Kia Sorento Complaints (2005)
307 consumer complaints on file.
- #10640618October 1, 2014ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
KIA SORENTO 2005, SIMILAR CRANK BOLT MAIN PULLEY ASSEMBLY BREAK THAT MANY, MANY OF THE OTHERS HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT AND UNFORTUNATELY BEEN EXPERIENCING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD THIS VERY SAME ISSUE REPAIRED FOR SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS AND NOW MY MECHANIC STATED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH THREAD LEFT INTO THE CRANKSHAFT TO FIX AND IT NEEDS A COMPLETELY REBUILD OR ENGINE REPLACEMENT - WHICH IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE LESS EXPENSIVE. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FOR THIS - AS SO MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THANK GOD MY INCIDENTS WERE ALL AT SLOW SPEED BECAUSE THIS WOULD EASILY CAUSE A CRASH BECAUSE YOU LOOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10640674October 1, 2014SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN
MY 2005 KIA SORENTO JUST WENT IN FOR A TRANSMISSION LEAK AT 94K AND CAME OUT WITH NEEDING A NEW TRANNY PAN AND A WHOLE NEW REAR END UNDERNEATH DUE TO THE REAR TRAILING ARM BRACKET ROTTING COMPLETELY AWAY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH MANY ARE HAVING. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, IT'S THE DESIGN OF THE BRACKET WHICH CAUSES SALT, WATER, ETC TO ENTER AND HAVE NO WAY TO EXIT. ANY OF THESE VEHICLES IN THE SALT STATES ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AND THEN TRAGEDY WILL HAPPEN IF THEY DON'T CATCH IT. AGAIN THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS ROTTED BRACKETS THAT ATTACH THE TRAILING ARMS AND WITHOUT THEM THE CAR BECOMES COMPLETELY UNSTABLE AND A HUGE SAFELY HAZARD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638165September 22, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERIOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTING TURNS ITSELF OFF AND ON. HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY SHUT THEMSELVES OFF. LIGHTS REGULARLY BURN OUT/NEED REPLACING EVERY 45-90 DAYS. DASH LIGHTS HAVEN'T WORKED IN OVER A YEAR - FUSE REGULARLY BLOWS, GAVE UP ON REPLACING IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638162September 22, 2014ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH 22 NOV 2013, HEARD A THUMP FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE, ENDING UP IN A DITCH. ENGINE STOPPED, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START. CRANK PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF. OVER 5 HOURS TO EXTRACT REMAINDER OF BOLT TO REPAIR ENGINE. $1359 IN REPAIRS. NOW, 22 SEPT 2014, 10 MONTHS LATER, HAD SAME HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THANKFUL I WAS IN A LANE AT THE EDGE OF THE ROADWAY. CURRENT MILEAGE SLIGHTLY UNDER 114,000. YEAH. 10 MONTHS AND 13000 MILES AND ANOTHER HUGE REPAIR BILL. NO RECALL, KIA CLAIMS NO LIABILITY. OTHER ISSUE: INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNS ITSELF OFF AND ON AT WHIM. HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT EVERY 45-90 DAYS. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10633672September 16, 2014ENGINE, STEERING
IN SEPTEMBER 2012, TRAVELING AT 35MPH MY KIA CAME TO A STOP. AT FIRST GLANCE IT WAS DETERMINED THE DRIVE BELTS HAD UNFASTENED AND THE CAM SHAFT BOLT WAS LAYING ON THE ENGINE PAN. AFTER INSPECTION AT KIA SERVICE SHOP THE SPECIALIST IDENTIFIED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART: CAM SHAFT SPROCKET-C, PART # 23120-35701 COST $60.00. THE FINAL SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE BOLT SET, SPROCKET, CRANK ANGLE SENSOR, DAMPER PULLEY, AUTO TENSIONER AND ALL DRIVE BELTS A TOTAL OF $2,000 REPAIR COST. IN 2014, THE COST REPAIR IS NOW 4,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE SAME EXACT ISSUE BUT TRAVELING OVER 40MPG CAUSING MORE DAMAGE. THE MAIN CAUSE OF THIS DEFECT DERIVES FROM THE SMALL PIN ATTACHED TO THE SPROCKET THAT TURNS THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND GRINDS THE STEEL WITH THE FORCE OF THE ENGINE INTO NOTHING. THE RESULT OF THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE HARMONIC BALANCER TO COME LOSE, SHEARING OFF THE CRANK BOLT FIRST, THEN IF TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED WILL FOLLOW WITH THE REPAIR ABOVE, HOWEVER IF AT HIGH SPEED WILL RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE IN THE VALVES MAKING IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $4,000. YOU MAY REFER TO THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION: THE KIA SORENTO ENGINE DEFECT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CASE IS ROBINSON EL AL V. KIA MOTORS AMERICA INC. CASE NO. 13-CV00006 US DISTRICT COURT OF NEW JERSEY. FOR A VIDEO VISUAL OF THE EXACT DEFECT YOU MAY REFER TO YOUTUBE: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QHLL55FV2Z0. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10631315September 7, 2014STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WHEN I FINALLY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE DEAD. I FINALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AROUND 11 P.M. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BOLD BROKE OFF.CAUSING THE PULLEYS TO STOP WHICH AFFECTED EVERYTHING THAT WAS DRIVEN BY THE PULLEYS. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. INITIAL ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $1550. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10631021September 5, 2014SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
WENT TO GET THE KIA CHECKED OUT FOR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE BACK FRAME AND SUSPENSION WERE SO ROTTED OUT THEY COULD NOT PUT ON A LIFT TO SEE THE TRANSMISSION. IN MY FINDING THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630157September 2, 2014STEERING, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10627872August 24, 2014POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE IS SIMPLY NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE UPON TAKING OFF OR GOING UPHILL. AFTER LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL. A METAL PIECE OF A VALVE HAS BEEN SHEARING OFF THEN LODGING IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CANADA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL SO I AM UNSURE WHY THE US HASN'T FOLLOWED SUIT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10619174August 6, 2014ENGINE
DAUGHTER HAD CRANKED VEHICLE AFTER COMING INTO GRANDMOTHER'S AFTER HER WEDDING GETTING FOOD. SHE SAID THE STEERING WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE MOTOR SEEMED TO BE HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS SO I TOLD HER TO PARK IT AND NOT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO BE LOOKED AT.MY NEPHEW LOOKED AT IT SAID IT SEEMED TO BE THE BOLT COMING OUT OF HARMONIC BALANCER. I BOUGHT IT USED BUT IT WAS PURCHASED AT KIA IN HUNTERSVILLE,N.C. FROM THE PERSON I PURCHASED IT FROM. AFTER TAKING IT BACK THERE TO BE LOOKED AT THEY DID UNAUTHORIZED WORK BREAKING THE BOLT OFF THEN TELLING ME I HAD TO BE THE ONE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I EVEN WENT TO KIA IN GASTONIA,N.C. THEY DIDN'T SEEMED TO BE CONCERNED AT ALL AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE IT AS A TRADE IN SO I STARTED DOING RESEARCH AS TO ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10619131August 5, 2014ENGINE, STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FROM THE TIME I GOT THE CAR HEAD LIGHTS HAVE REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT AFTER A MONTH OR TWO, ALSO DASH LIGHTS GO OFF RANDOMLY AND FLICKER AND THEN COME BACK ON WHEN EVER THEY DECIDE,MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND A/C WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE. STARTED TO OVERHEAT, SO IT WAS DETERMINED THE SERPENTINRE BELT HAD BROKE,REPLACED BELT AND VIBRATION UNDER HOOD WAS NOTICEABLE BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE., BUT SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD. STILL REPLACING HEADLIGHTS EVERY COUPLE MONTHS, THEN POWER STEERING FLUID STARTED TO BE CONSUMED AND CONSTANTLYT REQUIRED ADDING FLUID, THEN HAD A MECHANIC CHECK FOR LEAK AND HE REPLACED SOME HOSES AND CLAMPS BUT VIBRATIION CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY POWER STEERING BEGAN LOUD NOISE WHEN CAR STARTED AND ONLY WHEN REVED UP WOULD NOISE STOP, AND WHEN A/C WAS ON SOMETIMES WOULD EFFECT THE POWER STEERING NOISE. REPLACED THE POWERSTEERING PUMP, STILL THE NOISE CONTINUED AND RECENTLY THE BELT CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON , I WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD AND DIDNT CAUSE AN ACCIEDENT, BUT VERY CLOSE CALL, BELT HAD COME OFF BUT AFTER MINOR ADJUSTMENT IT WAS PUT BACK ON, VIBRATION NOISE HAS BECOME WORSE, I AM AFFRAID TO DRIVE IT, MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID HARMONIC BALANCE SEEMS TO BE OFF AND ROOT OF PROBLEM IS CRANK SHAFT BOLT MOST LIKELY , COMMON PROBLEM , HOWEVER DURING THE TIME IN KIA DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER RECALL ISSUES , CRANK BOLT WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AS BEING A PROBLEM IN MY YEAR OR MODEL CAR, NON IT TURNS OUT IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND LEGAL ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY CLASS ACTION SUIT DEALING WITH SAME ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10618084August 1, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON 7/30/14 I NOTICED MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE MORNING OF 7/31/14 THE LIGHTS STILL WERE NOT WORKING SO I CHECKED THE FUSE BOXES. I FOUND A BLOWN FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD AND REPLACED IT. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STILL WOULD NOT WORK. THE EVENING OF 7/31/14 I AGAIN CHECKED THE FUSES AND FOUND THE FUSE I HAD JUST REPLACED IN THE MORNING WAS AGAIN BLOWN. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND HAD MY HUSBAND STAND AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I TURNED THE IGNITION AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON. IMMEDIATELY UPON TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WE HEARD A "POP," CHECKED THE FUSE AND IT HAD ONCE AGAIN BLOWN. WE TRIED A THIRD FUSE AND IT BLEW AS WELL AS SOON AS I TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THREE FUSES IN ONE DAY AND STILL NO ANSWER ON HOW TO GET MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO WORK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10615599July 23, 2014ENGINE
THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A VERY LOUD TICK/KNOCK IN THE MOTOR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10615740July 23, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 5 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. AS A RESULT OF ONE OF THE FAILURES, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 3
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10614700July 19, 2014AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON WHITE BRIDGE ROAD IN WEST NASHVILLE WHEN A CAR RAN A STOP SIGN HITTING ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH TOTALED MY CAR THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THAT IT KNOCKED THE CAR SEVERAL FEET FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10607130June 30, 2014POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE BOLT BROKE KIA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10606637June 28, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT MY KIA NEW IT HAS SPORTS PACKAGE , I HAVE HAD TO REPLAIN SHOP ALL THE TIME CE HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES THE LAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN TOTAL MESS POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES BLEW OUT THEN IN MAY WENT TO AIR PORT PICKED UP DAUGHTER CAR WAS NOTHING NO START TOW TRUCK ..AUTO SHOP FIRST SAID PLUG IN READER SAID CRANK SHAFT SENSOR THEN IT SAID STARTER BAD SO REPLACED STARTER IT STARTS BUT IT NOW WHINES I TOOK IT BACK HE SAID IT IS THE STARTER BRAND . I AM ALWAYS WORRIED IF IT WILL START AND IF I HAVE LIGHTS I LOVE MY KIA BUT IT HAS HAD ELECTRIC PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1 KIA SHOULD RECALL 2005 DUE TO THIS . LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING AND IT WENT FROM REG DRIVE TO LOW IT HAS SHIFTER IT HAS BUTTON THAT HAS TO BE PUSHED IN TO CHANGE DRIVE OVER DRIVE LOW I NEVER PUSHED IT IT DID IT ON ITS OWN THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WISH KIA WOULD STEP UP AND RECALL I WANT TO KEEP MY CAR IT IS WELL TAKEN CAR OF BUT I CANT KEEP POURING MONEY IN IT BIG $ LAST 6 MONTHS OVER 2500 IS THERE A WAY TO DO LAW SUIT I HAVE SEEN TONS PEP WITH HEADLIGHTS ISSUES SENTS I REPLACED MY FIRST ONES ALSO PAINT ON DOORS OPEN ALL GONE I NEVER EVEN USE BACK SEAT DOORS SO HOW IS IT COMING OFF IS THERE A LAWYER OUT HERE WHO OIWNS A KIA HELP...... *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10604941June 21, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NOTE: PURCHASED VEHICLE USED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AND 500 MILES BEFORE PROBLEMS INITIALLY STARTED. 1) HEADLIGHT BULBS BLOW OUT REPEATEDLY EITHER DURING DRIVING OR AN ONSET OF DRIVING (COME ON MOMENTARILY JUST BEFORE BLOWING). HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS ON 5 OCCASIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. RESEARCH ON THE MATTER INDICATES THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AMONG KIA SORENTO OWNERS. OBSERVED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE BULBS BLEW OUT AFTER USING THE KEY FOB. STOPPED USING THE KEY FOB AND THE BULB BLOWOUTS STOPPED, BUT ISSUE #2 CONTINUES (SEE NEXT INCIDENT DESCRIPTION). 2) HEADLIGHTS LOW BEAMS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS STOP WORKING DURING DRIVING AT NIGHT OR WILL NOT WORK FROM ONSET OF DRIVING. INCIDENT OCCURS AT LEAST MONTHLY DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES PER MONTH. LOW BEAMS START WORKING AGAIN ON INTERMITTENT BASIS. OBSERVED THAT IF THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ONSET OF DRIVING, AFTER SWITCHING THE LOW BEAMS ON AND OFF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF TIMES (20+) THEY WILL SOMETIMES START WORKING AGAIN (LEARNED THIS AFTER BEING STRANDED AT NIGHT WITHOUT ABILITY TO SAFELY DRIVE). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10595810June 3, 2014STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO. THIS MORNING, DRIVING MY YOUNG SON TO SCHOOL, I LOST THE STEERING ON MY VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS AN ONGOING DEFECTIVE ISSUE WITH KIA'S. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS CONSUMERS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10592900May 20, 2014STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
TOOK MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IN FOR A STATE INSPECTION MECHANIC PULLS ME IN THE SHOP AND SHOWS ME THE PROBLEM LEFT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OFF AND THE RIGHT SIDE IS NOT FAR BEHIND.I AM A WELDER FABRICATOR BY TRADE SO I LOOK AT THE AXKE HOUSING AND INSTANTLY SEE THE ISSUE THE BRACKETS WHERE WELDED ON WITH NO DRAIN HOLES THERE IS BASICALLY A CUP CREATED BY THE BRACKET THAT IS ABOUT 3 INCHES DEEP THAT HOLDS EVERY BIT OF WATER THAT GETS THROWN IN THERE THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DESIGN FLAW BRILLIANT ENGINEERS THAT NEVER THINK ABOUT THE REAL WORLD THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OH THE REST OF THE AXLE HOUSING IS BARELY RUSTY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0