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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

Seats complaints

8 reports
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50,000 miles · Nov 10, 2017
Air BagsSeats

SEAT SENSOR ON MY KIA SORENTO FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. WHEN A PASSENGER SETS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS ON. YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, YOU DRIVE AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON. CITY OR HIGHWAY TRAVEL, THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IF OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11045207

60,000 miles · Jun 3, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeats

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL ELECTRONIC ISSUES. ONE OWNER WITH A GARAGE PARKED LOW MILEAGE SUV. THE DRIVER SEAT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. ALL OTHER ADJUSTMENTS WORK FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS BUT NOW SEEMS TO BE A PERMANENT PROBLEM. THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN YOU OPEN THE DO…

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THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL ELECTRONIC ISSUES. ONE OWNER WITH A GARAGE PARKED LOW MILEAGE SUV. THE DRIVER SEAT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. ALL OTHER ADJUSTMENTS WORK FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS BUT NOW SEEMS TO BE A PERMANENT PROBLEM. THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOORS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN ALARM DINGS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUALLY BURN OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10723166

98,900 miles · Jul 2, 2013
Air BagsSeats

WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT USED TO TURN OFF, NOW WHEN THEY SIT IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE AIR BAG IS OFF AND I HAVE AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON IN MY DASH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HIS SOFTWARE SHOWS A RECALL BUT KIA SAYS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. HIS SOFTWARE SAYS RESTRAINTS AND SA…

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WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT USED TO TURN OFF, NOW WHEN THEY SIT IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE AIR BAG IS OFF AND I HAVE AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON IN MY DASH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HIS SOFTWARE SHOWS A RECALL BUT KIA SAYS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. HIS SOFTWARE SAYS RESTRAINTS AND SAFETY SYSTEM: RECALLS CAMPAIGN - SEAT OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM REFLASH. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522816

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

46,000 miles · Mar 16, 2008
SeatsCrashInjury

MY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH WE WERE REAR ENDED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BACKS FELL BACKWARD AND THE SEAT BOTTOMS PUSHED BACK, THEREFORE RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACKS BEING PUSHED INTO MY SONS WHO WERE IN CAR SEATS BEHIND US. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN BUT NOT ONLY WAS ME AND MY HUSBA…

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MY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH WE WERE REAR ENDED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BACKS FELL BACKWARD AND THE SEAT BOTTOMS PUSHED BACK, THEREFORE RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACKS BEING PUSHED INTO MY SONS WHO WERE IN CAR SEATS BEHIND US. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN BUT NOT ONLY WAS ME AND MY HUSBANDS INJURED BECAUSE OF THE SEATS, BOTH MY SONS WERE INJURED WHEN THE SEATS FELL BACK AND PUSHED IN ON THEM. I WANT SOMETHING DONE SO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY. THIS IS A SEVERE DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221364

41,000 miles · Aug 8, 2007
Seats

ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THE DRIVER POWER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD, BACKWARD OR RECLINED, IT WOULD LET YOU MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT AND STOP. BUT IF YOU TRIED TO RETURN THE SEAT TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, THE MOTOR WOULD NOT RESPOND. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES MY WIFE NEEDED TO GO SHOPPING AND I DECIDED TO SIT IN THE CAR WITH THE BABY, REC…

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ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THE DRIVER POWER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD, BACKWARD OR RECLINED, IT WOULD LET YOU MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT AND STOP. BUT IF YOU TRIED TO RETURN THE SEAT TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, THE MOTOR WOULD NOT RESPOND. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES MY WIFE NEEDED TO GO SHOPPING AND I DECIDED TO SIT IN THE CAR WITH THE BABY, RECLINE AND RELAX. WHEN SHE HAS RETURNED, THE SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE WHICH LEFT IT IN AN UN-DRIVABLE POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT SEEMS YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE (TAKING PRESSURE OFF THE SEAT) AND WORK THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH TO FINALLY GET THE SEAT TO MOVE. AT TIMES THIS HAS TAKEN AN HOUR IN A PARKING LOT STANDING IN THE RAIN OR IN THE HEAT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10198880

18,300 miles · Jan 3, 2006
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WE HAD ISSUES FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A FIRE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OF OUR PRE-OWNED KIA. THEN WE NOTICED THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WAS INTERMITTENT ON PICKING UP WHETHER THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. OUR CLOCK WOULD GO IN AND OUT ON THE LIGHTING ESPECIALLY OVER BUMPS. THEN WE WERE REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWA…

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WE HAD ISSUES FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A FIRE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OF OUR PRE-OWNED KIA. THEN WE NOTICED THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WAS INTERMITTENT ON PICKING UP WHETHER THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. OUR CLOCK WOULD GO IN AND OUT ON THE LIGHTING ESPECIALLY OVER BUMPS. THEN WE WERE REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE AND HOLD EITHER ME OR MY HUSBAND BACK. THEN WHEN I FELL BACK AGAINST THE SEAT THE SEAT DID NOT STAY IN PLACE AND I FELL BACKWARDS. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MUSCLE SPASMS. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED FOR THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND THEN WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10146820

50 miles · Aug 9, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

DT: 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT, T AND SENT THE SEAT OFF TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING A WH…

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DT: 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT, T AND SENT THE SEAT OFF TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING A WHILE. ALSO, THE CLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10132062

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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