2005 Kia Sorento problems
The 2005 Kia Sorento has 457 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (23%) concerns engine. After that come lighting (13%) and electrical system (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 457 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 31 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 37 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 384 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 | 57 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 21 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 48 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 39 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 55 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 99 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 41 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 16 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 384 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 90,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 94,000 miles (99 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 31 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 37 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 2005 ranks 14th most-complained-about out of 22 model years of the Kia Sorento with enough data (176 complaints in that window).
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.
Electrical fire under drivers dash. While trying to drive the kia . called fire department and they responded quickly. I know there was recall on 2006 and believe 2005 should have been included Thanks [XXX] [XXX]
My family was involved in a vehicle accident in which we were rear ended. Both the driver and passenger seat backs fell backward and the seat bottoms pushed back, therefore resulting in the seat backs being pushed into my sons who were in car seats behind us. I do not know why this would happen but not only was me and my husbands injured because of the seats, both my sons were injured when the seats fell back and pushed in on them. I want something done so this does not happen to another family.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 kia sorento. While idling, the vehicle accelerated to 5 MPH on its own. The contact applied excessive pressure to the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop. The failure recurred twice. As a result of one of the failures, the contact crashed the vehicle into a tree. Three passengers sustained injuries and received medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
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.
Driver side axle broke in june 2015 and july 9, 2015 passenger side axle cracked and passenger side hub assembly went bad. Making a rattling, metal grinding noise. When the sorento was raised up the whole underneath is rusted out. Im lucky I didnt have a major accident. Should be recalled for safety issues.