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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

What owners actually said

307 reports
94,000 miles · Oct 1, 2014
Power TrainSuspension

MY 2005 KIA SORENTO JUST WENT IN FOR A TRANSMISSION LEAK AT 94K AND CAME OUT WITH NEEDING A NEW TRANNY PAN AND A WHOLE NEW REAR END UNDERNEATH DUE TO THE REAR TRAILING ARM BRACKET ROTTING COMPLETELY AWAY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH MANY ARE HAVING. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, IT'S THE DESIGN OF THE BRACKET WHICH CAUSES…

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MY 2005 KIA SORENTO JUST WENT IN FOR A TRANSMISSION LEAK AT 94K AND CAME OUT WITH NEEDING A NEW TRANNY PAN AND A WHOLE NEW REAR END UNDERNEATH DUE TO THE REAR TRAILING ARM BRACKET ROTTING COMPLETELY AWAY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH MANY ARE HAVING. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, IT'S THE DESIGN OF THE BRACKET WHICH CAUSES SALT, WATER, ETC TO ENTER AND HAVE NO WAY TO EXIT. ANY OF THESE VEHICLES IN THE SALT STATES ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AND THEN TRAGEDY WILL HAPPEN IF THEY DON'T CATCH IT. AGAIN THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS ROTTED BRACKETS THAT ATTACH THE TRAILING ARMS AND WITHOUT THEM THE CAR BECOMES COMPLETELY UNSTABLE AND A HUGE SAFELY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640674

94,000 miles · Oct 1, 2014
EnginePower TrainSteering

KIA SORENTO 2005, SIMILAR CRANK BOLT MAIN PULLEY ASSEMBLY BREAK THAT MANY, MANY OF THE OTHERS HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT AND UNFORTUNATELY BEEN EXPERIENCING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD THIS VERY SAME ISSUE REPAIRED FOR SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS AND NOW MY MECHANIC STATED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH THREAD LEFT INTO THE CRANKSHAFT TO FI…

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KIA SORENTO 2005, SIMILAR CRANK BOLT MAIN PULLEY ASSEMBLY BREAK THAT MANY, MANY OF THE OTHERS HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT AND UNFORTUNATELY BEEN EXPERIENCING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD THIS VERY SAME ISSUE REPAIRED FOR SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS AND NOW MY MECHANIC STATED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH THREAD LEFT INTO THE CRANKSHAFT TO FIX AND IT NEEDS A COMPLETELY REBUILD OR ENGINE REPLACEMENT - WHICH IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE LESS EXPENSIVE. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FOR THIS - AS SO MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THANK GOD MY INCIDENTS WERE ALL AT SLOW SPEED BECAUSE THIS WOULD EASILY CAUSE A CRASH BECAUSE YOU LOOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640618

93,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

INTERIOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTING TURNS ITSELF OFF AND ON. HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY SHUT THEMSELVES OFF. LIGHTS REGULARLY BURN OUT/NEED REPLACING EVERY 45-90 DAYS. DASH LIGHTS HAVEN'T WORKED IN OVER A YEAR - FUSE REGULARLY BLOWS, GAVE UP ON REPLACING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638165

101,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Electrical SystemEnginePower TrainCrash

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH 22 NOV 2013, HEARD A THUMP FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE, ENDING UP IN A DITCH. ENGINE STOPPED, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START. CRANK PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF. OVER 5 HOURS TO EXTRACT REMAINDER OF BOLT TO REPAIR ENGINE. $1359 IN …

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DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH 22 NOV 2013, HEARD A THUMP FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE, ENDING UP IN A DITCH. ENGINE STOPPED, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START. CRANK PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF. OVER 5 HOURS TO EXTRACT REMAINDER OF BOLT TO REPAIR ENGINE. $1359 IN REPAIRS. NOW, 22 SEPT 2014, 10 MONTHS LATER, HAD SAME HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THANKFUL I WAS IN A LANE AT THE EDGE OF THE ROADWAY. CURRENT MILEAGE SLIGHTLY UNDER 114,000. YEAH. 10 MONTHS AND 13000 MILES AND ANOTHER HUGE REPAIR BILL. NO RECALL, KIA CLAIMS NO LIABILITY. OTHER ISSUE: INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNS ITSELF OFF AND ON AT WHIM. HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT EVERY 45-90 DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638162

140,000 miles · Sep 16, 2014
EngineSteering

IN SEPTEMBER 2012, TRAVELING AT 35MPH MY KIA CAME TO A STOP. AT FIRST GLANCE IT WAS DETERMINED THE DRIVE BELTS HAD UNFASTENED AND THE CAM SHAFT BOLT WAS LAYING ON THE ENGINE PAN. AFTER INSPECTION AT KIA SERVICE SHOP THE SPECIALIST IDENTIFIED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART: CAM SHAFT SPROCKET-C,…

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IN SEPTEMBER 2012, TRAVELING AT 35MPH MY KIA CAME TO A STOP. AT FIRST GLANCE IT WAS DETERMINED THE DRIVE BELTS HAD UNFASTENED AND THE CAM SHAFT BOLT WAS LAYING ON THE ENGINE PAN. AFTER INSPECTION AT KIA SERVICE SHOP THE SPECIALIST IDENTIFIED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART: CAM SHAFT SPROCKET-C, PART # 23120-35701 COST $60.00. THE FINAL SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE BOLT SET, SPROCKET, CRANK ANGLE SENSOR, DAMPER PULLEY, AUTO TENSIONER AND ALL DRIVE BELTS A TOTAL OF $2,000 REPAIR COST. IN 2014, THE COST REPAIR IS NOW 4,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE SAME EXACT ISSUE BUT TRAVELING OVER 40MPG CAUSING MORE DAMAGE. THE MAIN CAUSE OF THIS DEFECT DERIVES FROM THE SMALL PIN ATTACHED TO THE SPROCKET THAT TURNS THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND GRINDS THE STEEL WITH THE FORCE OF THE ENGINE INTO NOTHING. THE RESULT OF THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE HARMONIC BALANCER TO COME LOSE, SHEARING OFF THE CRANK BOLT FIRST, THEN IF TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED WILL FOLLOW WITH THE REPAIR ABOVE, HOWEVER IF AT HIGH SPEED WILL RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE IN THE VALVES MAKING IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $4,000. YOU MAY REFER TO THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION: THE KIA SORENTO ENGINE DEFECT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CASE IS ROBINSON EL AL V. KIA MOTORS AMERICA INC. CASE NO. 13-CV00006 US DISTRICT COURT OF NEW JERSEY. FOR A VIDEO VISUAL OF THE EXACT DEFECT YOU MAY REFER TO YOUTUBE: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QHLL55FV2Z0. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633672

94,565 miles · Sep 7, 2014
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WHEN I FINALLY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE DEAD. I FINALLY HAD TO HAV…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WHEN I FINALLY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE DEAD. I FINALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AROUND 11 P.M. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BOLD BROKE OFF.CAUSING THE PULLEYS TO STOP WHICH AFFECTED EVERYTHING THAT WAS DRIVEN BY THE PULLEYS. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. INITIAL ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $1550. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631315

120,000 miles · Sep 5, 2014
StructureSuspension

WENT TO GET THE KIA CHECKED OUT FOR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE BACK FRAME AND SUSPENSION WERE SO ROTTED OUT THEY COULD NOT PUT ON A LIFT TO SEE THE TRANSMISSION. IN MY FINDING THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631021

117,000 miles · Sep 2, 2014
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ODI #10630157

130,000 miles · Aug 24, 2014
Power Train

THE VEHICLE IS SIMPLY NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE UPON TAKING OFF OR GOING UPHILL. AFTER LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL. A METAL PIECE OF A VALVE HAS BEEN SHEARING OFF THEN LODGING IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CANADA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL SO I AM UNSURE WHY THE US HASN'T FOLLOWED …

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THE VEHICLE IS SIMPLY NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE UPON TAKING OFF OR GOING UPHILL. AFTER LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL. A METAL PIECE OF A VALVE HAS BEEN SHEARING OFF THEN LODGING IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CANADA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL SO I AM UNSURE WHY THE US HASN'T FOLLOWED SUIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627872

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2014
Engine

DAUGHTER HAD CRANKED VEHICLE AFTER COMING INTO GRANDMOTHER'S AFTER HER WEDDING GETTING FOOD. SHE SAID THE STEERING WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE MOTOR SEEMED TO BE HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS SO I TOLD HER TO PARK IT AND NOT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO BE LOOKED AT.MY NEPHEW LOOKED AT IT SAID IT SEEMED TO BE THE B…

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DAUGHTER HAD CRANKED VEHICLE AFTER COMING INTO GRANDMOTHER'S AFTER HER WEDDING GETTING FOOD. SHE SAID THE STEERING WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE MOTOR SEEMED TO BE HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS SO I TOLD HER TO PARK IT AND NOT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO BE LOOKED AT.MY NEPHEW LOOKED AT IT SAID IT SEEMED TO BE THE BOLT COMING OUT OF HARMONIC BALANCER. I BOUGHT IT USED BUT IT WAS PURCHASED AT KIA IN HUNTERSVILLE,N.C. FROM THE PERSON I PURCHASED IT FROM. AFTER TAKING IT BACK THERE TO BE LOOKED AT THEY DID UNAUTHORIZED WORK BREAKING THE BOLT OFF THEN TELLING ME I HAD TO BE THE ONE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I EVEN WENT TO KIA IN GASTONIA,N.C. THEY DIDN'T SEEMED TO BE CONCERNED AT ALL AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE IT AS A TRADE IN SO I STARTED DOING RESEARCH AS TO ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619174

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