Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 29 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.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
Vehicle's rear end bolts rusted through had to replace the rear-end, we also had a 2004 that the frame rusted and broke in half, and the rear-end rusted out on it too. It was said it was caused by a design flaw that wouldn't allow the water to drain properly. They have recalls on it in the uk and other countries.
HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED FAILURE OF CAM SENSOR, CAM SHAFT PULLEY BOLT, FAILURE OF ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, FAILURE OF CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION, FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONING, FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTS.. ALL ISSUES ARE AS DOCUMENTED BY THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS WHO ARE WAITING FOR AN INVESTIGATION, A RECALL, OR ENOUGH DEATHS AND INJURIES TO RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE OF ANY KIND FROM THIS ORGANIZATION OR THE MANUFACTURER. I CAN NOT JUSTIFY SPENDING ONE MORE DOLLAR ( $16,000 IN THE 3 YEARS SINCE PURCHASED FOR $4,000).TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS ONCE AGAIN INOPERABLE FOR THE SAME ISSUES. . NO CAR DEALER WANTS IT AS A TRADE IN, THE STANDARD OFFER IS $300. I CANNOT SELL IT TO ANYONE AND THEN FACE MYSELF IN MIRROR. PERHAPS A PUBLIC SAKE... $1 PER MINUTE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BASH A KIA (SLEDGEHAMMER PROVIDED). PROCEEDS WILL BE APPLIED TO PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, WHICH WILL NOT BE A KIA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT WARRANTY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.
THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK, AND IT WAS RARELY DRIVEN AFTER TRANSMISSION REPAIR AT A KIA DEALER. LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD SHOWED THAT THE BELTS WEREN'T MOVING. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WAS ATTACHED BUT NOT STRAIGHT; OFFSET. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BREAKING IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES. IS/WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEN FAR WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED. MA 10/8 *CN
WIFE WAS DRIVING AWAY FROM HOUSE, HEARD SCREACHING SOUND, THEN LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING NEARLY ENDING UP ON SIDEWALK. WHEN I CHECKED UNDER HOOD, I SAW A BOLT SITTING ON LOWER PART OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NOT MOVING, BUT BOLT THAT HOLDS IT ON SPINNING. NONE OF THE BELTS WERE MOVING. MOST OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALSO LIT UP. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVOLVING THIS ISSUE.
FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. OTHER ISSUES AND INCIDENTS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: INDUCTION CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE. CRANK SHAFT TIMING BELT SPROCKET, CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT NONE OF THE BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE MOVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT DAMPER, HARMONIC BALANCER AND THE GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
MY 2005 KIA SORENTO JUST WENT IN FOR A TRANSMISSION LEAK AT 94K AND CAME OUT WITH NEEDING A NEW TRANNY PAN AND A WHOLE NEW REAR END UNDERNEATH DUE TO THE REAR TRAILING ARM BRACKET ROTTING COMPLETELY AWAY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH MANY ARE HAVING. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, IT'S THE DESIGN OF THE BRACKET WHICH CAUSES SALT, WATER, ETC TO ENTER AND HAVE NO WAY TO EXIT. ANY OF THESE VEHICLES IN THE SALT STATES ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AND THEN TRAGEDY WILL HAPPEN IF THEY DON'T CATCH IT. AGAIN THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS ROTTED BRACKETS THAT ATTACH THE TRAILING ARMS AND WITHOUT THEM THE CAR BECOMES COMPLETELY UNSTABLE AND A HUGE SAFELY HAZARD. *TR
KIA SORENTO 2005, SIMILAR CRANK BOLT MAIN PULLEY ASSEMBLY BREAK THAT MANY, MANY OF THE OTHERS HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT AND UNFORTUNATELY BEEN EXPERIENCING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD THIS VERY SAME ISSUE REPAIRED FOR SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS AND NOW MY MECHANIC STATED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH THREAD LEFT INTO THE CRANKSHAFT TO FIX AND IT NEEDS A COMPLETELY REBUILD OR ENGINE REPLACEMENT - WHICH IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE LESS EXPENSIVE. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FOR THIS - AS SO MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THANK GOD MY INCIDENTS WERE ALL AT SLOW SPEED BECAUSE THIS WOULD EASILY CAUSE A CRASH BECAUSE YOU LOOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. *TR
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH 22 NOV 2013, HEARD A THUMP FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE, ENDING UP IN A DITCH. ENGINE STOPPED, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START. CRANK PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF. OVER 5 HOURS TO EXTRACT REMAINDER OF BOLT TO REPAIR ENGINE. $1359 IN REPAIRS. NOW, 22 SEPT 2014, 10 MONTHS LATER, HAD SAME HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THANKFUL I WAS IN A LANE AT THE EDGE OF THE ROADWAY. CURRENT MILEAGE SLIGHTLY UNDER 114,000. YEAH. 10 MONTHS AND 13000 MILES AND ANOTHER HUGE REPAIR BILL. NO RECALL, KIA CLAIMS NO LIABILITY. OTHER ISSUE: INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNS ITSELF OFF AND ON AT WHIM. HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT EVERY 45-90 DAYS. *TR
THE VEHICLE IS SIMPLY NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE UPON TAKING OFF OR GOING UPHILL. AFTER LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL. A METAL PIECE OF A VALVE HAS BEEN SHEARING OFF THEN LODGING IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CANADA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL SO I AM UNSURE WHY THE US HASN'T FOLLOWED SUIT. *TR
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE BOLT BROKE KIA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS. *TR
I BOUGHT MY KIA NEW IT HAS SPORTS PACKAGE , I HAVE HAD TO REPLAIN SHOP ALL THE TIME CE HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES THE LAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN TOTAL MESS POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES BLEW OUT THEN IN MAY WENT TO AIR PORT PICKED UP DAUGHTER CAR WAS NOTHING NO START TOW TRUCK ..AUTO SHOP FIRST SAID PLUG IN READER SAID CRANK SHAFT SENSOR THEN IT SAID STARTER BAD SO REPLACED STARTER IT STARTS BUT IT NOW WHINES I TOOK IT BACK HE SAID IT IS THE STARTER BRAND . I AM ALWAYS WORRIED IF IT WILL START AND IF I HAVE LIGHTS I LOVE MY KIA BUT IT HAS HAD ELECTRIC PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1 KIA SHOULD RECALL 2005 DUE TO THIS . LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING AND IT WENT FROM REG DRIVE TO LOW IT HAS SHIFTER IT HAS BUTTON THAT HAS TO BE PUSHED IN TO CHANGE DRIVE OVER DRIVE LOW I NEVER PUSHED IT IT DID IT ON ITS OWN THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WISH KIA WOULD STEP UP AND RECALL I WANT TO KEEP MY CAR IT IS WELL TAKEN CAR OF BUT I CANT KEEP POURING MONEY IN IT BIG $ LAST 6 MONTHS OVER 2500 IS THERE A WAY TO DO LAW SUIT I HAVE SEEN TONS PEP WITH HEADLIGHTS ISSUES SENTS I REPLACED MY FIRST ONES ALSO PAINT ON DOORS OPEN ALL GONE I NEVER EVEN USE BACK SEAT DOORS SO HOW IS IT COMING OFF IS THERE A LAWYER OUT HERE WHO OIWNS A KIA HELP...... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING UPHILL WHEN THE THROTTLE FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING INTO THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING AND CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 KIA SORENTO AT 40MPH IT STARTED BUCKING AND WHEN YOU GO TO ACCELERATE YOU CAN HOLD THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HIS SOFTWARE SHOWS A RECALL FOR THIS AND KIA IS SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. HIS SOFTWARE SAYS RECALLS CAMPAIGN-SC073 ICV REPLACEMENT. *TR
3/2/13 HAD TIMING BELT REPLACED @50,031 MILES ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO TO MANUAL SPECS.DROVE FROM PHX TO NASHVILLE.5/2013 I HEARD A TERRIBLE SQUEAKING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD,FIRST THOUGHT LOOSE BELT. WENT ON TO GET IT CHECK OUT&AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE,MY STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. THOUGHT MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD GONE OUT. I ALMOST RAN OVER 2 PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET&ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. I WAS TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT W/ALL MY MIGHT! EVERYONE WAS HONKING AT ME & THOUGHT I WAS PROBABLY DRUNK! I WAS SO UPSET. HAD IT TOWED TO KIA. MY POWER TRAIN STILL UNDER WARRANTY,AM ORIGINAL OWNER&DENIED COVERAGE 3X.THEY TRIED TO SELL ME A USED ENGINE FOR $5K.STATED THEY KNEW THEY COULD NOT GET THE BROKEN PIECE OF BOLT OUT.I DID SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE&THERE IS MANY COMPLAINTS W/ THIS PROBLEM,SOME HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN 2,3,4 X.MGR. TOLD ME MY MODEL HAD THE NEW RE-DESIGNED BOLT,&IT WAS BRAKES PLUS FAULT WHEN THEY PUT ON THE TIMING BELT. MGR. SAID THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER USED THE OLD BOLT&THAT THEY PUT ON A NEW BOLT WHEN REPLACING TIMING BELT.I HEARD A TSB WENT OUT REGARDING THE BOLTS TO ALL SERVICE SHOPS TO USE THE NEW RE-DESIGN BOLT ON 03&04 MODELS,BUT NOT 05.IF I HAD GOTTEN A COPY OF THAT NOTICE,I WOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT WHOEVER REPLACED TIMING BELT,USED NEW BOLT. A KIA TECH WROTE:8/10/12 ITS NOT THE BOLT, IT IS THE CRANK SPROCKET&BALANCER, THE DESIGN OF THE BALANCER STICKS OUT TO FAR&WEIGHS TO MUCH BREAKING OFF THE SPRING GUIDE PIN.WHEN THERE IS A REPAIR,WE REPLACE THEM EVERYTIME WE DO A TIMING BELT ON ONE.YOU TAKE THE CRACK SPROCKET&BALANCER&U ADD 2 MORE SPRING PINS AS WELL AS DRILL&TAP THE CRANK&INSTALL A TIMESERT (HEAVIER HELICOIL) HAVE NOT HAD ONE OF THESE COME BACK,IF ANYONE IS DOING A TIMING BELT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOING THIS AT THE SAME TIME,BUT IT WILL NOT BREAK THE BOLT OR SHEER THE GUIDE PIN. *TR
SECOND FAILURE OF CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF IT BEING REPAIRED. DEALER ASSURED ME IT WAS FIXED PROPERLY ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS TSB. BOLT SHEARED OFF AGAIN AND ALL BELTS CAME LOOSE. 18 YEAR OLD FEMALE DRIVER, WHILE SLOWING TO TURN CORNER LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING, INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. LOUD CLUNK...THAT WAS THE HARMONIC BALANCER FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. KIA FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE DESIGN FLAW IN THIS DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS VEHICLE! *TR
GEAR SHIFT KNOB CAME OFF AND IS STUCK IN PARK. THE MECHANISM TO ENGAGE THE SHIFTER IS A SMALL CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE THAT BROKE OFF. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2005 KIA SORENTO OCTOBER 2011. THE COST OF THE VEHICLE WAS $8664.00 AND FINANCED FOR $13,399.48 OR 36 MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT BRICK CITY MOTORS, 316 BROADWAY AVE, NEWARK, NJ 07104. A WARRANTY FOR 6 MONTHS OR 7500 MILES WAS ISSUED WITH IT. THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. ON FEBRUARY 7 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 280 IN THE 3RD LANE GOING WEST WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON. THANK GOD PEOPLE WERE NOT FLYING OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN NUTLEY NJ. I DID THAT BECAUSE I FIGURED IT WAS A KIA PRODUCT LET THEIR DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT. THE RESULT FOR THE PROBLEM WAS REPLACED TIMING BELT/CRANKSHAFT GEAR/TENSIONER/PULLEY/IDLER/BALANCER-NOTE: CR DAMAGED- JEWELED KEY WAY TO CRANK SLOT LIMITED WARRANTY ON REP. THE LABOR COST WAS 826.00 WITH NO GUARANTEE ON PARTS OR LABOR. BRICK CITY PAID FOR THE PARTS AND I PAID FOR THE LABOR. ON JULY 15TH 2012 MY KIA SORENTO HAD TO BE TOWED TO KIA IN NUTLEY NJ. THE REP ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I CAN. I PAID 50 SOME DOLLARS FOR AN OIL CAP TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF AGAIN LIKE IT DID IN FEB 2012. THE REP ALSO TOLD ME THAT I NEED A TRANSMISSION. ON JULY 26 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UP AND A FRIEND OF MINE TOOK ME TO HER BROTHERS MECHANIC SHOP. THE END RESULT WAS THAT THEY FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT NEEDS REPLACING AND WAS BENT AGAIN. ON JULY 26, 2012, I, THEN WENT BACK TO KIA IN NUTLEY NJ AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME THE WORK THEY DID WAS NOT WARRANTED AND THAT BRICK CITY MOTORS SCREWED ME. I CALLED KIA MOTORS IN WOODBRIDGE NJ AND THEY TOLD ME THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT I HAVE TO PAY MAYBE 2000.00 FOR A REPLACEMENT. I AM A DISABLED VETERAN PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED. I HAVE TO HAVE A SUV DUE TO DAILY CHRONIC PAIN.
I SEE THAT YOU HAVE 15 RECALLS FOR THIS SUV, I HAVE ONLY HAD KIA SERVICE THIS TRUCK, UNTIL 09/09/2011 CAN YOU TELL ME WHY, NO NOTICE OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN FIXED, NOT ONE NOTICE IN THE MAIL JOE MEYERS KIA. HOUSTON TEXAS. *JS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP ABOUT 1 MINUTE AFTER NOISES WERE HEARD AND SMOKE STARTED APPEARING CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO AUTOMATIC HALT...IN TRAFFIC. NO ONE WANTS TO COVER DAMAGE CREATED. *KB
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MY CAR LOST STEERING. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD BROKE WITH HALF OF IT STUCK IN ENGINE. KIA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH SOME MANY PEOPLE HAVING IT. IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT CAUSES YOU TO LOSE STEERING WHILE DRIVING LUCKILY I DIDN'T CRASH, BUT SOME MANY OTHERS HAVE. KIA MUST RECALL THIS CRANKSHAFT BOLT ISSUE, SOMEONE MY GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED! *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STOPPED TO STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT IT FELT LIKE POWER STEERING BELT WENT OUT BUT IT WAS NOT THAT IT WAS A BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I CALLED KIA HOTLINE AND THEY SAID I STILL HAVE WARRANTY BUT NOT ON THAT SCREW SO I AM LOOKING A 2 GRAND TO FIX THIS SUV THAT HAS HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED ALL THE TIME AND THE DEALERSHIPS DO NOT BACK UP THERE PRODUCT. *TR
THE MAIN CRANK SHAFT PULLY BOLT STRIPPED OUT AND CAUSED THE CRANK SHAFT TO START TO WORK ITS WAY OUT OF THE MOTOR BLOCK I TALKED TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AS A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A MAIN FAILURE IN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS OF 2003 AND 2004 THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A DIFFERENT BOLT IN THE 2005 MODEL BUT IN MY OPINION THAT IS A FALSE STATEMENT DO TO THE FACT IT HAS FAILED IN MY 2005 SORENTO TELLING ME THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP HILL AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR CHANGING GEARS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 04/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/28/2011 *LN
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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