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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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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137,000 miles · Dec 1, 2013
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT (OPEN) FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE.. IT LOCKS AND UNLOCKS BUT DOOR OPENING CONNECTION LINK IS NOT OPENING. THIS PRESENTS A CRASH AND FIRE HAZARD AS PASSENGERS MUST EITHER OPEN THE WINDOW AND REACH OUT TO OPEN OR HAVE SOMEONE OUTSIDE OPEN THE DOOR! HAD IT REPAIRED AND IT BROKE AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER REPA…

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FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT (OPEN) FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE.. IT LOCKS AND UNLOCKS BUT DOOR OPENING CONNECTION LINK IS NOT OPENING. THIS PRESENTS A CRASH AND FIRE HAZARD AS PASSENGERS MUST EITHER OPEN THE WINDOW AND REACH OUT TO OPEN OR HAVE SOMEONE OUTSIDE OPEN THE DOOR! HAD IT REPAIRED AND IT BROKE AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554284

1,500 miles · Dec 10, 2012
EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE TEC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. ..UPDATED 01/16/2013 *BF UPDATED 129/2013 JS

NHTSA ODI #10487880

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

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