10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
172,166 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2004 Kia Sorento Owner Comments

problem #13

Oct 022019

Sorento

  • 133,346 miles

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

I was driving when I heard a clunking noise, and my truck shifted. So I pulled over to see the my rear lower arm fell from subframe corrsion due to heavy salt use here in wi. I had to get car towed home.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #12

Feb 152019

Sorento

  • 253,701 miles
My Sorento was in park running in my driveway started smoking and caught fire and burned up in a matter of minutes. I'm aware of recalls with Kia vehicles catching fire. I would like this to be addressed and investigated as I feel it was due to a malfunction. 911 was called and the fire department came to distinguish the car it is a total loss.

- Archie, MO, USA

problem #11

Aug 162016

Sorento

  • 124,000 miles
Vehicle caught fire while stationary. Fire started in front compartment near fuses. Total loss

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #10

Feb 142018

Sorento

  • 100,000 miles

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

While driving approximately 35 mph, the rear of the vehicle shook violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who noticed that the crossmember bars were severely corroded through and were not able to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. Major safety hazard. The entire bracket holding the differential rusted through. The frame rear cross member also rusted through causing the control arms is detached from the rear end also creating a safety hazard.

- Lawrence, MA, USA

problem #9

Nov 012016

Sorento

  • miles
The vehicle was stationary. We are a family of four. One of us open one of the rear doors and the handle came out completely. I don't know if it can be repair or not. I cover the hole with tape to protect the inner parts of the door from the water. The same thing happens with the handle of the other rear door. But in this case it does not come out completely and I use tape to maintain it in position. If something happens and the persons in the back sits are unable to open the rear doors from the inside one of the persons in the front sits have to get out the car and open the door that still have the taped handle. I don't know if this situation is going to affect the mechanism of the interior handles of the rear doors. I don't know if the taped handle is going to brake or when is going to brake. I read in the internet that this a problem of the Sorentos of several years. Some of the persons in the internet ask why Kia is not making a recall. I have a daughter of 16 years and a son of almost 15 years. My son does not have many limitations, but he has a syndrome. I am including photos of the doors.

- Carolina, PR, USA

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problem #8

Aug 142016

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving down the road and all of a sudden my cars wouldn't turn the battery light came on and it was acting like it was dying. It happens a bout 5 miles from home and when I got it there I told my husband. He looked at it and told me my harmonic balancer was loose and it looked to have snapped the bolt. Now I cannot drive my vehicle until I can get the broken bolt out and get it fixed. I looked up what to do and noticed I am not the only person 28th this problem.

- Des Arc, AR, USA

problem #7

May 162016

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles

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

Took car to my mechanic for small leak in radiator and asked that he check the brakes because I heard a loud noise from the rear of the vehicle. Upon checking the brakes (which were O.K.) he found the rear frame to be completely rusted through. He noted the vehicle was unsafe and dangerous to drive as there was a risk of rear drivetrain detaching from vehicle. This seems to be a problem known to Kia -- as there was a recall in europe for this problem-- but not the us. I already contacted Kia and the only response I received was to take it to a Kia dealer for diagnosis. We would have to pay for a diagnostic test when we already know what the problem is. Kia does not give any guarantee that they would reimburse us for the test or anything else. Please let us know what we can do. How can we get Kia to act responsibly? there are many other complaints about this same problem

- Cincinnati,, OH, USA

problem #6

Aug 252015

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
I brought this vehicle for inspection and was told it will not pass because one of the control arms is detached in the rear end. I was told not to drive the vehicle at all because it is not safe. Additionally there is rot under the entire vehicle. The left side frame was welded and repaired by the previous owner but the right side is now rusted badly and in need of repair. Axles are leaking due to rust. Brakes are a problem but I haven't investigated further to know if its caused by rot. I have been on multiple forums for this issue and it seems many people have same issues especially the control arm problem. I can not return this vehicle because I was scammed and am now stuck with a dangerously rotted car. I am told its not worth fixing. This car looks fine and without looking underneath a person would not know a problem existed perhaps until an accident.

- West Wareham, MA, USA

problem #5

Aug 102015

Sorento

  • 83,904 miles
On Monday, August 10th, 2015 I was driving my 2004 Kia Sorento LX and heard a loud bang and then the vehicle began to fishtail. I was traveling at a low speed of around 35 mph. I immediately slowed down and managed to drive the vehicle to a nearby garage. At the garage the vehicle was placed on the lift and it was identified that the drivers side frame rail had completely broken in half and was severely corroded. The passenger side was also severely corroded but not broken all the way through. The cross-member above the rear axle is almost completely gone. I now have an 11 year old vehicle which should have a retail value of around $5K which is now completely worthless. I did some internet research and found I am not the only one experiencing this severe corrosion problem with this year and model Kia. I am surprised there have been no safety recalls for this problem. Had my incident happened at highway speeds the story may be a lot different.

- Airville, PA, USA

problem #4

Apr 032015

Sorento

  • 930,000 miles
About to get on hwy in nc, red light turned green started driving not even 10 seconds later gas pedal goes straight to floor and sounds like something drops. In the middle of the road car just stops with no warning-right before major hwy. Try to crank the Kia, nothing. Again, nothing. Physically push the car off road while others are speeding by-accidnet waiting to happen thank god it didnt. Get it towed home. Sat in yard ever since. Replaced multiple parts. Still does not run..

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #3

Nov 122012

Sorento

  • 124,094 miles

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

In this instance, the car failed to start. However, there were several more incidents concerning the same issues. In those instances, the car would suddenly lose power, stall out and if able to be restarted, could be driven with a lag in the engine a short distance before all the dash lights would turn on and the car would lose power steering. In two instances, the power steering was suddenly lost when making a left turn with a break across oncoming traffic.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #2

Apr 082011

Sorento

  • 87,192 miles
On the above mentioned date the vehicle was taken to ntb for a 90,000 mile check and to replace a bolt that had broken loose it was located near the rear axle when put up on the lift a very dangerous situation was revealed. The frame above the rear axle had completely rotted which caused the bolt to break and the resulting loss of integrity caused weakening and and bouncing causing the gas tank to be punctured. The car was deemed undrivable. I have written to Kia with no response the car had been reliable and was taken care of this put us in a tough financial situation having to buy another car in our area alone there are two Kia, S that had rotting frames one the same year and make as ours his had 106,000 miles the rotting was not near as bad as ours but the same bolt broke off another was a different model but he had to get the front axle replaced because of rotting our family was put in a very dangerous situation we could have been killed the frame of the car is about the last thing you would expect to fail Kia is saying that it is antiperforation and not covered antiperforation has nothing to do with the frame anything you can do to helpwould be appreciated I am filing this on behalf of my daughter

- Plymouth, MA, USA

problem #1

Mar 042011

Sorento

  • 141,925 miles
Crankshaft pulley bolt_while decelerating to make a turn, I lost my power steering and power brakes. The brake and battery indicator lights came on. Thankfully, I was not involved in a potentially serious accident. I managed to make it home the last two miles using battery to supply ignition. The 2 of the 3 belts had dislodged and the crankshaft pulley was lose to the point that it nearly detached from the crankshaft end. I am greatly disturbed that, after some research, discovered that this exact failure has been regularly documented. I purchased my unit used so I am unaware if a previous repair had been made by Kia. I have not received any notification of such. This is a very serious issue. I am thankful that I was in a rural area when this failure occurred. Based upon some research findings, I hope that I do not experience balking while attempting to have this issue remedied, as others have. I have reviewed some discussion regarding a service bulletin #018 (NHTSA item number : 10009688 date of bulletin : Jul 01, 2004 crankshaft pulley bolt) issued by Kia concerning this failure. I will be arranging for the unit to be delivered to my nearest Kia dealer (45 miles away in quincy, il).

- Griggsville, IL, USA

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