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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
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2005
Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE INTERMITENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10114176

45 miles · Mar 6, 2005
Air Bags

THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT REMAIN LIT EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE 2005 KIA SORENTO EX FOR 2 DAYS AND EVERYTIME A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT THEY MUST TRY TO REPOSITION THEMSELVES AND THEN YOU TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE ENGINE BEFORE LIGHT WILL GO OFF. I HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE …

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THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT REMAIN LIT EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE 2005 KIA SORENTO EX FOR 2 DAYS AND EVERYTIME A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT THEY MUST TRY TO REPOSITION THEMSELVES AND THEN YOU TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE ENGINE BEFORE LIGHT WILL GO OFF. I HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE POSTED ON SOME KIA DISCUSSION FORUMS AND SO FAR DEALERS HAVE NO ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10112599

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2005
Air Bags

THE DRIVER NOTICED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING OR PARKED. THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAIN ON. THE DRIVER DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE DRIVER INF…

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THE DRIVER NOTICED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING OR PARKED. THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAIN ON. THE DRIVER DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10113103

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2005
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE CAN NOT LEAN BACK IN THE SEAT OR LEAN AGAINST THE WINDOW. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG…

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THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE CAN NOT LEAN BACK IN THE SEAT OR LEAN AGAINST THE WINDOW. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN SOMEONE OVER 50 POUNDS IS IN THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10107215

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CLOCK DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD OR STARTING COLD WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR BACKING AND PULLING FORWARD AND A SHUDDER FEELING WAS IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS A SUPPOSED SERVICE BULLETIN IN REFERENCE TO THE ABS/BRAKE PEDAL. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DASH LIGHT DI…

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THE CLOCK DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD OR STARTING COLD WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR BACKING AND PULLING FORWARD AND A SHUDDER FEELING WAS IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS A SUPPOSED SERVICE BULLETIN IN REFERENCE TO THE ABS/BRAKE PEDAL. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DASH LIGHT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WITH THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT HEIGHT A WEIGHT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE DASH DISPLAY FAILED TO LIGHT UP WHEN THE PASSENGERS DID NOT HAVE THEIR SEAT BELTS ON, NOISE IN THE STEERING HAD WORSENED SINCE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT, THERE WAS A WHINING AND OR WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OR IN THE AXLE AS THE WHEEL WAS BEING TURNED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10111047

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2005
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

2005 KIA SORENTO EX DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CLOCK WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR BACKING AND PULLING FORWARD, A SHUDDER IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, A CUT IN T…

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2005 KIA SORENTO EX DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CLOCK WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR BACKING AND PULLING FORWARD, A SHUDDER IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, A CUT IN THE LEATHER PASSENGER SEAT. ON 4 OCCASIONS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT DASH LIGHT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WITH 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT WEIGHTS/HEIGHTS WERE SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE POWER STEERING FAILED 3 TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE SHUDDER IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NORMAL AND WAS A PART OF THE ABS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10128000

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

WHILE DRIVING A LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD A SENSOR ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THE PANEL LIGHT TO FLASH AND THE POWER TO BE LOST. THE PANEL LIGHT FLASHED TWICE AND STAYED ON THE SECOND TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS AN EMISSION LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER EXPLANATION. T…

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WHILE DRIVING A LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD A SENSOR ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THE PANEL LIGHT TO FLASH AND THE POWER TO BE LOST. THE PANEL LIGHT FLASHED TWICE AND STAYED ON THE SECOND TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS AN EMISSION LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER EXPLANATION. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE JUMP STARTED BUT IT DID NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN A CHOICE TO TAKE ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS AN EXCHANGE FOR HER PURCHASED VEHICLE THAT FAILED. THE CLOCK DID NOT KEEP TIME AND THE LIGHT SWITCH DID NOT TURN ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCK FOR THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE CLOCK HAS TO BE RESET EVERY TIME THE CONSUMER GETS IN THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109736

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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