2019 Kia Sorento electrical problems
68 of the 428 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Kia Sorento name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 39 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 68 reports a crash · 7 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 43 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 2
Half of the 13 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 9,000 and 40,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
428 complaints in all about the 2019 Kia Sorento, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Sorento electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Car lost power while drving and a semi truck almost ran into me. Have taken car to Kia dealership and throttle body was replaced and week later same problem exist. I have taken the car there 3 times for the same problem haven't had the car 3 months have had this problem since I purchased the car
I began smelling burnt plastic and my battery light came on in my dashboard. Shortly after, all the warning lights came on in my dashboard (engine, ABS, traction control, etc). My vehichle wound up dying completely on the side of the road. I brought it to the Kia dealership.
The power windows are a safety hazard. They are all on an automatic feature, so when you touch the button they will either go down or go up all the way, and you cannot stop them. It's impossible to put the window down or up part of the way. My child's finger got caught in the window when I tried to raise it up half way.
Left side steering wheel control buttons for radio volume, muting, changing stations, changing radio modes, phone and phone hang up intermittently fail to function. Problem occurs almost daily and last anywhere from a few seconds to 15-20 minutes.
On 3 separate occasions (2 of which occurred 3/1/20). After stopping my vehicle, I lost all electrical power when I attempted to restart. No displays, no lights and of course the vehicle wouldn't start. After exiting and entering the vehicle multiple times everything comes back on.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications39 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- CS2304_TSB_R7 Service bulletinJun 6, 2024
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BC
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Kia Sorento
Source: the same files- engine problems 169 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 51 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 68 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (16% of everything owners filed about it), and 39 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 2 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2019 Kia Sorento?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 18,000 miles; half of them between 9,000 and 40,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.