KnownCarProblems2005 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 307 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine (35% of complaints, typically around 95,000 miles). It is 9th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints.
Complaints307
Recalls0
Crashes reported17
Fires reported5
Injuries reported201 death reported
Most common 2005 Kia Sorento problems
Engine
106 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. While driving at 10 MPH and making a right turn, the bolt that connected the pulley and crankshaft snapped causing the contact to lose control of the steering. The engine turned off and the vehicle came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle…
As I was driving my 2005 Kia Sorento at 40mph it started bucking and when you go to accelerate you can hold the pedal to the floor and it does not pick up speed. Took it to my mechanic and his software shows a recall for this and Kia is saying there is no recall on my vehicle. His software says recalls campaign-sc073…
Lights
55 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. The contact noticed that the driver's side rear brake lights were not illuminating. The dealer replaced the light bulb , and, approximately three or four months later, the bulb was replaced again. The light bulb stopped working again three months later. The dealer replaced the bulb…
I own a 2005 and a 2006 Kia Sorento ex. In both vehicles I must replace lightbulbs continually. On average, I replace headlights approximately once every 60 to 90 days. Brake light bulb replacement is less frequent, but does occur often within the year. There is obviously a problem with the electrical system in these…
Electrical
49 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition.
We have a constant issue with the interior ligts and exterior lights are turning on and off without notice. This is happening while driving down the road and has happened on 10 separate occassions in the last two months, the las occasion being august 6, 2011 at approximately 2:00am. While driving down a major highway…
The vehicle has had several electronic issues. One owner with a garage parked low mileage SUV. The driver seat will not move forward. All other adjustments work fine. This issue has happened several times over the years but now seems to be a permanent problem. The interior overhead light does not illuminate when you…
Air bags
43 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly, side/window.
The contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. The contact was driving on an icy roadway and crashed into a guard rail. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact and a passenger sustained minor injuries and were transported to the hospital. A police report was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The…
Driving across a 4 lane expressway, barely made it across, the vehicle sputters and comes to a stop after fighting with the power steering losing all control. Crankshaft pulley has damaged the engine so severe, that a new engine was put in at our expense ($5,000), gas tank was discovered to have a hole and leaking…
Steering
39 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 105,500 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system.
Second failure of crank shaft pulley bolt within 2 months of it being repaired. Dealer assured me it was fixed properly according to the manufacturers tsb. Bolt sheared off again and all belts came loose. 18 year old female driver, while slowing to turn corner lost power assist steering, incredibly lucky to be alive.…
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…
Transmission
38 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, driveline.
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…
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…
Suspension
25 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 108,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
This is a follow up to NHTSA id number's 10819147 & 10824199. After filing vsc 10824199, I was contacted by a Kia america representative from california. She requested a copy of my original bill of sale, the vehicle registration and the repair estimate from the dealer to repair the repair upper control arm brackets.…
This is a follow up to NHTSA id numbers, 10819147,10824199 and 10838525. In researching the crossmember corrosion may cause loose control arm in the Kia Sorento's I found that there was a NHTSA campaign number: 13v354000 hyundai motor company ( Kia's parent company) for the exact same issue. Was there an investigation…
Other or unspecified
18 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 98,000 miles.
I was driving, about 45mph, I noticed light smoke coming from the hood. When I looked at my temperature gage it was in the middle, saud it was fine. I drove about ten more minutes since the smoke stopped. About ten minutes after I got to my destination , there was so much smoke coming out from the hood and water was…
Driving on highway rte 24 when crankshaft pulley broke off causing engine and brake lights to come on. It was impossible to control and to steer the vehicle causing me to nearly get into an accident. Subsequently, my vehicle got towed from the highway to a mechanic shop who informed me that my 2005 Kia Sorento's…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Kia Sorento recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2005 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (106 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles); lights (55 complaints, typically around 45,500 miles); electrical (49 complaints, typically around 67,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Kia Sorento have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Kia Sorento. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 9th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 307 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.