2019 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet
Burns oil or oil level rises
- 50owner reports
- 89,600median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 1, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
186 of the 428 complaints on this car are about the engine. 50 of those describe oil consumption. Only engine failure is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 50 reports
Oil consumption on other Sorento years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
What this problem usually is
Two different complaints land here. The more common one is an engine that uses oil: owners add a quart between changes, get a low-oil warning, or are told by the dealer that the rate is normal. The other is the opposite, where the oil level climbs and the oil smells of gasoline. Both deserve a proper test, and both are easier to argue with records in hand.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the piston rings (16 reports) and the engine (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Sorento
Loss of motive power. Closed jul 23, 2024.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Engine oil pressure switch leak. Closed jun 26, 2023.
Scope and timeliness. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 17V-224.
Fuel spill during refueling. Closed dec 21, 2011.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 45,000 and 113,000 miles, from the 24 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Kia Sorento that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
What owners wrote
“I have been having heavy oil leaks with my vehicle and when I check my oil a few days after adding oil it registers bone dry. Excessive oil can be seen in my drive way after pulling in and out. The oil ight has been coming on intermittently and now it stays on. Took it to Kia dealership and inquired about problem and possible recall and they said their was none and instead tried to sell me a nother vehicle.”
Filed Nov 23, 2025
“Excessively burn oil, have to put in a quart or more every 1,000 miles. Recently started sputtering like there was a miss in the engine when idling or barely pushing at acceleration pedal. Bad oil consumption started around 70k miles Engine sputtering started around 100k miles”
Filed Sep 4, 2025 · 1,000 miles
“Excessive oil burning Burns an insane amount of oil every week, 2-3 quarts of oil has to be added every week. Started noticing slightly low oil a year ago wasnât a lot but it has gotten worse.”
Filed Jul 30, 2025
“Car burns oil excessively. It is an ongoing problem. I also had a kia soul before this that also burned oil excessively”
Filed Jul 28, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 50 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 57 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 48 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 39 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 38 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 33 reports