Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Kia Sorento engine problems

113 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2003 Kia Sorento, which is 27% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
113 27% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
78,000 miles 99 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
3 and 1
Injuries and deaths
2 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2003 Kia Sorento Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 78,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 5 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 10 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 15 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 22 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 13 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 9 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 13 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 5 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 6 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 1 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 78,000 miles
Based on 99 complaints that include mileage. 30% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles5
20k to 40k miles10
40k to 60k miles15
60k to 80k miles22
80k to 100k miles13
100k to 120k miles9
120k to 140k miles13
140k to 160k miles5
160k to 180k miles6
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles1

What the data shows

Of the 99 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 78,000 miles, and 30% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries.

What owners wrote

While driving on hwy 275 at 60 MPH. Engine lights came on and steering wheel locked..total system power failure..2 daughters almost lost their lives trying to maneuver this death missile to emergency lane..just in time to miss multiple tractor trailers vehicles from crushing them..not to mention multiple passenger cars in harms way from defective part replaced malfunctioning again...

Reported at 120,000 miles, August 2012 Injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. While driving 45 MPH, the crank shaft failed and the vehicle was towed. The total cost of the rental expense was $600. The contact stated that when the crankshaft failed, he was stranded. The kia dealer claimed to have repaired the vehicle. There are no warning indicators present when the failure occurs. The manufacturer stated that they could not be of assistance. The vehicle was repaired under warranty. The current mileage is 48,000 and failure mileage was 40,000.

Reported at 48,438 miles, May 2007

Other problems reported for the 2003 Kia Sorento

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Kia models