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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

Equipment complaints

3 reports
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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…

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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

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…

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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

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2011
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT A 2004 KIA SORENTO IN 2006 FINISHED PAYING FOR IT IN 2010,OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LIGHTS SO MANY TIMES I CANT COUNT,I HAVE HAD TOPAINT IT TWICE,THEN THE DRIVING SHAFT BROKE,THE COMPRESSOR WAS CHANGED TWICE, THE CD PLAYER WORKS ON AND OFF THE AIR BAGS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED FOR MONTHS ON END THE ENGINE …

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I BOUGHT A 2004 KIA SORENTO IN 2006 FINISHED PAYING FOR IT IN 2010,OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LIGHTS SO MANY TIMES I CANT COUNT,I HAVE HAD TOPAINT IT TWICE,THEN THE DRIVING SHAFT BROKE,THE COMPRESSOR WAS CHANGED TWICE, THE CD PLAYER WORKS ON AND OFF THE AIR BAGS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED FOR MONTHS ON END THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES THE SAME AND MOST RECENTLY THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I AM HAVING TO STOP PARK AND LET IT COOL OFF BEFORE CONTINUING ON MY JOURNEY, AT THE MOMENT I GOT SCARED AND I NOW I HAVE MY VEHICLE PARKED AT HOME BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, IT IS A SHAME AND I AM VERY UPSET. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS US CONSUMERS ARE HAVING? I OWN MY VEHICLE AND HAS A CLEAN TITLE AND WOULD LIKE TO TRADE IN OR SELL BUT WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS HOW CAN I PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE? I AM ASKING SOMEONE FROM KIA TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND GIVE US SOME ANSWERS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE,THAT IS IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. DON'T LET THIS BE TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392580

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