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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

7 reports
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133,346 miles · Oct 6, 2019
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE, AND MY TRUCK SHIFTED. SO I PULLED OVER TO SEE THE MY REAR LOWER ARM FELL FROM SUBFRAME CORRSION DUE TO HEAVY SALT USE HERE IN WI. I HAD TO GET CAR TOWED HOME.

NHTSA ODI #11266654

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

IT DRIVES FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN FOOT SAME POSITION ON GAS PETAL IT ACCELERATES.

NHTSA ODI #11122307

71,000 miles · Aug 13, 2018
EngineVehicle Speed Control

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. RPM WOULD RANGE FROM 1000 TO AS HIGH AS 2000 RPM WITHOUT WARNING. IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED AND DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY OPERATING. DISCONNECTED CRUISE CABLE AT THE THROTTLE BODY. PROBLEM CEASED. GREEN LIGHT ON CRUISE SWITCH NEVER INDICATED IT WAS OPERATING. …

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UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. RPM WOULD RANGE FROM 1000 TO AS HIGH AS 2000 RPM WITHOUT WARNING. IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED AND DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY OPERATING. DISCONNECTED CRUISE CABLE AT THE THROTTLE BODY. PROBLEM CEASED. GREEN LIGHT ON CRUISE SWITCH NEVER INDICATED IT WAS OPERATING. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS WELL AS STOPPED AT LIGHTS WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #11119718

109,000 miles · Mar 5, 2015
EngineExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE NO POWER AND CAN NOT GO OVER 25 MPH. HOW SAFE IS THAT ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY AS I AM DRIVING WITH MY KIDS!!!?? THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE 1ST TIME, IT SELF CORRECTED WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT. THIS TIME, IT HAS NOT. THE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OFF AND ON A…

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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE NO POWER AND CAN NOT GO OVER 25 MPH. HOW SAFE IS THAT ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY AS I AM DRIVING WITH MY KIDS!!!?? THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE 1ST TIME, IT SELF CORRECTED WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT. THIS TIME, IT HAS NOT. THE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OFF AND ON AT ANY MOMENTS NOTICE (REAL SAFE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT)- AND REMAIN OFF FOR GREAT LENGTHS OF TIME. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE FAN IN THE ENGINE TWICE ALREADY. I WOULD SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THE FAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNLESS I POPPED THE HOOD AND PULLED THE FUSE MYSELF AND POCKETED IT UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO DRIVE AGAIN. NOT TO MENTION MAJOR RUST ISSUES ON THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE COSMETIC I CAN DEAL WITH, THE LOSING POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY I CANNOT. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE IS VERY SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR KILLED. THE SMELL OF EXHAUST COMES THORUGH THE VENTS, EVEN WITH NORMAL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THIS CAR IS FULL OF DANGERS AND I AM SHOCKED THERE ARE NOT RECALLS OF THESE ISSUES. IN PARTICULAR, THE LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING, AND THE LIGHTS TURNING ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. TRY GOOGLING ANY OF THIS AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES. UNBELIEVABLE THAT THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692359

112,000 miles · Aug 12, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

WE PURCHASED OUR SORENTO USED (APPROX 65K MILES)ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK ($1500) AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ABSURD: HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, COMPUTER SYSTEM (2 MONTHS, $4700), BRAKES ($750) AND 2 BATTERIES. 2-3 MONTHS AGO, WE NOTICED A CLUNKING/CHUNKING SOUN…

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WE PURCHASED OUR SORENTO USED (APPROX 65K MILES)ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK ($1500) AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ABSURD: HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, COMPUTER SYSTEM (2 MONTHS, $4700), BRAKES ($750) AND 2 BATTERIES. 2-3 MONTHS AGO, WE NOTICED A CLUNKING/CHUNKING SOUND THAT GREW STEADILY WORSE. IT SOUNDED AS IF THE 4WD WAS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING EVERY 3 SECONDS AND FELT VERY UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS. I TOOK IT TO KIA OF COBB COUNTY AND WAS JUST GIVEN A QUOTE FRIDAY FOR A NEW TRANSFER CASE, DRIVE SHAFT, "REAR END CHUNK" (ALL THE SERVICE REP COULD TELL ME) AND 4 NEW TIRES. QUOTE FOR THIS WORK ($9767). THE TRANSFER CASE ALONE WAS AROUND $5700. THIS VEHICLE NOW HAS 112K MILES AND IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD. THE BLUE BOOK VALUE IS (WAS) AROUND $5-6000 AND WE'RE TOLD IT'LL TAKE $10,000 TO FIX IT? I CALLED KIA'S CORPORATE OFFICE TO ASK IF THIS WAS TO BE EXPECTED AT KIA. I WAS TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I SAID, " I'M JUST ASKING IF THERE'S ANYONE AT KIA HEADQUARTERS WHO BELIEVES IN THEIR PRODUCT AND WANTS TO PROTECT THE KIA NAME AND YOU JUST KEEP APOLOGIZING." THE REP RESPONDED, "I'M SORRY, SIR." WE'VE FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM KIA OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUES (CHUNKING, TRANSFER CASE, ETC). WHEN DOES THIS BECOME.A RECALL ISSUE? A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535016

19,585 miles · Jan 23, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO, WHEN THE CONTACT LIFTS THE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKS. THERE WAS A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED RESULTING IN A 2 DAY HOSPITAL STAY. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONT…

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO, WHEN THE CONTACT LIFTS THE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKS. THERE WAS A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED RESULTING IN A 2 DAY HOSPITAL STAY. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HAS REFERENCED RECALL#05V329000 AS THE EXACT FAILURE IN HIS VEHICLE. THE RECALL STATED THAT ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, FREEZING CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE WATER ON THE THROTTLE CABLE TO FREEZE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. RESISTANCE TO MOVEMENT OF THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS THEIR FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19585 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 19591.*AK UPDATED 2/21/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179502

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

SPEEDOMETER READS FAST. ACCORDING TO KIA AT 60 MPH IT IS IN TOLARENCE PLUS OR MINUS 7-8 MPH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078760

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