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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

Suspension complaints

25 reports
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135,000 miles · Apr 4, 2014
Suspension

I TOOK MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS I ALWAYS DO. THEN I WAS BROUGHT INTO THE GARAGE AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP, WHERE MY CAR WAS UP ON A LIFT AND SHOWN NOTHING BUT COMPLETE RUST/ROT ON THE REAR AXEL. THE BRACKET ON THE LEFT SIDE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR. NOW, HOW DO…

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I TOOK MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS I ALWAYS DO. THEN I WAS BROUGHT INTO THE GARAGE AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP, WHERE MY CAR WAS UP ON A LIFT AND SHOWN NOTHING BUT COMPLETE RUST/ROT ON THE REAR AXEL. THE BRACKET ON THE LEFT SIDE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR. NOW, HOW DOES A CAR RUST IN 9 YEARS? THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT WITH THEM USING CHEAP METAL. SORRY! CARS SHOULD NOT RUST OUT IN 9 YEARS. SO, NOW I HAVE TO SPEND $1700.00 TO REPLACE IT. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE COST OF THE OIL CHANGE AND REPLACING THE COOLANT BUCKET BECAUSE IT HAS A HOLE. OH, AND MY RENTAL CAR. I'M MAD AND UPSET! UP UNTIL NOW, I HAVE BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR KIA, NOT ANYMORE. BTW....THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD TO PUT OVER $1000.00 INTO THIS CAR THAT I HAVE ONLY OWNED FOR TWO YEARS. THANKS KIA!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577306

115,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Suspension

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR A REGULAR YEARLY INSPECTION. TOLD MY MECHANIC IT HAD BEEN MAKING A WEIRD NOISE IN THE REAR, THOUGHT MAYBE I NEEDED BREAK PADS. TURNS OUT MY VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE DUE TO AS SUSPENSION ISSUE. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET WELDED TO THE REAR AXLE ON BOTH SIDE ARE ROTTED RIGHT THROUGH…

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I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR A REGULAR YEARLY INSPECTION. TOLD MY MECHANIC IT HAD BEEN MAKING A WEIRD NOISE IN THE REAR, THOUGHT MAYBE I NEEDED BREAK PADS. TURNS OUT MY VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE DUE TO AS SUSPENSION ISSUE. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET WELDED TO THE REAR AXLE ON BOTH SIDE ARE ROTTED RIGHT THROUGH/OFF. KNOWLEDGEABLE MECHANIC SAID HE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING SOMETHING TO REPLACE IT. KIA DOES NOT EVEN SELL THE PART. I CALLED CORPORATE AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP. TOLD ME TO FIND A SALVAGE YARD AND REPLACE IT THAT WAY. HORRIBLE QUALITY! PASSENGER SIDE LET GO FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573459

85,000 miles · Oct 13, 2013
Suspension

VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE DUE TO AS SUSPENSION ISSUE. UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET WELDED TO THE REAR AXLE ON BOTH SIDE ARE ROTTED RIGHT THROUGH/OFF. DRIVER SIDE LET GO FIRST. THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS CAR HAS LOW MILES AND IS NOT EVEN TEN YEARS OLD. POOR QUALITY METAL. I HOPE THIS BECOMES A RECALL. …

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VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE DUE TO AS SUSPENSION ISSUE. UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET WELDED TO THE REAR AXLE ON BOTH SIDE ARE ROTTED RIGHT THROUGH/OFF. DRIVER SIDE LET GO FIRST. THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS CAR HAS LOW MILES AND IS NOT EVEN TEN YEARS OLD. POOR QUALITY METAL. I HOPE THIS BECOMES A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547765

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2011
Suspension

BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE REAR END UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED INTO TWO USELESS PIECES. ONLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND SIDE LINK OR CANARD IS HOLDING THE REAR END IN PLACE, ANY TORQUE APPLIED COULD POTENTIALLY TWIST THE REAR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE, OBVIOUSLY THE METAL IS BAD AND WITH NO WEEP HOLES SALT, WATER, E…

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BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE REAR END UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED INTO TWO USELESS PIECES. ONLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND SIDE LINK OR CANARD IS HOLDING THE REAR END IN PLACE, ANY TORQUE APPLIED COULD POTENTIALLY TWIST THE REAR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE, OBVIOUSLY THE METAL IS BAD AND WITH NO WEEP HOLES SALT, WATER, ETC. HOLD IN BRACKET. I THOUGHT THE HANDLING FELT BAD, AND HEARD SLIGHT, EVER SO SLIGHT CLUNKING, WOULD NEVER HAVE SUSPECTED THIS UNTIL TOO LATE EXCEPT I WAS CHECKING BRAKE PADS AND NOTICED THE DISCONNECTED SUSPENSION, NOW MUST GRIND OFF OLD BRACKETS, FABRICATE NEW ONES AND WELD ON AFTER FREEING UP UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLTS, NOT YOUR NORMAL MECHANIC WORK ON A 6 YEAR OLD CAR,,[XXX],,I FEAR WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THE UNSUSPECTING NORMAL PERSON,,STAY WELL CLEAR OF ANY SORENTO'S YOU SEE ON THE ROAD, AND BY ALL MEANS INFORM ANY OWNERS OF THESE TO CHECK THEIR UPPER CONTROL ARMS BRACKETS. THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL. WHY SHOULD WE (I) HAVE TO REPAIR OR JUNK AN OTHERWISE GOOD CAR. P.S. ANY AND ALL GARAGES THAT INSPECT THIS CAR SHOULD BE FAILING THEM AND IF THERE NOT THEY AREN'T LOOKING AT THE SUSPENSION WELL ENOUGH, EVERY ONE I CHECKED, THREE SO FAR ARE IN VARIOUSLY ILL SHAPE, NOT COMPLETE FAILURE BUT SO CLOSE, TO CALL THEM UNSAFE AGAIN [XXX] METAL BRACKETS, OTHER PIECES OF METAL CLOSE BY LOOK BRAND NEW, THANKS, I FEEL BETTER NOW, TIME TO RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR *KB UPDATED 06/13/13*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10441707

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

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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