2003 Kia Sorento problems
The 2003 Kia Sorento has 421 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (27%) concerns engine. After that come fuel system (18%) and air bags (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 421 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 13 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 72,000 miles 337 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 45 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 49 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 38 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 56 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 39 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 29 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 31 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 26 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 20 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 337 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 72,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 78,000 miles (99 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 13 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 13th most-complained-about out of 22 model years of the Kia Sorento with enough data (181 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I am the attorney for three minor children. They were seriously injured, and their father was killed in a rollover in las vegas, nevada in february, 2006. The rear b.f. Goodrich tire on the 2003 kia sorento that the father was driving blew out and separated, resulting in the rollover. The tire was apparently plugged the day before at a las vegas tire shop.
The air bag did not deploy when the vehicle was involved in a front-end accident. As a result of the accident and the air bag not deploying, the consumer suffered neck and back injuries.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. While driving 15-20 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver side door of the contacts vehicle. The passenger side front seat belt disengaged, which caused the passenger to sustain bruises to the chest. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle and the insurance company has not yet determined if the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 86,000. *updated 12/12/07 missouri accident report.
The car been a problem since first year , I called district manager for kia back in 2004,told him car was skipping beat, and shaking...he told me is was my imagination...the 2nd big problem<which I had to solve through computer investigation> car would just start losing power in I-95 or fl.turnpike and come to stand still, no matter how much I pressed the gas pedal, no go, almost got in several accidents in I-95,florida late at nite...spend $800 at kia of kendall in florida, in miami, told me was fuel…
While pumping, the fuel spits back out from the tank. It is rather annoying as I lose money fueling and it takes forever to fuel. Normally when I reach about $15.00 in gas it begins regurgitating. This happens every time I attempt to fuel.