Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
SEAT SENSOR ON MY KIA SORENTO FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. WHEN A PASSENGER SETS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS ON. YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, YOU DRIVE AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON. CITY OR HIGHWAY TRAVEL, THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IF OFF.
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL ELECTRONIC ISSUES. ONE OWNER WITH A GARAGE PARKED LOW MILEAGE SUV. THE DRIVER SEAT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. ALL OTHER ADJUSTMENTS WORK FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS BUT NOW SEEMS TO BE A PERMANENT PROBLEM. THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOORS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN ALARM DINGS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUALLY BURN OUT.
FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT (OPEN) FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE.. IT LOCKS AND UNLOCKS BUT DOOR OPENING CONNECTION LINK IS NOT OPENING. THIS PRESENTS A CRASH AND FIRE HAZARD AS PASSENGERS MUST EITHER OPEN THE WINDOW AND REACH OUT TO OPEN OR HAVE SOMEONE OUTSIDE OPEN THE DOOR! HAD IT REPAIRED AND IT BROKE AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER REPAIR. *TR
WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT USED TO TURN OFF, NOW WHEN THEY SIT IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE AIR BAG IS OFF AND I HAVE AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON IN MY DASH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HIS SOFTWARE SHOWS A RECALL BUT KIA SAYS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. HIS SOFTWARE SAYS RESTRAINTS AND SAFETY SYSTEM: RECALLS CAMPAIGN - SEAT OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM REFLASH. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. ..UPDATED 01/16/2013 *BF UPDATED 129/2013 JS
HEADLIGHT BULBS HAVE GONE OUT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED VEHICLE USED. HAVE TO KEEP SPARE BULBS IN VEHICLE IN CASE IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT NIGHT WHICH I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE WITH MY NORMAL HEADLIGHTS IG I HAD NOT CARRIED THE SPARE ONES IN SORENTO. BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED SORENTO IN MARCH 2012. LIGHTING INTERIOR DOES NOT WORK UNLESS YOU MANUALLY PUSH THE BUTTON FROM THE TOP OF CEILING. DOOR AJAR" LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED BEEPING ALL DOORS WERE TIGHTLY SHUT. WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELT HARNESS METAL PART MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVERS DOOR TO BEND OR KNOCK OFF THE DIODE BUTTON. *JS
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, IT BEGAN MAKING A "KNOCKING" NOISE. THE POWER STEERING THEN BEGAN TO FAIL AND THEN I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR DIED (ON A BUSY 4 LANE HWY WITH MY 7 MOS OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR). ONCE STOPPED, I LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD TO FIND A LARGE BOLT LAYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE INTERIOR OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE, AFTER 2 DAYS AND $1300 IN REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE "LARGE BOLT" I FOUND WAS HALF OF THE CRANK PULLEY BOLT. IT HAD SNAPPED CLEAN IN HALF LEAVING THE OTHER HALF INSIDE THE PULLEY. EXTENSIVE LABOR TO REMOVE THIS PIECE AND THEN RESET ALL THE PULLEYS AND BELTS (TIMING BELT) ATTRIBUTED TO THE EXCESSIVE COST. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THAT BOLT SHOULD HAVE SIMPLY BROKE IN HALF AND THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART. KIA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTS THAT MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ELECTRICALLY, I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS AND THE ACCUATOR FOR THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS IS FAULTY. THE CAR RANDOMLY LOCKS ITSELF AT ANY GIVEN TIME (WHILE DRIVING, WHEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY DURING THE NIGHT, PARKED AND RUNNING). I STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT TO GET MY DAUGHTER'S TOY THAT SHE HAD DROPPED. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE, THE CAR LOCK DEFECT LOCKED MY DAUGHTER INSIDE THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING. *KB
LIGHTING (BULBS) VERY SHORT LIFE, BULBS LAST 1/5 TO 1/10TH OF THE LIFE IN OTHER VEHICLES. MOST RECENT BOTH LOW BEAM BULBS FAILED WITHIN 5 MINUTES LEAVING US WITH NO LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON UNLIT DIVIDED HIGHWAY. WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING BULBS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. WE ALWAYS REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHEN ONE BURNS OUT. MY OTHER VEHICLES LAST MANY YEARS, THIS VEHICLE IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE EVER HAD THAT HEADLIGHTS ONLY LAST MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY DRIVEN 4 DAYS PER WEEK AND THE HEADLIGHT LIFE IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN 50 HOURS USE. WE HAVE TRIED SYLVANIA (STANDARD, SILVERSTAR AND SILVERSTAR ULTRAS, GE, HELLA AND RECENTLY PHILLIPS BULBS ALL WITH THE SAME LIFESPAN (WITHIN DAYS) SOMETHING IS WRONG. THERE IS A TSB BUT NO RECALL. *TR
OWN A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS BURNING OUT. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, PARK LIGHTS, AND FOG LIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS BURN OUT ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS. NOW THE POWER SEAT HAS STOPPED MOVING FORWARD OR BACK. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. A SHORTER PERSON THAT MY WIFE MOVED HER CAR AND SHE ADJUSTED THE SEATS. WHEN MY WIFE GOT INTO THE CAR SHE WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE SEAT IN THE ORIGINAL POSITION. I HAVE TRIED TO JOCKEY THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH AND UP AND DOWN AND THE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE. *TR
TLA*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. AFTER PARKING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DOME LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE BULB WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TO FIVE TIMES BECAUSE THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT KEPT REPLACING BULBS BUT THE DOME LIGHT STILL SHORTED OUT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA SORENTO. INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD-LIGHTS FAIL. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHILE RETURNING FROM OUR VACATION OUR KIA STARTED MAKING AT LOT OF NOISES IN AROUND THE AIRCONDITIONING HEATING SYSTEM, THE AIR COMING FROM THE VENTS DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WARM ENOUGH TO DEFOG THE WINDOWS, THEN THE NEXT DAY WHEN IT WAS WARMER IT STARTED MAKING A RATTLING FAN NOISE WHEN THE AIR WAS TURNED ON. WHEN THE SYSTEM WAS TURNED OFF IT DIDN'T MAKE THE NOISE ANYMORE. WE ARRIVED HOME UNLOADED OUR GEAR AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN A WHILE LATER. THE FAN NOISE STARTED AGAIN AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK, WHEN THE AIR WAS TURNED OFF EVERYTHING RESUMED TO NORMAL. WE ARRIVED AT OUR FRIEND HOUSE AND WENT INSIDE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. WE LIFTED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE WHERE WE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WE IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE NEXT DAY. COME TO FIND OUT SEVERAL DAYS LATER THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS TOO BADLY BURNED TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A TIMING BELT FAILURE. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY THAT THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED BY WHOMEVER OWNS THE VEHICLE OR THE DEALER IF THE CAR HAS BEEN TRADED BECAUSE THE NEXT OWNER WOULD NOT KNOW ANY OF THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS SUCH WAS OUR CASE. AS IT STANDS NOW THERE ARE SOME INTERIOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE LIGHTS AN THE ELECTRONIC SEATS WE ARE HOPING FOR SOME KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE FAN RUNNING ON AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THIS WAS STILL HAPPENING EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD EARLIER THAT IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM WHICH STILL HAPPENED EVEN AFTER THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *TR
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. THIS IS A SEVERE DEFECT. *TR
ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THE DRIVER POWER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD, BACKWARD OR RECLINED, IT WOULD LET YOU MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT AND STOP. BUT IF YOU TRIED TO RETURN THE SEAT TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, THE MOTOR WOULD NOT RESPOND. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES MY WIFE NEEDED TO GO SHOPPING AND I DECIDED TO SIT IN THE CAR WITH THE BABY, RECLINE AND RELAX. WHEN SHE HAS RETURNED, THE SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE WHICH LEFT IT IN AN UN-DRIVABLE POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT SEEMS YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE (TAKING PRESSURE OFF THE SEAT) AND WORK THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH TO FINALLY GET THE SEAT TO MOVE. AT TIMES THIS HAS TAKEN AN HOUR IN A PARKING LOT STANDING IN THE RAIN OR IN THE HEAT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. *JB
WE HAD ISSUES FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A FIRE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OF OUR PRE-OWNED KIA. THEN WE NOTICED THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WAS INTERMITTENT ON PICKING UP WHETHER THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. OUR CLOCK WOULD GO IN AND OUT ON THE LIGHTING ESPECIALLY OVER BUMPS. THEN WE WERE REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE AND HOLD EITHER ME OR MY HUSBAND BACK. THEN WHEN I FELL BACK AGAINST THE SEAT THE SEAT DID NOT STAY IN PLACE AND I FELL BACKWARDS. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MUSCLE SPASMS. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED FOR THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND THEN WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *NM
DT: 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT, T AND SENT THE SEAT OFF TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING A WHILE. ALSO, THE CLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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