10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,237 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Kia Sorento electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #5

Jul 062008

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My sister purchased this vehicle new and has had nothing but problems with it and problems with dealership/Kia honoring their 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. She purchased this vehicle believing she would be driving a quality vehicle (advertising 10 year/100,000 mile warranty she assumed it must be of high quality because who would offer that kind of warranty if it was junk....wrong!) she has had nothing but stress, financial expense, lost work time, and a battle of her life trying to seek consumer justice...dealership, Kia motors, lemon law requires a part to fail four times, attorney generals office, conciliation court, writing to ruukivina, oberstar, and most recently amy klobuchar...all failed. No one has said that they will investigate Kia and protect the consumers from this fraudulent automobile manufacturer. Why? the problems she has had with her vehicle consist of rust on the tailgate and rear doors just a few months after purchasing, all kinds of electrical problems from headlights and tail lights burning out numerous times, the digital dash for radio and heater going black, the heater not work, a relay switch for fan failed, foam between windshield and frame coming out tapping on the window, a problem with the coolant reservoir, the rear driveshaft failed, the transmission had to be replaced and most recently the transfer case. Safety issues and concerns would be with tail lights and headlights burning out prematurely and frequently and the crankshaft bolt broke causing to loose all ability to steer the vehicle. There are probably other problems she has had with the vehicle but I do not recall at this time.

- Eveleth, MN, USA

problem #4

Jan 182008

Sorento 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles
I have a 2004 Kia sorrento which I purchased new. It currently had 64,000 mile and I have kept up with all maintenance items and have had them performed by Kia service in the dealership. While I have had some mechanical problems with the car (bad lifters, valves, radiator leaks, etc), my main issue is the electrical system. To date, I have replaced various brake light bulbs, headlight bulbs, dome light bulb and my radio unexplainable turns on/off. While I have dealt with these issues as they arise, my car has now turned of while driving on the road twice. On both occasions, all of the car lights, displays, etc, turn off completely and the car simply coasts while off. One of the occurrences I was on the interstate going 65 mph, and the car shut down. Both times I pull to the side of the road and when I turned the key, it started again. My obvious concern is that of safety as it relates to the various electrical problems (which are no longer covered under warranty) which this car has had. While I cannot speak for other Kia owners, there are a host of forums which relate to similar issues. Additionally, the dealerships themselves are aware of the electrical issues, as noted to me personally by one of the technicians. I am requesting for Kia to provide the level of customer service which we (as Kia owners) have expected. The electrical problems are well documented and should be addressed. Furthermore, I am looking for assistance in my personal situation now that my car is only 4,000 out of warranty and has the electrical issues and more importantly the hazardous problem of shutting down. I am more that happy to provide any records which will document the problems detailed above. Also, I am available anytime to discuss further if needed. Thank you in advance for your customer service.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #3

Aug 252007

Sorento 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Sorento. While driving 65 mph she could smell something burning. The vehicle was pulled over and turned off. There was smoke coming from under the hood. The check engine warning indicator light was illuminated. There was fluid leaking under the vehicle and catching fire as it hit the ground. The vehicle burst into flames within 5 minutes. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, the cause of the failure was undetermined. The current and failure mileages were 60,000.

- Burlingame, CA, USA

problem #2

Feb 032007

Sorento

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
I purchased a 2004 Kia Sorento two years ago. It was not long before I began to experience numerous problems with my vehicle. Tail lights/brake lights burning out frequently which is a major safety issue since I deliver rural usda mail. Now my transmission is broken!! Kia-duluth asked if I had had the transmission flushed at the specified mileage and that they will need verification of this. (I knew immediately their objective was to not honor their warranty (10 years/100,000 mile warranty if I had not flushed the transmission). I faxed them the receipt indicating the transmission had been flushed. I contacted Kia-duluth the following day because I had not heard from them. He said he had not heard back from Kia yet to authorize the repair. This vehicle has caused me so much lost work time, stress and has been emotionally draining for the past two years. Kia's deceptive advertising - I believed that since Kia was offering a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty, their vehicle must be really good. Boy was I wrong! Kia is building vehicles with defective parts and materials and has set-up their warranty plan to be able to void them from having to honor their warranty plan and having any responsibility. For further complaints on Kia vehicles, please contact the better business bureau and attorney general offices across the country and you will find numerous complaints. Numerous complaints by consumers are also located at the following websites: www.my3cents.com and www.consumeraffairs.com. Kia needs to be investigated and put a stop to their scamming and defrauding the consumer and before someone gets seriously hurt or killed due to numerous defective parts in their vehicles.

- Iron, MN, USA

problem #1

Sep 132005

Sorento 4WD

  • 50,175 miles
In less than a year consumer headlight went out and the back hatch window was leaking inside the vehicle every time it rained. The headlight assembly was replaced on November 30, 2004 and five minutes after the new bulb was installed it shattered. On that same date the consumer experienced problem with the clock and HVAC indicators. Updated 03/30/07.

- Frankford, DE, USA

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