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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

8 reports
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106,000 miles · Jun 21, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

WHILE TRYING TO REFULE THE GASOLINE WILL SUDDENLY "SPRAY" FROM THE TANK. VEHICLE STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI #11000543

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

135,000 miles · Feb 11, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD SPEW OUT OF THE TANK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN 2012. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD SPEW OUT OF THE TANK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN 2012. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10825598

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…

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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 …

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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

160,000 miles · Dec 16, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

MY 2004 KIA SORENTO HAS AN INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT DISPLAYS ERROR CODE P0446. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AS IT PLEASES. THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, BUT THERE ARE NO DETAILS. THIS INTERMITTENT LIGHT IS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO FAIL IT'S SMOG INSPECTION. I HAVE REPLACED THE GAS CAP AS INDICATED BUT TH…

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MY 2004 KIA SORENTO HAS AN INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT DISPLAYS ERROR CODE P0446. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AS IT PLEASES. THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, BUT THERE ARE NO DETAILS. THIS INTERMITTENT LIGHT IS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO FAIL IT'S SMOG INSPECTION. I HAVE REPLACED THE GAS CAP AS INDICATED BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664478

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

MY COMPLIANT WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE IT SPILLS BACK OUT FUEL. SPITTING ME, THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND SIDEWALK. CONSTANT ENGINE LIGHT ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644185

120,000 miles · Apr 4, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN REFUELING THE TANK WILL SUDDENLY "SPRAY"GASOLINE FORCEFULLY FROM THE NECK OF THE GAS TANK FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. TOOK IT IN ON THE VOLUNTARY RECALL AND HAD THE AIR FILTER REPLACED. CAR WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS BUT IS NOW EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. PUMPED LESS THAN $25.00 IN THE TANK TWO NIGHTS AGO AND WAS SP…

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WHEN REFUELING THE TANK WILL SUDDENLY "SPRAY"GASOLINE FORCEFULLY FROM THE NECK OF THE GAS TANK FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. TOOK IT IN ON THE VOLUNTARY RECALL AND HAD THE AIR FILTER REPLACED. CAR WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS BUT IS NOW EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. PUMPED LESS THAN $25.00 IN THE TANK TWO NIGHTS AGO AND WAS SPRAYED WITH GASOLINE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10507094

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