NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
307 reportsMileage unknown · Aug 5, 2014
EngineExterior LightingSteering
FROM THE TIME I GOT THE CAR HEAD LIGHTS HAVE REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT AFTER A MONTH OR TWO, ALSO DASH LIGHTS GO OFF RANDOMLY AND FLICKER AND THEN COME BACK ON WHEN EVER THEY DECIDE,MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND A/C WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE. STARTED TO OVERHEAT, SO IT WAS DETERMINED THE SERPENTINRE BELT HAD BROKE…
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FROM THE TIME I GOT THE CAR HEAD LIGHTS HAVE REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT AFTER A MONTH OR TWO, ALSO DASH LIGHTS GO OFF RANDOMLY AND FLICKER AND THEN COME BACK ON WHEN EVER THEY DECIDE,MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND A/C WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE. STARTED TO OVERHEAT, SO IT WAS DETERMINED THE SERPENTINRE BELT HAD BROKE,REPLACED BELT AND VIBRATION UNDER HOOD WAS NOTICEABLE BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE., BUT SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD. STILL REPLACING HEADLIGHTS EVERY COUPLE MONTHS, THEN POWER STEERING FLUID STARTED TO BE CONSUMED AND CONSTANTLYT REQUIRED ADDING FLUID, THEN HAD A MECHANIC CHECK FOR LEAK AND HE REPLACED SOME HOSES AND CLAMPS BUT VIBRATIION CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY POWER STEERING BEGAN LOUD NOISE WHEN CAR STARTED AND ONLY WHEN REVED UP WOULD NOISE STOP, AND WHEN A/C WAS ON SOMETIMES WOULD EFFECT THE POWER STEERING NOISE. REPLACED THE POWERSTEERING PUMP, STILL THE NOISE CONTINUED AND RECENTLY THE BELT CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON , I WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD AND DIDNT CAUSE AN ACCIEDENT, BUT VERY CLOSE CALL, BELT HAD COME OFF BUT AFTER MINOR ADJUSTMENT IT WAS PUT BACK ON, VIBRATION NOISE HAS BECOME WORSE, I AM AFFRAID TO DRIVE IT, MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID HARMONIC BALANCE SEEMS TO BE OFF AND ROOT OF PROBLEM IS CRANK SHAFT BOLT MOST LIKELY , COMMON PROBLEM , HOWEVER DURING THE TIME IN KIA DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER RECALL ISSUES , CRANK BOLT WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AS BEING A PROBLEM IN MY YEAR OR MODEL CAR, NON IT TURNS OUT IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND LEGAL ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY CLASS ACTION SUIT DEALING WITH SAME ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10619131
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
ON 7/30/14 I NOTICED MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE MORNING OF 7/31/14 THE LIGHTS STILL WERE NOT WORKING SO I CHECKED THE FUSE BOXES. I FOUND A BLOWN FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD AND REPLACED IT. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STILL WOULD NOT WORK. THE EVENING OF 7/31/14 I AGAIN CHECKED THE FUSES AND FOUND THE FUSE I…
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ON 7/30/14 I NOTICED MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE MORNING OF 7/31/14 THE LIGHTS STILL WERE NOT WORKING SO I CHECKED THE FUSE BOXES. I FOUND A BLOWN FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD AND REPLACED IT. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STILL WOULD NOT WORK. THE EVENING OF 7/31/14 I AGAIN CHECKED THE FUSES AND FOUND THE FUSE I HAD JUST REPLACED IN THE MORNING WAS AGAIN BLOWN. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND HAD MY HUSBAND STAND AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I TURNED THE IGNITION AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON. IMMEDIATELY UPON TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WE HEARD A "POP," CHECKED THE FUSE AND IT HAD ONCE AGAIN BLOWN. WE TRIED A THIRD FUSE AND IT BLEW AS WELL AS SOON AS I TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THREE FUSES IN ONE DAY AND STILL NO ANSWER ON HOW TO GET MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO WORK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10618084
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
122,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Engine
THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A VERY LOUD TICK/KNOCK IN THE MOTOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10615599
85,000 miles · Jul 19, 2014
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON WHITE BRIDGE ROAD IN WEST NASHVILLE WHEN A CAR RAN A STOP SIGN HITTING ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH TOTALED MY CAR THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THAT IT KNOCKED THE CAR SEVERAL FEET FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10614700
105,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE BOLT BROKE KIA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10607130
115,085 miles · Jun 28, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train
I BOUGHT MY KIA NEW IT HAS SPORTS PACKAGE , I HAVE HAD TO REPLAIN SHOP ALL THE TIME CE HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES THE LAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN TOTAL MESS POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES BLEW OUT THEN IN MAY WENT TO AIR PORT PICKED UP DAUGHTER CAR WAS NOTHING NO START TOW TRUCK ..AUTO SHOP FIRST SAID PLUG IN READER SAID CRANK SHAFT SENSOR…
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I BOUGHT MY KIA NEW IT HAS SPORTS PACKAGE , I HAVE HAD TO REPLAIN SHOP ALL THE TIME CE HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES THE LAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN TOTAL MESS POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES BLEW OUT THEN IN MAY WENT TO AIR PORT PICKED UP DAUGHTER CAR WAS NOTHING NO START TOW TRUCK ..AUTO SHOP FIRST SAID PLUG IN READER SAID CRANK SHAFT SENSOR THEN IT SAID STARTER BAD SO REPLACED STARTER IT STARTS BUT IT NOW WHINES I TOOK IT BACK HE SAID IT IS THE STARTER BRAND . I AM ALWAYS WORRIED IF IT WILL START AND IF I HAVE LIGHTS I LOVE MY KIA BUT IT HAS HAD ELECTRIC PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1 KIA SHOULD RECALL 2005 DUE TO THIS . LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING AND IT WENT FROM REG DRIVE TO LOW IT HAS SHIFTER IT HAS BUTTON THAT HAS TO BE PUSHED IN TO CHANGE DRIVE OVER DRIVE LOW I NEVER PUSHED IT IT DID IT ON ITS OWN THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WISH KIA WOULD STEP UP AND RECALL I WANT TO KEEP MY CAR IT IS WELL TAKEN CAR OF BUT I CANT KEEP POURING MONEY IN IT BIG $ LAST 6 MONTHS OVER 2500 IS THERE A WAY TO DO LAW SUIT I HAVE SEEN TONS PEP WITH HEADLIGHTS ISSUES SENTS I REPLACED MY FIRST ONES ALSO PAINT ON DOORS OPEN ALL GONE I NEVER EVEN USE BACK SEAT DOORS SO HOW IS IT COMING OFF IS THERE A LAWYER OUT HERE WHO OIWNS A KIA HELP...... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10606637
108,500 miles · Jun 21, 2014
Exterior Lighting
NOTE: PURCHASED VEHICLE USED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AND 500 MILES BEFORE PROBLEMS INITIALLY STARTED. 1) HEADLIGHT BULBS BLOW OUT REPEATEDLY EITHER DURING DRIVING OR AN ONSET OF DRIVING (COME ON MOMENTARILY JUST BEFORE BLOWING). HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS ON 5 OCCASIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. RESEAR…
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NOTE: PURCHASED VEHICLE USED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AND 500 MILES BEFORE PROBLEMS INITIALLY STARTED. 1) HEADLIGHT BULBS BLOW OUT REPEATEDLY EITHER DURING DRIVING OR AN ONSET OF DRIVING (COME ON MOMENTARILY JUST BEFORE BLOWING). HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS ON 5 OCCASIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. RESEARCH ON THE MATTER INDICATES THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AMONG KIA SORENTO OWNERS. OBSERVED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE BULBS BLEW OUT AFTER USING THE KEY FOB. STOPPED USING THE KEY FOB AND THE BULB BLOWOUTS STOPPED, BUT ISSUE #2 CONTINUES (SEE NEXT INCIDENT DESCRIPTION). 2) HEADLIGHTS LOW BEAMS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS STOP WORKING DURING DRIVING AT NIGHT OR WILL NOT WORK FROM ONSET OF DRIVING. INCIDENT OCCURS AT LEAST MONTHLY DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES PER MONTH. LOW BEAMS START WORKING AGAIN ON INTERMITTENT BASIS. OBSERVED THAT IF THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ONSET OF DRIVING, AFTER SWITCHING THE LOW BEAMS ON AND OFF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF TIMES (20+) THEY WILL SOMETIMES START WORKING AGAIN (LEARNED THIS AFTER BEING STRANDED AT NIGHT WITHOUT ABILITY TO SAFELY DRIVE). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10604941
117,000 miles · Jun 3, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering
I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO. THIS MORNING, DRIVING MY YOUNG SON TO SCHOOL, I LOST THE STEERING ON MY VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS AN ONGOING DEFECTIVE ISSUE WITH KIA'S. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR THE PUBLIC …
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I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO. THIS MORNING, DRIVING MY YOUNG SON TO SCHOOL, I LOST THE STEERING ON MY VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS AN ONGOING DEFECTIVE ISSUE WITH KIA'S. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS CONSUMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10595810
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