2004 KIA SORENTO Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Kia Sorento. This model year has 220 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2004 Kia Sorento Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Suspension Failures
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Kia Sorento. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 92 | — | 7 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 40 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 30 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 28 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 28 | — | 7 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 24 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 14 | 6 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 13 | — | 2 | — | |
| Brake System | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 | — | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Kia Sorento. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 220 most recent complaints
Crank pully bolt snapped. Causing crank pully to fall, and critical belts to fail.
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…
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 CHAN…
2004 KIA SORRENTO 97,000 MILES. THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKETS RUSTED OFF.
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…
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 …
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.
"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 !
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE DASH CAN I GET THIS REPLACED FOR NO CHARGE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.
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 …
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 T…
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.
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
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 BRAC…
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 …
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STATIONARY. FIRE STARTED IN FRONT COMPARTMENT NEAR FUSES. TOTAL LOSS
IT DRIVES FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN FOOT SAME POSITION ON GAS PETAL IT ACCELERATES.
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 O…
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.
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 CONNECTE…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2004 Kia Sorento.
Recalls for 2004 Kia Sorento
0 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2004 Kia Sorento. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
No recall campaigns found for this model year in the current data. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly for the latest information.
2004 Kia Sorento — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Kia Sorento reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2004 Kia Sorento has 220 NHTSA owner complaints, 11 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (92 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Kia Sorento?▾
#1: Engine Problems (92 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (40 complaints). #3: Suspension Failures (30 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Kia Sorento?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2004 Kia Sorento?▾
The 2004 Kia Sorento has 11 crash-related complaints and 12 fire reports out of 220 total NHTSA complaints. 16 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2004 Kia Sorento have any recalls?▾
No NHTSA recall campaigns were found for the 2004 Kia Sorento in the current data. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.
Should I buy a 2004 Kia Sorento?▾
The 2004 Kia Sorento has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Kia Sorento reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2004 Kia Sorento
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.