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.
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
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2006
2005 KIA SORENTO V6, BREAKAGE OF CRANKSHAFT ACCESSORY PULLEY/VIBRATION DAMPER BOLT, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING DUE TO POWER STEERING BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS PROBLEM EFFECTS 2003 TO 2006 KIA SORENTO V6 ENGINES MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD MULTI FAILURES OF THIS BOLT, THE UPDATED BOLTS FAIL TOO. KIA IS TRYING TO HIDE THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND HAS NO INTENTION OF A REAL FIX. MY VEHICLE AND OTHERS ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE OUR KIA SORENTO'S. *NM
Exterior lighting, Equipment, Feb 16, 2006
HEADLIGHTS FREQUENTLY GO OUT. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THEM TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ONE YEAR AGO. THEY GET EXTREMELY HOT AND ALMOST MELT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 2, 2006
BRAKING SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FIRST TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND THEY WERE SLOW REACTING, WHICH CAUSED MY TO GO INTO THE INTERSECTION. SECOND TIME I WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND WENT TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE CAR. DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM. *JB
Exterior lighting, Jan 29, 2006
I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS O 2005 KIA SORENTO REPLACED TWICE NOW. THEY BOTH WENT OUT WITHIN A DAY OF EACH OTHER THE FIRST TIME. I HAD TO PAY 129.00 ON THE CAR WAS LES THAN I YEAR OLD. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS SERIOUS. ALOT OF KIA OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING BUY KIA SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. THERE MUST BE. CAN YOU HELP GET KIA TO RECALL & FIX THIS PROBLEM?*AK
Exterior lighting, Jan 26, 2006
ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO I HAVE BURNED OUT 4 SETS OF LOW BEAMS IN 8 MONTHS. KIA HAS NO ANSWERS FOR ME AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A GROWING GROUP OF OWBERS, ON LINE, THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK
Air bags, Jan 5, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DISPLAYED AIR BAG - OFF FOR THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. SEVERAL PEOPLE AT VARIOUS WEIGHTS HAVE SAT IN THE SEAT AS AN ATTEMPT FOR THE INDICATOR LIGHT TO GO OFF, WITHOUT SUCCESS. *AK
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Seats, Jan 3, 2006, crash
WE HAD ISSUES FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A FIRE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OF OUR PRE-OWNED KIA. THEN WE NOTICED THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WAS INTERMITTENT ON PICKING UP WHETHER THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. OUR CLOCK WOULD GO IN AND OUT ON THE LIGHTING ESPECIALLY OVER BUMPS. THEN WE WERE REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE AND HOLD EITHER ME OR MY HUSBAND BACK. THEN WHEN I FELL BACK AGAINST THE SEAT THE SEAT DID NOT STAY IN PLACE AND I FELL BACKWARDS. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MUSCLE SPASMS. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED FOR THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND THEN WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *NM
Air bags, Nov 22, 2005, crash
DT : THE CONTACT"S WIFE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH WHEN VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DEER . THIS WAS A FRONTAL LEFT CORNER AND SIDE IMPACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Power train, Oct 12, 2005
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IT SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER AND WILL NOT SURPASS 30 MPH. WHEN I CHANGE FROM AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO THIS NEW STANDARD SHIFT THERE IS NO RESPONSE. THIS HAS OCCURRED NOW 4 TIMES THE PAST 2 MONTHS. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CODES AND NOTHING SHOWS. I MUST STOP AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, RESTART AND ALL SYSTEMS RETURN TO NORMAL. MY DEALER SAYS THAT I MUST BRING THIS TO THEM WHEN IT IS IN THIS STATE. THIS REQUEST IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.*JB
Air bags, Oct 4, 2005
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I AM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG INDICATOR SAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF". I WEIGH ABOUT 120 LBS. WHEN MY FIANCE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG IS ON. HE WEIGHS ABOUT 150 LBS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT I AM PROBABLY SITTING WRONG. I CANNOT ACCEPT THIS. *JB
Air bags, Sep 29, 2005
I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 KIA SORENTO IN JULY. WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I WOULD NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WAS NOT DETECTING ME THUS LEAVING THE AIRBAG OFF. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND THE SEAT MUST BE REMOVED, SENT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER AND BE REPROGRAMMED. IT DOES NOT SENSE LARGER SIZE PEOPLE AS THE PEOPLE OF KOREA ARE SMALLER AND THE SENSORS ARE DESIGNED FOR THEM. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT UNTIL I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM. THEY DID NOT FEEL IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 13, 2005
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,NEEDED CANISTER CLOSE V CANISTER ASS/CHECK ENGINE INSTALL CCV FILTER AND SPLASH SHIELDS/CHECK ENGINE SENSOR FUEL TANK/ STILL WAITING FOR SENSOR. NOW CANNOT PUT GAS IN VEHICLE, KEEPS BACK SPLASHING OUT, ON 1/4 TANK AND CANNOT PUT GAS IN,STILL WAITING FOR PART. *NM
Power train, Aug 18, 2005
TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN THE FIRST FOUR GEARS. I A HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MANY TIMES BECAUSE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. TRANSMISSION MODULE REPLACED. IT IS STILL SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Aug 9, 2005
DT: 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT, T AND SENT THE SEAT OFF TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING A WHILE. ALSO, THE CLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *AK
Air bags, Jul 20, 2005
MY NEW KIA SORENTO HAS "ADVANCED AIRBAGS" AND THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR IS FREQUENTLY ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH AN ADULT PROPERLY SECURED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY HAVE INDICATED BOTH TIMES THAT THE PROBLEM WON'T HAPPEN WITH THEM. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL ACTUALLYWORK WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON.
Electrical system, Jul 1, 2005
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE KEYS OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE DOORS TO HIS VEHICLE WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING IN EXTREME HEAT. 11/15/2005 *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 8, 2005
1) SLOWED CAR TO PUT INTO PARK & CAR LUNGED FORWARDED, BACKED OFF, LUNGED FORWARD, BACKED OFF, ETC. TAPPING SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE. 2) CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART (STALLED ON ROADWAY) 3) IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, AFTER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH THE 1ST DAY IT WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ANKNOWLEDGED IT WAS "MISFIRING".) THEY HAVE NOW STATED THAT A CLIP ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COMES DISLODGED AND END UP IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 3 DAYS, AS OF THIS WRITING, AS THEY HAVE ORDERED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Air bags, Jun 1, 2005
THE 2005 KIA SORENTO ADDED A FRONT PASSENGER WEIGHT DETECTION SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY ARM OR DISARM THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FOR LIGHTER WEIGHT INDIVIDUALS. THIS DETECTOR AND/OR RELATED EQUIPMENT OPERATES IRRADICALLY AND INEFFECTIVELY, LEAVING THE USERS REGULARLY UNCERTAIN REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM KNOWN TO KIA BUT NO SCHEDULE EXISTS FOR A FIX.
Air bags, May 26, 2005, crash
DT: CALLER STATES HER SON HAD AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
Air bags, May 18, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATES THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SERVICE DEALER SAID THE AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AN ENGINEER WILL NOT BE AT THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE SYSTEM UNTIL ABOUT 6 WEEKS. *AK
Air bags, May 5, 2005
DT: THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS A SENSOR WHICH TURNS OFF THE AIR BAG FOR PASSENGERS UNDER A CERTAIN WEIGHT. THE AIR BAG REMAINED OFF ALTHOUGH AND ADULT OVER THE WEIGHT TARGET WEIGHT WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE SENSOR WAS OVER SENSITIVE, THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. *NM
Air bags, Apr 27, 2005
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON INDICATING THE AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK. I TOOK IT BACK TO KIA TWICE. THEY STATED KIA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DOESN'T HAVE A FIX. THEY SAID THE AIR BAG WILL "PROBABLY DEPLOY" IN AN ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Mar 27, 2005
I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2005 KIA SORENTO LAST WEEK (MARCH 18, 2005.) I LOVE THE CAR, BUT IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. IT IS SUPPOSED TO STAY OFF UNLESS A PASSENGER WEIGING MORE THAN 40 POUNDS IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY HUSBAND (200 LBS. +) AND MY FATHER IN LAW (180 LBS. +) HAVE SAT IN THE SEAT WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT TURN ON. I MENTIONED IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING. THEY HAVE SUPPOSIDLY CHECKED THE SENSOR SYSTEM AND IT IS "FUNCTIONING PROPERLY." I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK, BUT IF I AM EVER IN ONE WHERE MY PASSENGER IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONS, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU.
Air bags, Mar 21, 2005
THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN A SOMEONE SAT IN THE SEAT. THIS COULD BE UNSAFE IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 15 TIMES FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK