Problems · by component

2005 Kia Sorento electrical system problems

49 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Kia Sorento cite electrical system, 16% of all 307 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
49
16% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“The battery fails constantly, which means I am faced with a dead battery and a car that won't start. This has happened with no pattern of circumstance; for example: the battery will be dead after driving for 15 miles, parking for 10 minutes while shopping, and returning to a dead battery; or after the car has been parked all day, only to have a dead battery; or a dead battery after being parked at my house overnight (in every sort of weather condition); it is completely random...and, be assured, I do not leave ANY ELECTRICAL items (radio, temperature controls, interior or exterior lights, etc.), turned on when I park my car. Therefore, I do not feel safe driving and parking my car ANYWHERE that I am remote, isolated, or unable to get a jump. I carry jumper cables in my car at all times because I never know when I may need them. Sometimes, it takes a long time to charge the battery enough to even start my car. Sometimes the battery is so dead, that the key fob doesn't even work and I have to manually open my doors...other times it's a quick jump. I have to always park my car in a position that I'm able to access the battery for a jump, if need be. I regularly…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2022Electrical systemODI 11449772
“I DROVE MY KIA AND PARKED IN A GROCERY PARKING LOT. I CAME BACK OUTSIDE TO FIND MY CAR'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ACTIVELY PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES AS I APPROACHED. NO WARNING THIS WOULD OCCUR. KIA HAS REFUSED TO RETURN MY CALLS OR EMAILS. VERY RELIABLE VEHICLES (I BOUGHT 2 BRAND NEW IN 2005). VERY DANGEROUS, AND APPARENTLY NOT AN UNHEARD OF EVENT WITH CERTAIN KIAS. SEVERAL REPORTS ONLINE AND IN PERSON. COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS HAD I BEEN DRIVING, OR PARKED CLOSER TO OTHER VEHICLES (OR ANY STRUCTURE).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2018Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11092148
“TRUCK HAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT (AMONG MANY) AS STATED IN SERVICE BULLETINS 2004-2014 THAT CAUSES ALTERNATOR RADIO FREQUENCIES TO INTERFERENCE WITH TRANSMISSION SIGNALING THUS SHUTTING OFF OR INTERRUPTING SHIFT SIGNALING DUE TO INADEQUATE SHIELDING OF TRANSMISSION TO TCM CABLE. THIS CAUSES THE TRUCK TO CUT OUT BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR CONSISTENTLY WHEN ASCENDING OR DESCENDING STEEP MOUNTAIN PASSES AT HIGH ALTITUDE. AS THERE WAS NO ADVANCE WARNING OF FAILURE OF SHIFT KIT TO DOWNSHIFT, BRAKES HAD TO BE USED ON ICY ROADS TO SLOW AN UNDERPOWERED/OVERWEIGHTED TRUCK. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE REQUIRING EXPERT DRIVING SKILLS TO NAVIGATE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, BUT WAS NOT, BY KIA MOTORS AS A REFUND OF PURCHASE PRICE AND RECALL OF TRUCKS. THE FILES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE SO VAST THEY WOULD CRASH YOUR SYSTEM. I HAVE THEM IF NEEDED AND CAN PROVIDE HARD COPIES AS THE STACK IS ABOUT 3 INCHES DEEP AND SPANS 11 YEARS. I HAVE 2 KEY FACTORS THAT ARE ALSO FACTORS HERE. !. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A RACE CAR DRIVER AND SKILLED AT NAVIGATING CAR ISSUES. 2. I HAVE BEEN VERY ILL FOR A DECADE AND UNABLE TO WORK SO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2018Electrical systemODI 11075473
“HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED FAILURE OF CAM SENSOR, CAM SHAFT PULLEY BOLT, FAILURE OF ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, FAILURE OF CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION, FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONING, FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTS.. ALL ISSUES ARE AS DOCUMENTED BY THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS WHO ARE WAITING FOR AN INVESTIGATION, A RECALL, OR ENOUGH DEATHS AND INJURIES TO RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE OF ANY KIND FROM THIS ORGANIZATION OR THE MANUFACTURER. I CAN NOT JUSTIFY SPENDING ONE MORE DOLLAR ( $16,000 IN THE 3 YEARS SINCE PURCHASED FOR $4,000).TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS ONCE AGAIN INOPERABLE FOR THE SAME ISSUES. . NO CAR DEALER WANTS IT AS A TRADE IN, THE STANDARD OFFER IS $300. I CANNOT SELL IT TO ANYONE AND THEN FACE MYSELF IN MIRROR. PERHAPS A PUBLIC SAKE... $1 PER MINUTE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BASH A KIA (SLEDGEHAMMER PROVIDED). PROCEEDS WILL BE APPLIED TO PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, WHICH WILL NOT BE A KIA.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2018Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11062709
“I PURCHASE MY 2005 KIA SORRENTO LX NEW FROM TAYLOR KIA IN TOLEDO OHIO.ALSO PURCHASED EXTRA WARRANTY FOR BUMPER TO BUMPER.A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER I HAD PURCHASE VEHICLE MY HEADLIGHT STARTED GOING OUT I WOULD TAKE IT BACK GET IT FIXED COME BACK HOME AND ANOTHER ONE WOULD BE OUT TAKE IT BACK COME BACK TO WEEKS LATER ANOTHER HEADLIGHT WOULD BE OUT. THEN THE HEADLIGHTS &TAILLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT THIS WENT ON WITH EVERY SINGLE LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE.CONTINUE TO CALL TAYLOR KIA TO HAVE THE SERVICE THEN ABOUT THE SIXTH TIME ONE OF MY LIGHTS WENT OUT THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE MY VEHICLE ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS COMPLETELY COVERED EVERYTHING ON MY VEHICLE FROM BUMPER-TO-BUMPER. THEY ALSO RED FLAG TO ME ON THEIR COMPUTER SO THAT I COULD NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MY KIA SORRENTO. AT ONE POINT I EVEN HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER TELL ME THAT HIS SERVICE GUYS WERE UPSET WITH ME BECAUSE I DID NOT GIVE THEM A GOOD RATING WHEN MY CAR WAS NOT FIXED TO JD POWERS.I GOT KIA CORPORATE INVOLVED WHICH DID ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD SOMEONE SOMEONE FROM CALIFORNIA TO FIX MY VEHICLE AND ENDED UP NOT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 10819851

Showing 6 of 49 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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