Kia Sorento Complaints (2004)

220 consumer complaints on file.

#11444487December 20, 2021
POWER TRAIN
Crank pully bolt snapped. Causing crank pully to fall, and critical belts to fail.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351192August 25, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS KIA WAS HOUSED AND STORED IN A GARAGE FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE AND DRIVEN ONLY IN THE SUMMER. IN THE WINTERS OF MICHIGAN IS WAS HOUSED IN A CLEAN DRY GARAGE. THIS KIA WAS A 2 OWNER CAR. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I HAD DRIVEN IT ONE WINTER AND THIS SUMMER TOOK IT TO GET AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT. ALIGNMENT CENTER COULD NOT DO THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE WHOLE RIGHT DRIVERSIDE OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT BEYOND THEIR SAFTY STANDARDS. THE KIA WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE THE WHOLE FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS 80% RUSTED OUT AND THE LEFT SIDE WAS ALSO BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT OF THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE ARE FOOT LONG GAPING HOLES IN THE FRAME DUE TO THE RUSTING. IT IS IRREPARABLE. THERE IS NO SAFE SPOT TO WELD TO TO FIX IT EITHER. AFTER A RAIN I NOTICED THE POOLS OF WATER GO DIRECTLY UNDER THE KIA INSTEAD OF ON THE SIDES POOLING AND DRIPPING OFF THE FRAME ON EACH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. A FLAW OF DESIGN BUT A DEADLY IF TRAVELLING AND THE CAR SNAPS IN HALF. THE KIA LOOKS PERFECT AND RUNS PERFECT. THE UNDERSIDE IT'S FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. KEPT IN A GARAGE AND OUT OF ELEMENTS FOR VIRTUALLY ALL OF ITS LIFE, THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. DEFECTIVE STEEL ? DEFECTIVE BODY DESIGN? DEFECTIVE KIA. NOT SAFE NOT DRIVABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11300856January 21, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE BRAKE LINES TOWARD THE REAR SUSPENSION RUSTED THROUGH. ALSO THE SUPPORT FOR THE REAREND RUSTED THROUGH MAKING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE BRAKE LINES FROM FRONT TO BACK WERE CHANGED AND I AM LOOKING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT BRACKETS CHANGED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11298476January 10, 2020
SUSPENSION
2004 KIA SORRENTO 97,000 MILES. THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKETS RUSTED OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11271165October 26, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
I BOUGHT MY 04 SORENTO FROM MY AUNT WHO WAS THE ONLY OWNER. IT HAD A POWER STEERING ISSUE AT THAT TIME WHICH TOOK SEVERAL ATTENPTS TO FIX. ABOUT A MONTH LATER WE WE VISITING FAMILY AND HAD TO TURN AROUND. UPON STOPPING WE NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SO I GRABBED MY 4 Y/O DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR AND BY BOYFRIEND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND A SMALL FIRE ON OPPOSITE SIDE FRO WHERE BATTERY IS. ONCE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WE DROVE .5 MILES ON A CITY RD TO FAMILY. THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AT THAT TIME AS WELL. 10/13/19 - THE DIRECTIONAL WORKED ALL DAY AND COME NIGHT TIME WHEN I CAME OUT FROM THE STORE AND STARTED VEHICLE THEY DID NOT WORK. THE NEXT DAY THEY WORKED FINEHOWEVER, ON 10/14/19 - I STARTED THE CAR IN AM AND THERE WAS A SQUEAKY BELT. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL QUICKLY AND NOISE WENT AWAY. THEN WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND STAYED ON SO I PULLED OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF. IWAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO THE PARK A MILE AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THE BATTERY AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TURNED CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. I WENT TO TURN AROUND TO GO HOME AND THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED SO IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT OR STARTED IT SINCE. MY MECHANIC CAMT TO MY HOME 2 DAYS IN A ROW AND WAS CONVINCED IT WAS CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT SNAPPED. HE GOT IT INTO HIS SHOP THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON FRIDAY 10/26/19 AND CALLED A SHORT WHILE LATER INFORMING ME THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT SNAPPED DEEP IN THE SHAFT AND THE CRANKSHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF AROUND $3000. I CALLED A FEW OTHER PLACES AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING WHICH WOULD COAT AROUND THE SAME. MY DAUGHTER AND I NOW HAVE NO VEHICLE AND ARE WALKING HER TO SCHOOL WHICH WILL BE DIFFICULT COME WINTER MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11269088October 17, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
OCT, 2016 - I AM THE ORIGNAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD MAINTAINED REGULAR MAINTAINENCE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD JUST PUT $700 OF NEW TIRES ON VEHICLE AND HAD A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND FLUID CHECK BEFORE WE LEFT FOR OUR VACATION. I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AND I STILL OWN. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN BUT I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE HEADED OUT OF TOWN FOR A WEEK, ABOUT 200 MILES INTO THE COMMUTE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WE WERE TRAVELING AT 55-60 MPH. AS I WAS EXITING THE 421 HIGHWAY FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT FROM AROUND HOOD AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD BEGAN TO BUBBLE UP DUE TO HEAT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPT, AS I WAS DRIVING, PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND IMMEDIATELY REMOVED MY DAUGHTER AND OUR BELONGINGS FROM THE VEHICLE AND DISTANCED OURSELVES FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED THEY PUT THE FLAMES OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL SHOP, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO OUR HOME CITY UPON DEPARTURE FROM OUR VACATION. UPON FURTHER OBSERVATION I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA CLOSEST TO WHERE THE ENGINE MEETS THE DASH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND CONTINUED TO SPREAD FROM THAT POINT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND UNDER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266654October 6, 2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE, AND MY TRUCK SHIFTED. SO I PULLED OVER TO SEE THE MY REAR LOWER ARM FELL FROM SUBFRAME CORRSION DUE TO HEAVY SALT USE HERE IN WI. I HAD TO GET CAR TOWED HOME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252535August 31, 2019
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
"TAKATA RECALL" I BOUGHT THIS CAR JUST RECENTLY AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG STAYS ON ALL THE TIME THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS BUT NOT ON MY CAR IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS LIKE THIS OR IS IT DANGEROUS AND THE FACTORY SHOULD SEND OUT A RECALL ON THIS RIGHT !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252136August 29, 2019
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE DASH CAN I GET THIS REPLACED FOR NO CHARGE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11206123May 7, 2019
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT 65MPG ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR, THE STEERING JERKED TO THE LEFT. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A DESIEL TRUCK !! I THEN CORRECT IT AND PULLED OVER. I DROPPED MY SON OFF AT MY MOM'S HOME AND WENT TO THE GARAGE TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. ON THE WAY, IT LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND I COULD NOT TURN CORRECTLY. SOMEONE HIT THE BACK OF MY CAR AND SHOVED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT. SO NOW MY BACK AND FRON IN LOOKS LIKE CRAP AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING.. BUT MY SON AND I ARE STILL ALIVE.. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND OUT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT OR MY CAR.. THIS IS A FAULTY MANUFACTURE SAFTY ISSUE THAT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN RESEARCHED YET !! THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DANGER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THIS ISSUE I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT'S STILL ON THE ROAD. HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/SORENTO/2004/STEERING/STEERING.SHTML AND TO FIND OUT THE STATE WAS AWARE OF IT AND JUST NEVER EVEN LOOKED INTO PROTECTING US. THIS IS A DANGER AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THEIR CHILD LIKE I ALMOST DID !!!!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11185552March 9, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY SORENTO WAS IN PARK RUNNING IN MY DRIVEWAY STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. I'M AWARE OF RECALLS WITH KIA VEHICLES CATCHING FIRE. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATED AS I FEEL IT WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. 911 WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO DISTINGUISH THE CAR IT IS A TOTAL LOSS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183151February 28, 2019
ENGINE
THEY HAD A RECALL AND A LAWSUIT ON THE KIA FOR THE PULLEY BOLT KEEPS BREAKING AND I NEVER GOT A NOTICE AND MINE KEEPS BREAKING AND KIA WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11170812January 18, 2019
ENGINE
I HAVE FIXED MY PULLEY BOLT 3 TIME AND IT KEEP BRAKING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11153412November 23, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
2004 KIA SORENTO EX WITH EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE TO REAR CROSS-MEMBERS #2 AND #3. DISCOVERED DURING TIRE ROTATION IN NOV 2018, BUT IS OBVIOUS THE DAMAGE HAS EXISTED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME. CROSS-MEMBER #2 IS JUST IN FRONT AND ABOVE THE REAR AXLE AND HAS THE MOUNTING BRACKETS FOR THE AXLE STRUTS, WHICH KEEP THE AXLE IN PLACE, IT ALSO HAS A MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE FUEL TANK, AS WELL AS A PASS THROUGH BRACKET FOR THE REAR BRAKE LINES, AND A MUFFLER HANGER. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE IMMINENT DANGER OF A FULL FAILURE. CROSS-MEMBER #2 IS ABOUT 70% RUSTED THROUGH ON THE FUEL TANK SIDE AND PERFORATED IN SEVERAL OTHER PLACES AS WELL. CROSSMEMBER #3 WHICH IS BEHIND THE REAR AXLE CONTAINS NO MOUNTS, BUT A TORSION BAR DOES CONNECT WHERE THE CROSS-MEMBER PASSES THROUGH THE LEFT FRAME RAIL. STRUT MOUNT CONNECTORS ON AXLE ARE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. BACKING PLATE FOR REAR DISC BRAKES ON BOTH SIDES IS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THEY CRUMBLE LIKE AN EGGSHELL. CONTACTED KIA AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER REPAIR OF THE DEFECT, CASE #12944853 OPENED. IT ONLY TAKES A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THIS WITH PARTICULARLY 2004 MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132949October 2, 2018
SUSPENSION
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR NYS INSPECTION AND WAS ALERTED TO AN ISSUE WITH MY REAR SUSPENSION. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS COMPLETED ROTTED OUT AND THE UPPER TRAILING ARM HAVE BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE CROSS MEMBER DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THIS IS A 2004 KIA SORENTO EX THAT I PURCHASED NEW AND NOW HAS 103,000 MILES. THIS CORROSION IS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129141September 12, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STATIONARY. FIRE STARTED IN FRONT COMPARTMENT NEAR FUSES. TOTAL LOSS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122307August 25, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IT DRIVES FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN FOOT SAME POSITION ON GAS PETAL IT ACCELERATES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11119718August 13, 2018
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. RPM WOULD RANGE FROM 1000 TO AS HIGH AS 2000 RPM WITHOUT WARNING. IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED AND DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY OPERATING. DISCONNECTED CRUISE CABLE AT THE THROTTLE BODY. PROBLEM CEASED. GREEN LIGHT ON CRUISE SWITCH NEVER INDICATED IT WAS OPERATING. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS WELL AS STOPPED AT LIGHTS WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114047July 27, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT STAY ON THE WHEEL I HAVE TO PLAY WITH IT TO GET THEM TO COME ON AND THEY GO OFF ALL THE TIME WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT. AND MY LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK AT ALL I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11103610June 23, 2018
SUSPENSION
WAS DRIVING WIFE TO WORK , STOPPED AT LIGHT WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND I HEARD A BANG SO LOUD I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT US FROM BEHIND. I DROVE CAR HOME AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT ! THE RUST ON THE REAR END BRACKETS AND THE TWO BARS CONNECTED TO THEM WERE TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH AND HANGING OFF. I WENT TO THE KIA DEALER WHERE I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE CAR AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT IT ,THEY TOLD ME DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON THE INTERNET. THEN THEY SAID THAT IT'S NOT A KIA PROBLEM IT'S A ROAD SALT PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM NOTHING ELSE UNDER THE CAR WAS RUSTED THAT BAD , AND I BELIEVE IT'S A DESIGN PROBLEM. THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, SO NOW I HAVE A CAR WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES ON IT THAT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM HAD TO HAVE STARTED WAY WAY BEFORE 83,000 MILES TO HAVE GOTTEN THIS BAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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