2005 Kia Sorento Complaint Log

OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A DAY OR 2 AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO USE IT, THE CAR/BATTERY WAS DEAD. I HAVE SEEN ON LINE THAT THE TCCU (TRANSFER CASE CONTROL UNIT) IS PROBABLY THE CULPRIT AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WILL SHOW NO HISTORY OF IT. EVIDENTLY, ON RARE OCCASIONS THE COMPUTER WILL BEGIN RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS ON THE TCCU WHEN THE CAR IS BEING SHUT OFF. THE DRAIN ON THE SYSTEM IS ENOUGH TO WIPE OUT THE BATTERY. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA - THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS RUN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WHICH WILL TELL THEM NOTHING AND WILL COST ME MORE MONEY. THE COST OF A NEW TCCU IS ABOUT $1500, PROBABLY WHY KIA HAS NO INTEREST IN REPLACING IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE BOLT THAT CONNECTED THE PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE PULLEY FELL TO THE GROUND WHEN LIFTED FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT CALLED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIR AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS START WORKING BY ITSELF WITHOUT PRESSING ANY CONTROL. SPECIALTY AT NIGHT AND THE WASHER PUMP DOES NOT WORK. SOMETIMES WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS OR HEADLIGHTS AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. IT IS SCARY BECAUSE YOU DO NOT EXPECT SUCH OCCURRENCES AND MAKES A DISTRACTION WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE SPEEDWAY, HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS IN THE ROAD AND THE I 26 IS NOT AN EASY ROAD TO DRIVE SAFETY. *TR

EARLIER RECALL DEFECTIVE!!! 2005 KIA SORENTO V6, HAD A RECALL OF BREAKAGE OF CRANKSHAFT ACCESSORY PULLEY BOLT. NEW BOLT FROM THE RECALL HAS ALSO FAILED. MY CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND BOLT FELL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN OPERATION. KIA SERVICE REFUSES TO COVER THE NEW BOLT ON WARRANTY. HAD BOLT TIGHTENED AT LOCAL SHOP AND IT FAILED AGAIN IN 3 DAYS!!! KIA IS FAILING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN WHICH WILL RESULT IN FATALITY ACCIDENTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE EXTERIOR LIGHT SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY BECAME NONFUNCTIONAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BURNED OUT LIGHT BULB. THE FAILURE WAS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DE-ACTIVATED WHEN THE FRONT SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. IT SHOULD ONLY DE-ACTIVATE IF IT SENSES NO PASSENGER SEATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND FAN COULD NOT BE USED WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN RELATION TO THE FAILURE OF THE WIRING HARNESS, BUT NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN DOING SO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE TWICE HEADLIGHTS AND THE TWICE TAILLIGHT FOUR SETS OF PARKING LIGHTS,ON OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO EX THIS IN A 18 MONTHS. *TR

THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IS DEFECTIVE. THE PART HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PART OR VEHICLE. THE CAR IS STILL WITHIN THE POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY WITH COVER THE ENGINE. THEY HAVE HOWEVER STATED THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED AS IT IS NOT PART OF THE ENGINE HOWEVER THIS PART IS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP PART OF THE ENGINE AS IT CONTROLS THE PISTONS AND WITH OUT IT THE ENGINE CAN NOT RUN. THIS SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS CONSUMER COMPLAINT ARE POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THEY RECEIVE MANY COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND FIX 3-4 A WEEK AND OFTEN THE PART FAILS AND THEY AGAIN HAVE TO REPLACE IT. *TR

MY 2005 KIA SORENTO CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THROWING ME INTO A SPIN AND LEAVING ME FACING THE WRONG WAY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND MY KIDS. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY JUMP STARTED IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY DID NOTHING. IT SUBSEQUENTLY CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC 3 MORE TIMES. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WASN'T A WARRANTY ISSUE (THIS WAS THE MONTH OF THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION BUT IT HADN'T EXPIRED YET) AND SINCE THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. KIA IS PARKED AND I WON'T DRIVE IT. THEY DON'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTY AND KNOW ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND WON'T TRY TO FIX IT DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

HEADLAMPS FAIL AND MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. *TR

BALANCER BOLT HAS BROKEN OFF IN THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR NOT TO SPIN. REQUIRED TO DRILL OUT THE BOLT AND REPLACE THE BALANCER AND REMOVE AND REPLACE THE SPROCKET. *TR

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

THE GEAR SHIFT LEAVER BROKE WHILE DRIVING 2005 KIA SORRENTO WHEN EXAMINING THE LEAVER IT IS HELD TOGETHER BY A SMALL PLASTIC SCREW THAT SPLIT IN HALF WHEN THE LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THUS MAKING THE SHIFTER INOPERABLE THE CAR HAD 65000 MILES ON IT I BROUGHT THE CAR TO KIA AND HAD TO REPLACE THE SHIFT LEAVER. I DID NOT ASK TO KEEP THE OLD LEAVER. *TR

FROM THE TIME I GOT THE CAR HEAD LIGHTS HAVE REPEATEDLY BURNED OUT AFTER A MONTH OR TWO, ALSO DASH LIGHTS GO OFF RANDOMLY AND FLICKER AND THEN COME BACK ON WHEN EVER THEY DECIDE,MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND A/C WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE. STARTED TO OVERHEAT, SO IT WAS DETERMINED THE SERPENTINRE BELT HAD BROKE,REPLACED BELT AND VIBRATION UNDER HOOD WAS NOTICEABLE BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE., BUT SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD. STILL REPLACING HEADLIGHTS EVERY COUPLE MONTHS, THEN POWER STEERING FLUID STARTED TO BE CONSUMED AND CONSTANTLYT REQUIRED ADDING FLUID, THEN HAD A MECHANIC CHECK FOR LEAK AND HE REPLACED SOME HOSES AND CLAMPS BUT VIBRATIION CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY POWER STEERING BEGAN LOUD NOISE WHEN CAR STARTED AND ONLY WHEN REVED UP WOULD NOISE STOP, AND WHEN A/C WAS ON SOMETIMES WOULD EFFECT THE POWER STEERING NOISE. REPLACED THE POWERSTEERING PUMP, STILL THE NOISE CONTINUED AND RECENTLY THE BELT CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON , I WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD AND DIDNT CAUSE AN ACCIEDENT, BUT VERY CLOSE CALL, BELT HAD COME OFF BUT AFTER MINOR ADJUSTMENT IT WAS PUT BACK ON, VIBRATION NOISE HAS BECOME WORSE, I AM AFFRAID TO DRIVE IT, MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID HARMONIC BALANCE SEEMS TO BE OFF AND ROOT OF PROBLEM IS CRANK SHAFT BOLT MOST LIKELY , COMMON PROBLEM , HOWEVER DURING THE TIME IN KIA DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER RECALL ISSUES , CRANK BOLT WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AS BEING A PROBLEM IN MY YEAR OR MODEL CAR, NON IT TURNS OUT IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND LEGAL ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY CLASS ACTION SUIT DEALING WITH SAME ISSUE. *TR

THIS IS CONCERNING MY 2005 KIA SORENTO THAT I NEVER GOT THE RECALL LETTER FOR THE ICV SENSOR, IT JUST SO HAPPEN THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I CALLED THEM COMPLAINING AND THEY MADE IT SEEM AS IF THEY WERE DOING ME A FAVOR AND SAID BRING IT IN, IT IS COVERED AND I DISCOVERED ON THE COMPUTER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. I THEN HAD TWO HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND THEN SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT IT WAS COVERED. MY CAR LATER WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AND I CALLED THEM AND TOLD THEM I COULD BE ON THE HIGHWAY ACCELERATING AND COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED , THE SUV WAS RETURNED FOR THE THROTTLE SENSOR. NOT MORE THAN A MONTH LATER MY SUV IS SLUGGISH AND NOT PICKING UP SPEED AGAIN AND THEY SAY BRING IT IN AND TELLS ME IT IS NOT THE SAME THING BUT THIS TIME IT IS A SENSOR IN THE GAS TANK THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ONE PERSON QUOTES ME $395.00 ANOTHER QUOTES $595.00 (I WILL BE WRITING THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AFTER THIS). I JUST FEEL THAT THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH GOING ON WITH 2005 KIAS SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT IF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT LOOKED INTO. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A LIFE OR MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR THESE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED. A TRUCK OR TRAILER COULD HAVE HIT ME SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. I FEEL THAT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE PREYING ON DEFECTS THAT IS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND PASSING THE COST ON TO CONSUMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THESE VEHICLES. I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2006 WITH ONLY 115 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. KIA IS BEING ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THESE TACTICS BECAUSE NO ONE IS LOOKING OVER THEM BECAUSE SADLY THOSE WHO ARE PURCHASING THESE VEHICLES WITH PROBLEMS DO NOT KNOW WHERE OR WHO TO TURN TO FOR HELP ON THEM BEING CHEATED AND MISTREATED AT THE DEALERSHIPS. I PRAY THAT THIS MATTER GET THE LONG AWAITED ATTENTION IT DESERVES BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY AND MAKE A TICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND PARTICLES THAT RESEMBLED METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TWICE AFTER DRIVING OUR 2005 KIA SORRENTO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF APPROX 75 MPH, THEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN HEADING UPHILL CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR AND COULD ONLY GO ABOUT 45 MPH. LUCKILY, THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD - WE LET IT REST A WHILE AND THEN IT WAS OK. THE SECOND TIME WE AGAIN HAD THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR GOING UPHILL BUT IT ONLY DID ABOUT 35- 45. WHEN WE REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. BOTH TIMES CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON - BUT NOT IN ACTIVE USE AND THE AC WAS ON. BOTH TIMES WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED AC OFF BUT IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. WE ASKED LOCAL KIA DEALER TO CHECK ON IT THEY ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, SO THERE WAS NO INCIDENT CODE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T BE SURE WHAT CAUSED IT. WE ASKED IF IT WOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULD NOT. *TR

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS WITH NO EXPLANATION AND HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS AND DOME LIGHT JUST QUIT AND NO EXPLANATION FROM KIA OR DLR. *TR

I TOO HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE MY HEAD LIGHT BULBS AND TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A FUSE BLOCK REPLACED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGING THE STARTER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK DUE TO FLICKERING. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO, I HAVE CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR ON EACH ON BOTH SIDES, NOW BOTH ARE OUT AND I CAN ONLY USE MY HIGH BEAMS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO CHANGE MY REAR LIGHTS ONCE. *TR

WHILE HEADING EAST DURING A SNOW STORM, COLLIDED WITH A SNOW PLOW. THE KIA SORENTO WAS TOTALED BEYOND REPAIR. IMPACT WAS AT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. DESTROYED FRONT OF VEHICLE, REAR DOOR AND RIPPER PART OF ROOF OPEN, DRIVER HIT FACE ON SIDE WINDOW CAUSING BLEEDING ON BRAIN. WAS HOSPATIZED FOR 3 DAYS. NOT ONE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED. NOT FRONT NOR SIDE AIR BAGS. NOTIFIED KIA CORP. SENT PICTURES AND REPORT. SAID THEY DIDNT THINK IT WAS THE FAULT OF KIA. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 KIA SORENTO THAT STARTED TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON JAN 3RD 2009. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. IT IS RANDOM AND I AM CURRENTLY IN COURT WITH KIA THROUGH THE PA LEMON LAW. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO IT IS ON RECORD. *TR

I OWN A 2005 AND A 2006 KIA SORENTO EX. IN BOTH VEHICLES I MUST REPLACE LIGHTBULBS CONTINUALLY. ON AVERAGE, I REPLACE HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY 60 TO 90 DAYS. BRAKE LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT IS LESS FREQUENT, BUT DOES OCCUR OFTEN WITHIN THE YEAR. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES BUT KIA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEMS. *TR

IDLER AIR CONTROL VALVE- BAD ON 2005 KIA SORENTO, 75, 000 MILES REPAIR COST STEVEN KIA WICHITA KS, $570.00 DEALER SAID THE VALVE WOULD NEED REPLACED, AND PINS CLEANED.. SYMPTOMS, VEHICLE DIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN WONT STAY RUNNING, CAR ONE TIME IDLED UP ON IT OWN AT A VERY HIGH ACCELERATION, SCARED ME, I HAD TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL IT DIDN'T WORK, THEN TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP CAR. *TR

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE. I CURRENTLY HAVE NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO, AGAIN. THE LIGHT BULBS GO OUT EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT JUST WENT OUT AS WELL. I KEEP HAVING TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON BECAUSE I KEEP LOSING ONE OR BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS. THIS WILL BE THE 5TH TIME I REPLACE THE BULBS IN A YEAR'S TIME. KIA TELLS ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ME $48 PER BULB TO CHANGE THEM AND GUARANTEE THEM FOR A 12 MONTH PERIOD. I SEE ALOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

DRIVING OUT OF MY OFFICE PARK AT LUNCH TIME, HEARD FAN NOISE LIKE LOOSE BELT, THEN WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO EXIT LOT, HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK" AND LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE SITTING LOOSE IN COMPARTMENT LAND LOOSE BELTS EVERYWHERE. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. TOLD 2.5 HOURS LATE, WHEN I CALLED TO THE DEALER, THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS BROKEN AGAIN. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND FOUND ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THIS BOLT, MY VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST (THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE). ALTHOUGH "SHORT BLOCK" WAS REPLACED AT LAST FAILURE (IN 4/07 AT 20,200 MI) THIS FAILURE REQUIRED MACHINING THE BOLT OUT AND ONLY REPLACING THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, CRANK PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT BOLT, THEN REINSTALLING OTHER COMPONENTS. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS 6/18/08 AND REQUESTED DIST SERVICE MGR APPROVAL SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. NO RETURN PHONE CALLS ALTHOUGH MESSAGES WERE LEFT FOR AGENT ON 6/19 AND 6/20. AGENT CALLED ON 6/25/08 TO ASK "HOW IS THE VEHICLE RIDING?", BUT WE HAD NOT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, SINCE YET AGAIN NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS PROVIDED. SAFETY IS NOW A MAJOR CONCERN WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO CONFIDENCE IN REPLACEMENT PARTS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. RESEARCH SHOWS MANY OTHER OWNERS REPORTING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT. REPAIR TOOK 6 BUSINESS DAYS (8 CALENDAR DAYS) AND AGAIN NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS OFFERED OR PROVIDED. WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM HAS INFORMATION FROM A KIA TECHNICIAN THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT CANNOT BE FIXED BY REPLACING A BOLT EVERY 10,000 TO 20,000 MILES OR EACH FAILURE. NO OWNER SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER FAILURE THAT DROPS THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN OUT OF TRAFFIC AND NOT ON THE INTERSTATES. LIVING IN METRO ATLANTA, GA MEANS I A FAR GREATER CHANCE OF THE NEXT FAILURE CAUSING INJURY TO ME OR OTHERS. *TR

MY 05 KIA SORRENTO'S HEAD LIGHT BULBS KEEP CONSISTENTLY BURNING OUT. I HAVE BOUGHT 8 LIGHTBULBS WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THIS WILL BE THE VERY LAST KIA THAT I OWN UNLESS THERE SERVICE GETS BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE AND THEY TAKE ACTION ON THERE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. *TR

HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE 3 YEARS I'VE HAD THE SORENTO. I KEEP MY HEADLIGHTS OFF DURING THE DAY AND IT SEEMED TO DELAY THE BULB GOING OUT AS FAST AS IT DID WHEN I KEPT THEM ON ALL DAY. I KEEP REPLACEMENT BULBS IN MY VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES DUE TO THIS. YOU CAN BUY THEM FOR $5.00 AT YOUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS...WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR NOTHING TO BE WRONG. *TR

BASICALLY, I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CHANGE LIGHTS. (I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS, INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS). *TR

ON 4/30/08 MY KIA SORENTO WAS HIT FROM BEHIND ON THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE PUSHED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF US WHO ALSO HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF THEM. WE WERE ON AN EXTENDED ON RAMP SO I ESTIMATE OUR SPEED WAS 35 MPH. AS THE TRAFFIC AHEAD OF US BEGAN TO STOP QUICKLY I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEREFORE THE EXACT RATE OF SPEED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT IS UNKNOWN. HOWEVER WE HIT CAR ENOUGH THAT MY DAUGHTERS LID COVERED SOFT DRINK HIT THE DASH. NEITHER OF MY CARS FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY CAR SUSTAINED MAJOR REAR AND FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. OUR SEAT BELTS DID HOLD US IN. HOWEVER I RECEIVED BRUISING FROM THE SEAT BELT IN THE CHECK AND WAIST AREA AS WEAK AS AN INJURY TO MY RIGHT KNEE WHERE IT HIT THE LOWER DASH AREA. *TR

OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 185 DAYS DUE TO FRONT,REAR,BRAKE AND RUNNING LIGHT ISSUE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT EVERY TWO OR THREE WEEKS AND THE OTHER ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THE THROTTLE CONTROL ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES EACH AND GOOD MOTOR COMPANY OF ROCKHILL SOUTH CAROLINA CANT SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE PROBLEM. KIA MOTORS IS NO HELP AND CANT SEEM TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER TO SEE THE OTHER 20 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I'M STUCK WITH A 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON A LEMON. *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

LIGHTING PROBLEM IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO LX. IN 2006, MY DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING IN THE "DOOR" POSITION (I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED). SINCE 2006, I HAVE REPLACED MY KIA'S LEFT HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES AND THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT 2 TIMES. I NOW HAVE MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT OUT AGAIN AND THE REAR LEFT BRAKE LIGHT AS WELL. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO BE NORMAL, I CALLED KIA. THE KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS IT REQUIRES "KIA LIGHTBULBS" AT $50/EACH AS WELL AS A $75 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. KIA CLAIMS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AFTER MANUFACTURE LIGHT BULBS AND THAT ONLY "KIA LIGHTBULBS" WILL WORK. CHECKING THE INTERNET, I FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM 2005 SORENTO OWNERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I LUCKED OUT THAT ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AT A TIME, OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. NOT TO MENTION THE COST IN REPLACEMENT LIGHTBULBS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO MAKES AN UNUSUAL NOISE (KLUNK) WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, THEN IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER. I MAYBE ABLE TO DRIVE AT A VERY LOW SPEED FOR A SHORT DISTANCE WITH NO POWER OR IT WILL JUST NOT MOVE (AS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IN THE SECOND FAILURE). THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO HAS DONE THE FOLLOWING. FIRST VISIT = "MISC FOUND CODES P0716/P0893//CLEAR CODES OK AT THIS TIME" COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMERS CONCERN. SECOND VISIT = REPLACED THROTTLE POS SENSOR". THIRD VISIT = "VEHICLE WAS LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID". I AM NOT ACCEPTING THE LAST EXCUSE AS A FIX TO THE PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THERE IS AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM. *TR THE VEHICLE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE 4TH TIME FOR THE CLUNKING NOISE THAT CAUSES IT TO STOP AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS KIT.

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

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE IDLED VERY ROUGH. FEARING REPEAT OF CYLINDER MISFIRE THAT OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2006 TOOK VEHICLE STRAIGHT TO DEALER. CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY EVAP PRESSURE SENSOR. REPLACED SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. *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.

MY FIANCE' AND I HAVE RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES WITH OUR 2005 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. FOR SOME REASON, FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD ONCE IT IS ON GEAR. IT JUST WON'T MOVE. I CAN TAKE IT IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND IT STILL WON'T MOVE. I CAN TRY IT IN FIRST OR SECOND AND STILL NOTHING. THE WORK AROUND WE FIGURED OUT IS TO PUT IT IN REVERSE AND MAYBE MOVE IT BACKWARDS JUST A LITTLE BIT AND WE ARE THEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN FIRST AND MOVE FORWARD LIKE NORMAL. IT HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO HER THREE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK, ONCE LAST WEEK AND TWICE TODAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE CAR LAST WEEK THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND SAW THE ISSUE FIRST HAND. I AM GOING TO KIA ABOUT THIS, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE OR EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2005 MANUAL TRANSMISSION, OR ANY YEAR TRANSMISSION FOR THAT MATTER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BUSY ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. WE ARE WORRIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE SHE IS MOVING OR CHANGING GEARS. THIS HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR IS GOING TO KIA TOMORROW TO HAVE THE ISSUE ADDRESSED. *JB

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT SENSES PASSENGER LESS THAN 50% OF THE TIME. EVEN GETTING OUT AND RESTARTING THE CAR WILL NOT FIX THIS. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I ASKED ABOUT RECALL/BULLETIN AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ONE BUT I HAD RECEIVED SOMETHING IN THE MAIL ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THIS IS FOR 2005 KIA SORENTO SPORT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING EXTREMELY LOUD. DID NOT OVERHEAT AND OIL LEVEL WAS FINE. ON JULY 31 I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MS STEVENS (CENTRAL KIA) TO AUTHORIZE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE. THE COST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WILL BE $80.00 IF NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ON AUGUST 1ST I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MS. STEVENS STATING THE TECHNICIAN SAW SIGNS OF ?SLUDGE? WHEN HE REMOVED THE OIL CAP. MS. STEVEN QUESTIONED IF THERE WAS KNOCKING NOISE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. I EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO NOISE PRESENT AND THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,800 MILES AGO. MS. STEVENS SAID SHE HAD TO GET AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED TO GO ANY FURTHER BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENCE OF ?SLUDGE?. IF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ?OIL STARVATION? IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FURTHER DIAGNOSIS WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $500.00. I QUICKLY DISMISSED THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN ?OIL STARVED?. IF THE ENGINE WAS OIL STARVED THE FAILURE WOULD MOST LIKELY HAPPEN OVER TIME. THIS FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE. MS. STEVENS AGREED AND EVEN MENTION THAT SHE HAS SEEN AND THE TECHNICIAN AS EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTION WITH A WING NUT AND BOLT BREAKING AND FALLING INTO THE LOWER PART OF THE MOTOR. SHE BELIEVED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE WHICH WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. ON THURSDAY AUGUST 2ND AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00AM I WENT TO CENTRAL KIA IN PLANO AND MET WITH MS. STEVENS. MS STEVENS TOLD ME THE WORK ON MY VEHICLE HAD NOT BEGUN. AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 PM I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MS. STEVENS STATING A MALFUNCTION IN THE MOTOR OCCURRED INVOLVING A FAILED PART (BOLT). MS. STEVENS NOW IS REQUESTED FOR ME TO PRODUCE MAINTENANCE RECORDS OR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME TO KNOW THAT KIA KNEW OF THE FAULTY PART PRIOR TO THE DIAGNOSIS, THEN FINDING THE PROBLEM THEN PLACING THE MONKEY ON THE CONSUMERS BACK BEFORE THEY WILL COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

AT UNDER 20,000 MILES I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND WON'T GIVE ME A RENTAL IN THE MEANTIME.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR OF WIRES PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPRESSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

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

2005 KIA SORENTO, WAS IN GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED & THE VEH ROLLED OUT OF PARK AND INTO BODY OF WATER. WHEN VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED, THE POLICE DID CONFIRM THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK & EMERG BRAKE WAS STILL ENGAGED. *TR

CLOCK KEEPS RESETTING ITSELF AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH 8 HEADLIGHTS IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. KIA SAYS USE THEIR $50 HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *TR

TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY FROM A SHORT TRIP TO THE CORNER GAS STATION, I HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK", LOST POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. CONTACTED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER INDICATED THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE. DEALER REPLACED THE "SHORT BLOCK" UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRS TOOK 5 DAYS AND NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION WAS PROVIDED. *TR

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

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS IN THIS VEHICLE EVERY FEW MONTHS. BRAKE LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, BLINKERS ETC. THIS IS INSANE. I KEEP GETTING TICKETS, AND NOW 2 DAYS AGO THE OFFICER RECOGNIZED ME FROM PULLING ME OVER FOR THE SAME THING 6 MONTHS AGO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,469 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.