Kia Sorento Complaints (2005)
307 consumer complaints on file.
- #10713048April 27, 2015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED A 2005 KIA SORENTO FROM A DEALERSHIP ON NOV. 18, 2014. IN JANUARY 2015 THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BROKE . IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. ON APRIL 8TH I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND SO I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR I HAD WAS PART OF A RECALL AND THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FOR THE SAME ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE PARTS AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR AND ALSO PAY DAILY FOR RIDES TO AND FROM WORK. I CONTACTED KIA TODAY AND THEY STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY KIA TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BEFORE ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS IS INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EVERY PURCHASER WHETHER NEW OR USED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10712844April 25, 2015STEERING, ENGINE
AT A STOP LIGHT, I HEARD AND FELT A SHUDDER THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SHUDDER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN NORMALLY. PROCEEDING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, I EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT WHERE I CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE KIA DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED A SHEARED CRANK SHAFT BOLT. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A BUSY STATE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. SPEED LIMIT IS 45 MPH ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD AND VERY BUSY AT RUSH HOUR. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF THE PART FAILURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10706634April 20, 2015SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR AXLE SWAY BAR BRACKETS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10704759April 9, 2015ENGINE
DURING MY TRIP HOME FROM A LOCAL OUTING I NOTICED MY BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. AS I GOT CLOSER TO HOME THE LIGHT BECAME MORE STEADY STEERING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. I HAD A GOOD GUESS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I'VE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE TWICE IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY AND HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED A FEW DAYS LATER TO A REPAIR SHOP. I WAS NOT AT ALL SURPRISED WHEN THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD A CRANK SHAFT PROBLEM. THIS IS SOMETHING KIA HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS AND SHOULD HAVE SCHEDULED A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I MIGHT NOT BE HERE TODAY IF I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A FASTER SPEED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10703732April 4, 2015ENGINE
VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING, THEN WOULD NOT CRANK OVER. HAD TOWED TO DEALER. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY. DEALER REPLACED CAM AND CRANK SENSORS, TIMING BELT, CRANK BOLT AND BADLY FRAYING ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10695327March 19, 2015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. OTHER ISSUES AND INCIDENTS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: INDUCTION CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE. CRANK SHAFT TIMING BELT SPROCKET, CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10695468March 19, 2015ENGINE, WHEELS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING APPROX 55MPH, MY LIGHTS SEEMED TO DIM THEN MY BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED MY HEATER, RADIO, DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND LIGHTS TO LOW. I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR NOTHING ELSE SEEMED TO BE WRONG AND WAS GOING TO PULL OVER WHEN I NOTICED MY POWER STEERING ALSO WAS NOT WORKING. I WAS ABLE TO GET MYSELF TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK, IT BEGAN MAKING AN ODD SOUND (THINKING A POSSIBLE BELT) IT THEN MADE A POPPING SOUND THINKING I BROKE A SERPENTINE BELT, I THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. HE SAID THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF AND WAS AN ESTIMATED $3000+ REPAIR. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO NOT TURN OVER WITHOUT A JUMP. AFTER THAT WAS REPAIRED I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY THAT PRIOR TO THE WINTER SEASON TESTED OUT TO BE GOOD. IHAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE A SPARK PLUG WHICH COULD COST HUNDREDS TO REPLACE BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION. I HAVE TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS/TAILLIGHTS MORE THAN NORMAL.I HAVE SEEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH ALIGNMENT AND HAVE PUT 2 SETS OF TIRES ON AFTER NOTICING ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE INSIDES, I'VE HAD IT ALIGNED TWICE. I STILL OWE $6100 ON A CAR THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PUT $3000 INTO AND NOW HAVE NOTHING TO DRIVE! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10691812March 3, 2015EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUAL PREMATURE LIGHT BULB BURNOUTS OF ALL EXTERIOR LAMPS, HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND STOP LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 1-2 MONTHS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10689557February 20, 2015STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 7 MPH DOWN AN ICY HILL, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE BUT IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER AND LEFT ARM WERE INJURED, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PINION FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,700. UPDATED 03/31/15*LJ
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10681907February 7, 2015ENGINE
ON JULY 13TH 2013 I STARTED FINANCING A 2005 KIA SORRENTO LX FROM A DEALERSHIP IN PINELLAS PARK, FLORIDA CALLED E-Z CAR CREDIT. DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF FINANCING THE CAR HAD TO BE SERVICED FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OF FINANCING THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AN MORE EXPENSIVE. PROBLEMS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: OVERHEATING, BAD SENSORS, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, NEW WATER HOSES, NEW WATER RESERVOIR, THERMOSTAT, POWER STEERING, ELECTRICAL. AN THEN WE COME TO THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM. THE ONE 1,000S UPON 1,000S OF CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN HAVING "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE" BROKEN PUSH RODS, CAMS DESTROYED, VALVES, PISTONS. ESTIMATED COST $4000. AN NOW THAT I HAVE $7,000 INVESTED AND OWE ANOTHER $5,000 ON MY LOAN I AM JOINING THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA MOTORS. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10681740February 6, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR OF WIRES PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPRESSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10681375February 4, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHT, INTERIOR LIGHT, RADIO, HAVE ALL FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. I REPLACE HEADLIGHTS AND BREAK LIGHTS EVERY THREE MONTHS. I HAVE HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, ONE BEFORE I COULD GET THE OTHER FIXED. NONE OF THE DOME LIGHTS WORK, I HAVE NO AUTOMATIC LIGHTING IN THE CAR. THEY DIM BASED ON WEATHER AND THE TERRAIN I AM DRIVING ON. THE RADIO WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES THE CAR HAS TO BE RUNNING FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT WILL WORK. SO MANY PROBLEMS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10680991February 3, 2015SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS STOPPED WAITING TO TURN INTO A FAST FOOD PLACE WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES TO TURN IN ,THE SUV TOOK OFF FROM 0 TO 60 IN A SPLIT SECOND.WHEN I TRIED TO MASH THE BRAKES IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN AND I COULDN'T STOP.I ENDED UP HITTING A TREE,THE AIR BAGS DID COME OUT.THE SUV WAS TOTALED.I CONTACTED KIA'S OFFICE AND THEY HAD THE SUV TOWED TO A LOT FOR INVESTIGATION.AS OF THIS DATE I HAVEN'T HEARD FORM KIA AS TO WHAT THEY FOUND OUT.THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE KIA TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN WITH ME .I WOULD LIKE THIS ACCIDENT OFF MY RECORD AND INFO AS TO WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE KIA. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10660442November 24, 2014ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT NONE OF THE BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE MOVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT DAMPER, HARMONIC BALANCER AND THE GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10660154November 21, 2014AIR BAGS
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OCS SYSTEM. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I BELIEVE THE OCS SYSTEM IS BROKEN, HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 2007 KIA RIO THAT HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME PART. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10659396November 19, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK, GASOLINE SPITS BACK OUT OF THE CAR ONTO GROUND (AND ME)...NOT AN OVERLOW; AN ACTUAL PROJECTILE SPITTING! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10655071November 14, 2014ENGINE, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
FIRST INCIDENT-ON AUGUST 16, 2014 WHILE ON VACATION AND DRIVING FROM VIRGINIA TO CHICAGO ILL, THE VEHICLE START MAKING A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH (BATTERY, BRAKE) AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO MANEUVER, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER INTO A FAST FOOD PARKING LOT TO CHECK THE NOISE AND FOUND THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE AND BELTS WERE NOT TURNING, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AFTER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT GEAR PIN HAD BROKE OFF TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER. I PURCHASE THE PARTS (HARMONIC BALANCER, BOLT AND CRANK SHAFT GEAR) AND HAD THE MECHANIC REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND DROVE BACK TO VIRGINIA. SECOND INCIDENT-OCTOBER 2014 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SHE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEMS THE WARNING LIGHTS, RATTLING IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, POWER STEERING LOCKED UNABLE TO TURN VEHICLE, I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE AND BELTS WERE NOT TURNING, THE PIN IN THE CRANK SHAFT GEAR HAS BROKEN AGAIN, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN RICHMOND, AND THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. AFTER INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE ON LINE I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR VEHICLE. IF I OR MY WIFE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OF THIS FAULT IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I ALSO FOUND THAT THEIR IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST KIA MOTORS ADDRESSING THE EXACT SAME FAULT.(CIVIL ACTION NO. 13-006 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY) ESSENTIALLY, PLAINTIFFS CLAIMED THEIR VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED WITH A ?DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLD AND BALANCER,? WHICH COULD RESULT IN ?BREAKING OFF THE SPRING GUIDE PIN,? CAUSING ?CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.? THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, A RECALL IS WARRANTED AND KIA MOTORS NEEDS TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10652640November 5, 2014ENGINE
WHILE LEAVING OUR HOME TO RUN ERRANDS, I LOST POWER STEERING AND SEVERAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. WE PURCHASED THE KIA SORENTO IN 2005 NEW AND HAVE HAD VERY FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL NOW. IT HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER EVERY 3K MILES. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO RATHER QUICKLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN CRANK BOLT AND ESTIMATED REPAIRS WOULD COST ABOUT $1300. THE DEALER CHECKED WITH KIA ON WHETHER OUR 100K WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. KIA SAID THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SORENTO'S. CHECKING THE COMMENTS FROM OTHER SORENTO OWNERS, I HAVE CONCLUDED THIS CERTAINLY APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AT 70 MPH AND THE LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO STEER COULD CERTAINLY BECOME A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WITH POTENTIAL FATAL CONSEQUENCES. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SITUATIONS THAT THE BOLT FAILED A SECOND AND SOMETIMES A THIRD TIME AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR WAS MADE. REQUEST SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF KIA ISSUING A RECALL TO REMEDY THIS DESIGN DEFECT. UPDATED 01/14/15
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10643441October 8, 2014ENGINE, STEERING
ON 8/23/2014 MY FAMILY A I WERE IN CHICAGO WE TRAVELED THERE ON FRIDAY 8/22/2014 FROM VIRGINIA IN THE 2005 KIA SORENTO THAT I JUST PURCHASED IN JULY 2014 FROM PEARSON HYUNDAI. WHILE DRIVING TO MY FAMILY REUNION IN THE FOREST RESERVES THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND A RATTLE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND THE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BECAME LOUDER. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY FAMILIES MECHANIC, AFTER CHECKING THE VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE THE PIN ON THE CRANK GEAR BROKEN OFF, AND THE CRANK BOLT CAME LOOSE, REPLACED THE SPROCKET (CRANK GEAR), THE HARMONIC BALANCER, AND THE BOLT. I DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO VIRGINIA WITH NO PROBLEM, THEN ON OCTOBER 3, 2014 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN RICHMOND, VA THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, (WARNING LIGHTS, NO POWER STEERING AND RATTLING FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, THEY FINALLY GOT BACK WITH ME WED, OCTOBER 8, 2014 AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A MOTOR CAUSE THE CRANK SHAFT IS BLOWN, PRIOR TO HAVING IT TOWED, I SAW THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING IT HAD DID IN CHICAGO AND TURNING IT I CAN TELL THAT THE SAME PIN HAS CAME OFF THE SPROCKET. THE KIA DEALERSHIP WANTS TO SELL ME A USED ENGINE, SAME AS THE ONE THAT IS IN THE KIA I HAVE, I AM RELUCTANT TO PAY $5000.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THAT I AND AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION A LOT OF KIA SORENTO OWNERS HAVE SUFFERED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10640902October 2, 2014ENGINE
THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET KEY (PIN) GOT LOOSE AND THE SPROCKET DISPLACED WHICH CHEWED THE TIMING BELT AND SHORT-CIRCUITED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP, CAUSING $1946.03 OF REPAIR, $213.67 CAR RENTAL DURING REPAIR, LOSS OF WORKING TIME AND STRESS TO ME WITH HEALTH DAMAGE. THE TOTAL LOSS IS ESTIMATED TO BE $3,000.00 AT LEAST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0