Sayzia

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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 308

Of the 2003 reports, 10 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernEngine and engine cooling82 reports · 27% of complaints
Owner complaints308Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship1 safety recallNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine and engine cooling82
  2. Engine43
  3. Fuel system43
  4. Gasoline41
  5. Fuel/propulsion system34
  6. Steering31
  7. Air bags30
  8. Electrical system29

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

308 reports, newest first.

  1. Suspension, May 25, 2003

    VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID WHEELS WERE UNBALANCED. DEALER BALANCED WHEELS AND STILL NO CHANGE. *NLM

  2. Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Apr 24, 2003

    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. *NLM

  3. Air bags, Apr 22, 2003, crash

    THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

  4. Fuel system, Gasoline, Apr 12, 2003

    VEHICLE TAKES A LONG TIME TO START. SOMETIMES AS LONG AS TEN SECONDS. THE ENGINE CRANKS AND CRANKS AND THEN FINALLY TURNS OVER. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE THE FUEL PRESSURE RISER SWITCH. HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *NLM

  5. Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 28, 2003

    I PURCHASED A 2003 KIA SORENTO IN FEB 2003, VEHICLE SPINS OVER FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND THEN SLOWLY FINALLY TURNS OVER, I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER 2 TIMES NOW AND THEY HAVE SAID IT WAS THE FUEL RELAY SWITCH AND VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM SO I AM TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR THE 3RD TIME AND THEY SWEAR IT IS A FUEL PROBLEM SO WE'LL SEE IF IT'S GOING TO GET FIXED.*JB

  6. Exterior lighting, Jan 24, 2003

    CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO USE HIGH BEAMS. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

  7. Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 27, 2002

    CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 11/25/02. VEHICLE TURNS OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES. PROBLEM IS THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP, BUT DEALER CAN NOT REPAIR. TS

  8. Power train, Dec 3, 2002

    VEHICLE DRIVESHAFT INSTALLED 180 DEGREES OUT (UPSIDE DOWN) CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION. DRIVESHAFT TURNED 180 DEGREES. STILL HAS VIBRATION. DEALER NOT SURE OF CAUSE. DT