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2005 Kia Sorento

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 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

257 reports with mileage · 50 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 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports5 fire reports11 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

49 reports
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113,000 miles · Dec 27, 2011
Electrical System

MY CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO WITH 115,000 MILES ON IT. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, IT HAS CONTINUALLY HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES SUCH AS REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHTS EVERY FEW MONTHS. I HAVE JUST DEALT WITH IT AND LEARNED HOW TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF. ONE MONTH AGO THOUGH, MY CAR BROK…

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MY CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO WITH 115,000 MILES ON IT. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, IT HAS CONTINUALLY HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES SUCH AS REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHTS EVERY FEW MONTHS. I HAVE JUST DEALT WITH IT AND LEARNED HOW TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF. ONE MONTH AGO THOUGH, MY CAR BROKE DOWN AND I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED IT. EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING SMOOTH WHEN I DROVE IT AWAY BUT THEN 2 WEEKS LATER, I BROKE DOWN AGAIN (SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRED FROM WHEN I BROKE DOWN THE FIRST TIME - BRAKE & BATTERY LIGHT BLINKS AND THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND BOOM, NO POWER). BROUGHT IT TO THE SAME MECHANIC AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE BATTERY THAT NEEDED REPLACED SO HE WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED IT. JUST YESTERDAY, 2 WEEKS AFTER THE BATTERY ISSUE, MY CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRING. I'M STILL WAITING ON IT TO BE DIAGNOSED BUT THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLANATION THAN FOR IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. SUGGESTIONS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441334

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CHANGE TAIL LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE. EVERY 4/5 MONTHS THEY ARE GOING OUT. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHT ABOVE IN THE BACK SEATING AREA DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN, ONLY IF MANUALLY PRESSED ON AND OFF. THE LIGHT BEHIND THE PANEL CONTROLLING THE HEAT/AIR TEMPERATURES IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL…

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I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CHANGE TAIL LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE. EVERY 4/5 MONTHS THEY ARE GOING OUT. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHT ABOVE IN THE BACK SEATING AREA DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN, ONLY IF MANUALLY PRESSED ON AND OFF. THE LIGHT BEHIND THE PANEL CONTROLLING THE HEAT/AIR TEMPERATURES IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO CHANGE THEIR LIGHTS AS FREQUENTLY AS I DO, IF AT ALL SINCE THEY'VE HAD THEIR CARS. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437690

12,000 miles · Nov 8, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WE HAVE A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHT BULBS. I HAVE TRIED EVERY AVAILABLE BRAND AT LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE STORES FROM THE LEAST EXPENSIVE TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THEY LAST ABOUT 4 MONTHS AT BEST. THERE IS A DEALER AVAILABLE "FIX" WHICH INCLUDES A NEW WIRING HARNESS. KIA WILL NOT FIX THIS AT NO COST. THERE HAS…

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WE HAVE A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHT BULBS. I HAVE TRIED EVERY AVAILABLE BRAND AT LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE STORES FROM THE LEAST EXPENSIVE TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THEY LAST ABOUT 4 MONTHS AT BEST. THERE IS A DEALER AVAILABLE "FIX" WHICH INCLUDES A NEW WIRING HARNESS. KIA WILL NOT FIX THIS AT NO COST. THERE HAS BEEN 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS THAT THE HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED DURING LATE NIGHT DRIVING. I REPLACED THE BLOWN BULB AND WITHIN HOURS THE OPPOSITE SIDE FAILED. HAD BOTH FAILED AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. AT THE DEALERSHIP (THREE) THEY SAID "YEA A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE" MY OTHER VEHICLES BULBS LAST ON AVERAGE 5 TIMES LONGER - OR MORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434907

53,000 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, IT BEGAN MAKING A "KNOCKING" NOISE. THE POWER STEERING THEN BEGAN TO FAIL AND THEN I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR DIED (ON A BUSY 4 LANE HWY WITH MY 7 MOS OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR). ONCE STOPPED, I LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD TO FIND A LARGE BOLT LAYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE INTERIOR OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHIC…

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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, IT BEGAN MAKING A "KNOCKING" NOISE. THE POWER STEERING THEN BEGAN TO FAIL AND THEN I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR DIED (ON A BUSY 4 LANE HWY WITH MY 7 MOS OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR). ONCE STOPPED, I LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD TO FIND A LARGE BOLT LAYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE INTERIOR OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE, AFTER 2 DAYS AND $1300 IN REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE "LARGE BOLT" I FOUND WAS HALF OF THE CRANK PULLEY BOLT. IT HAD SNAPPED CLEAN IN HALF LEAVING THE OTHER HALF INSIDE THE PULLEY. EXTENSIVE LABOR TO REMOVE THIS PIECE AND THEN RESET ALL THE PULLEYS AND BELTS (TIMING BELT) ATTRIBUTED TO THE EXCESSIVE COST. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THAT BOLT SHOULD HAVE SIMPLY BROKE IN HALF AND THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART. KIA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTS THAT MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ELECTRICALLY, I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS AND THE ACCUATOR FOR THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS IS FAULTY. THE CAR RANDOMLY LOCKS ITSELF AT ANY GIVEN TIME (WHILE DRIVING, WHEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING THE NIGHT, PARKED AND RUNNING). I STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT TO GET MY DAUGHTER'S TOY THAT SHE HAD DROPPED. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE, THE CAR LOCK DEFECT LOCKED MY DAUGHTER INSIDE THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425676

71,032 miles · Aug 6, 2011
Electrical System

WE HAVE A CONSTANT ISSUE WITH THE INTERIOR LIGTS AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE TURNING ON AND OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAS HAPPENED ON 10 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE LAS OCCASION BEING AUGUST 6, 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00AM. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY HERE IN S…

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WE HAVE A CONSTANT ISSUE WITH THE INTERIOR LIGTS AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE TURNING ON AND OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAS HAPPENED ON 10 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE LAS OCCASION BEING AUGUST 6, 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00AM. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY HERE IN SEATTLE DRIVING AT 50MPH THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS BOTH SHUT DOWN AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING ZERO VISIBILITY. AFTER PULLING OVER AND WAITING FOR 10 MINUTES THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AHOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10417789

64,250 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Electrical System

ON 6-14-2011 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 KIA SORENTO JUST TURNING ONTO MY STREET WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST ITS POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT A FEW FEET TO MY DRIVEWAY TO INSPECT MY CAR AND NOTICED A BIG SILVER BOLT-LIKE PIECE OF METAL APPROXIMATELY 4" LONG DANGLING BENEATH THE RADIATOR AND TOOK IT…

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ON 6-14-2011 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 KIA SORENTO JUST TURNING ONTO MY STREET WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST ITS POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT A FEW FEET TO MY DRIVEWAY TO INSPECT MY CAR AND NOTICED A BIG SILVER BOLT-LIKE PIECE OF METAL APPROXIMATELY 4" LONG DANGLING BENEATH THE RADIATOR AND TOOK IT INSIDE AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. WHEN HE CAME HOME HE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND CHECKED ONLINE TO TRY AND SEE WHAT MAY BE WRONG WITH IT AND DISCOVERED IT MAY BE THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE MAN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FELT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE BUT MY HUSBAND SAID THAT HE HAD WAS HOLDING THE BOLT IN HIS HAND. NONETHELESS I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE SOONEST THEY COULD GET ME IN WAS 6-29-2011, 15 DAYS LATER. I AM EMPLOYED AS A PHYSICIAN EXTENDER AM HAD TO WORK THE WEEKEND (JUNE 18TH AND 19TH), THEREFORE, I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THAT WEEKEND AS WE HAVE NO WEEKEND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICE IN OUR LOCATION WHICH COST ME $177.00. MY CAR THEN HAD TO BE TOWED ON THE MORNING OF 6-28-2011 TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE ON 6-29-2011 AT A COST OF $65.00. THEN THEY WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY HONORING MY WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND MY NAME BUT I HAD SINCE MARRIED BUT SINCE IT WAS NOT CHANGED ON THE WARRANTY THEY DID NOT REPAIR THE CAR. I HAD TO CONTACT KIA CORPORATE AND THE PERSON THERE TOLD ME IT COULD TAKE UP TO 2 WEEKS TO MAKE THE CHANGE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL THEN AND THEY COULD ONLY GIVE ME A DISCOUNT ON A RENTAL CAR IN THE MEANTIME. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY FAX (NOT EMAIL) DOCUMENTATION OF SALE. I HAD PAID CASH FOR THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I BOUGHT THE CAR ONLY KEEPS SALES RECORDS FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. THE CORPORATE PERSON THAT I WAS SPEAKING WITH WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE INFORMATION ON HIS END DUE TO A "GLITCH". THEY FIXED THE CAR AND CHARGED ME $170.00 ADDITIONAL FOR REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415181

75,440 miles · Apr 8, 2011
Electrical System

WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 2 SECONDS VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395294

30,000 miles · Mar 16, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I HAVE TO EVERY 3 -4 MONTHS REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO. KIA HAS TOLD ME BECAUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS NOT ISSUES ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS I WILL KEEP ON REPLACING THEM. THIS IS INSANE!!!!! I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10390441

85,483 miles · Dec 8, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeats

OWN A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS BURNING OUT. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, PARK LIGHTS, AND FOG LIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS BURN OUT ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS. NOW THE POWER SEAT HAS STOPPED MOVING FORWARD OR BACK. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. A…

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OWN A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS BURNING OUT. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, PARK LIGHTS, AND FOG LIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS BURN OUT ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS. NOW THE POWER SEAT HAS STOPPED MOVING FORWARD OR BACK. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. A SHORTER PERSON THAT MY WIFE MOVED HER CAR AND SHE ADJUSTED THE SEATS. WHEN MY WIFE GOT INTO THE CAR SHE WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE SEAT IN THE ORIGINAL POSITION. I HAVE TRIED TO JOCKEY THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH AND UP AND DOWN AND THE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369715

100,000 miles · Jun 28, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND FAN COULD NOT BE USED WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND FAN COULD NOT BE USED WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN RELATION TO THE FAILURE OF THE WIRING HARNESS, BUT NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN DOING SO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10340508

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.

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