Kia · Sorento · 2004
0
Recalls
220
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2004 Kia Sorento has no recalls and 220 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: engine and engine cooling (33 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Crank pully bolt snapped. Causing crank pully to fall, and critical belts to fail.
THIS KIA WAS HOUSED AND STORED IN A GARAGE FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE AND DRIVEN ONLY IN THE SUMMER. IN THE WINTERS OF MICHIGAN IS WAS HOUSED IN A CLEAN DRY GARAGE. THIS KIA WAS A 2 OWNER CAR. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I HAD DRIVEN IT ONE WINTER AND THIS SUMMER TOOK IT TO GET AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT. ALIGNMENT CENTER COULD NOT DO THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE WHOLE RIGHT DRIVERSIDE OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT BEYOND THEIR SAFTY STANDARDS. THE KIA WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE THE WHOLE FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS 80% RUSTED OUT AND THE LEFT SIDE WAS ALSO BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT OF THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE ARE FOOT LONG GAPING HOLES IN THE FRAME DUE TO THE RUSTING. IT IS IRREPARABLE. THERE IS NO SAFE SPOT TO WELD TO TO FIX IT EITHER. AFTER A RAIN I NOTICED THE POOLS OF WATER GO DIRECTLY UNDER THE KIA INSTEAD OF ON THE SIDES POOLING AND DRIPPING OFF THE FRAME ON EACH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. A FLAW OF DESIGN BUT A DEADLY IF TRAVELLING AND THE CAR SNAPS IN HALF. THE KIA LOOKS PERFECT AND RUNS PERFECT. THE UNDERSIDE IT'S FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. KEPT IN A GARAGE AND OUT OF ELEMENTS FOR VIRTUALLY ALL OF ITS LIFE, THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. DEFECTIVE STEEL ? DEFECTIVE BODY DESIGN? DEFECTIVE KIA. NOT SAFE NOT DRIVABLE.
WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE BRAKE LINES TOWARD THE REAR SUSPENSION RUSTED THROUGH. ALSO THE SUPPORT FOR THE REAREND RUSTED THROUGH MAKING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE BRAKE LINES FROM FRONT TO BACK WERE CHANGED AND I AM LOOKING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT BRACKETS CHANGED.
2004 KIA SORRENTO 97,000 MILES. THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKETS RUSTED OFF.
I BOUGHT MY 04 SORENTO FROM MY AUNT WHO WAS THE ONLY OWNER. IT HAD A POWER STEERING ISSUE AT THAT TIME WHICH TOOK SEVERAL ATTENPTS TO FIX. ABOUT A MONTH LATER WE WE VISITING FAMILY AND HAD TO TURN AROUND. UPON STOPPING WE NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SO I GRABBED MY 4 Y/O DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR AND BY BOYFRIEND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND A SMALL FIRE ON OPPOSITE SIDE FRO WHERE BATTERY IS. ONCE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WE DROVE .5 MILES ON A CITY RD TO FAMILY. THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AT THAT TIME AS WELL. 10/13/19 - THE DIRECTIONAL WORKED ALL DAY AND COME NIGHT TIME WHEN I CAME OUT FROM THE STORE AND STARTED VEHICLE THEY DID NOT WORK. THE NEXT DAY THEY WORKED FINEHOWEVER, ON 10/14/19 - I STARTED THE CAR IN AM AND THERE WAS A SQUEAKY BELT. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL QUICKLY AND NOISE WENT AWAY. THEN WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND STAYED ON SO I PULLED OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF. IWAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO THE PARK A MILE AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THE BATTERY AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TURNED CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. I WENT TO TURN AROUND TO GO HOME AND THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED SO IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT OR STARTED IT SINCE. MY MECHANIC CAMT TO MY HOME 2 DAYS IN A ROW AND WAS CONVINCED IT WAS CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT SNAPPED. HE GOT IT INTO HIS SHOP THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON FRIDAY 10/26/19 AND CALLED A SHORT WHILE LATER INFORMING ME THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT SNAPPED DEEP IN THE SHAFT AND THE CRANKSHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF AROUND $3000. I CALLED A FEW OTHER PLACES AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING WHICH WOULD COAT AROUND THE SAME. MY DAUGHTER AND I NOW HAVE NO VEHICLE AND ARE WALKING HER TO SCHOOL WHICH WILL BE DIFFICULT COME WINTER MONTHS.
I WAS DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE, AND MY TRUCK SHIFTED. SO I PULLED OVER TO SEE THE MY REAR LOWER ARM FELL FROM SUBFRAME CORRSION DUE TO HEAVY SALT USE HERE IN WI. I HAD TO GET CAR TOWED HOME.
"TAKATA RECALL" I BOUGHT THIS CAR JUST RECENTLY AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG STAYS ON ALL THE TIME THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS BUT NOT ON MY CAR IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS LIKE THIS OR IS IT DANGEROUS AND THE FACTORY SHOULD SEND OUT A RECALL ON THIS RIGHT !
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE DASH CAN I GET THIS REPLACED FOR NO CHARGE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT 65MPG ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR, THE STEERING JERKED TO THE LEFT. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A DESIEL TRUCK !! I THEN CORRECT IT AND PULLED OVER. I DROPPED MY SON OFF AT MY MOM'S HOME AND WENT TO THE GARAGE TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. ON THE WAY, IT LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND I COULD NOT TURN CORRECTLY. SOMEONE HIT THE BACK OF MY CAR AND SHOVED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT. SO NOW MY BACK AND FRON IN LOOKS LIKE CRAP AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING.. BUT MY SON AND I ARE STILL ALIVE.. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND OUT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT OR MY CAR.. THIS IS A FAULTY MANUFACTURE SAFTY ISSUE THAT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN RESEARCHED YET !! THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DANGER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THIS ISSUE I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT'S STILL ON THE ROAD. HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/SORENTO/2004/STEERING/STEERING.SHTML AND TO FIND OUT THE STATE WAS AWARE OF IT AND JUST NEVER EVEN LOOKED INTO PROTECTING US. THIS IS A DANGER AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THEIR CHILD LIKE I ALMOST DID !!!!
MY SORENTO WAS IN PARK RUNNING IN MY DRIVEWAY STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. I'M AWARE OF RECALLS WITH KIA VEHICLES CATCHING FIRE. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATED AS I FEEL IT WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. 911 WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO DISTINGUISH THE CAR IT IS A TOTAL LOSS.
2004 KIA SORENTO EX WITH EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE TO REAR CROSS-MEMBERS #2 AND #3. DISCOVERED DURING TIRE ROTATION IN NOV 2018, BUT IS OBVIOUS THE DAMAGE HAS EXISTED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME. CROSS-MEMBER #2 IS JUST IN FRONT AND ABOVE THE REAR AXLE AND HAS THE MOUNTING BRACKETS FOR THE AXLE STRUTS, WHICH KEEP THE AXLE IN PLACE, IT ALSO HAS A MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE FUEL TANK, AS WELL AS A PASS THROUGH BRACKET FOR THE REAR BRAKE LINES, AND A MUFFLER HANGER. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE IMMINENT DANGER OF A FULL FAILURE. CROSS-MEMBER #2 IS ABOUT 70% RUSTED THROUGH ON THE FUEL TANK SIDE AND PERFORATED IN SEVERAL OTHER PLACES AS WELL. CROSSMEMBER #3 WHICH IS BEHIND THE REAR AXLE CONTAINS NO MOUNTS, BUT A TORSION BAR DOES CONNECT WHERE THE CROSS-MEMBER PASSES THROUGH THE LEFT FRAME RAIL. STRUT MOUNT CONNECTORS ON AXLE ARE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. BACKING PLATE FOR REAR DISC BRAKES ON BOTH SIDES IS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THEY CRUMBLE LIKE AN EGGSHELL. CONTACTED KIA AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER REPAIR OF THE DEFECT, CASE #12944853 OPENED. IT ONLY TAKES A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THIS WITH PARTICULARLY 2004 MODELS.
I HAVE FIXED MY PULLEY BOLT 3 TIME AND IT KEEP BRAKING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR NYS INSPECTION AND WAS ALERTED TO AN ISSUE WITH MY REAR SUSPENSION. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER IS COMPLETED ROTTED OUT AND THE UPPER TRAILING ARM HAVE BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE CROSS MEMBER DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THIS IS A 2004 KIA SORENTO EX THAT I PURCHASED NEW AND NOW HAS 103,000 MILES. THIS CORROSION IS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. RPM WOULD RANGE FROM 1000 TO AS HIGH AS 2000 RPM WITHOUT WARNING. IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED AND DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY OPERATING. DISCONNECTED CRUISE CABLE AT THE THROTTLE BODY. PROBLEM CEASED. GREEN LIGHT ON CRUISE SWITCH NEVER INDICATED IT WAS OPERATING. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS WELL AS STOPPED AT LIGHTS WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
WAS DRIVING WIFE TO WORK , STOPPED AT LIGHT WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND I HEARD A BANG SO LOUD I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT US FROM BEHIND. I DROVE CAR HOME AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT ! THE RUST ON THE REAR END BRACKETS AND THE TWO BARS CONNECTED TO THEM WERE TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH AND HANGING OFF. I WENT TO THE KIA DEALER WHERE I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE CAR AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT IT ,THEY TOLD ME DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON THE INTERNET. THEN THEY SAID THAT IT'S NOT A KIA PROBLEM IT'S A ROAD SALT PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM NOTHING ELSE UNDER THE CAR WAS RUSTED THAT BAD , AND I BELIEVE IT'S A DESIGN PROBLEM. THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, SO NOW I HAVE A CAR WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES ON IT THAT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM HAD TO HAVE STARTED WAY WAY BEFORE 83,000 MILES TO HAVE GOTTEN THIS BAD.
IT DRIVES FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN FOOT SAME POSITION ON GAS PETAL IT ACCELERATES.
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO NOTICED THAT THE CROSSMEMBER BARS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED THROUGH AND WERE NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. THE ENTIRE BRACKET HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED THROUGH. THE FRAME REAR CROSS MEMBER ALSO RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE CONTROL ARMS IS DETACHED FROM THE REAR END ALSO CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD.
MY DAUGHTER TOOK MY CAR A 2004 KIA SORENTO IN FOR A NYSI AND THE SHOP DEAD LINED THE CAR AND MADE ME FLATBED IT HOME DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE REAR END WAS FALLING OUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROT ON THE BRACKETS AND THEY DEEMED THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE WOMEN THAT RUNS THE SHOP TOLD MY DAUGHTER AND SON THAT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT SHE HAS SEEN THIS ON A KIA. IN FACT ITS A PREVALENT ISSUE! UPON COMING HOME I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO ORDERING KIA TO DO A RECALL,MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.I ALSO SAW ON THE INTERNET THAT IN THE UK KIA HAD TAKEN CARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH CONSUMERS. I WOULD LIKE CONSIDERATION IN HAVING KIA REPAIR THIS CAR FREE OR PURCHACE THE VEHICLE BACK AT BLUE BOOK PRICING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE KILLED MY DAUGHTER OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD WHERE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE KIA SORENTO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT PULLEY WAS FAULTY AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL DEALER (QUIRK KIA IN BRANKLY, MA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. *LN
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES HAYWIRE. WE WILL BE DRIVING ALONG AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, THE FRONT DOORS OPEN LIGHTS COME ON AND STARTS BUZZING AND SO DOES THE THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE DOORS. WE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE DOORS ARE CLOSED PROPERLY BUT THEY ALWAYS ARE. THIS IS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION USUALLY BUT SOMETIMES WHILE STATIONARY AS WELL. SOMETIMES THE DOORS UNLOCK TOO. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THIS BUT FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS A NUISANCE WHILE DRIVING. IT NEVER SEEMS TO MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TURNING.. WE HAVEN'T TAKEN IT ANYWHERE FOR REPAIRS YET, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL AND KNOW THAT IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2004 Kia Sorento has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 220 owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Kia Sorento.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2004 Kia Sorento.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2004 Kia Sorento are engine and engine cooling (33 reports), engine (21 reports), power train (19 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2004 Kia Sorento. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.