2003 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 308 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 10 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsAug 4, 2005
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TUBES NEAR THE FUEL TANK DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE FIT WITH THE VEHICLE FLOOR PANEL.
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE A SECTION OF THE FUEL LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 05V353000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
29 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Mar 9, 2006
HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE DASH CLOCK GOING OUT, HEADLAMPS-6 TIMES NOW, AND BRAKE LAMPS 3X IN 3 MONTHS! WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT AT KIA THAT THE CAR OVER CHARGES ITSELF CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WROTE KIA A LETTER TRYING TO GET THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM OR PAY ME BACK FOR THIS CAR AND BUY IT BACK ON 3/7/06. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Jan 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL FAILURE,COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE,ROUGH RUNNING-ENGINE MISFIRE PURCHASED CAR 2-22-2003 BRAND NEW THIS CAR HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE DEALERS LIFT. ALSO HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF TOW TRUCKS. IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED 18 LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHTS,23 RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT ,16 FOG LIGHTS,8 LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS AND 6 TAIL LIGHTS THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO 3 DEALERS AND THEY ALL SAY ITS EITHER NORMAL OR IT'S ONLY BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE BULBS FROM KIA WELL SOME I DID AND THEY DO NOT LAST EITHER. THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN THEY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 9 1/2 MINUTES AND TOLD US THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND FOR $149.00 THEY WILL PUT IN A NEW BULB. NO WARRANTY ON HOW LONG IT WILL LAST..... THE TRUCK ALSO MISFIRES AND THE DEALER ALSO CANNOT FIX IT THEY SAY THE COMPUTER SAYS ITS GOOD SO IT MUST BE GOOD. WELL YOU CAN FEEL THE MISFIRE EVEN THE DEALERS MECHANIC STATED IT IS MISFIRING BUT HE CANNOT FIX IT MAYBE AFTER THE WARRANTY IS OVER WE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM..... ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE COOLING SYSTEM IN THE PAST 3 YEARS IT HAS HAD THE RECOVERY TANK REPLACED 2 TIMES THE RADIATOR REPLACED THE CONNECTING Y BEHIND THE MOTOR REPLACED ... I HAVE SPENT OVER $200.00 ON RENT A CARS WITH NO HELP FROM KIA EACH TIME MY CAR IS TOWED IN THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO WHY CANT THEY FIX IT O YEAH THE LAST THING IS THE FOG LIGHTS ARE MELTING OR SHALL I SAY ITS THE INSIDE CHROME COATING IS BURNING AND I WAS TOLD ITS NOT WARRANTY AND THERE ABOUT $85.00 EACH WHY WONT KIA MEET WITH ME ?????????????? CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL FAILURE,COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE,ROUGH RUNNING-ENGINE MISFIRE PURCHASED CAR 2-22-2003 BRAND NEW THIS CAR HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE DEALERS LIFT. ALSO HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF TOW TRUCKS. IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED 18 LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHTS,23 RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHTS ,16 FOG LIGHTS,8 LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS AND 6 TAIL LIGHTS THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO 3 DEALERS AND THEY ALL SAY ITS EITHER NORMAL OR IT'S ONLY BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE BULBS FROM KIA WELL SOME I DID AND THEY DO NOT LAST EITHER. THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN THEY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 9 1/2 MINUTES AND TOLD US THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND FOR $149.00 THEY WILL PUT IN A NEW BULB. NO WARRANTY ON HOW LONG IT WILL LAST..... THE TRUCK ALSO MISFIRES AND THE DEALER ALSO CANNOT FIX IT THEY SAY THE COMPUTER SAYS ITS GOOD SO IT MUST BE GOOD. WELL YOU CAN FEEL THE MISFIRE EVEN THE DEALERS MECHANIC STATED IT IS MISFIRING BUT HE CANNOT FIX IT MAYBE AFTER THE WARRANTY IS OVER WE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM..... ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE COOLING SYSTEM IN THE PAST 3 YEARS IT HAS HAD THE RECOVERY TANK REPLACED 2 TIMES THE RADIATOR REPLACED THE CONNECTING Y BEHIND THE MOTOR REPLACED ... I HAVE SPENT OVER $200.00 ON RENT A CARS WITH NO HELP FROM KIA EACH TIME MY CAR IS TOWED IN THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO WHY CANT THEY FIX IT O YEAH THE LAST THING IS THE FOG LIGHTS ARE MELTING OR SHALL I SAY ITS THE INSIDE CHROME COATING IS BURNING AND I WAS TOLD ITS NOT WARRANTY AND THERE ABOUT $85.00 EACH WHY WONT KIA MEET WITH ME ?????????????? CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME. *NM
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 15, 2005
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BLEW OUT THE FIRST TIME ON 10-04-04. IT WAS REPLACED AND IT BLEW AGAIN ON 01-21-05. THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS THIRD ENGINE. *AK THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS HAD TRANSMISSIONS AND ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE FOG LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB