15 of the
457 complaints about the 2005 KIA Sorento are about the
braking system — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
48,000 miles.
MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR PRIMARILY. SHE ASKED ME LAST WEEK TO SEE WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WEIRD NOISES FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHEN APPLYING. I COULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE NOISES, SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN HAS FOUND EXTREME RUST ISSUES WITH THE REAR AXLE LINK BRACKETS ON THE AXLE HOUSING BEING RUSTED OUT AND NO LONGER CONNECTED. I HAVE DEALT WITH VEHICLE REPAIR MOST OF MY LIFE, AND KNOW THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. MY WIFE CARRIES HER 83 YEAR OLD MOTHER, AND OUR 3 YEAR OLD GRAND DAUGHTER. I WILL NOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I AM ABLE TO GET IT ON A LIFT AND INVESTIGATE FOR MYSELF. I DO NOT HAVE A SPARE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON THESE AUTOS, AND AM INQUIRING IF THERE IS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THERE BEING A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11100469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hiram, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
I PURCHASED THIS 2005 KIA SORENTO AND ON MY WAY HOME THERE WAS A KNOCK BEFORE I LOST MY STERRING AND BRAKES. LUCKILY I SLOWED DOWN WHEN I HEARD THE SOUND. I GOT THE CAR HOME SAFELYBEING ONLY A HALF A MILE AWAY. CALLED THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE KIA FROM AND HE CAME AND GOT IT TO REPAIR IT. HE BOUGHT THE UPDATED SO CALL BOLT THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT. THEN I GOT THE CAR BACK AND HAD THE GAS TANK LEAKING FROM THE SEAMS. HE FIX AND REPLACED THAT. JUST THE OTHER NIGHT ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I LOST MY STERRING AND BRAKES AGAIN..I TRAVEL ON MAIN ROADS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF AMISH HERE AND THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING AROUND ANY OF THERE BUGGY AND HURT THOSE PEOPLE OR MYSELF..THERE IS NO FIX WHAT SO EVER FOR THIS ISSUE AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE KIA STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAULTY DEFECT BEFORE A INNOCENT CHILD OR WOMAN OR HUSBAND GETS KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10806435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesBloomsburg, PACrash
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE FROM A PARKING SPACE AND PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AT 10 MPH. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE BEING DEPRESSED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #10783374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,000 milesSilver Creek, MSCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS STOPPED WAITING TO TURN INTO A FAST FOOD PLACE WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES TO TURN IN ,THE SUV TOOK OFF FROM 0 TO 60 IN A SPLIT SECOND.WHEN I TRIED TO MASH THE BRAKES IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN AND I COULDN'T STOP.I ENDED UP HITTING A TREE,THE AIR BAGS DID COME OUT.THE SUV WAS TOTALED.I CONTACTED KIA'S OFFICE AND THEY HAD THE SUV TOWED TO A LOT FOR INVESTIGATION.AS OF THIS DATE I HAVEN'T HEARD FORM KIA AS TO WHAT THEY FOUND OUT.THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE KIA TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN WITH ME .I WOULD LIKE THIS ACCIDENT OFF MY RECORD AND INFO AS TO WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE KIA.
NHTSA complaint #10680991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesRichmond, VA
SERVICE BRAKES
FIRST INCIDENT-ON AUGUST 16, 2014 WHILE ON VACATION AND DRIVING FROM VIRGINIA TO CHICAGO ILL, THE VEHICLE START MAKING A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH (BATTERY, BRAKE) AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO MANEUVER, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER INTO A FAST FOOD PARKING LOT TO CHECK THE NOISE AND FOUND THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE AND BELTS WERE NOT TURNING, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AFTER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT GEAR PIN HAD BROKE OFF TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER. I PURCHASE THE PARTS (HARMONIC BALANCER, BOLT AND CRANK SHAFT GEAR) AND HAD THE MECHANIC REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND DROVE BACK TO VIRGINIA. SECOND INCIDENT-OCTOBER 2014 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SHE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEMS THE WARNING LIGHTS, RATTLING IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, POWER STEERING LOCKED UNABLE TO TURN VEHICLE, I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE AND BELTS WERE NOT TURNING, THE PIN IN THE CRANK SHAFT GEAR HAS BROKEN AGAIN, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN RICHMOND, AND THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. AFTER INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE ON LINE I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR VEHICLE. IF I OR MY WIFE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OF THIS FAULT IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I ALSO FOUND THAT THEIR IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST KIA MOTORS ADDRESSING THE EXACT SAME FAULT.(CIVIL ACTION NO. 13-006 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY) ESSENTIALLY, PLAINTIFFS CLAIMED THEIR VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED WITH A ?DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLD AND BALANCER,? WHICH COULD RESULT IN ?BREAKING OFF THE SPRING GUIDE PIN,? CAUSING ?CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.? THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, A RECALL IS WARRANTED AND KIA MOTORS NEEDS TO CORRECT THE DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10655071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 117,000 milesWindham, NH
SERVICE BRAKES
I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 2005 KIA SORENTO. THIS MORNING, DRIVING MY YOUNG SON TO SCHOOL, I LOST THE STEERING ON MY VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS AN ONGOING DEFECTIVE ISSUE WITH KIA'S. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS CONSUMERS.
NHTSA complaint #10595810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,945 milesMelbourne, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. REAR BRAKES PADS WORN DOWN TO 30%. HAD REAR ROTORS TURNED AND NEW PADS INSTALLED AT 37,945 SHAKING REDUCED SOMEWHAT. AT 41,252 HAD REAR BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED,(BECAUSE THEY WHERE WARPED) AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED,CAR STILL SHAKES. MECHANIC STATES PROBLEM IS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN WHICH SOMEHOW BINDS-UPS WHEN BRAKING AND IS DESTROYING THE REAR BAKES. SHAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10394018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,400 milesHueytown, ALCrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #10228753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,000 milesNaugatuck, CT
PARKING BRAKE
BRAKE PULSATION.
NHTSA complaint #10209324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,770 milesPhenix City, AL
PARKING BRAKE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10198178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,882 milesWinnetka, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CAR IS MAKING A WEASEL KING OF NOISE AROUND 45-55 MPH. KIA TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ANOTHER PROBLEM EMERGED. CAR SHOOK WHEN BRAKING SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN KIA OF THE VALLEY SAID THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY ASKED ME TO WAIT SO THEY COULD CONSULT WITH KIA ENGINEERS, BUT BEFORE I HEARD ANYTHING BACK THEY CLOSED THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10191334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,350 milesGlendale, AZ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKING SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FIRST TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND THEY WERE SLOW REACTING, WHICH CAUSED MY TO GO INTO THE INTERSECTION. SECOND TIME I WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND WENT TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE CAR. DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10149325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown, DC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2005 KIA SORENTO EX DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CLOCK WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR BACKING AND PULLING FORWARD, A SHUDDER IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, A CUT IN THE LEATHER PASSENGER SEAT. ON 4 OCCASIONS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT DASH LIGHT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WITH 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT WEIGHTS/HEIGHTS WERE SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE POWER STEERING FAILED 3 TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE SHUDDER IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NORMAL AND WAS A PART OF THE ABS.
NHTSA complaint #10128000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Douglasville, GA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE CLOCK DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD OR STARTING COLD WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR BACKING AND PULLING FORWARD AND A SHUDDER FEELING WAS IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS A SUPPOSED SERVICE BULLETIN IN REFERENCE TO THE ABS/BRAKE PEDAL. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DASH LIGHT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WITH THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT HEIGHT A WEIGHT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE DASH DISPLAY FAILED TO LIGHT UP WHEN THE PASSENGERS DID NOT HAVE THEIR SEAT BELTS ON, NOISE IN THE STEERING HAD WORSENED SINCE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT, THERE WAS A WHINING AND OR WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OR IN THE AXLE AS THE WHEEL WAS BEING TURNED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10111047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Douglasville, GA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
THE CLOCK DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD OR STARTING COLD WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR BACKING AND PULLING FORWARD AND A SHUDDER FEELING WAS IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS A SUPPOSED SERVICE BULLETIN IN REFERENCE TO THE ABS/BRAKE PEDAL. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DASH LIGHT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WITH THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT HEIGHT A WEIGHT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE DASH DISPLAY FAILED TO LIGHT UP WHEN THE PASSENGERS DID NOT HAVE THEIR SEAT BELTS ON, NOISE IN THE STEERING HAD WORSENED SINCE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT, THERE WAS A WHINING AND OR WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OR IN THE AXLE AS THE WHEEL WAS BEING TURNED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10111047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.