2004 KIA Sorento
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › KIA › Sorento › 2004
These records cover every 2004 KIA Sorento. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
220 complaints11 involved a crash12 involved a fire16 injuries1 deaths
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Power train
Crank pully bolt snapped. Causing crank pully to fall, and critical belts to fail.
- Structure › Body
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…
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.
- Service brakes · Structure › Body
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.
- Suspension
2004 KIA sorrento 97,000 miles. The left and right side rear control arm brackets rusted off.
- Electrical system · Engine · Steering
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…
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.
- Electrical system · Engine · Structure › Body
Oct, 2016 - I am the orignal owner of the vehicle and had maintained regular maintainence on the vehicle. I had just put $700 of new tires on vehicle and had a routine oil change and fluid check before we left for our vacation. I never had any issues with the vehicle and I still own. The vehicle…
Oct, 2016 - I am the orignal owner of the vehicle and had maintained regular maintainence on the vehicle. I had just put $700 of new tires on vehicle and had a routine oil change and fluid check before we left for our vacation. I never had any issues with the vehicle and I still own. The vehicle does not run but I wanted to know what started the fire. My daughter and I were headed out of town for a week, about 200 miles into the commute the front of the vehicle began to smoke from under the hood, we were traveling at 55-60 mph. As I was exiting the 421 highway flames began coming out from around hood and the paint on the hood began to bubble up due to heat. I immediately called the fire dept, as I was driving, pulled onto the shoulder and immediately removed my daughter and our belongings from the vehicle and distanced ourselves from the vehicle. When the fire dept arrived they put the flames out and the vehicle was transported to a local shop, I had the vehicle towed back to our home city upon departure from our vacation. Upon further observation I was able to see the fire started in the area closest to where the engine meets the dash on the drivers side and continued to spread from that point to the front of the vehicle and under on the drivers side.
- Unknown or other · Vehicle speed control
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.
- Air bags · Seat belts
"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 !
- Air bags
Takata recall air bag light IS on the dash can I get this replaced for no charge light stays on all the time.
- Steering
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…
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 !!!!
- Unknown or other
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.
- Engine
They had a recall and a lawsuit on the KIA for the pulley bolt keeps breaking and I never got a notice and mine keeps breaking and KIA won't do anything about it.
- Engine
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
- Structure › Body · Suspension
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…
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.
- Suspension
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…
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.
- Unknown or other
Vehicle caught fire while stationary. Fire started in front compartment near fuses. Total loss
- Vehicle speed control
It drives fine then all of a sudden foot same position on gas petal it accelerates.
- Engine · Vehicle speed control
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.
- Exterior lighting
The interior lights do not stay on the wheel I have to play with it to get them to come on and they go off all the time which IS very dangerous driving at night. And my low beams do not work at all I have to drive with high beams on.
- Suspension
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…
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.
- Suspension · Unknown or other
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…
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.
- Electrical system
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…
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.
- Suspension
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…
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.
- Engine · Service brakes · Steering
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.…
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
- Suspension
The rear axle IS falling apart and it's rusted where I can't even weld a bracket for the rear suspension it's so rusted that I was told by a mechanic that the rear axle can actually fall off the vehicle I would have to replace the entire rear axle so I can put a bracket or it will come with a…
The rear axle IS falling apart and it's rusted where I can't even weld a bracket for the rear suspension it's so rusted that I was told by a mechanic that the rear axle can actually fall off the vehicle I would have to replace the entire rear axle so I can put a bracket or it will come with a bracket it will cost me $4000 and I think a KIA should be responsible because the whole entire car underneath it rusted bucket full of rust
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10201529TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.
- 10183431TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides information regarding the use of USB ports and 12V power outlets to connect/charge mobile phones. Customers may experience issues with their head units that may be related to the use of aftermarket USB charging cables, including; * Electrical interference and limited or no functionality when attempting to play music, or when charging a device through the USB port * Excessive static or noise when listening to the audio source * Malfunctions and screen freeze of the head unit screen * Slow down of the system response while device is plugged in * Music will not play from iPhone 5 or 6 with Kia iPod cable and aftermarket adapter * No or limited functionality when trying to play music from an Apple device
- 10133170PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.
- 10109812TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? Some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other similar hardware, including threaded fasteners with pre-applied ?thread-locking adhesives.? It is critical for technicians to be aware that ALL such locking fasteners, regardless of type, are for ?one time use? only.
- 10109777TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. Though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other similar hardware, including threaded fasteners with pre-applied ?thread-locking adhesives.?
- 10090606Pitstop: unusual fuel trim values and/or misfire codes after incorrect engine repair - this outlines the procedure to follow if after an engine repair you encounter a complaint relating to mil on (dtc p)#)x) with a misfire during acceleration and/or you find unusual fuel trim values outside the normal parameters.
- 10060226Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10043654KIA: see document search button for owner letter. Fuel tank air filter replacement.
- 10037693KIA: there may be erratic shifting, shift shock, and a malfunction light on with stored trouble codes. This IS caused by a problem within the transfer motor.
- 10037420KIA: fuel tank air filter reminder. The air filter can accumulate dirt over time and needs to be maintained.
- 10034246KIA: intermittent mil on with no fault code stored; information about dtc p1330. Provides information relating to certain vehicles. In affected vehicles an intermittent short to ground in a circuit only intended for testing purposes may cause the mil to illuminate and a dtc p1330 (spark timing adjust) to be stored.
- 10033464KIA: ecm upgrade with tp sensor replacement-mil on with dtc p2135/p0638. Information related to ecm software and tp sensor upgrade on some vehicles with 2.7L engines which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated with the electronic throttle control (etc) system related dtc p2135 or p0638 or p2a00 or p2a03.
- 10028268KIA: head light bulb life concern. There may be concerns of short headlamp bulb life in vehicles. A new resistive wire harness has been introduced to extend the life of the low beam bulbs.
- 10026726KIA: all models. Article provides information relating to the improved durability of bulb life for rear combination bulb; rear stop lamp/tail lamp bulb utilized on multiple KIA models.
- 10025153Sorento icv replacement.
- 10022518Crankshaft bolt replacement.
- 10021446Throttle position sensor w/ 3.5L engines.
- 10019917Possible abnormal vibration/noise when shifting from park to drive or reverse due to insufficient torque at the rear driveshaft retaining bolts at the transfer case.
- 100185062003-2005 clocks not holding time or resetting - frequently asked questions.
- 10016851Enhanced diagnosis and repair for p0446/p2422.
- 10015248This bulletin provides information related to replacement of the air bag diagnostic unit (adu). Some owners may complain of the srs warning light illumination resulting in one or more seat track position sensor diagnostic trouble codes (dtc).
- 10009688Engine control module (ecm) reprogramming.
Every KIA Sorento model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.