2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,434 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.

2005 Kia Sorento miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2005 Kia Sorento Owner Comments

problem #18

Apr 072020

Sorento

  • miles

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

Vehicle's rear end bolts rusted through had to replace the rear-end, we also had a 2004 that the frame rusted and broke in half, and the rear-end rusted out on it too. It was said it was caused by a design flaw that wouldn't allow the water to drain properly. They have recalls on it in the uk and other countries.

- Kingsport, TN, USA

problem #17

Nov 242021

Sorento

  • miles
My 2005 Kia Sorento-??s headlights keep going out. I get new bulbs and even replaced the whole headlight thing and checked the wiring hoping to fix the problem and nothing. Works great for one day and then the next one or both are out. It is very dangerous to myself and my children who are under the age of 5. This is my only vehicle as I am a single mother and cannot afford the constant repairs let alone a new vehicle. This is ridiculous. I can-??t go no where after 5 in the winter time since my lights go out and I have errands to run, school and work. I-??ve heard this happens too often. This is a problem that not only should be addressed but is extremely dangerous for all drivers !

- Georgetown , DE, USA

problem #16

Jun 112019

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
The drive shaft pulley fell off not only on mine I know 2 others that drive a Kia and theirs fell off also

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #15

Nov 052018

Sorento

  • 3 miles

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

Battery and brake light came on and lost power steering control, power steering belt came off and ac belt had to get towed home. When I went under the hood noticed the damper pulley was wobbly the bolt in the middle was still in place had this happen twice before issue was fixed and it happened again. Can't afford to take to a professional mechanic because I'm a single mother of 4 children and I need my car running. I was driving into a shopping plaza parking lot when it happened and as I turned in that's when this happened.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #14

Oct 222018

Sorento

  • 139,000 miles
I was driving down the highway with my 7 month old baby in the backseat in his child seat. I was about 10 miles into my drive when I heard a puff and a small whistle of air. I thought my passenger window had come down some or maybe I had left the door opened and it was letting air in. When I tried to put my ear closer to the sound I heard it coming from the top of my car. I turned to the sunroof cover and slid it open slightly to see what happened and I immediately noticed the whole glass was cracked. As I kept going down the road I could hear small pieces of glass falling off and into the slot where the sunroof slides into. If I would have had that open there could have been sharp pieces of glass that could have fallen onto my baby.

- San Diego, CA, USA

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problem #13

Sep 202016

Sorento

  • 100,000 miles
Driving on highway rte 24 when crankshaft pulley broke off causing engine and brake lights to come on. It was impossible to control and to steer the vehicle causing me to nearly get into an accident. Subsequently, my vehicle got towed from the highway to a mechanic shop who informed me that my 2005 Kia Sorento's crankshaft pulley bolt broke off - therefore to buy an engine or junk it. Unfortunately, I owned this vehicle for only 1 year 3 months and with these problems. I don't have any money to replace it right now and I don't know what to do to get to work going forward.

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #12

May 302016

Sorento

  • 88,000 miles

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

Driving on highway when crankshaft pulley broke off causing belts to shred and come off. Lost all power steering and engine shut down!

- Franklin, MA, USA

problem #11

Jun 222016

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Driving across a 4 lane expressway, barely made it across, the vehicle sputters and comes to a stop after fighting with the power steering losing all control. Crankshaft pulley has damaged the engine so severe, that a new engine was put in at our expense ($5,000), gas tank was discovered to have a hole and leaking gas. Air bag light comes on and off just depends on it's mood, the display on the radio, etc. Goes away in cold weather, and now have a constant thump thump when driving as if the tire is flat. Driving for 5 months with new engine, I pressed on the accelerator quickly to pass a truck when a loud noise (sounding like the engine blew) from the engine was heard then something comes loose and hits the undercarriage so hard I can feel it through the floorboard. No smoke, no elevation in temperature. Pull over, there is now a vibration when idling but cannot see anything obvious missing. Whatever it was took chunks out of the right front tire. Brakes seemed to lock up at times and you could feel something like a pump losing air and the car slides just before the complete stop with a low groaning noise. Haven't took to the mechanic yet, but will be soon.

- Ellijay, GA, USA

problem #10

Jan 092016

Sorento

  • 107,000 miles
This is a follow up to NHTSA id numbers, 10819147,10824199,10838525 and 10838531. I further researched the crossmember corrosion may cause loose control arm in the Kia Sorento's and found that in europe Kia issued the attached service bulletin to attempt to correct this issue before the brackets rusted out. Based on Kia Sorento vehicle sales in the us from 2002 to 2008 (the production range noted on the attached service bulletin) this issue could possibly affect up to approx. 266,000 vehicles.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #9

Feb 252016

Sorento

  • 108,000 miles
This is a follow up to NHTSA id numbers, 10819147,10824199 and 10838525. In researching the crossmember corrosion may cause loose control arm in the Kia Sorento's I found that there was a NHTSA campaign number: 13V354000 Hyundai motor company ( Kia's parent company) for the exact same issue. Was there an investigation into the Kia Sorento's at the time?

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #8

Feb 252016

Sorento

  • 108,000 miles

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

This is a follow up to NHTSA id number's 10819147 & 10824199. After filing vsc 10824199, I was contacted by a Kia America representative from California. She requested a copy of my original bill of sale, the vehicle registration and the repair estimate from the dealer to repair the repair upper control arm brackets. She did not request any other documentation or pictures. She said she would review the case and speal to the dealer and depending on the cost would either have the repair completed or purchase the car to be scrapped for kbv. I received a call today and was informed that the repair would cost at least $3,000 and because the vehicle was 10 years old and not in the repair program ( I assume that was being done in the uk) Kia would offer me $1,500 for the car. I asked if the vehicle was safe to drive in it's present condition and was told I should contact the dealer. I told the representative that the dealer did not give me any warnings when the estimate was completed. I was also told that "at least I had gotten 10 years of use out of the vehicle". seeing as there is still a repair program in effect in the united kingdom for this defect is the ntsb going to require Kia yo make these repairs in the us?

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #7

Jan 092016

Sorento

  • 107,809 miles
This is a follow up to complaint # 10819147. After taking the car to the dealer I was told by Kia usa it was out of warranty and would not be repaired, the repair estimate for parts only was between $1,300 and $3,000. I had informed Kia usa that they were doing the repairs I the uk, but apparently it did not matter to them. Further follow up showed that Kia in the uk program ends in April 2016. Since this is a design safety issue that is being addressed in other countries, is the NHTSA going to take any action?

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #6

Aug 082006

Sorento

  • 6,000 miles
I purchase my 2005 Kia sorrento LX new from taylor Kia in toledo Ohio.also purchased extra warranty for bumper to bumper.a couple months after I had purchase vehicle my headlight started going out I would take it back get it fixed come back home and another one would be out take it back come back to weeks later another headlight would be out. Then the headlights &taillights would go out and brake lights would go out this went on with every single light on my vehicle.continue to call taylor Kia to have the service then about the sixth time one of my lights went out they told me they would not service my vehicle anymore even though it was completely covered everything on my vehicle from bumper-to-bumper. They also red flag to me on their computer so that I could not have my vehicle service because of this problem with my Kia sorrento. At one point I even had the service manager tell me that his service guys were upset with me because I did not give them a good rating when my car was not fixed to jd powers.I got Kia corporate involved which did absolutely no good because they said that they would someone someone from California to fix my vehicle and ended up not sending anyone sent a wire harness instead. Of course that's did not fix the problem but they would not do anything else to try to find out why all my lights on my vehicles was going out at one time or another.they also told me that my Kia was the only one that ever had this problem and they had never heard of this problem before but I could clearly drive down the street see other Kia sorrento's with headlights out. Then I got online and read about how many Kia had the same problem but Kia corporate would not do a thing about it and taylor Kia would not do anything at that point. Now my car is broke down with the cam sensor and also crank sensor and bolt because of an issue with these Kia sorrento's.

- Tiffin, OH, USA

problem #5

Sep 152015

Sorento

  • 57,000 miles
I went to put fuel in my Kia sorrento as I do every two weeks at the same gas station same pump. I engaged the pump as always put the nozzle in and when I pushed the lever within 30 seconds there was a gurgling noise and gas spewed all over me, the car and the sidewalk. I went in to get the attendant who had to bring out kitty litter to cover the gas on the ground. She had me move to a different pump and assisted me with trying to put fuel in the vehicle. The same thing happened again. I called Kia and they told me it would cost 800 to 1000 to fix. Now I am fueling the car with 5 gallon containers a little at a time. This is a safety hazard for the driver, other patrons and the gas station as well.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #4

Jul 272015

Sorento

  • 96,000 miles
I was driving, about 45mph, I noticed light smoke coming from the hood. When I looked at my temperature gage it was in the middle, saud it was fine. I drove about ten more minutes since the smoke stopped. About ten minutes after I got to my destination, there was so much smoke coming out from the hood and water was everywhere. The thermostat and radiator were replaced. Everyday I drive it, there's a river of water coming from under the SUV. I had it in the shop two days prior to this incident and everything tested fine. It's been a huge mess.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #3

Jun 092015

Sorento

  • 133,000 miles
Driver side axle broke in June 2015 and July 9, 2015 passenger side axle cracked and passenger side hub assembly went bad. Making a rattling, metal grinding noise. When the Sorento was raised up the whole underneath is rusted out. Im lucky I didnt have a major accident. Should be recalled for safety issues.

- Marion, VA, USA

problem #2

Jun 022011

Sorento

  • 115,000 miles
I was sitting at a drug store drive thru when a loud screeching noise was heard from the front of the car. I pulled out of line and into a parking space. The car was towed and the mechanic reported that the crankshaft pulley bolt had sheared off in the engine. Upon researching my options (the repair cost is enormous, and the vehicle may be junked due to damage to the engine) I have learned that this is a continuing problem with Sorentos, (earlier models have been recalled due to this problem) but Kia refuses to acknowledge or fix this problem for the 2005 models. This is a major safety issue in my opinion due to the fact that if the bolt breaks or shears while you are driving at any speed, you lose the ability to steer or control the car. A call to our local dealer confirmed that they had had several come in with the same problem, and at this time Kia is doing nothing. If this problem existed in earlier models, I do not understand why this has not been fixed by Kia.

- Clyde, NC, USA

problem #1

Jun 032011

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
The crankshaft bolt broke on my 2005 Kia Sorento. I have found a site where several people have complained of this happening. It also says that a recall for this problem was done on the 2003 Sorentos, but not the 2005. Listed below is where I found the other complaints. repairpal.com/revised-crankshaft-pulley-bolt-422.

- Yemassee, SC, USA

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