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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 307

Of the 2005 reports, 17 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 20 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernEngine63 reports · 21% of complaints
Owner complaints307Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationshipNo recalls on fileNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine63
  2. Exterior lighting53
  3. Electrical system49
  4. Engine and engine cooling44
  5. Air bags43
  6. Steering39
  7. Power train38
  8. Suspension25

Recalls and investigations

No safety recalls on file.

Representative owner complaints

307 reports, newest first.

  1. Engine and engine cooling, Jun 26, 2008

    DRIVING OUT OF MY OFFICE PARK AT LUNCH TIME, HEARD FAN NOISE LIKE LOOSE BELT, THEN WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO EXIT LOT, HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK" AND LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE SITTING LOOSE IN COMPARTMENT LAND LOOSE BELTS EVERYWHERE. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. TOLD 2.5 HOURS LATE, WHEN I CALLED TO THE DEALER, THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS BROKEN AGAIN. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND FOUND ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THIS BOLT, MY VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST (THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE). ALTHOUGH "SHORT BLOCK" WAS REPLACED AT LAST FAILURE (IN 4/07 AT 20,200 MI) THIS FAILURE REQUIRED MACHINING THE BOLT OUT AND ONLY REPLACING THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, CRANK PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT BOLT, THEN REINSTALLING OTHER COMPONENTS. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS 6/18/08 AND REQUESTED DIST SERVICE MGR APPROVAL SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. NO RETURN PHONE CALLS ALTHOUGH MESSAGES WERE LEFT FOR AGENT ON 6/19 AND 6/20. AGENT CALLED ON 6/25/08 TO ASK "HOW IS THE VEHICLE RIDING?", BUT WE HAD NOT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, SINCE YET AGAIN NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS PROVIDED. SAFETY IS NOW A MAJOR CONCERN WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO CONFIDENCE IN REPLACEMENT PARTS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. RESEARCH SHOWS MANY OTHER OWNERS REPORTING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT. REPAIR TOOK 6 BUSINESS DAYS (8 CALENDAR DAYS) AND AGAIN NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS OFFERED OR PROVIDED. WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM HAS INFORMATION FROM A KIA TECHNICIAN THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT CANNOT BE FIXED BY REPLACING A BOLT EVERY 10,000 TO 20,000 MILES OR EACH FAILURE. NO OWNER SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER FAILURE THAT DROPS THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN OUT OF TRAFFIC AND NOT ON THE INTERSTATES. LIVING IN METRO ATLANTA, GA MEANS I A FAR GREATER CHANCE OF THE NEXT FAILURE CAUSING INJURY TO ME OR OTHERS. *TR

  2. Engine and engine cooling, Jun 26, 2008

    CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE IDLED VERY ROUGH. FEARING REPEAT OF CYLINDER MISFIRE THAT OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2006 TOOK VEHICLE STRAIGHT TO DEALER. CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY EVAP PRESSURE SENSOR. REPLACED SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

  3. Engine and engine cooling, Jun 26, 2008

    TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY FROM A SHORT TRIP TO THE CORNER GAS STATION, I HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK", LOST POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. CONTACTED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER INDICATED THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE. DEALER REPLACED THE "SHORT BLOCK" UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRS TOOK 5 DAYS AND NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS PROVIDED. *TR

  4. Engine and engine cooling, Jun 26, 2008

    CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE TRAVELING WITH 100 MILES OF HOME ON 9/22/06. CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY RECOMMENDED CONTACTING THE DEALER. TOOK TO DEALER SAME DAY, THEY RESET THE LIGHT AND RECOMMENDED USING A HIGHER OCTANE FUEL AND RETURN FOR SERVICE IF LIGHT RETURNS. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 9/26/06 WITH LIGHT ON AGAIN. TESTING SHOWED CYLINDER #3 MISFIRED AND CAUSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. ENGINE REPLACED AT 12,149MILES UNDER WARRANTY AND 9/27/06. *TR

  5. Exterior lighting, Jun 7, 2008

    BASICALLY, I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CHANGE LIGHTS. (I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS, INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS). *TR

  6. 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

  7. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Seat belts, May 23, 2008, crash

    ON 4/30/08 MY KIA SORENTO WAS HIT FROM BEHIND ON THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF US WHO ALSO HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF THEM. WE WERE ON AN EXTENDED ON RAMP SO I ESTIMATE OUR SPEED WAS 35 MPH. AS THE TRAFFIC AHEAD OF US BEGAN TO STOP QUICKLY I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEREFORE THE EXACT RATE OF SPEED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT IS UNKNOWN. HOWEVER WE HIT CAR ENOUGH THAT MY DAUGHTERS LID COVERED SOFT DRINK HIT THE DASH. NEITHER OF MY CARS FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY CAR SUSTAINED MAJOR REAR AND FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. OUR SEAT BELTS DID HOLD US IN. HOWEVER I RECEIVED BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT IN THE CHECK AND WAIST AREA AS WEAK AS AN INJURY TO MY RIGHT KNEE WHERE IT HIT THE LOWER DASH AREA. *TR

  8. 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.

  9. Equipment, Apr 8, 2008

    CLOCK KEEPS RESETTING ITSELF AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH 8 HEADLIGHTS IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. KIA SAYS USE THEIR $50 HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *TR

  10. Electrical system, Apr 1, 2008

    OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 185 DAYS DUE TO FRONT,REAR,BRAKE AND RUNNING LIGHT ISSUE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT EVERY TWO OR THREE WEEKS AND THE OTHER ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THE THROTTLE CONTROL ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES EACH AND GOOD MOTOR COMPANY OF ROCKHILL SOUTH CAROLINA CANT SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE PROBLEM. KIA MOTORS IS NO HELP AND CANT SEEM TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER TO SEE THE OTHER 20 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I'M STUCK WITH A 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON A LEMON. *TR

  11. Seats, Mar 16, 2008, crash

    MY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH WE WERE REAR ENDED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BACKS FELL BACKWARD AND THE SEAT BOTTOMS PUSHED BACK, THEREFORE RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACKS BEING PUSHED INTO MY SONS WHO WERE IN CAR SEATS BEHIND US. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN BUT NOT ONLY WAS ME AND MY HUSBANDS INJURED BECAUSE OF THE SEATS, BOTH MY SONS WERE INJURED WHEN THE SEATS FELL BACK AND PUSHED IN ON THEM. I WANT SOMETHING DONE SO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY. THIS IS A SEVERE DEFECT. *TR

  12. 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

  13. Power train, Jan 25, 2008

    WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MAKES AN UNUSUAL NOISE (KLUNK) WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, THEN IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER. I MAYBE ABLE TO DRIVE AT A VERY LOW SPEED FOR A SHORT DISTANCE WITH NO POWER OR IT WILL JUST NOT MOVE (AS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IN THE SECOND FAILURE). THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO HAS DONE THE FOLLOWING. FIRST VISIT = "MISC FOUND CODES P0716/P0893//CLEAR CODES OK AT THIS TIME" COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMERS CONCERN. SECOND VISIT = REPLACED THROTTLE POS SENSOR". THIRD VISIT = "VEHICLE WAS LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID". I AM NOT ACCEPTING THE LAST EXCUSE AS A FIX TO THE PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THERE IS AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM. *TR THE VEHICLE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE 4TH TIME FOR THE CLUNKING NOISE THAT CAUSES IT TO STOP AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS KIT.

  14. Parking brake, Nov 19, 2007

    BRAKE PULSATION. *TR

  15. Power train, Aug 28, 2007

    MY FIANCE' AND I HAVE RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES WITH OUR 2005 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. FOR SOME REASON, FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD ONCE IT IS ON GEAR. IT JUST WON'T MOVE. I CAN TAKE IT IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND IT STILL WON'T MOVE. I CAN TRY IT IN FIRST OR SECOND AND STILL NOTHING. THE WORK AROUND WE FIGURED OUT IS TO PUT IT IN REVERSE AND MAYBE MOVE IT BACKWARDS JUST A LITTLE BIT AND WE ARE THEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN FIRST AND MOVE FORWARD LIKE NORMAL. IT HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO HER THREE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK, ONCE LAST WEEK AND TWICE TODAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE CAR LAST WEEK THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND SAW THE ISSUE FIRST HAND. I AM GOING TO KIA ABOUT THIS, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE OR EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2005 MANUAL TRANSMISSION, OR ANY YEAR TRANSMISSION FOR THAT MATTER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BUSY ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. WE ARE WORRIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE SHE IS MOVING OR CHANGING GEARS. THIS HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR IS GOING TO KIA TOMORROW TO HAVE THE ISSUE ADDRESSED. *JB

  16. Air bags, Aug 14, 2007

    FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT SENSES PASSENGER LESS THAN 50% OF THE TIME. EVEN GETTING OUT AND RESTARTING THE CAR WILL NOT FIX THIS. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I ASKED ABOUT RECALL/BULLETIN AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ONE BUT I HAD RECEIVED SOMETHING IN THE MAIL ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THIS IS FOR 2005 KIA SORENTO SPORT. *JB

  17. Seats, Aug 8, 2007

    ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THE DRIVER POWER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD, BACKWARD OR RECLINED, IT WOULD LET YOU MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT AND STOP. BUT IF YOU TRIED TO RETURN THE SEAT TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, THE MOTOR WOULD NOT RESPOND. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES MY WIFE NEEDED TO GO SHOPPING AND I DECIDED TO SIT IN THE CAR WITH THE BABY, RECLINE AND RELAX. WHEN SHE HAS RETURNED, THE SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE WHICH LEFT IT IN AN UN-DRIVABLE POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT SEEMS YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE (TAKING PRESSURE OFF THE SEAT) AND WORK THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH TO FINALLY GET THE SEAT TO MOVE. AT TIMES THIS HAS TAKEN AN HOUR IN A PARKING LOT STANDING IN THE RAIN OR IN THE HEAT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. *JB

  18. Engine and engine cooling, Aug 2, 2007

    WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING EXTREMELY LOUD. DID NOT OVERHEAT AND OIL LEVEL WAS FINE. ON JULY 31 I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MS STEVENS (CENTRAL KIA) TO AUTHORIZE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE. THE COST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WILL BE $80.00 IF NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ON AUGUST 1ST I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MS. STEVENS STATING THE TECHNICIAN SAW SIGNS OF ?SLUDGE? WHEN HE REMOVED THE OIL CAP. MS. STEVEN QUESTIONED IF THERE WAS KNOCKING NOISE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. I EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO NOISE PRESENT AND THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,800 MILES AGO. MS. STEVENS SAID SHE HAD TO GET AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED TO GO ANY FURTHER BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENCE OF ?SLUDGE?. IF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ?OIL STARVATION? IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FURTHER DIAGNOSIS WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $500.00. I QUICKLY DISMISSED THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN ?OIL STARVED?. IF THE ENGINE WAS OIL STARVED THE FAILURE WOULD MOST LIKELY HAPPEN OVER TIME. THIS FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE. MS. STEVENS AGREED AND EVEN MENTION THAT SHE HAS SEEN AND THE TECHNICIAN AS EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTION WITH A WING NUT AND BOLT BREAKING AND FALLING INTO THE LOWER PART OF THE MOTOR. SHE BELIEVED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE WHICH WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. ON THURSDAY AUGUST 2ND AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00AM I WENT TO CENTRAL KIA IN PLANO AND MET WITH MS. STEVENS. MS STEVENS TOLD ME THE WORK ON MY VEHICLE HAD NOT BEGUN. AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 PM I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MS. STEVENS STATING A MALFUNCTION IN THE MOTOR OCCURRED INVOLVING A FAILED PART (BOLT). MS. STEVENS NOW IS REQUESTED FOR ME TO PRODUCE MAINTENANCE RECORDS OR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME TO KNOW THAT KIA KNEW OF THE FAULTY PART PRIOR TO THE DIAGNOSIS, THEN FINDING THE PROBLEM THEN PLACING THE MONKEY ON THE CONSUMERS BACK BEFORE THEY WILL COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

  19. Parking brake, Aug 1, 2007

    2005 KIA SORENTO, WAS IN GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED & THE VEH ROLLED OUT OF PARK AND INTO BODY OF WATER. WHEN VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED, THE POLICE DID CONFIRM THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK & EMERG BRAKE WAS STILL ENGAGED. *TR

  20. Engine and engine cooling, Jul 18, 2007

    AT UNDER 20,000 MILES I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND WON'T GIVE ME A RENTAL IN THE MEANTIME.*AK

  21. Air bags, Jun 8, 2007

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REMOVED AND WORKED ON SIX TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. GM STATED THAT THEY CANNOT HELP UNLESS THEY WITNESS THE FAILURE FOR THEMSELVES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 19,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

  22. Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 21, 2007

    CAR IS MAKING A WEASEL KING OF NOISE AROUND 45-55 MPH. KIA TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ANOTHER PROBLEM EMERGED. CAR SHOOK WHEN BRAKING SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN KIA OF THE VALLEY SAID THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY ASKED ME TO WAIT SO THEY COULD CONSULT WITH KIA ENGINEERS, BUT BEFORE I HEARD ANYTHING BACK THEY CLOSED THE DEALER. *AK

  23. 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

  24. Air bags, Feb 27, 2007

    TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 KIA SORENTO LX, HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING. ON OCCASION WHEN IN THE PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEATTHE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT DID NOT TURN OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE SEAT SENSOR THREE TIMES ,AND TOOK THE SEAT OUT TO HAVE IT SHIPPED TO CALIFORNIA TO REPROGRAM THE SEAT SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT SOMETIMES SHE MAY HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE SENSOR LIGHT TO WORK PROPERLY. SHE HAD AN ARBITRATION CASE DATED FOR 03/01/07, WITH CASE # KIA 0732574, FOR THE COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU REGARDING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND REPAIR ORDERS AVAILABLE, WILL SUBMIT THEM TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4500, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13000.*AK

  25. Power train, Jan 4, 2007

    MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENT SHIFTING SAFETY DEFECT CAUSES OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO TO LOCK UP WHILE WE ARE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT LET US SHIFT GEARS OR MOVE THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IN FIRST GEAR; HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SHIFTING UP THROUGH GEARS, HAS HAPPENED DOWN SHIFTING IN INTERSECTIONS. THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT COULD CAUSE US TO BE IN A POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO KIA INC. TWO TIMES AND TAKEN TO DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD SINCE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP US. THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO LOOK AT THE CAR. IN THE MEANTIME THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO EXIST AND WE ARE DRIVING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. OUR CONSCIENCE TELLS US WE SHOULD NOT TRADE OR SELL THIS AUTO BECAUSE WE KNOW IT HAS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY DEFECT (EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY) . THIS IS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR WE WONDER IF THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WILL OCCUR. WE HAVE YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN AND BOUGHT THE KIA SORENTO BECAUSE OF ITS POSITIVE SAFETY FEATURES. BECAUSE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM WE ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR AND OUR SAFETY. *NM UPDATED 11/21/06. *JB UPDATED