2003 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
305 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 242 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 305 complaints (15.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 54 | 17.7% |
| Braking behavior | 40 | 13.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 39 | 12.8% |
| Engine operation | 25 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 46 |
| Engine | 43 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 34 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 33 |
| Steering | 24 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Suspension | 13 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 46; Engine: 43; Fuel/Propulsion System: 34; Fuel System, Gasoline: 33; Steering: 24; Electrical System: 20; Air Bags: 19; Suspension: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 50 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 42 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 57 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 42; 100,000 to 149,999: 57; 150,000 and above: 21
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (57). 63 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 28 |
| 2007 | 35 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 24 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 11; 2004: 17; 2005: 13; 2006: 28; 2007: 35; 2008: 18; 2009: 24; 2010: 17; 2011: 21; 2012: 23; 2013: 15; 2014: 26; 2015: 23; 2016: 13; 2017: 11; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 39 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001586 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 11/25/02. VEHICLE TURNS OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES. PROBLEM IS THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP, BUT DEALER CAN NOT REPAIR. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013616 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 2003 KIA SORENTO IN FEB 2003, VEHICLE SPINS OVER FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND THEN SLOWLY FINALLY TURNS OVER, I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER 2 TIMES NOW AND THEY HAVE SAID IT WAS THE FUEL RELAY SWITCH AND VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM SO I AM TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR THE 3RD TIME AND THEY SWEAR IT IS A FUEL PROBLEM SO WE'LL SEE IF IT'S GOING TO GET FIXED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014313 · 2003-04-12 (April 12, 2003)
VEHICLE TAKES A LONG TIME TO START. SOMETIMES AS LONG AS TEN SECONDS. THE ENGINE CRANKS AND CRANKS AND THEN FINALLY TURNS OVER. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE THE FUEL PRESSURE RISER SWITCH. HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016466 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START/HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES IN LAST WEEK/1ST TRIP REPLACE THROTTLE BODY 2ND RECALIBRATE ENGINE 3RD TRIP EGI UNIT FAULTY ENGINE LIGHT ON /REPLACE EGI UNIT 4TH TRIP REPLACED THROTTLE BODY(AGAIN) CALIBRATED. CHECKED IDLE SET ..VEHICLE WAS KEPT FOR 2 DAYS ON 2 OF THE VISITS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017393 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019268 · 2003-05-25 (May 25, 2003)
VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID WHEELS WERE UNBALANCED. DEALER BALANCED WHEELS AND STILL NO CHANGE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023204 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
PURCHASED 2003 KIA SORENTO 4X4 ON 5/26/03. ON 5/31/03 (ODOMETER 600 MILES)WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, ALMOST STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. A FRIEND WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND CAN ATTEST TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE BECAUSE HE TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE ALSO. 6/2/03 DEALERSHIP REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK, GEAR AND ASSEMBLY. ON 6/10/03 (ODOMETER 830) POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE I WAS EXITING DOWN IN A PARKING GARAGE; HAD TO FIGHT WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030577 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
THE SORENTO SUV WAS BOUGHT IN JUNE 2003. WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES IN JUNE 2003 THE SORENTO WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE TO CHECK AN OIL LEAK ON THE FRONT AXLE. THE DEALER CITED AN OVERFILLED GEAR OIL AND THE GEAR OIL LEVEL WAS CORRECTED. AFTER FEW WEEKS, IN JULY 2003, THE SORENTO WAS BROUGHT BACK AGAIN TO THE SAME DEALER BECAUSE THE GEAR OIL LEAK WAS STILL THERE. THE DEALER KEPT THE SORENTO, CITED NON-DRIVABLE AND HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. THE GASKET WAS REPLACED AND SORENTO WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE GEAR OIL LEAK STILL SHOWED UP. NOW THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030577 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V353000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TUBES NEAR THE FUEL TANK DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE FIT WITH THE VEHICLE FLOOR PANEL.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE A SECTION OF THE FUEL LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗