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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

What owners actually said

220 reports
115,000 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Air BagsExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING THROUGH INSPECTION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING THROUGH INSPECTION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10807408

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2015
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING TO A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE AT NIGHT. WHEN WE GOT THERE HE TELLS ME I HAVE NO LIGHTS IN THE BACK. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE AUTO STORE AND BOUGHT NEW LIGHTS TO PUT IN. THAT DID NOT WORKING SO I WENT BACK. HE HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND FOUND OUT IT WAS A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I GOT THAT REPLACED. I START LOOKING …

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I WAS DRIVING TO A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE AT NIGHT. WHEN WE GOT THERE HE TELLS ME I HAVE NO LIGHTS IN THE BACK. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE AUTO STORE AND BOUGHT NEW LIGHTS TO PUT IN. THAT DID NOT WORKING SO I WENT BACK. HE HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND FOUND OUT IT WAS A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I GOT THAT REPLACED. I START LOOKING UP ON LINE FOR ANOTHER ISSUE I AM HAVING AND FOUND OUT THAT ALOT OF OTHER KIAS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10807218

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2015
Air Bags

MY AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON. IT TURNED ON JUST UNDER A 100,000 MILES. I LOOKED AROUND ON LINE AND ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAININF ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR. IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF IT AND THAT IT WILL COST ME AT LEAST $200 TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #10807216

144,000 miles · Nov 5, 2015
Structure

A SECTION OF THE MAIN FRAME RAIL IS ROTTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, WHERE THE REAR SWAY CONTROL ARM WHICH ATTACHES TO THE REAR DRIVETRAIN. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THE REAR DRIVETRAIN IS AT RISK OF DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10788688

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

110,000 miles · Sep 21, 2015
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD IT WILL NOT PASS BECAUSE ONE OF THE CONTROL ARMS IS DETACHED IN THE REAR END. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS ROT UNDER THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE FRAME WAS WELDED AND REPAIRED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER BUT THE RIGHT…

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I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD IT WILL NOT PASS BECAUSE ONE OF THE CONTROL ARMS IS DETACHED IN THE REAR END. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS ROT UNDER THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE FRAME WAS WELDED AND REPAIRED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER BUT THE RIGHT SIDE IS NOW RUSTED BADLY AND IN NEED OF REPAIR. AXLES ARE LEAKING DUE TO RUST. BRAKES ARE A PROBLEM BUT I HAVEN'T INVESTIGATED FURTHER TO KNOW IF ITS CAUSED BY ROT. I HAVE BEEN ON MULTIPLE FORUMS FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUES ESPECIALLY THE CONTROL ARM PROBLEM. I CAN NOT RETURN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS SCAMMED AND AM NOW STUCK WITH A DANGEROUSLY ROTTED CAR. I AM TOLD ITS NOT WORTH FIXING. THIS CAR LOOKS FINE AND WITHOUT LOOKING UNDERNEATH A PERSON WOULD NOT KNOW A PROBLEM EXISTED PERHAPS UNTIL AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10766828

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

83,904 miles · Aug 25, 2015
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2015 I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 KIA SORENTO LX AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED OF AROUND 35 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY GARAGE. AT THE GARAGE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON THE LIFT AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED THA…

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ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2015 I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 KIA SORENTO LX AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED OF AROUND 35 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY GARAGE. AT THE GARAGE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON THE LIFT AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME RAIL HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF AND WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED BUT NOT BROKEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE CROSS-MEMBER ABOVE THE REAR AXLE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE. I NOW HAVE AN 11 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD HAVE A RETAIL VALUE OF AROUND $5K WHICH IS NOW COMPLETELY WORTHLESS. I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS SEVERE CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL KIA. I AM SURPRISED THERE HAVE BEEN NO SAFETY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. HAD MY INCIDENT HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STORY MAY BE A LOT DIFFERENT.

NHTSA ODI #10759086

930,000 miles · Aug 19, 2015
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

ABOUT TO GET ON HWY IN NC, RED LIGHT TURNED GREEN STARTED DRIVING NOT EVEN 10 SECONDS LATER GAS PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO FLOOR AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING DROPS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CAR JUST STOPS WITH NO WARNING-RIGHT BEFORE MAJOR HWY. TRY TO CRANK THE KIA, NOTHING. AGAIN, NOTHING. PHYSICALLY PUSH THE CAR OFF ROAD WHILE OTHER…

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ABOUT TO GET ON HWY IN NC, RED LIGHT TURNED GREEN STARTED DRIVING NOT EVEN 10 SECONDS LATER GAS PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO FLOOR AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING DROPS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CAR JUST STOPS WITH NO WARNING-RIGHT BEFORE MAJOR HWY. TRY TO CRANK THE KIA, NOTHING. AGAIN, NOTHING. PHYSICALLY PUSH THE CAR OFF ROAD WHILE OTHERS ARE SPEEDING BY-ACCIDNET WAITING TO HAPPEN THANK GOD IT DIDNT. GET IT TOWED HOME. SAT IN YARD EVER SINCE. REPLACED MULTIPLE PARTS. STILL DOES NOT RUN..

NHTSA ODI #10749734

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