Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
440–25K
2525–50K
3950–75K
4675–100K
93100–150K
10150K+
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
600 miles · Jul 20, 2005
Air Bags
MY NEW KIA SORENTO HAS "ADVANCED AIRBAGS" AND THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR IS FREQUENTLY ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH AN ADULT PROPERLY SECURED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY HAVE INDICATED BOTH TIMES THAT THE PROBLEM WON'T HAPPEN WITH THEM. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM WH…
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MY NEW KIA SORENTO HAS "ADVANCED AIRBAGS" AND THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR IS FREQUENTLY ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH AN ADULT PROPERLY SECURED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY HAVE INDICATED BOTH TIMES THAT THE PROBLEM WON'T HAPPEN WITH THEM. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL ACTUALLYWORK WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON.
NHTSA ODI #10129480
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2005
Electrical System
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE KEYS OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE DOORS TO HIS VEHICLE WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING IN EXTREME HEAT.…
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DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE KEYS OUT OF VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE DOORS TO HIS VEHICLE WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING IN EXTREME HEAT. 11/15/2005 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10127315
1,632 miles · Jun 8, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
1) SLOWED CAR TO PUT INTO PARK & CAR LUNGED FORWARDED, BACKED OFF, LUNGED FORWARD, BACKED OFF, ETC. TAPPING SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE. 2) CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART (STALLED ON ROADWAY) 3) IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, AFTER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH THE 1…
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1) SLOWED CAR TO PUT INTO PARK & CAR LUNGED FORWARDED, BACKED OFF, LUNGED FORWARD, BACKED OFF, ETC. TAPPING SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE. 2) CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART (STALLED ON ROADWAY) 3) IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, AFTER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH THE 1ST DAY IT WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ANKNOWLEDGED IT WAS "MISFIRING".) THEY HAVE NOW STATED THAT A CLIP ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COMES DISLODGED AND END UP IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 3 DAYS, AS OF THIS WRITING, AS THEY HAVE ORDERED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD.
NHTSA ODI #10124597
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2005
Air Bags
THE 2005 KIA SORENTO ADDED A FRONT PASSENGER WEIGHT DETECTION SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY ARM OR DISARM THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FOR LIGHTER WEIGHT INDIVIDUALS. THIS DETECTOR AND/OR RELATED EQUIPMENT OPERATES IRRADICALLY AND INEFFECTIVELY, LEAVING THE USERS REGULARLY UNCERTAIN REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS IS…
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THE 2005 KIA SORENTO ADDED A FRONT PASSENGER WEIGHT DETECTION SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY ARM OR DISARM THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FOR LIGHTER WEIGHT INDIVIDUALS. THIS DETECTOR AND/OR RELATED EQUIPMENT OPERATES IRRADICALLY AND INEFFECTIVELY, LEAVING THE USERS REGULARLY UNCERTAIN REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM KNOWN TO KIA BUT NO SCHEDULE EXISTS FOR A FIX.
NHTSA ODI #10123836
10,000 miles · May 26, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
DT: CALLER STATES HER SON HAD AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10122181
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2005
Air Bags
DT: CONTACT STATES THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SERVICE DEALER SAID THE AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AN ENGINEER WILL NOT BE AT THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE SYSTEM UNTIL ABOUT 6 WEEKS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10121279
100 miles · May 5, 2005
Air Bags
DT: THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS A SENSOR WHICH TURNS OFF THE AIR BAG FOR PASSENGERS UNDER A CERTAIN WEIGHT. THE AIR BAG REMAINED OFF ALTHOUGH AND ADULT OVER THE WEIGHT TARGET WEIGHT WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE SENSOR WAS OVER SENSITIVE, THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10119936
250 miles · Apr 27, 2005
Air Bags
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON INDICATING THE AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK. I TOOK IT BACK TO KIA TWICE. THEY STATED KIA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DOESN'T HAVE A FIX. THEY SAID THE AIR BAG WILL "PROBABLY DEPLOY" IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10118547
21 miles · Mar 27, 2005
Air Bags
I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2005 KIA SORENTO LAST WEEK (MARCH 18, 2005.) I LOVE THE CAR, BUT IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. IT IS SUPPOSED TO STAY OFF UNLESS A PASSENGER WEIGING MORE THAN 40 POUNDS IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY HUSBAND (200 LBS. +) AND MY FATHER IN LAW (180 LBS. +…
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I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2005 KIA SORENTO LAST WEEK (MARCH 18, 2005.) I LOVE THE CAR, BUT IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. IT IS SUPPOSED TO STAY OFF UNLESS A PASSENGER WEIGING MORE THAN 40 POUNDS IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY HUSBAND (200 LBS. +) AND MY FATHER IN LAW (180 LBS. +) HAVE SAT IN THE SEAT WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT TURN ON. I MENTIONED IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING. THEY HAVE SUPPOSIDLY CHECKED THE SENSOR SYSTEM AND IT IS "FUNCTIONING PROPERLY." I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK, BUT IF I AM EVER IN ONE WHERE MY PASSENGER IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONS, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #10114813
Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2005
Air Bags
THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN A SOMEONE SAT IN THE SEAT. THIS COULD BE UNSAFE IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 15 TIMES FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115477
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 ↗
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