MyCarTSB

2005 Kia Sorento Transmission Problems

24 owner-reported transmission complaints from NHTSA data

24
Complaints
Jan 2007Nov 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (24)

highPOWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2024

Your car's rear-end bolts have rusted through and required replacement. The owner also experienced frame rust and breakage on a previous vehicle, which was attributed to a design flaw that prevents water from draining properly from the rear-end area. This issue has prompted recalls in the UK and other countries. Fixing this typically involves replacing rusted bolts, reinforcing or replacing the rear axle assembly, and addressing the underlying drainage design problem.

NHTSA #: 11581628
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jan 2018

HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED FAILURE OF CAM SENSOR, CAM SHAFT PULLEY BOLT, FAILURE OF ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, FAILURE OF CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION, FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONING, FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTS.. ALL ISSUES ARE AS DOCUMENTED BY THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS WHO ARE WAITING FOR AN INVESTIGATION, A RECALL, OR ENOUGH DEATHS AND INJURIES TO RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE OF ANY KIND FROM THIS ORGANIZATION OR THE MANUFACTURER. I CAN NOT JUSTIFY SPENDING ONE MORE DOLLAR ( $16,000 IN THE 3 YEARS SINCE PURCHASED FOR $4,000).TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS ONCE AGAIN INOPERABLE FOR THE SAME ISSUES. . NO CAR DEALER WANTS IT AS A TRADE IN, THE STANDARD OFFER IS $300. I CANNOT SELL IT TO ANYONE AND THEN FACE MYSELF IN MIRROR. PERHAPS A PUBLIC SAKE... $1 PER MINUTE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BASH A KIA (SLEDGEHAMMER PROVIDED). PROCEEDS WILL BE APPLIED TO PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, WHICH WILL NOT BE A KIA.

NHTSA #: 11062709
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT WARRANTY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.

NHTSA #: 10918620
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2015

THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK, AND IT WAS RARELY DRIVEN AFTER TRANSMISSION REPAIR AT A KIA DEALER. LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD SHOWED THAT THE BELTS WEREN'T MOVING. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WAS ATTACHED BUT NOT STRAIGHT; OFFSET. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BREAKING IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES. IS/WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEN FAR WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED. MA 10/8 *CN

NHTSA #: 10745802
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2015

WIFE WAS DRIVING AWAY FROM HOUSE, HEARD SCREACHING SOUND, THEN LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING NEARLY ENDING UP ON SIDEWALK. WHEN I CHECKED UNDER HOOD, I SAW A BOLT SITTING ON LOWER PART OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NOT MOVING, BUT BOLT THAT HOLDS IT ON SPINNING. NONE OF THE BELTS WERE MOVING. MOST OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALSO LIT UP. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVOLVING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 10733080
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT NONE OF THE BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE MOVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT DAMPER, HARMONIC BALANCER AND THE GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA #: 10660442
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2014

THE VEHICLE IS SIMPLY NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE UPON TAKING OFF OR GOING UPHILL. AFTER LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL. A METAL PIECE OF A VALVE HAS BEEN SHEARING OFF THEN LODGING IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CANADA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL SO I AM UNSURE WHY THE US HASN'T FOLLOWED SUIT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10627872
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Jun 2014

I BOUGHT MY KIA NEW IT HAS SPORTS PACKAGE , I HAVE HAD TO REPLAIN SHOP ALL THE TIME CE HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES THE LAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN TOTAL MESS POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES BLEW OUT THEN IN MAY WENT TO AIR PORT PICKED UP DAUGHTER CAR WAS NOTHING NO START TOW TRUCK ..AUTO SHOP FIRST SAID PLUG IN READER SAID CRANK SHAFT SENSOR THEN IT SAID STARTER BAD SO REPLACED STARTER IT STARTS BUT IT NOW WHINES I TOOK IT BACK HE SAID IT IS THE STARTER BRAND . I AM ALWAYS WORRIED IF IT WILL START AND IF I HAVE LIGHTS I LOVE MY KIA BUT IT HAS HAD ELECTRIC PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1 KIA SHOULD RECALL 2005 DUE TO THIS . LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING AND IT WENT FROM REG DRIVE TO LOW IT HAS SHIFTER IT HAS BUTTON THAT HAS TO BE PUSHED IN TO CHANGE DRIVE OVER DRIVE LOW I NEVER PUSHED IT IT DID IT ON ITS OWN THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WISH KIA WOULD STEP UP AND RECALL I WANT TO KEEP MY CAR IT IS WELL TAKEN CAR OF BUT I CANT KEEP POURING MONEY IN IT BIG $ LAST 6 MONTHS OVER 2500 IS THERE A WAY TO DO LAW SUIT I HAVE SEEN TONS PEP WITH HEADLIGHTS ISSUES SENTS I REPLACED MY FIRST ONES ALSO PAINT ON DOORS OPEN ALL GONE I NEVER EVEN USE BACK SEAT DOORS SO HOW IS IT COMING OFF IS THERE A LAWYER OUT HERE WHO OIWNS A KIA HELP...... *TR

NHTSA #: 10606637
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2013

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.

NHTSA #: 10548215
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2013

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 KIA SORENTO AT 40MPH IT STARTED BUCKING AND WHEN YOU GO TO ACCELERATE YOU CAN HOLD THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HIS SOFTWARE SHOWS A RECALL FOR THIS AND KIA IS SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. HIS SOFTWARE SAYS RECALLS CAMPAIGN-SC073 ICV REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10522815
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Sep 2012

GEAR SHIFT KNOB CAME OFF AND IS STUCK IN PARK. THE MECHANISM TO ENGAGE THE SHIFTER IS A SMALL CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE THAT BROKE OFF. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10475387
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Mar 2012

I SEE THAT YOU HAVE 15 RECALLS FOR THIS SUV, I HAVE ONLY HAD KIA SERVICE THIS TRUCK, UNTIL 09/09/2011 CAN YOU TELL ME WHY, NO NOTICE OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN FIXED, NOT ONE NOTICE IN THE MAIL JOE MEYERS KIA. HOUSTON TEXAS. *JS

NHTSA #: 10453560
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2012

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP ABOUT 1 MINUTE AFTER NOISES WERE HEARD AND SMOKE STARTED APPEARING CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO AUTOMATIC HALT...IN TRAFFIC. NO ONE WANTS TO COVER DAMAGE CREATED. *KB

NHTSA #: 10446690
mediumPOWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Aug 2011

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STOPPED TO STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT IT FELT LIKE POWER STEERING BELT WENT OUT BUT IT WAS NOT THAT IT WAS A BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I CALLED KIA HOTLINE AND THEY SAID I STILL HAVE WARRANTY BUT NOT ON THAT SCREW SO I AM LOOKING A 2 GRAND TO FIX THIS SUV THAT HAS HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED ALL THE TIME AND THE DEALERSHIPS DO NOT BACK UP THERE PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10419284
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2011

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

NHTSA #: 10380777
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Sep 2010

2005 SORENTO LOVE THE CAR, BUT ON TAKE OFF AROUND 45 TO 50 MPH IF I'LL JERK AND LOSE SPEED BUT IF I KEEP MY FOOT IT DOES HAPPEN AS OF YET, IT JUST HOLDS THERE END MUCH GIVE LOTS OF GAS TO GET IT GOING. THAT'S THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE. PLEASE HELP. ALL THE TIME! *TR

NHTSA #: 10354876
mediumPOWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10316776
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Feb 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10303660
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2009

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

NHTSA #: 10278594
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jan 2008

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.

NHTSA #: 10216000
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2007

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

NHTSA #: 10201034
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Jan 2007

MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENT SHIFTING SAFETY DEFECT CAUSES OUR 2005 KIA SORENTO TO LOCK UP WHILE WE ARE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT LET US SHIFT GEARS OR MOVE THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IN FIRST GEAR; HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SHIFTING UP THROUGH GEARS, HAS HAPPENED DOWN SHIFTING IN INTERSECTIONS. THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT COULD CAUSE US TO BE IN A POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO KIA INC. TWO TIMES AND TAKEN TO DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD SINCE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP US. THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO LOOK AT THE CAR. IN THE MEANTIME THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO EXIST AND WE ARE DRIVING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. OUR CONSCIENCE TELLS US WE SHOULD NOT TRADE OR SELL THIS AUTO BECAUSE WE KNOW IT HAS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY DEFECT (EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY) . THIS IS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR WE WONDER IF THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WILL OCCUR. WE HAVE YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN AND BOUGHT THE KIA SORENTO BECAUSE OF ITS POSITIVE SAFETY FEATURES. BECAUSE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM WE ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR AND OUR SAFETY. *NM UPDATED 11/21/06. *JB UPDATED

NHTSA #: 10172638
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2005

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 KIA SORENTO IT SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER AND WILL NOT SURPASS 30 MPH. WHEN I CHANGE FROM AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO THIS NEW STANDARD SHIFT THERE IS NO RESPONSE. THIS HAS OCCURRED NOW 4 TIMES THE PAST 2 MONTHS. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CODES AND NOTHING SHOWS. I MUST STOP AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, RESTART AND ALL SYSTEMS RETURN TO NORMAL. MY DEALER SAYS THAT I MUST BRING THIS TO THEM WHEN IT IS IN THIS STATE. THIS REQUEST IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.*JB

NHTSA #: 10139390
mediumPOWER TRAIN
Filed: Aug 2005

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN THE FIRST FOUR GEARS. I A HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MANY TIMES BECAUSE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. TRANSMISSION MODULE REPLACED. IT IS STILL SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. *NM

NHTSA #: 10133408

Other 2005 Kia Sorento Issues