Vehicle Data Hub

2005 Kia Sorento engine problems

106 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2005 Kia Sorento, which is 23% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
106 23% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
94,000 miles 99 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
3 and 2
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2005 Kia Sorento Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 94,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 7 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 3 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 13 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 16 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 15 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 27 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 10 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 4 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 1 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 2 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 94,000 miles
Based on 99 complaints that include mileage. 23% 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 miles7
20k to 40k miles3
40k to 60k miles13
60k to 80k miles16
80k to 100k miles15
100k to 120k miles27
120k to 140k miles10
140k to 160k miles4
160k to 180k miles1
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles2

What the data shows

Of the 99 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 94,000 miles, and 23% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

I was stopped waiting to turn into a fast food place when I let off the brakes to turn in ,the SUV took off from 0 to 60 in a split second.when I tried to mash the brakes it wouldn't go down and I couldn't stop.I ended up hitting a tree,the air bags did come out.the SUV was totaled.I contacted kia's office and they had the SUV towed to a lot for investigation.as of this date I haven't heard form kia as to what they found out.this was the second time the kia took off on it's own with me .I would like this accident…

Reported at 118,000 miles, July 2014 CrashInjury

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.

Reported at 117,000 miles, June 2014

Other problems reported for the 2005 Kia Sorento

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Kia models