2004 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
220 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
87,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 187 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 220 complaints (20.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 16.8% |
| Steering behavior | 34 | 15.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 10.9% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 6.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.7% |
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 | 46 |
| Suspension | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 26 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Power Train | 23 |
| Steering | 20 |
| Structure:Body | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
Engine: 46; Suspension: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling: 26; Electrical System: 25; Power Train: 23; Steering: 20; Structure:Body: 19; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 41 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 36 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 56 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 41; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 56; 150,000 and above: 24
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (56). 33 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2004: 11; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 18; 2008: 20; 2009: 8; 2010: 11; 2011: 19; 2012: 14; 2013: 23; 2014: 21; 2015: 20; 2016: 21; 2017: 5; 2018: 10; 2019: 9; 2020: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 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 10057170 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE ON WASHBOARD TYPE ROADS IN CERTAIN TYPE WEATHER CONDITIONS. *PH WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD THE VEHICLE RIDE WAS VERY BUMPY AND CAUSED PHYSICAL PAIN TO THE OCCUPANTS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE MANUFACTURER REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078760 · 2004-06-24 (June 24, 2004)
SPEEDOMETER READS FAST. ACCORDING TO KIA AT 60 MPH IT IS IN TOLARENCE PLUS OR MINUS 7-8 MPH.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079086 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
1. SINCE NEW, 2004 KIA SORENTO 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS HAD A GRIND WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN LOWER GEARS. I BROUGHT PROBLEM TO ATTENTION OF BERLIN CITY KIA DEALERSHIP IN BURLINGTON VT DURING MY FIRST ROUTINE SERVICE. THEY CONFIRMED THE GRIND AND ELECTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AS AN ATTEMPTED SOLUTION. 2. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION, AND IN FACT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, PARTICULARLY ON COOLER MORNINGS. I HAVE HAD IT BACK FOR THEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT KIA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM ON THESE PARTICULAR TR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080758 · 2004-07-10 (July 10, 2004)
SINCE PURCHASING NEW 2004 SORENTO IN FEBRUARY 2004, HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR FIVE ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE A VIBRATION FROM UNIDENTIFIED SOURCE. THE VIBRATION WAS FIRST EXPERIENCED AT 70 MPH. ONE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE GEAR CLUSTER IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, BALANCE AND REBALANCED TIRES, REPLACED REAR U-JOINTS, AND REPLACED FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. SECOND DEALER REPLACED REAR DRIVE SHAFT A SECOND TIME. VIBRATION IS NOW WORSE. IT CAN BE FELT AT 50 MPH AND 70 MPH. HAVE MET WITH KIA FACTORY REP. KIA STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082275 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)
I AM COMPLAINING TO LET YOU KNOW OF A DEFECT IN MY 2004 KIA SORRENTO V.I.N. [XXX] AND A POTENTIAL HIGHWAY DISASTER IF THE WHEELS LOCKED UP ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL PROBABLY CAUSE A MAJOR PILE-UP AND LEAD TO A LOT OF DEATHS IF THEY DON'T FIX THIS WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IT IS LIKE TRYING TO DRIVE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE THEY SAID THAT IS THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AND I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO USE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ANYWAY UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTELY NEEDED THIS WAS THE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089431 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A DRIVEWAY WHICH HAD A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED. AT LEAST TWO MINUTES LATER, A CLICK WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS UNTIL IT HIT A TREE. A KIA REPRESENTATIVE CAME THREE DAYS LATER, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090483 · 2004-09-05 (September 5, 2004)
I HAVE 3 MAJOR FAILURES W/MY NEW KIA SORENTO '04 SINCE BUYING IT IN DEC '03 FROM PEAK KIA IN COLO.THE 1ST FAILURE, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED IN DEC '03.THE BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T. I HAVE COMPLAINED MANY TIMES ABOUT A ROAD VIBRATION AT 68-72 MPH. DEALER HAS SEEN MY CAR 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE 1ST TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT SAID THEY HAD ONLY DRIVEN IT TO 63 MPH. THE 2ND TIME I TOOK IT IN, PROBLEM HAD BEEN NOTED IN A NUMBER OF SORENTO'S NATIONWIDE & THEY WERE GOING TO NEED TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,653 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090670 · 2004-09-09 (September 9, 2004)
HELLO EVERYONE! WELL UNFORTANTELY I'M ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 KIA SORENTO. I PURCHASED MY KIA FROM GEWEKE KIA IN LODI, CA ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY (FEB. 1, 04). MY FIRST VISIT FOR MY KIA WAS ON FEB. 16TH TO INVESTIGATE WHY I HAD PROBLEMS STARTING MY KIA. I HAD TO KEEP CRANKING IT UNTIL IT WOULD TURN ON THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR WOULD SIT FOR AWHILE SO BASICALLY IT WAS COLD EACH TIME I TRIED TURNING IT ON. WELL GEWEKE ORDER THE FUEL PUMP FOR THE KIA. THEY WERE INFORMED BY KIA TECH THAT WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WAS THE FUEL PUMP. WEL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090670 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.