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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

Structure complaints

14 reports
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65,478 miles · May 20, 2014
StructureSuspension

TOOK MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IN FOR A STATE INSPECTION MECHANIC PULLS ME IN THE SHOP AND SHOWS ME THE PROBLEM LEFT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OFF AND THE RIGHT SIDE IS NOT FAR BEHIND.I AM A WELDER FABRICATOR BY TRADE SO I LOOK AT THE AXKE HOUSING AND INSTANTLY SEE THE ISSUE THE BRACKETS WHERE WELDED ON WITH …

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TOOK MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IN FOR A STATE INSPECTION MECHANIC PULLS ME IN THE SHOP AND SHOWS ME THE PROBLEM LEFT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OFF AND THE RIGHT SIDE IS NOT FAR BEHIND.I AM A WELDER FABRICATOR BY TRADE SO I LOOK AT THE AXKE HOUSING AND INSTANTLY SEE THE ISSUE THE BRACKETS WHERE WELDED ON WITH NO DRAIN HOLES THERE IS BASICALLY A CUP CREATED BY THE BRACKET THAT IS ABOUT 3 INCHES DEEP THAT HOLDS EVERY BIT OF WATER THAT GETS THROWN IN THERE THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DESIGN FLAW BRILLIANT ENGINEERS THAT NEVER THINK ABOUT THE REAL WORLD THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OH THE REST OF THE AXLE HOUSING IS BARELY RUSTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592900

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

52,000 miles · Nov 8, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

CAR POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS CHECKED BUT ADDING FLUID DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE FAILED TO START, NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC. AFTER INSPECTION BY MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE OFF FROM THE CAR. CONSEQUENTLY THIS BROKE THE TIMING BELT AND MAY HAVE BENT TH…

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CAR POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS CHECKED BUT ADDING FLUID DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE FAILED TO START, NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC. AFTER INSPECTION BY MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE OFF FROM THE CAR. CONSEQUENTLY THIS BROKE THE TIMING BELT AND MAY HAVE BENT THE VALVE RODS (MECHANIC IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE APART AND ASSESSING ANY OTHER SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BROKEN CRANK SHAFT BOLT). THE VEHICLE NEEDS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF REPAIRS (STILL BEING DETERMINED AS TO THE ENTIRE SCOPE). THE BOLT, TIMING BELT AND MOST LIKELY VALVE RODS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS HOURS OF LABOR DUE TO THE FACT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN APART AND PUT BACK TOGETHER. THE OLD CRANK SHAFT BOLT IS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365061

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