← New search

2004 Kia Sorento

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Kia Sorento do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 242.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

187 reports with mileage · 33 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports12 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine complaints

46 reports
Clear category filter
121,000 miles · Jul 6, 2016
EnginePower TrainSteering

I WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 KIA SORENTO WITH MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AT 45 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AS ALL THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. I LOST ALL POWER, BUT I WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO PARK NEXT TO A CURB, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 KIA SORENTO WITH MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AT 45 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AS ALL THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. I LOST ALL POWER, BUT I WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO PARK NEXT TO A CURB, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, KEY SHAFT, DAMPER PULLEY, AND CRANK BOLT ALL WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10883147

107,000 miles · Mar 18, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineEquipmentFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WITHIN LESS THAN 30 DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTINUED TO INDICATE FULL WHETHER THE CONTACT REFUELED THE VEHICLE OR NOT. ALSO, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED OFF, SMOKE EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND UN…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WITHIN LESS THAN 30 DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTINUED TO INDICATE FULL WHETHER THE CONTACT REFUELED THE VEHICLE OR NOT. ALSO, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED OFF, SMOKE EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LIFTED THE HOOD TO FAN AWAY THE SMOKE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER JOB. ANOTHER CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. NEITHER A FIRE NOR A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10850456

96,000 miles · Jan 21, 2016
Engine

I BROUGHT A 2004 KIA SORENTO USED IN JUNE 2015 WITH 96,000 MILES ON IT AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISE AFTER A SHORT TIME IT WASENT THAT BAD I THOUGHT, UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING WORSE. THEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND GOT A CALL FROM THEM AND I WAS TOLD THE BLANCER PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF IN THE CRANKSHAFT AND WA…

Read full complaint

I BROUGHT A 2004 KIA SORENTO USED IN JUNE 2015 WITH 96,000 MILES ON IT AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISE AFTER A SHORT TIME IT WASENT THAT BAD I THOUGHT, UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING WORSE. THEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND GOT A CALL FROM THEM AND I WAS TOLD THE BLANCER PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF IN THE CRANKSHAFT AND WAS A BIG ISSUE AND THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW IF THEY COULD GET IT OUT, THEY DID BUT FOUND THE SPROCKET WAS DAMAGED ALSO, I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THEIR WAS A RECALL AND FOUND MANY KIA OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I HAD TO PAY 1300 DOLLARS TO GET THIS FIXED BECAUSE OF A BAD PART BY KIA. I'M VERY UPSET.

NHTSA ODI #10821525

105,930 miles · Dec 30, 2015
Engine

ON 10-4-2015 I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 FROM HASTINGS, NE TO KEARNEY, NE. MY GIRLFRIEND HEARD A BANG FROM THE ENGINE, SHORTLY AFTER THAT NOISE I LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER OUR 2004 KIA SORENTO ONTO AN OFF RAMP. I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND THE LOWER TIMING SPROCKET LAYING ON THE SKID PLAT…

Read full complaint

ON 10-4-2015 I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 FROM HASTINGS, NE TO KEARNEY, NE. MY GIRLFRIEND HEARD A BANG FROM THE ENGINE, SHORTLY AFTER THAT NOISE I LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER OUR 2004 KIA SORENTO ONTO AN OFF RAMP. I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND THE LOWER TIMING SPROCKET LAYING ON THE SKID PLATE. WE HAD HER BROTHER-IN-LAW COME GET US. WE PUT THE KIA SORENTO UP ON HIS TRAILER AND TOWED IT TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF. AFTER FIXING THIS BOLT, AND PUTTING EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER HE THEN INFORMED US THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION IN THE ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN SITTING EVERY SINCE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10816948

100,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

200 MILES FROM HOME, OUT OF THE BLUE, CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING THEN LOST POWER AND DIED ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER OR CRANK. CALLED TOW TRUCK TO BRING VEHICLE HOME FOR $490.00 AND MECHANIC CAME OUT AND HOOKED UP MACHINE TO IT AND CODE CAME OUT CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SYSTEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGH…

Read full complaint

200 MILES FROM HOME, OUT OF THE BLUE, CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING THEN LOST POWER AND DIED ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER OR CRANK. CALLED TOW TRUCK TO BRING VEHICLE HOME FOR $490.00 AND MECHANIC CAME OUT AND HOOKED UP MACHINE TO IT AND CODE CAME OUT CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SYSTEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T ON AT ALL, UNTIL WE GOT IT HOME AND IT STARTED UP LIKE NO PROBLEM, BUT THEN DIED AGAIN. WEREN'T THE CRANKSHAFT BOLTS ALREADY RECALLED AND FIXED?! MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ALWAYS KEPT UP TO DATE AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW, HAPPENED ONE MONTH TO THE DAY THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED! STILL HAVEN'T HAD IT TO SHOP, CAN'T AFFORD TO BRING IT IN AFTER HAVING IT TOWED 200 MILES, OTHERS THINKS IT CAN BE FUEL FILTER/PUMP OR THE BRAIN, ECM. WHO KNOWS. SITTING WITH NO VEHICLE IS SO MUCH FUN, THANKS, KIA!

NHTSA ODI #10787879

126,000 miles · Oct 10, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

THREE TIMES THIS WEEK I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING 35 MILES AN HOUR OR LESS AND THE CAR HAS JUST TURNED OFF. THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD TO PUSH IT INTO A STALL (CRACKING MY TAIL LIGHT WHILE DOING THAT QUICKLY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY.) THE SECOND TIME WAS TURNING A CORNER AND IT DIED. THE THIRD TIME I WAS JUST ENTERING …

Read full complaint

THREE TIMES THIS WEEK I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING 35 MILES AN HOUR OR LESS AND THE CAR HAS JUST TURNED OFF. THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD TO PUSH IT INTO A STALL (CRACKING MY TAIL LIGHT WHILE DOING THAT QUICKLY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY.) THE SECOND TIME WAS TURNING A CORNER AND IT DIED. THE THIRD TIME I WAS JUST ENTERING THE FREEWAY ON-RAMP WHEN IT DIED. IT GIVES NO WARNING OTHER THAN SILENCE AND A LAST GASP OF GAS GOING THROUGH. ALL THREE TIMES I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTART IT. IT HAS BEEN HARDER AND HARDER TO GET IT STARTED AFTER THAT. I TOOK IT INTO THE MECHANIC AND HE CLEANED THE FUEL FILTER, BUT IT HASN'T STOPPED THE PROBLEM TOTALLY.

NHTSA ODI #10781267

190,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015
EngineEquipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FAN AND AIR CONDITIONER. THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT STA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FAN AND AIR CONDITIONER. THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NEIGHBOR ASSISTED HER WITH THE FAILURE BY CHECK UNDER THE ENGINE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER BELT FRACTURED, WAS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND THE PULLEY WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ODI #10761058

930,000 miles · Aug 19, 2015
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

ABOUT TO GET ON HWY IN NC, RED LIGHT TURNED GREEN STARTED DRIVING NOT EVEN 10 SECONDS LATER GAS PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO FLOOR AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING DROPS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CAR JUST STOPS WITH NO WARNING-RIGHT BEFORE MAJOR HWY. TRY TO CRANK THE KIA, NOTHING. AGAIN, NOTHING. PHYSICALLY PUSH THE CAR OFF ROAD WHILE OTHER…

Read full complaint

ABOUT TO GET ON HWY IN NC, RED LIGHT TURNED GREEN STARTED DRIVING NOT EVEN 10 SECONDS LATER GAS PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO FLOOR AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING DROPS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CAR JUST STOPS WITH NO WARNING-RIGHT BEFORE MAJOR HWY. TRY TO CRANK THE KIA, NOTHING. AGAIN, NOTHING. PHYSICALLY PUSH THE CAR OFF ROAD WHILE OTHERS ARE SPEEDING BY-ACCIDNET WAITING TO HAPPEN THANK GOD IT DIDNT. GET IT TOWED HOME. SAT IN YARD EVER SINCE. REPLACED MULTIPLE PARTS. STILL DOES NOT RUN..

NHTSA ODI #10749734

92,400 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH ALL THE DASH LIGHTS BRIEFLY COMING ON (BATTERY, OIL, ETC.). FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE A HARD TURN AND COAST TO THE CURB. I WAITED A MINUTE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I DROVE HOME AND THERE WAS ONE MORE INCIDENT…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH ALL THE DASH LIGHTS BRIEFLY COMING ON (BATTERY, OIL, ETC.). FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE A HARD TURN AND COAST TO THE CURB. I WAITED A MINUTE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I DROVE HOME AND THERE WAS ONE MORE INCIDENT WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER (LIGHTS DIMMED) HOWEVER I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT POWERED UP AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE LIGHTS DIM AND THE CAR SEEMINGLY LOSE POWER SEVERAL TIMES. JUST PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR TYPICALLY HESITATES WHEN YOU ARE GOING FULL SPEED AND THEN THE DIMMING OCCURS. I'VE HAD MY CAR IDLE AT STOP SIGNS AND AT TRAIN CROSSINGS AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY POWER LOSS. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH OR MORE. I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RUN ON THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO CONCERNING RESULTS. I'VE HAD A MECHANIC I TRUST CHECK THE ALTERNATOR, THE SPARK PLUGS, FLUSH THE COOLANT, PUT IN FUEL CLEANER, ETC. AND HE CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10749069

177,000 miles · Jul 27, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER OPENING THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER OPENING THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE BELTS FRACTURED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS LOOSE AND THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. UPDATED 9/21/15 *LN.....UPDATED 10/01/15*BF

NHTSA ODI #10743847

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Kia Sorento problems