2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,041 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.

2003 Kia Sorento engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Kia Sorento Owner Comments

problem #6

Sep 112015

Sorento

  • 10,367 miles

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

When go to shift truck in drive it makes a clank sound and when driving at a speed between 65-70 the truck starts vibrating, and when in reverse it squeaks when back up, at first my wife it was the U joints so we had it replaced but it all started happing again. Next our battery die had it replaced with a new one now the air bag indicator light stays on all the best time and at times it feels like the accelerator peddle gets stuck at times.

- Bladensburg, MD, USA

problem #5

Jan 072015

Sorento

  • 147,233 miles
While driving on highway approx 55mph the car just power. Dead gas pedal. Had to get over to shoulder but could not due to the steering locking up and the car shutting down. I got assistance from passerby who go me over to shoulder. I started up the car and it started up and ran with no issue. Sudden shut dowm of engine is very dangerous. Once I got home and had the car checked the mechanic could not duplicate the incident in order to make repairs. This happened 2 more times and only happens to me on highway driving. Never in city driving.

- Long Branch, NJ, USA

problem #4

Jul 132012

Sorento

  • 97,500 miles
Crankshaft pulley bolt sheered off and then the pulley fell off busting the power steering pull completely off. Making me almost loose control and flying off the freeway at 60mph with my child with me, very scary. Car was still under warranty but because it was the bolt that broke the bolt was not covered by warranty work. Replaced all by manufacture on July 16th 2012. Costing $1,300. This last week on fathers day my husband was driving the car to get his daughter and the bolt sheered off again and it is less then 12 months since this happened but because the warranty is 12 months or 12,000 miles, we were 1,000 miles over and now the dealership says its our problem and now we have to buy a whole new engine this time. Our car was fixed by portland Kia and now its at Washington Kia, Washington Kia is saying that portland did it incorrectly and they should make this right but portland Kia is not taking any fault for over torquing the bold with 130 pounds of a torque.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #3

Nov 252005

Sorento 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,600 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after he gets an oil change, the vehicle's exterior and interior lights blow out. As of May 17, 2007, the dome light is currently out and has been since November 25, 2005. Kia motors stated that even though her vehicle was under warranty, she still had to pay for the repair costs. Kia also stated that in order to keep her warranty, the contact would need to pay $1,000 plus the repair costs. The dealer and the manufacturer have not provided a satisfactory explanation as to what is causing the failure. The failure has occurred approximately eight times. She stated that the battery had to be replaced even though it was also still under warranty. The engine size was unknown. The current mileage is 62,000 and failure mileage was 34,600. The dealer stated gas pedal sticks when accelerating. The consumer stated she hd to purchase 2 batteries. Updated 06/07/07

- Nt. Hope, WV, USA

problem #2

Mar 162007

Sorento 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,247 miles
I own a 2003 Kia Sorento LX. I used it mainly to go from home to work. This happened 2 days ago, March 16, 2006, at 32247 miles. While making a right turn from a stoplight, I had complete loss of vehicle control, it would not let me stop it and I could not control the steering wheel, it kept turning sharply to the right, and I landed on the sidewalk. Luckily, it happened when I was just entering my neighborhood, going at moderate speed, and there were no cars besides or behind me. To think if I were driving 65-70 mph on the highway and have this happened and lose control, I would have been dead. But it is the second time it happens in 3 1/2 years. The first time was about 1 1/2 year ago, but I did not pay attention to it since I thought it was due to wet conditions. I was entering the multi-level parking lot where I work. I was going up to the 4th floor where I park, and when I turned left on the 3rd floor, the car went out of control, kept going round, and I could not stop. Luckily again, it was so early in the morning that there were no cars in that floor. Surely, a safety-related defect exists. What happened Friday almost got me killed. It has happened only twice in all these years, but, no matter what happens, I will never feel safe on this car again. I cannot take any other chance of being killed because of a car's defect. I will be now using my husband's car to travel back and forth to work. Besides that big problem, I have encountered other problem with my Sorento. The front and back bulbs blow quite often. I have taken the car to the dealership every time it has needed replacement, and I have all the invoice sheets. I would prefer to have someone contact me in spanish. Thank you kindly.

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #1

Apr 162003

Sorento 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,300 miles
Vehicle would not start/has been in shop 4 times in last week/1st trip replace throttle body 2nd recalibrate engine 3rd trip egi unit faulty engine light on /replace egi unit 4th trip replaced throttle body(again) calibrated. Checked idle set..vehicle was kept for 2 days on 2 of the visits.

- W. Milton, OH, USA

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