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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

6 reports
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48,000 miles · Oct 19, 2015
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE FROM A PARKING SPACE AND PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AT 10 MPH. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE BEING DEPRESSED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE FROM A PARKING SPACE AND PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AT 10 MPH. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE BEING DEPRESSED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

NHTSA ODI #10783374

118,000 miles · Feb 3, 2015
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

I WAS STOPPED WAITING TO TURN INTO A FAST FOOD PLACE WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES TO TURN IN ,THE SUV TOOK OFF FROM 0 TO 60 IN A SPLIT SECOND.WHEN I TRIED TO MASH THE BRAKES IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN AND I COULDN'T STOP.I ENDED UP HITTING A TREE,THE AIR BAGS DID COME OUT.THE SUV WAS TOTALED.I CONTACTED KIA'S OFFICE AND THEY HAD THE SUV…

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I WAS STOPPED WAITING TO TURN INTO A FAST FOOD PLACE WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES TO TURN IN ,THE SUV TOOK OFF FROM 0 TO 60 IN A SPLIT SECOND.WHEN I TRIED TO MASH THE BRAKES IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN AND I COULDN'T STOP.I ENDED UP HITTING A TREE,THE AIR BAGS DID COME OUT.THE SUV WAS TOTALED.I CONTACTED KIA'S OFFICE AND THEY HAD THE SUV TOWED TO A LOT FOR INVESTIGATION.AS OF THIS DATE I HAVEN'T HEARD FORM KIA AS TO WHAT THEY FOUND OUT.THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE KIA TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN WITH ME .I WOULD LIKE THIS ACCIDENT OFF MY RECORD AND INFO AS TO WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE KIA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680991

118,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 5 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. AS A RESULT OF ONE OF THE FAILURES, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJ…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 5 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. AS A RESULT OF ONE OF THE FAILURES, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10615740

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

29,500 miles · Apr 30, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

TWICE AFTER DRIVING OUR 2005 KIA SORRENTO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF APPROX 75 MPH, THEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN HEADING UPHILL CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR AND COULD ONLY GO ABOUT 45 MPH. LUCKILY, THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD - WE LET IT REST A WHILE AND THEN IT WAS OK. THE SECOND TIME WE A…

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TWICE AFTER DRIVING OUR 2005 KIA SORRENTO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF APPROX 75 MPH, THEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN HEADING UPHILL CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR AND COULD ONLY GO ABOUT 45 MPH. LUCKILY, THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD - WE LET IT REST A WHILE AND THEN IT WAS OK. THE SECOND TIME WE AGAIN HAD THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR GOING UPHILL BUT IT ONLY DID ABOUT 35- 45. WHEN WE REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. BOTH TIMES CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON - BUT NOT IN ACTIVE USE AND THE AC WAS ON. BOTH TIMES WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED AC OFF BUT IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. WE ASKED LOCAL KIA DEALER TO CHECK ON IT THEY ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, SO THERE WAS NO INCIDENT CODE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T BE SURE WHAT CAUSED IT. WE ASKED IF IT WOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULD NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267345

75,000 miles · Dec 2, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

IDLER AIR CONTROL VALVE- BAD ON 2005 KIA SORENTO, 75, 000 MILES REPAIR COST STEVEN KIA WICHITA KS, $570.00 DEALER SAID THE VALVE WOULD NEED REPLACED, AND PINS CLEANED.. SYMPTOMS, VEHICLE DIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN WONT STAY RUNNING, CAR ONE TIME IDLED UP ON IT OWN AT A VERY HIGH ACCELERATION, SCARED ME, I HAD TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL…

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IDLER AIR CONTROL VALVE- BAD ON 2005 KIA SORENTO, 75, 000 MILES REPAIR COST STEVEN KIA WICHITA KS, $570.00 DEALER SAID THE VALVE WOULD NEED REPLACED, AND PINS CLEANED.. SYMPTOMS, VEHICLE DIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN WONT STAY RUNNING, CAR ONE TIME IDLED UP ON IT OWN AT A VERY HIGH ACCELERATION, SCARED ME, I HAD TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL IT DIDN'T WORK, THEN TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250474

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