS INCLUDING MINE.
As I was merging off of a ramp onto the expressway my sunroof exploded causing glass to go everywhere almost causing me to crash the vehicle. No cars were present around me to kick up debris to hit the vehicle, and there were no potholes or anything for me to hit.
2019 KIA Sorento SXL SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF EXPLOSION, 05/06/13 Car is still under warranty. Conditions: --Open, well maintained highway, nothing nearby (overpass, trees, traffic, etc) to suggest the sunroof was damaged by any foreign object. --Clear, dry, predominately straight roadway, time of day about 7:30pm, temperature about 70°, very light traffic. Was driving south on Maryland Route 6, a 4-lane divided state roadway, when suddenly and without warning the sunroof exploded. Both the sunroof and the interior sunshade were closed at the time. The incident began with a very loud BANG!, followed immediately by the sounds of rushing wind, and the rattling of broken glass on top of the sunshade. A very startling event. Immediately pulled over to the shoulder and found about 60% of the sunroof gone, with some glass debris on the sunshade. The missing glass was from the center of the sunroof, while some glass, though cracked, remained in the frame of the sunroof, on all sides. Drove home at a slower speed and parked car in the garage. Monday, 05/08/23, contacted [XXX], service manager at Bayside KIA of Waldorf. Described the event to [XXX], who immediately indicated the sunroof repair would most likely not be covered under warranty because there would be no way to prove the sunroof damage was the result of a manufacturing defect. He did, reluctantly, offer to examine the damage if I brought the car in to their service department, but the earliest service opening would be on 05/19/23...11 days away! When asked if the dealership could/would provide a loner vehicle in the interim, [XXX] advised all of their loner vehicles were currently in use. Because I need the car repaired as soon as possible, I am working with my insurer who has agreed to cover the repair under my comprehensive coverage (though I, of course, will have to pay the $100 deductible). INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Today, while driving on the road, the sun roof of the vehicle just exploded. Nothing was thrown into it nor was it caused by an object. It sounded as loud as a gun shot, and and it exploded into many pieces of glass. Because the shade was pulled up, these pieces did not fall over us, but if the shade has been uncovered, the glass would have fallen on the driver and passenger. As far as today we only called the insurance and went to a repair shop to get an estimate of the cost to repair. A friend of mine has a Telluride 2022 and the same thing happened to her last year, she just repaired it, but now I think it is very important to let you know what happened to both of us since she did not report the incident. Now , I am worried because my daughter is driving a Kia Sportage 2023. The loud sound can scare the driver very easily and cause an accident not to mention the glass falling on the driver.
During use wipers at times will random stop in up position on windshield. Intermittent problem will start working again after toggling wiper switch.
THIS IS ONGOING CONDITION FROM DELIVERY OF VEHICLE. BASED ON CAR COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED ON CAR COMPLAINTS.COM WE BELIEVE KIA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS SOME SORT OF RELATIONSHIP OF NIGHT DRIVING AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THAT CAUSES VERY DARK SHADOW ON WINDSHIELD THAT ABSTRUCTS DRIVER VISION. WE FURTHER ASSERT THAT KNOWING THIS KIA WILLFULLY ADJUSTS HEADLIGHTS TOO HIGH TO TRY TO CONCEAL PROBLEM.(DEALER SAID THEY WERE SET 8" TOO HIGH. BUT WHEN ADJUSTED TO FACTORY SETTINGS THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. CASE NUMBER ENTERED WITH KIA. NOW IN ESCALATION MODE ... HOWEVER WE LIVE ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN WITH 3000 FOOT DROPS IF OUR VISION IS OBSTRUCTED AND WE MISS EDGE OF ROAD. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED BACK TO THE HIGHER SETTING BUT WE FEEL THAT WILL BLIND ON COMING CARS STILL ANOTHER SAFETY DANGER. KIA MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM. i HAVE PHOTOS TO SHOW THIS LIMITED VISION NIGHT DRIVING LOW BEAM RURAL ROAD SAFETY PROB LEM
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
WITHIN ON WEEK OF PURCHASING MY NEW KIA SORENTO, I EXPERIENCED A WINDSHIELD CRACK THAT SPREAD QUICKLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD WITHIN 24 HOURS. THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD BE BUILT BETTER. I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MAKES FROM PREVIOUS CARS. I HAD PURCHASED THE PLATINUM PROTECTION PLAN BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT COVER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AT WHICH I PURCHASED THE CAR FOR HELP ONLY TO BE GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BEING TRANSFERRED TO MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. THE CRACK SPREAD FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN MY LINE OF SIGHT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CLEARLY SEE. I HAD TO PAY MYSELF TO GET THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY REPLACED. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF MY KIA AND THE SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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