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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

Power Train complaints

38 reports
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101,800 miles · Feb 4, 2012
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP ABOUT 1 MINUTE AFTER NOISES WERE HEARD AND SMOKE STARTED APPEARING CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO AUTOMATIC HALT...IN TRAFFIC. NO ONE WANTS TO COVER DAMAGE CREATED. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446690

84,400 miles · Oct 4, 2011
Power TrainSteering

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MY CAR LOST STEERING. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD BROKE WITH HALF OF IT STUCK IN ENGINE. KIA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH SOME MANY PEOPLE HAVING IT. IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT CAUSES YOU …

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WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MY CAR LOST STEERING. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD BROKE WITH HALF OF IT STUCK IN ENGINE. KIA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH SOME MANY PEOPLE HAVING IT. IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT CAUSES YOU TO LOSE STEERING WHILE DRIVING LUCKILY I DIDN'T CRASH, BUT SOME MANY OTHERS HAVE. KIA MUST RECALL THIS CRANKSHAFT BOLT ISSUE, SOMEONE MY GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428737

97,000 miles · Aug 13, 2011
Exterior LightingPower Train

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STOPPED TO STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT IT FELT LIKE POWER STEERING BELT WENT OUT BUT IT WAS NOT THAT IT WAS A BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I CALLED KIA HOTLINE AND THEY SAID I STILL HAVE WARRANTY BUT NOT ON THAT SCREW SO I AM LOOKING A 2 …

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STOPPED TO STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT IT FELT LIKE POWER STEERING BELT WENT OUT BUT IT WAS NOT THAT IT WAS A BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I CALLED KIA HOTLINE AND THEY SAID I STILL HAVE WARRANTY BUT NOT ON THAT SCREW SO I AM LOOKING A 2 GRAND TO FIX THIS SUV THAT HAS HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED ALL THE TIME AND THE DEALERSHIPS DO NOT BACK UP THERE PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419284

120,000 miles · Jul 18, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE MAIN CRANK SHAFT PULLY BOLT STRIPPED OUT AND CAUSED THE CRANK SHAFT TO START TO WORK ITS WAY OUT OF THE MOTOR BLOCK I TALKED TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AS A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A MAIN FAILURE IN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS OF 2003 AND 2004 THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM B…

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THE MAIN CRANK SHAFT PULLY BOLT STRIPPED OUT AND CAUSED THE CRANK SHAFT TO START TO WORK ITS WAY OUT OF THE MOTOR BLOCK I TALKED TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AS A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A MAIN FAILURE IN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS OF 2003 AND 2004 THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A DIFFERENT BOLT IN THE 2005 MODEL BUT IN MY OPINION THAT IS A FALSE STATEMENT DO TO THE FACT IT HAS FAILED IN MY 2005 SORENTO TELLING ME THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #10414268

37,945 miles · Apr 2, 2011
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. REAR BRAKES PADS WORN DOWN TO 30%. HAD REAR ROTORS TURNED AND NEW PADS INSTALLED AT 37,945 SHAKING REDUCED SOMEWHAT. AT 41,252 HAD REAR BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED,(BECAUSE THEY WHERE WARPED) AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED,CAR STILL SHAKES. MECHANIC STATES PROBLEM IS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN WHICH SOMEHOW BINDS-UPS WHEN B…

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CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. REAR BRAKES PADS WORN DOWN TO 30%. HAD REAR ROTORS TURNED AND NEW PADS INSTALLED AT 37,945 SHAKING REDUCED SOMEWHAT. AT 41,252 HAD REAR BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED,(BECAUSE THEY WHERE WARPED) AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED,CAR STILL SHAKES. MECHANIC STATES PROBLEM IS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN WHICH SOMEHOW BINDS-UPS WHEN BRAKING AND IS DESTROYING THE REAR BAKES. SHAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394018

63,000 miles · Feb 4, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP HILL AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR CHANGING GEARS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT D…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP HILL AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR CHANGING GEARS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 04/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/28/2011 *LN

NHTSA ODI #10380777

64,000 miles · Dec 7, 2010
Power TrainSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL ABNORMALLY LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT A BOL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL ABNORMALLY LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT A BOLT WITHIN THE DRIVESHAFT HAD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ODI #10369521

100,000 miles · Nov 18, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

MY 2005 SORENTO, SUV, BEGUN TO SHAKE ON THE FRONT AND LATER STOPPED. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT FOR THE MAIN BELT TO BE OFF AND HE SAID IT WAS MORE MAJOR. THE BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF IN THE MOTOR. SOME CARS FROM KIA HAD ALREADY HAD THAT COMPLAINT. I CALLED THE KIA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID YES, BUT NOT A RECALL FOR THAT MODEL DOING…

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MY 2005 SORENTO, SUV, BEGUN TO SHAKE ON THE FRONT AND LATER STOPPED. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT FOR THE MAIN BELT TO BE OFF AND HE SAID IT WAS MORE MAJOR. THE BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF IN THE MOTOR. SOME CARS FROM KIA HAD ALREADY HAD THAT COMPLAINT. I CALLED THE KIA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID YES, BUT NOT A RECALL FOR THAT MODEL DOING IT. WELL IT IS AND I AM STILL PAYING FOR SOMETHING I CAN'T USE.???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366684

7,415,378 miles · Sep 10, 2010
Power Train

2005 SORENTO LOVE THE CAR, BUT ON TAKE OFF AROUND 45 TO 50 MPH IF I'LL JERK AND LOSE SPEED BUT IF I KEEP MY FOOT IT DOES HAPPEN AS OF YET, IT JUST HOLDS THERE END MUCH GIVE LOTS OF GAS TO GET IT GOING. THAT'S THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE. PLEASE HELP. ALL THE TIME! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354876

78,360 miles · Apr 17, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

EARLIER RECALL DEFECTIVE!!! 2005 KIA SORENTO V6, HAD A RECALL OF BREAKAGE OF CRANKSHAFT ACCESSORY PULLEY BOLT. NEW BOLT FROM THE RECALL HAS ALSO FAILED. MY CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND BOLT FELL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN OPERATION. KIA SERVICE REFUSES TO COVER THE NEW BOLT ON WARRANTY. HAD BOLT TIGHTENED AT LOCAL SHOP AND IT FAILED …

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EARLIER RECALL DEFECTIVE!!! 2005 KIA SORENTO V6, HAD A RECALL OF BREAKAGE OF CRANKSHAFT ACCESSORY PULLEY BOLT. NEW BOLT FROM THE RECALL HAS ALSO FAILED. MY CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND BOLT FELL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN OPERATION. KIA SERVICE REFUSES TO COVER THE NEW BOLT ON WARRANTY. HAD BOLT TIGHTENED AT LOCAL SHOP AND IT FAILED AGAIN IN 3 DAYS!!! KIA IS FAILING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN WHICH WILL RESULT IN FATALITY ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326103

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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