Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Kia Sorento problems

Owners filed 307 complaints about the 2005 Kia Sorento with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Apr 2024. The most-cited component is engine (63).

Complaints
307
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine63
  2. Exterior lighting53
  3. Electrical system49
  4. Engine and engine cooling44
  5. Air bags43
  6. Steering39
  7. Power train38
  8. Suspension25
  9. Structure14
  10. Fuel/propulsion system12
  11. Seats8
  12. Service brakes6
  13. Vehicle speed control6
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200524
20068
200712
200817
200913
201027
201132
201219
201323
201439
201537
201625
20176
201810
20193
20202
20213
20224
20232
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

63 reports2 crashes2 fires
“When driving there was a clunking noise and then the steering was hard to steer and the battery light came on & had to have it towed to find out that the harmonic balancer bolt broke. There are hundreds of complaints online about this same issue happening with these engines as this is a poor design. This is a safety hazard and very dangerous since you loose the steering and should be recalled.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2023EngineODI 11532923

Exterior lighting

53 reports
“NOTICED THAT I HAD A BRAKE LIGHT OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE,REPLACED IT WITH PROPER BULB 1157.A DOUBLE FILAMENT BULB. IT APPEARS THAT IS ALSO THE TAIL LIGHT? CHECKED LIGHT AND IT WORKED BUT LATER REALIZED THAT WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT.THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THE DRIVER TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT AND REPLACED IT BUT LATER REALIZED THE BRAKE LIGHT DIDNT WORK,AS WELL AS MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME.WENT TO AN AUTO CARE STORE THEY REPLACED BOTH OF THE LIGHTSAND AGAIN TAIL LIGHTS WORKED BUT WHEN I PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL NO LIGHTS. CHECKED AND REPLACED THE FUSE JUST TO BE SURE AND AT THIS POINT I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND SEEN 285 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM SAID THERE CRUISE CONTROL HAD STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS THE SPORTAGE MODEL AND THE KIA SOUL.MOST SUGGESTIONS SAID REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH. I ALSO CHECKED FOR FAULTY WIRING AND THAT HAS NOT APPEARED TO BE THE PROBLEM AND MECHANICS 90 % OF THE TIME WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL OR SOME SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM RESEARCHED BY KIA MECHANICS? IM STILL WAITING FOR THE ANSWER AND I SUSPECT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2021Exterior lighting, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11403805

Electrical system

49 reports2 crashes2 fires
“Electrical fire under drivers dash. While trying to drive the kia . called fire department and they responded quickly. I know there was recall on 2006 and believe 2005 should have been included Thanks [XXX] [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2022Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11489171

Engine and engine cooling

44 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ECM COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,300. ..UPDATED 02/23/16 *BF....UPDATED 03/16/16 *BF *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2016Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 10822583

Air bags

43 reports8 crashes
“SEAT SENSOR ON MY KIA SORENTO FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. WHEN A PASSENGER SETS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS ON. YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, YOU DRIVE AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON. CITY OR HIGHWAY TRAVEL, THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IF OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2017Air bags, SeatsODI 11045207

Steering

39 reports3 crashes1 fire
“MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING 60 MILES PER HR TO WORK (30 MILES FROM HOME) IN POURING RAIN WHEN ENGINE, BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THANK GOD THAT I MADE IT TO WORK SAFELY BUT THEN ONLY TO REALIZE THAT POWER STEERING HAD LOCKED UP. LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, POWER STEERING FLUID AND BRAKE FLUID FINE BUT ONE BELT HAD CAME OFF AND THE OTHER BELT JUST BARELY HANGING ON FROM THE ALTERNATOR AND PULLEY. THOUGHT PULLEY HAD LOCKED UP BUT TOOK TO A MECHANIC JUST 1/2 MILE DOWN FROM MY JOB AND HE SAID THAT MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF INSIDE OF THE CRANKSHAFT. I GO ONLINE AND FIND THAT THERE WERE A LOT MORE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND YEAR AS WELL AS OTHERS. THE PREVIOUS RECALL BY KIA WAS ONLY FOR 2003-2004 (CERTAIN MODELS) NOT INCLUDING MINE BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFINITE ISSUE SO THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER YEARS AND MODELS SUCH AS MINE. THANK GOD THAT I MADE IT TO WORK SAFELY AND NOW HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER MEANS TO GET AROUND SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2017Steering, EngineODI 10939479
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.