2005 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 307 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 17 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 20 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
53 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 15, 2011
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, IT BEGAN MAKING A "KNOCKING" NOISE. THE POWER STEERING THEN BEGAN TO FAIL AND THEN I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR DIED (ON A BUSY 4 LANE HWY WITH MY 7 MOS OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR). ONCE STOPPED, I LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD TO FIND A LARGE BOLT LAYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE INTERIOR OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE, AFTER 2 DAYS AND $1300 IN REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE "LARGE BOLT" I FOUND WAS HALF OF THE CRANK PULLEY BOLT. IT HAD SNAPPED CLEAN IN HALF LEAVING THE OTHER HALF INSIDE THE PULLEY. EXTENSIVE LABOR TO REMOVE THIS PIECE AND THEN RESET ALL THE PULLEYS AND BELTS (TIMING BELT) ATTRIBUTED TO THE EXCESSIVE COST. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THAT BOLT SHOULD HAVE SIMPLY BROKE IN HALF AND THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART. KIA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTS THAT MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ELECTRICALLY, I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS AND THE ACCUATOR FOR THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS IS FAULTY. THE CAR RANDOMLY LOCKS ITSELF AT ANY GIVEN TIME (WHILE DRIVING, WHEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING THE NIGHT, PARKED AND RUNNING). I STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT TO GET MY DAUGHTER'S TOY THAT SHE HAD DROPPED. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE, THE CAR LOCK DEFECT LOCKED MY DAUGHTER INSIDE THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING. *KB
Power train, Exterior lighting, Aug 13, 2011
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STOPPED TO STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT IT FELT LIKE POWER STEERING BELT WENT OUT BUT IT WAS NOT THAT IT WAS A BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I CALLED KIA HOTLINE AND THEY SAID I STILL HAVE WARRANTY BUT NOT ON THAT SCREW SO I AM LOOKING A 2 GRAND TO FIX THIS SUV THAT HAS HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED ALL THE TIME AND THE DEALERSHIPS DO NOT BACK UP THERE PRODUCT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 10, 2011
I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE TAIL LIGHTS, TAG LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS, AND RUNNING LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING UP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM SICK AND TIRED OF SPENDING A SMALL FORTUNE IN BULBS FOR THIS CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2005 AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING. KIA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM OR PUT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. FOR THE SAFETY OF MY TWO KIDS WHO ARE PASSENGERS IN THIS VEHICLE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 11, 2011
I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO THAT CONSTANTLY HAS HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS & BRAKE LIGHTS THAT CONSTANTLY GO OUT. I NORMALLY HAVE TO REPLACE ONE OF THESE LIGHTS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH......I'VE STARTED KEEPING MY RECEIPTS BECAUSE HOPEFULLY KIA WILL STAND BY THEIR VEHICLES AND FINALLY DO A RECALL ON THIS. I LOOK ONLINE AND SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, BUT IT LOOKS AS IF KIA ISN'T STANDING BY THEIR VEHICLE. I HAVE NO INTENTION ON PURCHASING A KIA AGAIN. I HAVE CALLED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT QUITE A FEW TIMES TO SEE IF THEIR HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUED YET, BUT THE SERVICEMEN SEEM TO BLOW THE ISSUE OFF. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 16, 2011
I HAVE TO EVERY 3 -4 MONTHS REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO. KIA HAS TOLD ME BECAUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS NOT ISSUES ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS I WILL KEEP ON REPLACING THEM. THIS IS INSANE!!!!! I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, Dec 21, 2010
LIGHTING (BULBS) VERY SHORT LIFE, BULBS LAST 1/5 TO 1/10TH OF THE LIFE IN OTHER VEHICLES. MOST RECENT BOTH LOW BEAM BULBS FAILED WITHIN 5 MINUTES LEAVING US WITH NO LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON UNLIT DIVIDED HIGHWAY. WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING BULBS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. WE ALWAYS REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHEN ONE BURNS OUT. MY OTHER VEHICLES LAST MANY YEARS, THIS VEHICLE IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE EVER HAD THAT HEADLIGHTS ONLY LAST MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY DRIVEN 4 DAYS PER WEEK AND THE HEADLIGHT LIFE IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN 50 HOURS USE. WE HAVE TRIED SYLVANIA (STANDARD, SILVERSTAR AND SILVERSTAR ULTRAS, GE, HELLA AND RECENTLY PHILLIPS BULBS ALL WITH THE SAME LIFESPAN (WITHIN DAYS) SOMETHING IS WRONG. THERE IS A TSB BUT NO RECALL. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seats, Dec 8, 2010
OWN A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS BURNING OUT. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, PARK LIGHTS, AND FOG LIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS BURN OUT ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS. NOW THE POWER SEAT HAS STOPPED MOVING FORWARD OR BACK. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. A SHORTER PERSON THAT MY WIFE MOVED HER CAR AND SHE ADJUSTED THE SEATS. WHEN MY WIFE GOT INTO THE CAR SHE WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE SEAT IN THE ORIGINAL POSITION. I HAVE TRIED TO JOCKEY THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH AND UP AND DOWN AND THE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Visibility, May 7, 2010
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS START WORKING BY ITSELF WITHOUT PRESSING ANY CONTROL. SPECIALTY AT NIGHT AND THE WASHER PUMP DOES NOT WORK. SOMETIMES WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS OR HEADLIGHTS AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. IT IS SCARY BECAUSE YOU DO NOT EXPECT SUCH OCCURRENCES AND MAKES A DISTRACTION WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE SPEEDWAY, HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS IN THE ROAD AND THE I 26 IS NOT AN EASY ROAD TO DRIVE SAFETY. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 19, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE EXTERIOR LIGHT SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY BECAME NONFUNCTIONAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BURNED OUT LIGHT BULB. THE FAILURE WAS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
Exterior lighting, Equipment, Mar 16, 2010
I HAVE A 2005 SORENTO. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS 15 TIMES. THEY HAVE BOTH GONE OUT BEFORE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND I HAD TO DRIVE NEARLY 40 MILES WITH BRIGHTS ONLY. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED BRAKE LIGHTS 5 TIMES. IT STARTED IN OCT THE YEAR I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HAS CONTINUED. I AM STUNNED AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND LACK OF RESPONSE FROM KIA. ANYBODY FILING A CLASS ACTION? I'M SURE THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF TAKERS!! *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 20, 2010
FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS ON DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT. WE TOOK THE 2005 KIA SORENTO LX TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT WHICH TIME THEY ADMITTED THERE WAS A DEFECT PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT FREQUENTLY. THEY SAID BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT TIME THE PASSENGER LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT FIX IT. SINCE THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT THREE MORE TIMES AND THE PASSENGERS SIDE HAS GONE OUT TWICE. EACH REAR BRAKE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT TWICE. RECENTLY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONING ALONG WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND A SMELL OF SMOKE NEAR THE DOME LIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE BY POLICE DUE TO INOPERABLE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS. THE DEALER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OBVIOUS ELECTRICAL DEFECT WHICH IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 14, 2010
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE TWICE HEADLIGHTS AND THE TWICE TAILLIGHT FOUR SETS OF PARKING LIGHTS,ON OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO EX THIS IN A 18 MONTHS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, Nov 12, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA SORENTO. INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD-LIGHTS FAIL. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Exterior lighting, Oct 11, 2009
HEADLAMPS FAIL AND MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 18, 2009
MY 05 KIA SORRENTO'S HEAD LIGHT BULBS KEEP CONSISTENTLY BURNING OUT. I HAVE BOUGHT 8 LIGHTBULBS WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THIS WILL BE THE VERY LAST KIA THAT I OWN UNLESS THERE SERVICE GETS BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE AND THEY TAKE ACTION ON THERE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 4, 2009
I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO, I HAVE CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR ON EACH ON BOTH SIDES, NOW BOTH ARE OUT AND I CAN ONLY USE MY HIGH BEAMS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO CHANGE MY REAR LIGHTS ONCE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 26, 2008
I OWN A 2005 AND A 2006 KIA SORENTO EX. IN BOTH VEHICLES I MUST REPLACE LIGHTBULBS CONTINUALLY. ON AVERAGE, I REPLACE HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY 60 TO 90 DAYS. BRAKE LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT IS LESS FREQUENT, BUT DOES OCCUR OFTEN WITHIN THE YEAR. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES BUT KIA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEMS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 28, 2008
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE. I CURRENTLY HAVE NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO, AGAIN. THE LIGHT BULBS GO OUT EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT JUST WENT OUT AS WELL. I KEEP HAVING TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON BECAUSE I KEEP LOSING ONE OR BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS. THIS WILL BE THE 5TH TIME I REPLACE THE BULBS IN A YEAR'S TIME. KIA TELLS ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ME $48 PER BULB TO CHANGE THEM AND GUARANTEE THEM FOR A 12 MONTH PERIOD. I SEE ALOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 20, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,469 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Exterior lighting, Jun 7, 2008
BASICALLY, I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CHANGE LIGHTS. (I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS, INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS). *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 3, 2008
HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE 3 YEARS I'VE HAD THE SORENTO. I KEEP MY HEADLIGHTS OFF DURING THE DAY AND IT SEEMED TO DELAY THE BULB GOING OUT AS FAST AS IT DID WHEN I KEPT THEM ON ALL DAY. I KEEP REPLACEMENT BULBS IN MY VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES DUE TO THIS. YOU CAN BUY THEM FOR $5.00 AT YOUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS...WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR NOTHING TO BE WRONG. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 22, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE HER FRONT HEADLAMP LIGHT BULBS APPROXIMATELY ELEVEN TIMES AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS TWICE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE ON THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,869 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Exterior lighting, Mar 5, 2008
LIGHTING PROBLEM IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO LX. IN 2006, MY DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING IN THE "DOOR" POSITION (I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED). SINCE 2006, I HAVE REPLACED MY KIA'S LEFT HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES AND THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT 2 TIMES. I NOW HAVE MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT OUT AGAIN AND THE REAR LEFT BRAKE LIGHT AS WELL. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO BE NORMAL, I CALLED KIA. THE KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS IT REQUIRES "KIA LIGHTBULBS" AT $50/EACH AS WELL AS A $75 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. KIA CLAIMS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AFTER MANUFACTURE LIGHT BULBS AND THAT ONLY "KIA LIGHTBULBS" WILL WORK. CHECKING THE INTERNET, I FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM 2005 SORENTO OWNERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I LUCKED OUT THAT ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AT A TIME, OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. NOT TO MENTION THE COST IN REPLACEMENT LIGHTBULBS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 10, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LIGHT BULB , AND, APPROXIMATELY THREE OR FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE BULB WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE LIGHT BULB STOPPED WORKING AGAIN THREE MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULB ONCE MORE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LIGHT BULB FOR THE FOURTH TIME. SINCE THE LAST REMEDY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 47,000.*AK
Exterior lighting, May 22, 2006
I PURCHASED MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IN THE FALL OF 2004. IT IS NOW MAY OF 2006. I HAVE REPLACED 5 HEADLIGHT BULBS IN THIS TIME. THEY BEGAN TO GO BAD ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, AND I HAVE REPLACED ONE EVERY 30-45 DAYS. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BULBS ARE EFFECTED. KIA DEALERSHIP IN LANSING SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *NM