NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
220 reports92,400 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH ALL THE DASH LIGHTS BRIEFLY COMING ON (BATTERY, OIL, ETC.). FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE A HARD TURN AND COAST TO THE CURB. I WAITED A MINUTE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I DROVE HOME AND THERE WAS ONE MORE INCIDENT…
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I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH ALL THE DASH LIGHTS BRIEFLY COMING ON (BATTERY, OIL, ETC.). FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE A HARD TURN AND COAST TO THE CURB. I WAITED A MINUTE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I DROVE HOME AND THERE WAS ONE MORE INCIDENT WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER (LIGHTS DIMMED) HOWEVER I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT POWERED UP AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE LIGHTS DIM AND THE CAR SEEMINGLY LOSE POWER SEVERAL TIMES. JUST PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR TYPICALLY HESITATES WHEN YOU ARE GOING FULL SPEED AND THEN THE DIMMING OCCURS. I'VE HAD MY CAR IDLE AT STOP SIGNS AND AT TRAIN CROSSINGS AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY POWER LOSS. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH OR MORE. I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RUN ON THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO CONCERNING RESULTS. I'VE HAD A MECHANIC I TRUST CHECK THE ALTERNATOR, THE SPARK PLUGS, FLUSH THE COOLANT, PUT IN FUEL CLEANER, ETC. AND HE CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10749069
177,000 miles · Jul 27, 2015
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER OPENING THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER OPENING THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE BELTS FRACTURED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS LOOSE AND THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. UPDATED 9/21/15 *LN.....UPDATED 10/01/15*BF
NHTSA ODI #10743847
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 · Apr 20, 2015
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR FRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR FRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10706622
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
159,600 miles · Mar 6, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015. IT WAS ABOUT 7:30/7:40 A.M. I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 KIA SORENTO EX. I HAD JUST DRIVEN THROUGH ST. PETER, MN ON HWY 169 SOUTH ON MY WAY TO MANKATO AND WAS STARTING TO PICK UP MY SPEED AS THE SPEED LIMIT INCREASES AS YOU LEAVE TOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT WARNING, MY VEHICLE JUST …
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I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015. IT WAS ABOUT 7:30/7:40 A.M. I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 KIA SORENTO EX. I HAD JUST DRIVEN THROUGH ST. PETER, MN ON HWY 169 SOUTH ON MY WAY TO MANKATO AND WAS STARTING TO PICK UP MY SPEED AS THE SPEED LIMIT INCREASES AS YOU LEAVE TOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT WARNING, MY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. THE "DUMMY LIGHTS" ALL LIT UP. I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO ACCELERATOR - NOTHING WAS WORKING. THANK GOODNESS THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER, SLOWED TO A STOP WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT A COLLISION AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. I TRIED TO SEE IF IT WOULD START AGAIN AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. I CALLED AAA AND THE SORENTO WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC SHOP. WITHOUT INVESTING TOO MUCH TIME IN IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT A HUGE BILL, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAS ELECTRICAL POWER - HAS GOOD POWER TO THE STARTER, BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT ROTATE. THEY COULD NOT EVEN PHYSICALLY ROTATE THE ENGINE. HE TOLD ME THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT WAS, IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE, AT THIS POINT, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THAT'S WHEN I GOT ON FACEBOOK AND STARTED ASKING IF ANYONE HAD ANY IDEAS OF WHAT COULD BE WRONG AND A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THE KIA SORENTO ENGINE DEFECT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. I BELIEVE MY 2004 KIA SORENTO EX IS AFFECTED BY THIS ENGINE DEFECT. IT WAS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AND I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT ON A BUSY FREEWAY. AS THIS JUST HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WITH THIS SORENTO. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO DO IT. IT IS STILL SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE MECHANICS IN ST. PETER WHERE AAA TOWED IT TO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10692430
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
59,000 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Electrical System
FAN RELAY SENSOR IS FAULTY. ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IS QUESTIONABLE, FROM HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS NEEDING REPLACEMENT TO DASH LIGHTS THAT TURN ON OR OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MY NEWEST ISSUE IS WITH THE HEATER, IT WILL ONLY BLOW WARMED AIR IF THE MOTOR IS BEING REV'D..TEMP IS WARM ON ENGINE BUT IF I AM DRIVING DOWN HILL, IT WILL FEE…
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FAN RELAY SENSOR IS FAULTY. ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IS QUESTIONABLE, FROM HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS NEEDING REPLACEMENT TO DASH LIGHTS THAT TURN ON OR OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME. MY NEWEST ISSUE IS WITH THE HEATER, IT WILL ONLY BLOW WARMED AIR IF THE MOTOR IS BEING REV'D..TEMP IS WARM ON ENGINE BUT IF I AM DRIVING DOWN HILL, IT WILL FEEL LIKE AIR CONDITIONER INSTEAD. FOR A FEW MONTHS MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM INSIDE ONLY. MAGICALLY IT HAS RESOLVED THAT ONE AND ONLY ISSUE... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10683647
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2015
Engine
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED STALLING THE IT PICKED UP. LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGGING THEN THE BELT BROKE I PULLED IT OVER. WHEN REACH THE SHOP THE MECHANIC SAID THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BROKE APART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10669801
76,308 miles · Dec 21, 2014
Engine
LOUD CRACK WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING. LOST POWER STEERING. PIN IN THE CRANK PULLEY SNAPPED AND BELTS STOPPED TURNING. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS CAR HAS A 10 YEAR, 100M MILE WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. DEALER CONTENDED THAT THIS PROBLEM…
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LOUD CRACK WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING. LOST POWER STEERING. PIN IN THE CRANK PULLEY SNAPPED AND BELTS STOPPED TURNING. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS CAR HAS A 10 YEAR, 100M MILE WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. DEALER CONTENDED THAT THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH PART OF THE ENGINE WAS NOT COVERED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10667490