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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.

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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
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99,000 miles · Jan 16, 2013
EnginePower Train

I HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP JUST BELOW 100,000 MILES. THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS MESSED UP AND NEEDED REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE. AND THEN TO FIND OUT THIS IS A DEALER ONLY PART AND OVER 900.00! I THINK THIS WAS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SHOULD'V…

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I HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP JUST BELOW 100,000 MILES. THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS MESSED UP AND NEEDED REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE. AND THEN TO FIND OUT THIS IS A DEALER ONLY PART AND OVER 900.00! I THINK THIS WAS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SHOULD'VE KNOWN SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THE GEAR SHIFT WASN'T SITTING IN DRIVE AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. I DOUBT I'D EVER BUY ANOTHER KIA BECAUSE THEIR SERVICE SUCKS! THEY DON'T VALUE THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THAT REALLY MAKES ME UNEASY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493232

160,000 miles · Jan 16, 2013
EngineSteering

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE AND MESSED UP THE STEERING, I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AS I'M READING THE KIA FORUMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493231

137,685 miles · Jan 10, 2013
EnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE, THE TIMING BELT AND DRIVE BELT CAME LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492068

94,186 miles · Jan 2, 2013
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT AND PIN NEEDED TO BE REPLAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT AND PIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,186 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10490701

36,471 miles · Dec 14, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,471.

NHTSA ODI #10488817

81,000 miles · Oct 19, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL TICKING NOISE AS THE BATTERY AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIBRATION DAMPENER HAD …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL TICKING NOISE AS THE BATTERY AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIBRATION DAMPENER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 81,000.

NHTSA ODI #10481180

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