NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
24 reportsClear category filter180,000 miles · Oct 26, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineSteeringFire
I BOUGHT MY 04 SORENTO FROM MY AUNT WHO WAS THE ONLY OWNER. IT HAD A POWER STEERING ISSUE AT THAT TIME WHICH TOOK SEVERAL ATTENPTS TO FIX. ABOUT A MONTH LATER WE WE VISITING FAMILY AND HAD TO TURN AROUND. UPON STOPPING WE NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SO I GRABBED MY 4 Y/O DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR AND BY BOYFRIEND OP…
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I BOUGHT MY 04 SORENTO FROM MY AUNT WHO WAS THE ONLY OWNER. IT HAD A POWER STEERING ISSUE AT THAT TIME WHICH TOOK SEVERAL ATTENPTS TO FIX. ABOUT A MONTH LATER WE WE VISITING FAMILY AND HAD TO TURN AROUND. UPON STOPPING WE NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SO I GRABBED MY 4 Y/O DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR AND BY BOYFRIEND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND A SMALL FIRE ON OPPOSITE SIDE FRO WHERE BATTERY IS. ONCE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WE DROVE .5 MILES ON A CITY RD TO FAMILY. THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AT THAT TIME AS WELL. 10/13/19 - THE DIRECTIONAL WORKED ALL DAY AND COME NIGHT TIME WHEN I CAME OUT FROM THE STORE AND STARTED VEHICLE THEY DID NOT WORK. THE NEXT DAY THEY WORKED FINEHOWEVER, ON 10/14/19 - I STARTED THE CAR IN AM AND THERE WAS A SQUEAKY BELT. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL QUICKLY AND NOISE WENT AWAY. THEN WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND STAYED ON SO I PULLED OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF. IWAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO THE PARK A MILE AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THE BATTERY AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TURNED CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. I WENT TO TURN AROUND TO GO HOME AND THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED SO IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT OR STARTED IT SINCE. MY MECHANIC CAMT TO MY HOME 2 DAYS IN A ROW AND WAS CONVINCED IT WAS CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT SNAPPED. HE GOT IT INTO HIS SHOP THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON FRIDAY 10/26/19 AND CALLED A SHORT WHILE LATER INFORMING ME THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT SNAPPED DEEP IN THE SHAFT AND THE CRANKSHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF AROUND $3000. I CALLED A FEW OTHER PLACES AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING WHICH WOULD COAT AROUND THE SAME. MY DAUGHTER AND I NOW HAVE NO VEHICLE AND ARE WALKING HER TO SCHOOL WHICH WILL BE DIFFICULT COME WINTER MONTHS.
NHTSA ODI #11271165
120,000 miles · May 7, 2019
SteeringCrash
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT 65MPG ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR, THE STEERING JERKED TO THE LEFT. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A DESIEL TRUCK !! I THEN CORRECT IT AND PULLED OVER. I DROPPED MY SON OFF AT MY MOM'S HOME AND WENT TO THE GARAGE TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. ON THE WAY, IT LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND I COULD NOT TURN CORRE…
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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT 65MPG ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR, THE STEERING JERKED TO THE LEFT. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A DESIEL TRUCK !! I THEN CORRECT IT AND PULLED OVER. I DROPPED MY SON OFF AT MY MOM'S HOME AND WENT TO THE GARAGE TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. ON THE WAY, IT LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND I COULD NOT TURN CORRECTLY. SOMEONE HIT THE BACK OF MY CAR AND SHOVED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT. SO NOW MY BACK AND FRON IN LOOKS LIKE CRAP AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING.. BUT MY SON AND I ARE STILL ALIVE.. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND OUT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT OR MY CAR.. THIS IS A FAULTY MANUFACTURE SAFTY ISSUE THAT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN RESEARCHED YET !! THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DANGER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THIS ISSUE I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT'S STILL ON THE ROAD. HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/SORENTO/2004/STEERING/STEERING.SHTML AND TO FIND OUT THE STATE WAS AWARE OF IT AND JUST NEVER EVEN LOOKED INTO PROTECTING US. THIS IS A DANGER AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THEIR CHILD LIKE I ALMOST DID !!!!
NHTSA ODI #11206123
99,000 miles · Oct 17, 2017
EngineService BrakesSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT PULLEY WAS FAULTY AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL D…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT PULLEY WAS FAULTY AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL DEALER (QUIRK KIA IN BRANKLY, MA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. *LN
NHTSA ODI #11034078
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2016
EngineSteeringUnknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CARS WOULDN'T TURN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS DYING. IT HAPPENS A BOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME AND WHEN I GOT IT THERE I TOLD MY HUSBAND. HE LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME MY HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE AND IT LOOKED TO HAVE SNAPPED THE BOLT. NOW I CANNOT DRIVE …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CARS WOULDN'T TURN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS DYING. IT HAPPENS A BOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME AND WHEN I GOT IT THERE I TOLD MY HUSBAND. HE LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME MY HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE AND IT LOOKED TO HAVE SNAPPED THE BOLT. NOW I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN GET THE BROKEN BOLT OUT AND GET IT FIXED. I LOOKED UP WHAT TO DO AND NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON 28TH THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10905820
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…
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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
124,094 miles · May 13, 2015
EngineSteeringUnknown Or Other
IN THIS INSTANCE, THE CAR FAILED TO START. HOWEVER, THERE WERE SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUES. IN THOSE INSTANCES, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, STALL OUT AND IF ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, COULD BE DRIVEN WITH A LAG IN THE ENGINE A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND THE CAR WOULD LOSE …
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IN THIS INSTANCE, THE CAR FAILED TO START. HOWEVER, THERE WERE SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUES. IN THOSE INSTANCES, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, STALL OUT AND IF ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, COULD BE DRIVEN WITH A LAG IN THE ENGINE A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING. IN TWO INSTANCES, THE POWER STEERING WAS SUDDENLY LOST WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH A BREAK ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
NHTSA ODI #10716247
120,000 miles · Mar 8, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 POWER STEERING WENT CAR LOST POWER LIGHTS WENT CRAZY CAR SHUT DOWN. I ALMOST WRECKED HARMONIC BALANCER FELL INTO PIECES ALL PULLEY BELTS AND PIN HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I JUST GOT THIS CAR I HAVE A PAYMENT ON IT. GOING TO COST 1200 TO FIX. THIS IS ON TOP OF IT SPUTTERING AND SPOTTYING. REPLACE HEAD L…
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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 POWER STEERING WENT CAR LOST POWER LIGHTS WENT CRAZY CAR SHUT DOWN. I ALMOST WRECKED HARMONIC BALANCER FELL INTO PIECES ALL PULLEY BELTS AND PIN HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I JUST GOT THIS CAR I HAVE A PAYMENT ON IT. GOING TO COST 1200 TO FIX. THIS IS ON TOP OF IT SPUTTERING AND SPOTTYING. REPLACE HEAD LIGHTS THE RADIO GLITCHES THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND IF U TURN THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS UP IT TURNS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON.OVER DRIVE BUTTON DOES NOT WORK AND TRANSMISSION LAGS... I HAVE READ AL THESE COMPLAINTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHY ISN'T ANYONE FORCING A RECALL? THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED AND THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COULD CAUSE FIRE.... SOMEONE IS GOING TO END UP VERY HURT IF KIA IS NOT FORCED TO FIX THESE. COULD U IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING ON A THRU WAY? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10692846
102,000 miles · Sep 27, 2014
Power TrainService BrakesSteering
WHILE I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY COMPLEX MY THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND IT SEEMED AS IF I LOST MY BRAKES (WHICH I COST TO THE SIDE ROAD AS WELL AS NO STEERING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PULLEY MOUNTING BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF INSIDE THE CRANKSHAFT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10639488
106,000 miles · Sep 2, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCED WAS REQUIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BOLTS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BOLTS FRACTURED FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCED WAS REQUIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BOLTS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BOLTS FRACTURED FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT AND ENGINE MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA ODI #10630055
75,033 miles · Dec 7, 2013
Steering
LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID FROM CORRODED STEEL LINES BETWEEN STEERING RACK AND STEERING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL UNIT. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT OF CORRODED STEEL LINES ON THIS VEHICLE. FIRST WAS THE BRAKE LINES THEN THE FUEL LINES. PREVIOUS ISSUES WERE ALSO REPORTED ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10555175