2004 Kia Sorento Steering Problems

Your Sorento experienced a small engine fire that required immediate evacuation, followed by multiple electrical and steering failures. You noticed a squeaky belt, then dashboard warning lights (battery and brake indicators) came on and off intermittently, and your power steering completely failed while driving—creating a dangerous situation. Your mechanic determined that a crankshaft bolt snapped deep inside the engine, requiring either crankshaft or full engine replacement at significant cost.

While driving at 65 mph on the highway with your child in the car, your steering suddenly jerked to the left, nearly causing a collision. Later, your power steering failed completely, making it impossible to steer properly. This loss of control led to your car being hit from behind and pushed into another vehicle, causing damage to both ends of your car.

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

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CARS WOULDN'T TURN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS DYING. IT HAPPENS A BOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME AND WHEN I GOT IT THERE I TOLD MY HUSBAND. HE LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME MY HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE AND IT LOOKED TO HAVE SNAPPED THE BOLT. NOW I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN GET THE BROKEN BOLT OUT AND GET IT FIXED. I LOOKED UP WHAT TO DO AND NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON 28TH THIS PROBLEM.

I WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 KIA SORENTO WITH MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AT 45 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AS ALL THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. I LOST ALL POWER, BUT I WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO PARK NEXT TO A CURB, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, KEY SHAFT, DAMPER PULLEY, AND CRANK BOLT ALL WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

IN THIS INSTANCE, THE CAR FAILED TO START. HOWEVER, THERE WERE SEVERAL MORE INCIDENTS CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUES. IN THOSE INSTANCES, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, STALL OUT AND IF ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, COULD BE DRIVEN WITH A LAG IN THE ENGINE A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING. IN TWO INSTANCES, THE POWER STEERING WAS SUDDENLY LOST WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH A BREAK ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 POWER STEERING WENT CAR LOST POWER LIGHTS WENT CRAZY CAR SHUT DOWN. I ALMOST WRECKED HARMONIC BALANCER FELL INTO PIECES ALL PULLEY BELTS AND PIN HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I JUST GOT THIS CAR I HAVE A PAYMENT ON IT. GOING TO COST 1200 TO FIX. THIS IS ON TOP OF IT SPUTTERING AND SPOTTYING. REPLACE HEAD LIGHTS THE RADIO GLITCHES THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND IF U TURN THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS UP IT TURNS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON.OVER DRIVE BUTTON DOES NOT WORK AND TRANSMISSION LAGS... I HAVE READ AL THESE COMPLAINTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHY ISN'T ANYONE FORCING A RECALL? THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED AND THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COULD CAUSE FIRE.... SOMEONE IS GOING TO END UP VERY HURT IF KIA IS NOT FORCED TO FIX THESE. COULD U IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING ON A THRU WAY? *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY COMPLEX MY THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND IT SEEMED AS IF I LOST MY BRAKES (WHICH I COST TO THE SIDE ROAD AS WELL AS NO STEERING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PULLEY MOUNTING BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF INSIDE THE CRANKSHAFT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCED WAS REQUIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BOLTS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BOLTS FRACTURED FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT AND ENGINE MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID FROM CORRODED STEEL LINES BETWEEN STEERING RACK AND STEERING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL UNIT. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT OF CORRODED STEEL LINES ON THIS VEHICLE. FIRST WAS THE BRAKE LINES THEN THE FUEL LINES. PREVIOUS ISSUES WERE ALSO REPORTED ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR

TRAVELING A 45MPH AND CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE OFF INSIDE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. 3RD INSTANCE OF SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TRAVELING AT 40MPH CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE OFF INSIDE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET CAUSING HARMONIC BALANCER AND BELT TO FALL OFF. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A/C COMP, WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT DUE TO DAMAGE. 1ST INSTANCE. *TR

TRAVELING AT 40MPH CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE OFF INSIDE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET CAUSING HARM BALANCER AND BELT TO FALL OFF. 2ND INSTANCE. *TR

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND HEARD NOISE AND FELT LIKE IT WAS LOOSING POWER. PULLED OVER TO PARK THE CAR. LOST POWER STEERING AND WENT UP A SHOPPING STORE CURB. LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS WALKING OR STANDING THERE. (PULLEY, BROKEN BOLT FROM CRANK AND DIAL PIN FROM CRANK). *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN I SUDDENLY STARTED HEARING RATTLING NOISES FROM THE ENGINE. THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THANKFULLY, I WAS ON A SIDE STREET WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC. IF I HAD BEEN IN TRAFFIC OR TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED, THIS WOULD SURELY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT IS SHEARED OFF AND MUST BE DRILLED OUT TO BE REPLACED. KIA WON'T COVER THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR, SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED BY THEIR WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I SEE THAT KIA IS AWARE OF A DEFECT IN THE BOLT AND HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS AND DISCONTINUED THE BOLT, ISSUING A NEW PART TO REPLACE IT. THERE ARE ALREADY NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND OTHER SITES DUE TO THIS ISSUE, SPANNING SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL FROM KIA. DANGEROUS DEFECT AND ALARMING LACK OF CONCERN (NOT TO MENTION CUSTOMER SERVICE) FROM KIA. I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THE GAMBLE I WAS TAKING WITH MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. I HOPE OTHERS WILL NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. *TR

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE AND MESSED UP THE STEERING, I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AS I'M READING THE KIA FORUMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT AND PIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,186 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT WITH DIFFICULT IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

WE HAVE HAD 4 INSTANCES WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE FIXING THE PULLEY CRANK SHAFT. JUNE 30, 08, (RECALL) OCTOBER 6, 09, AUG 10, 10 AND ONCE AGAIN SEPT 18,12. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT CAUSES YOU TO LOOSE STEERING WHILE DRIVING WITH APPARENTLY NO WARNING. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY TROUBLING AS WE HAVE A NEW DRIVER LEARNING WITH THIS CAR. WE ARE LUCKY TO REPORT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS BUT I THINK IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT WILL SOON HAPPEN. THE DEALER WAGNER KIA OF SHREWSBURY,MA FEELS THAT IT IS NOT AN ISSUE AND IS JUST FROM WEAR AND TEAR. 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM? OBVIOUSLY KIA HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY. IT ANGERS ME THAT KIA IS NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. WE DRIVE OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS OTHER CHILDREN IN THIS CAR AND COULD OF HAD SERIOUS TO FATAL INJURIES. FROM THIS BOLT SHEARING OFF IT HAS ALSO CAUSED OTHER MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAD FIXED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED HE USED THE WRONG STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EMAILED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND UPON EXAMINATION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT TWO OF THE WHEELS WERE TURNED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND THE TIE ROD WAS OUT OF POSITION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

ON MONDAY, 06-30-08, AT ABOUT 1400 HOURS, I PARKED MY VEHICLE A 2004 KIA SORRENTO 4X4 EX WITH APPROX. 80,000 PLUS MILES. SHORTLY AFTER PARKING THIS VEHICLE I ENTERED A BASKIN AND ROBINS TO HAVE AN ICE CREAM CONE. I WAS INFORMED BY FRANTIC PASSERBY'S THAT A VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. I TOOK A LOOK OUTSIDE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT MY VEHICLE MENTIONED ABOVE WAS SMOKING AND FLAMING UP. THIS FIRE APPEARED TO START ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE NEAR THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND ALTERNATOR. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN OPERATING FINE UNTIL THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND ONLY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE SERVICING UNDER WARRANTY. THE HONOLULU POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOTIFIED AND REPORTS DOCUMENTED UNDER HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT #08-242969 AND THE HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT #24891. FIRE AND POLICE OFFICIALS INFORMED ME THAT A POSSIBLE FUEL LINE MALFUNCTION IS A POSSIBILITY BUT CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE FENDER WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW RACK AND PINION, TIE ROD, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY, STEERING KNUCKLE, AND A PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,000.

I HAVE 3 MAJOR FAILURES W/MY NEW KIA SORENTO '04 SINCE BUYING IT IN DEC '03 FROM PEAK KIA IN COLO.THE 1ST FAILURE, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED IN DEC '03.THE BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T. I HAVE COMPLAINED MANY TIMES ABOUT A ROAD VIBRATION AT 68-72 MPH. DEALER HAS SEEN MY CAR 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE 1ST TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT SAID THEY HAD ONLY DRIVEN IT TO 63 MPH. THE 2ND TIME I TOOK IT IN, PROBLEM HAD BEEN NOTED IN A NUMBER OF SORENTO'S NATIONWIDE & THEY WERE GOING TO NEED TO CHANGE THE DRIVE SHAFT. 3RD TIME FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM & UPON PICKING UP THE CAR FOUND OUT THAT THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THE DRIVE SHAFT, BUT GREASED IT W/SPECIAL HEAVY DUTY GREASE &TURNED IT 180 DEGREES. I ASKED WHY HADN'T CHANGED DRIVE SHAFT, & THEY SAID THE MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RECOMMENDED THIS PROCEDURE 1ST. THE VIBRATION HAS SLOWLY RETURNED. I CALLED THE DEALER & THEY SAID THEY WOULD PUT ME ON LIST TO DRIVE CAR W/REGIONAL SERVICE MGR. THEY CALLED & SAID HE WAS IN TOWN, SO I WENT TO DRIVE CAR WITH LOCAL SERVICE MGR & REGIONAL SERVICE MGR.THEY FELT THERE WAS NOTHING HIGHLY NOTICEABLE ABOUT VIBRATION & SAID IT COULD BE THE ROADS. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IF IT GOT WORSE. IN AUGUST '04, WERE DRIVING & MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE. A HUGE TRAIL OF SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER CAR. WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD & CALLED 24HR TOWING FROM THE DEALER. CAR TOWED TO OSBORN KIA IN COLO. & FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE RACK & PINON STEERING MECHANISM & GEAR BOX HAD BLOWN UP THROWING STEERING FLUID ON THE ENGINE. SO MUCH SMOKE I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE! WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF OUR STEERING WOULD HAVE GONE OUT IN A TIGHT TURN! THE DEALER'S SERVICE MGR SAID IN ALL OF HIS YEAR'S THE DEALERSHIP HAD NEVER REPLACED THIS PART. THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED, THE CAR IS NOW VIBRATING ONCE AGAIN AT 68-71MPH. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALER BUT AM CONCERNED THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS. *JB