2005 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
307 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
84,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 256 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 63 of 307 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 70 | 22.8% |
| Braking behavior | 65 | 21.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 50 | 16.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 3.9% |
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 | 63 |
| Electrical System | 46 |
| Exterior Lighting | 44 |
| Steering | 37 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 24 |
| Suspension | 22 |
Engine: 63; Electrical System: 46; Exterior Lighting: 44; Steering: 37; Air Bags: 27; Power Train: 27; Engine And Engine Cooling: 24; Suspension: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 44 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 93 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 44; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 93; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (93). 51 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 24 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 32 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 39 |
| 2015 | 37 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2005: 24; 2006: 8; 2007: 12; 2008: 17; 2009: 13; 2010: 27; 2011: 32; 2012: 19; 2013: 23; 2014: 39; 2015: 37; 2016: 25; 2017: 6; 2018: 10; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 70 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 50 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 10107215 · 2005-02-18 (February 18, 2005)
THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE CAN NOT LEAN BACK IN THE SEAT OR LEAN AGAINST THE WINDOW. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN SOMEONE OVER 50 POUNDS IS IN THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109736 · 2005-01-16 (January 16, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING A LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD A SENSOR ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THE PANEL LIGHT TO FLASH AND THE POWER TO BE LOST. THE PANEL LIGHT FLASHED TWICE AND STAYED ON THE SECOND TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS AN EMISSION LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER EXPLANATION. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE JUMP STARTED BUT IT DID NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN A CHOICE TO TAKE ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS AN EXCHANGE FOR HER PURCHASED VEHICLE THAT FAILED. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111047 · 2005-01-31 (January 31, 2005)
THE CLOCK DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD OR STARTING COLD WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR BACKING AND PULLING FORWARD AND A SHUDDER FEELING WAS IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS A SUPPOSED SERVICE BULLETIN IN REFERENCE TO THE ABS/BRAKE PEDAL. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DASH LIGHT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WITH THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT HEIGHT A WEIGHT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE DASH DISPLAY FAILED TO LIGHT UP WHEN THE PASSENGERS DID NOT HAVE THEIR SEAT BELTS ON, NOISE IN THE STEERIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112599 · 2005-03-06 (March 6, 2005)
THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT REMAIN LIT EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE 2005 KIA SORENTO EX FOR 2 DAYS AND EVERYTIME A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT THEY MUST TRY TO REPOSITION THEMSELVES AND THEN YOU TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE ENGINE BEFORE LIGHT WILL GO OFF. I HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE POSTED ON SOME KIA DISCUSSION FORUMS AND SO FAR DEALERS HAVE NO ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113103 · 2005-02-25 (February 25, 2005)
THE DRIVER NOTICED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING OR PARKED. THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAIN ON. THE DRIVER DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114176 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE INTERMITENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114813 · 2005-03-27 (March 27, 2005)
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. THEY HAVE SUPPOSIDLY CHECKED THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 21 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115477 · 2005-03-21 (March 21, 2005)
THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN A SOMEONE SAT IN THE SEAT. THIS COULD BE UNSAFE IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 15 TIMES FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115477 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.