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
307 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Mar 20, 2010
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DE-ACTIVATED WHEN THE FRONT SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. IT SHOULD ONLY DE-ACTIVATE IF IT SENSES NO PASSENGER SEATED. *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
Power train, Electrical system, Mar 4, 2010
I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO THAT STARTED TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON JAN 3RD 2009. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. IT IS RANDOM AND I AM CURRENTLY IN COURT WITH KIA THROUGH THE PA LEMON LAW. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO IT IS ON RECORD. *TR
Steering, Feb 20, 2010
INTERMITTENT HARD STEERING AS STATED ON TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, KIA MOTORS, # KT2005022519, MODEL: SORENTO EX, PRODUCED BEFORE 10/06/04. MAY INTERMITTENTLY HAVE VARIATIONS IN THE LEVEL OF POWER ASSIST DURING DRIVING AND PARKING. STEERING PROBLEMS WERE RELATED TO DEALER, ALIGNMENT OF FRONT WHEELS WAS PERFORMED THAT REQUIRED MAJOR REBUILD DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. I BECAME AWARE OF THIS SERVICE BULLETIN RECENTLY WHILE SPEAKING WITH A SERVICE WRITER AT NEW KIA DEALERSHIP. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER MADE KNOW TO ME SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *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
Power train, Feb 1, 2010
THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IS DEFECTIVE. THE PART HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PART OR VEHICLE. THE CAR IS STILL WITHIN THE POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY WITH COVER THE ENGINE. THEY HAVE HOWEVER STATED THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED AS IT IS NOT PART OF THE ENGINE HOWEVER THIS PART IS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP PART OF THE ENGINE AS IT CONTROLS THE PISTONS AND WITH OUT IT THE ENGINE CAN NOT RUN. THIS SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS CONSUMER COMPLAINT ARE POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THEY RECEIVE MANY COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND FIX 3-4 A WEEK AND OFTEN THE PART FAILS AND THEY AGAIN HAVE TO REPLACE IT. *TR
Air bags, Dec 5, 2009, crash
WHILE HEADING EAST DURING A SNOW STORM, COLLIDED WITH A SNOW PLOW. THE KIA SORENTO WAS TOTALED BEYOND REPAIR. IMPACT WAS AT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. DESTROYED FRONT OF VEHICLE, REAR DOOR AND RIPPER PART OF ROOF OPEN, DRIVER HIT FACE ON SIDE WINDOW CAUSING BLEEDING ON BRAIN. WAS HOSPATIZED FOR 3 DAYS. NOT ONE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED. NOT FRONT NOR SIDE AIR BAGS. NOTIFIED KIA CORP. SENT PICTURES AND REPORT. SAID THEY DIDNT THINK IT WAS THE FAULT OF KIA. *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.
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Interior lighting, Oct 26, 2009, fire
WHILE RETURNING FROM OUR VACATION OUR KIA STARTED MAKING AT LOT OF NOISES IN AROUND THE AIRCONDITIONING HEATING SYSTEM, THE AIR COMING FROM THE VENTS DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WARM ENOUGH TO DEFOG THE WINDOWS, THEN THE NEXT DAY WHEN IT WAS WARMER IT STARTED MAKING A RATTLING FAN NOISE WHEN THE AIR WAS TURNED ON. WHEN THE SYSTEM WAS TURNED OFF IT DIDN'T MAKE THE NOISE ANYMORE. WE ARRIVED HOME UNLOADED OUR GEAR AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN A WHILE LATER. THE FAN NOISE STARTED AGAIN AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK, WHEN THE AIR WAS TURNED OFF EVERYTHING RESUMED TO NORMAL. WE ARRIVED AT OUR FRIEND HOUSE AND WENT INSIDE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. WE LIFTED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE WHERE WE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WE IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE NEXT DAY. COME TO FIND OUT SEVERAL DAYS LATER THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS TOO BADLY BURNED TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A TIMING BELT FAILURE. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY THAT THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED BY WHOMEVER OWNS THE VEHICLE OR THE DEALER IF THE CAR HAS BEEN TRADED BECAUSE THE NEXT OWNER WOULD NOT KNOW ANY OF THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS SUCH WAS OUR CASE. AS IT STANDS NOW THERE ARE SOME INTERIOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE LIGHTS AN THE ELECTRONIC SEATS WE ARE HOPING FOR SOME KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE FAN RUNNING ON AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THIS WAS STILL HAPPENING EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD EARLIER THAT IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM WHICH STILL HAPPENED EVEN AFTER THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 11, 2009
HEADLAMPS FAIL AND MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 17, 2009
BALANCER BOLT HAS BROKEN OFF IN THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR NOT TO SPIN. REQUIRED TO DRILL OUT THE BOLT AND REPLACE THE BALANCER AND REMOVE AND REPLACE THE SPROCKET. *TR
Power train, Jul 28, 2009
THE GEAR SHIFT LEAVER BROKE WHILE DRIVING 2005 KIA SORRENTO WHEN EXAMINING THE LEAVER IT IS HELD TOGETHER BY A SMALL PLASTIC SCREW THAT SPLIT IN HALF WHEN THE LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THUS MAKING THE SHIFTER INOPERABLE THE CAR HAD 65000 MILES ON IT I BROUGHT THE CAR TO KIA AND HAD TO REPLACE THE SHIFT LEAVER. I DID NOT ASK TO KEEP THE OLD LEAVER. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 7, 2009
THIS IS CONCERNING MY 2005 KIA SORENTO THAT I NEVER GOT THE RECALL LETTER FOR THE ICV SENSOR, IT JUST SO HAPPEN THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I CALLED THEM COMPLAINING AND THEY MADE IT SEEM AS IF THEY WERE DOING ME A FAVOR AND SAID BRING IT IN, IT IS COVERED AND I DISCOVERED ON THE COMPUTER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. I THEN HAD TWO HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND THEN SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT IT WAS COVERED. MY CAR LATER WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AND I CALLED THEM AND TOLD THEM I COULD BE ON THE HIGHWAY ACCELERATING AND COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED , THE SUV WAS RETURNED FOR THE THROTTLE SENSOR. NOT MORE THAN A MONTH LATER MY SUV IS SLUGGISH AND NOT PICKING UP SPEED AGAIN AND THEY SAY BRING IT IN AND TELLS ME IT IS NOT THE SAME THING BUT THIS TIME IT IS A SENSOR IN THE GAS TANK THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ONE PERSON QUOTES ME $395.00 ANOTHER QUOTES $595.00 (I WILL BE WRITING THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AFTER THIS). I JUST FEEL THAT THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH GOING ON WITH 2005 KIAS SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT IF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT LOOKED INTO. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A LIFE OR MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR THESE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED. A TRUCK OR TRAILER COULD HAVE HIT ME SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. I FEEL THAT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE PREYING ON DEFECTS THAT IS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND PASSING THE COST ON TO CONSUMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THESE VEHICLES. I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2006 WITH ONLY 115 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. KIA IS BEING ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THESE TACTICS BECAUSE NO ONE IS LOOKING OVER THEM BECAUSE SADLY THOSE WHO ARE PURCHASING THESE VEHICLES WITH PROBLEMS DO NOT KNOW WHERE OR WHO TO TURN TO FOR HELP ON THEM BEING CHEATED AND MISTREATED AT THE DEALERSHIPS. I PRAY THAT THIS MATTER GET THE LONG AWAITED ATTENTION IT DESERVES BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 4, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY AND MAKE A TICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND PARTICLES THAT RESEMBLED METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 30, 2009
TWICE AFTER DRIVING OUR 2005 KIA SORRENTO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF APPROX 75 MPH, THEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN HEADING UPHILL CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR AND COULD ONLY GO ABOUT 45 MPH. LUCKILY, THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD - WE LET IT REST A WHILE AND THEN IT WAS OK. THE SECOND TIME WE AGAIN HAD THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR GOING UPHILL BUT IT ONLY DID ABOUT 35- 45. WHEN WE REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. BOTH TIMES CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON - BUT NOT IN ACTIVE USE AND THE AC WAS ON. BOTH TIMES WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED AC OFF BUT IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. WE ASKED LOCAL KIA DEALER TO CHECK ON IT THEY ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, SO THERE WAS NO INCIDENT CODE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T BE SURE WHAT CAUSED IT. WE ASKED IF IT WOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULD NOT. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 15, 2009
I TOO HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE MY HEAD LIGHT BULBS AND TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A FUSE BLOCK REPLACED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGING THE STARTER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK DUE TO FLICKERING. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 20, 2009
MY KIA SORENTO HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE THE INTERIOR DASH AND DOOM LIGHTS TO BLINK OFF AND ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST FOURTEEN MONTHS. THE DASH LIGHTS STAY OFF MOST OF THE TIME NOW, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MONITOR MY INSTRUMENT PANEL AT NIGHT. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHT A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO PLUS YEARS. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT. THE HOT AIR TURNS COLD ANYTIME THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP, MAKING IT NECESSARY FOR ME TO REV THE ENGINE TO STAY WARM. THIS MAKES A GAS GUZZLER EVEN MORE WASTEFUL IN COLD WEATHER. I CAN GET NO DEFINITIVE ANSWERS FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR THESE PROBLEMS. I'M NOT AN ADVOCATE OF A LOT OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, BUT SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY NEED TO STEP IN AND REQUIRE KIA TO PROVIDE A ROOT CAUSE SOLUTION TO THESE ISSUES. *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
Vehicle speed control, Dec 2, 2008
IDLER AIR CONTROL VALVE- BAD ON 2005 KIA SORENTO, 75, 000 MILES REPAIR COST STEVEN KIA WICHITA KS, $570.00 DEALER SAID THE VALVE WOULD NEED REPLACED, AND PINS CLEANED.. SYMPTOMS, VEHICLE DIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN WONT STAY RUNNING, CAR ONE TIME IDLED UP ON IT OWN AT A VERY HIGH ACCELERATION, SCARED ME, I HAD TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL IT DIDN'T WORK, THEN TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP CAR. *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.