NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
44 reportsClear category filter100,300 miles · Jan 27, 2016
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ECM COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,300. ..UPDATED 02/23/16 *BF....UPDATED 03/16/16 *BF *CN
NHTSA ODI #10822583
160,000 miles · Apr 27, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling
I PURCHASED A 2005 KIA SORENTO FROM A DEALERSHIP ON NOV. 18, 2014. IN JANUARY 2015 THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BROKE . IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. ON APRIL 8TH I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND SO I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR I HAD…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A 2005 KIA SORENTO FROM A DEALERSHIP ON NOV. 18, 2014. IN JANUARY 2015 THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BROKE . IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. ON APRIL 8TH I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND SO I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR I HAD WAS PART OF A RECALL AND THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FOR THE SAME ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE PARTS AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR AND ALSO PAY DAILY FOR RIDES TO AND FROM WORK. I CONTACTED KIA TODAY AND THEY STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY KIA TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BEFORE ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS IS INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EVERY PURCHASER WHETHER NEW OR USED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10713048
103,208 miles · Mar 19, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. OTHER ISSUES AND INCIDENTS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: INDUCTION CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE. CRANK SHAFT TIMING BELT SPROCKET, CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10695327
105,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE BOLT BROKE KIA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10607130
52,000 miles · May 24, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering
3/2/13 HAD TIMING BELT REPLACED @50,031 MILES ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO TO MANUAL SPECS.DROVE FROM PHX TO NASHVILLE.5/2013 I HEARD A TERRIBLE SQUEAKING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD,FIRST THOUGHT LOOSE BELT. WENT ON TO GET IT CHECK OUT&AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE,MY STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE T…
Read full complaint
3/2/13 HAD TIMING BELT REPLACED @50,031 MILES ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO TO MANUAL SPECS.DROVE FROM PHX TO NASHVILLE.5/2013 I HEARD A TERRIBLE SQUEAKING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD,FIRST THOUGHT LOOSE BELT. WENT ON TO GET IT CHECK OUT&AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE,MY STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. THOUGHT MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD GONE OUT. I ALMOST RAN OVER 2 PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET&ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. I WAS TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT W/ALL MY MIGHT! EVERYONE WAS HONKING AT ME & THOUGHT I WAS PROBABLY DRUNK! I WAS SO UPSET. HAD IT TOWED TO KIA. MY POWER TRAIN STILL UNDER WARRANTY,AM ORIGINAL OWNER&DENIED COVERAGE 3X.THEY TRIED TO SELL ME A USED ENGINE FOR $5K.STATED THEY KNEW THEY COULD NOT GET THE BROKEN PIECE OF BOLT OUT.I DID SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE&THERE IS MANY COMPLAINTS W/ THIS PROBLEM,SOME HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN 2,3,4 X.MGR. TOLD ME MY MODEL HAD THE NEW RE-DESIGNED BOLT,&IT WAS BRAKES PLUS FAULT WHEN THEY PUT ON THE TIMING BELT. MGR. SAID THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER USED THE OLD BOLT&THAT THEY PUT ON A NEW BOLT WHEN REPLACING TIMING BELT.I HEARD A TSB WENT OUT REGARDING THE BOLTS TO ALL SERVICE SHOPS TO USE THE NEW RE-DESIGN BOLT ON 03&04 MODELS,BUT NOT 05.IF I HAD GOTTEN A COPY OF THAT NOTICE,I WOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT WHOEVER REPLACED TIMING BELT,USED NEW BOLT. A KIA TECH WROTE:8/10/12 ITS NOT THE BOLT, IT IS THE CRANK SPROCKET&BALANCER, THE DESIGN OF THE BALANCER STICKS OUT TO FAR&WEIGHS TO MUCH BREAKING OFF THE SPRING GUIDE PIN.WHEN THERE IS A REPAIR,WE REPLACE THEM EVERYTIME WE DO A TIMING BELT ON ONE.YOU TAKE THE CRACK SPROCKET&BALANCER&U ADD 2 MORE SPRING PINS AS WELL AS DRILL&TAP THE CRANK&INSTALL A TIMESERT (HEAVIER HELICOIL) HAVE NOT HAD ONE OF THESE COME BACK,IF ANYONE IS DOING A TIMING BELT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOING THIS AT THE SAME TIME,BUT IT WILL NOT BREAK THE BOLT OR SHEER THE GUIDE PIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10513442
106,164 miles · Jul 27, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I BOUGHT MY 2005 KIA SORENTO OCTOBER 2011. THE COST OF THE VEHICLE WAS $8664.00 AND FINANCED FOR $13,399.48 OR 36 MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT BRICK CITY MOTORS, 316 BROADWAY AVE, NEWARK, NJ 07104. A WARRANTY FOR 6 MONTHS OR 7500 MILES WAS ISSUED WITH IT. THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. ON FEBR…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT MY 2005 KIA SORENTO OCTOBER 2011. THE COST OF THE VEHICLE WAS $8664.00 AND FINANCED FOR $13,399.48 OR 36 MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT BRICK CITY MOTORS, 316 BROADWAY AVE, NEWARK, NJ 07104. A WARRANTY FOR 6 MONTHS OR 7500 MILES WAS ISSUED WITH IT. THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. ON FEBRUARY 7 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 280 IN THE 3RD LANE GOING WEST WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON. THANK GOD PEOPLE WERE NOT FLYING OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN NUTLEY NJ. I DID THAT BECAUSE I FIGURED IT WAS A KIA PRODUCT LET THEIR DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT. THE RESULT FOR THE PROBLEM WAS REPLACED TIMING BELT/CRANKSHAFT GEAR/TENSIONER/PULLEY/IDLER/BALANCER-NOTE: CR DAMAGED- JEWELED KEY WAY TO CRANK SLOT LIMITED WARRANTY ON REP. THE LABOR COST WAS 826.00 WITH NO GUARANTEE ON PARTS OR LABOR. BRICK CITY PAID FOR THE PARTS AND I PAID FOR THE LABOR. ON JULY 15TH 2012 MY KIA SORENTO HAD TO BE TOWED TO KIA IN NUTLEY NJ. THE REP ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I CAN. I PAID 50 SOME DOLLARS FOR AN OIL CAP TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF AGAIN LIKE IT DID IN FEB 2012. THE REP ALSO TOLD ME THAT I NEED A TRANSMISSION. ON JULY 26 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UP AND A FRIEND OF MINE TOOK ME TO HER BROTHERS MECHANIC SHOP. THE END RESULT WAS THAT THEY FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT NEEDS REPLACING AND WAS BENT AGAIN. ON JULY 26, 2012, I, THEN WENT BACK TO KIA IN NUTLEY NJ AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME THE WORK THEY DID WAS NOT WARRANTED AND THAT BRICK CITY MOTORS SCREWED ME. I CALLED KIA MOTORS IN WOODBRIDGE NJ AND THEY TOLD ME THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT I HAVE TO PAY MAYBE 2000.00 FOR A REPLACEMENT. I AM A DISABLED VETERAN PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED. I HAVE TO HAVE A SUV DUE TO DAILY CHRONIC PAIN.
NHTSA ODI #10468701
110,522 miles · Dec 9, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,522. UPDATED 1/29/13 *C…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,522. UPDATED 1/29/13 *CN UPDATED 2/6/2013*JS
NHTSA ODI #10439153
Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
STRIPPED CRANK SHAFT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10435299
68,000 miles · Oct 24, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS WITH NO EXPLANATION AND HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS AND DOME LIGHT JUST QUIT AND NO EXPLANATION FROM KIA OR DLR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10432583
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…
Read full complaint
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