2003 Kia Sorento electrical problems

Filed Nov 6, 2017 · Electrical, Fuel system · 93,632 miles · MI

My 2003 kia sorento drives for 15 minutes and stalls out. I wait 5 min and it'll start and drive for a block or 2and continues to that until I get it towed home

Filed Jun 25, 2016 · Electrical · 147,000 miles · NY

The driver door cannot be opened from inside or outside. I understand this is a common problem with kia sorentos.

Filed Oct 28, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · FL

I was driving back from orlando, florida after picking up my daughter who travelled down from uf in gainesville - 1st weekend in september, 2015. We were travelling south i95 in the middle lane, when the car completely shut off all the red lights on the dash board came on. Luckily I was able to steer the car over to the hard shoulder, this was extremely hard, & press hard on the brakes to stop. After 5mins or so I tried starting the car again, which to my surprised it started and we continued on our journey, this time I stayed in the right hand lane, next to the hard shoulder, after a few miles, the same thing happened exactly again. The engine shut off, and came to a halt. Now we were both upset as it was after 10pm at night, we called home to let someone know to be alert, and in the mean time started the car again, this off and on again issue occurred in total four times before we managed to get home safely. Due to driving very slowly along the highway!!! The next day the car started first time, drove to auto zone as it was a public holiday, after putting their machine on it. The test came back saying maybe it needed water, and a few other codes. They advise to take it to a car mechanic asap, started the car made it 1/2 way home, and the car stopped dead in the middle of a two lane road, nearly causing an accident. After pushing the car to a side road, left it for 4hrs came back & manage to get home. The next day along with my son driving the kia, and myself behind him we attempted to get to the car mechanic we never made it, the van shut down, again. Push it to another side road, and had to have it towed to the mechanic. Been there ever since, car mechanic is having trouble locating the problem, called the dealer they have offered no help. Noticed there have been reported problems occurring with the new 2016 models of the same issue!!

Filed Jul 21, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 178,000 miles · KY

Engine light is on, airbag light is on, clock can't keep right time, now won't start at all, I wished I never bought this 2003 kia sorento, they are nothing but junk. Please anybody who reads this do not buy a kia vehicle. I hate kia vehicles, I will never own one again, I would not take a kia vehicle, even if they give me one. To many problems, since I bought it, haven't been anywhere in two weeks, because kia vehicle is junk.

Filed Jul 21, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 174,000 miles · KY

All lights come on, horn blows, but will not start at all, this kia sorento is junk, its falling apart, I got a disable mother, now can't take her to her doctor appointments, every since I had it, its been nothing but junk, we live on fixed income, can't afford to get another vehicle, and this 2003 kia sorento should not be on the road, all kia sorento vehicles are junk, clock is messed up, comes off and on, airbag light is on, now won't even start at all, something needs to be done about kia dealerships selling junk vehicles, will complain again and again, they are junk!

Filed Jul 10, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 150,000 miles · FL

I am single old lady, late jan.2014 , driving back from orlando,fl. To my home on I-95 car slows down, all lights go on dashboard. Get home at 40 miles an hour.next day go to tire plus, can not fix car, engine trouble..go to dealer bev smith kia, ft.pierce, fl, I am a regular there,with car problemsell me can needs new lower engine, $7000 I almost faint, , car not safe, I left anyway, they would not exactly tell me what wrong with car...coworker at walmart, tells me of mechanic,can fix it...take it there, he tells me what really is wrong with car..screw that hold harmony part, had broken off, half of it was still stuck into lowere engine ...this honest mechanic, told me leave kia over the weekend, willput put screw softener on screw still in engine, see if it comes out...it did, they put new screw, give me all new belts, I paid $1,800 of my own money, ..I go ahead and drive to miami, fll day latter I drive to orlando ,fl. ...in I 95....next day,try to get out of my driveway, same thing happened...good mechanic comes over to my house, said same screw came off...he fixes it again, $1,500, ...he tells me, get new car, do not keep this kia sorento 2003, car has flaw, can not be fixed....if keep it, just for around town drive, under 50 miles an hour, do not take turnpike or interstate highways...I contacted kia motors, bev smith kia, told them about recall screw replacement , tell me out of warranty, neither will really answer back...no money, no new car....kia motors is a crook,...tell me car out of warranty, that what do I want with old car...can not find any other prior complaints I made with car, since first year I bought it...

Filed Jul 7, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 130,000 miles · TX

As my family and I drove down 146 towards baytown, tx from dayton, tx I heard a loud "thud". Immediately followed by a loss of A/C, power, and steering. I pulled onto the shoulder immediately and popped the hood. I saw the harmonic balance lying on the splash guard and a belt lying beside it, as well as another belt loss but still hanging on the other pulleys. I got a friend to tow me back to my studio. I began searching online for why the bolt that holds the balance could just break. I found numerous reports of this problem, as well as law suits filled in other states for this very issue.

Filed Jan 13, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 1,000 miles · FL

The car been a problem since first year , I called district manager for kia back in 2004,told him car was skipping beat, and shaking...he told me is was my imagination...the 2nd big problem car would just start losing power in I-95 or fl.turnpike and come to stand still, no matter how much I pressed the gas pedal, no go, almost got in several accidents in I-95,florida late at nite...spend $800 at kia of kendall in florida, in miami, told me was fuel problem...way back home that same day, car did same thing slowed down in rushing traffic in I-95 floirda,almost got deadly accident from car behind me, took it to kia of ft.pierce , kept car 1 week, mechanic could not figure out problem, ...I found on line,problem was at the fueling entrance,something dissolved and particles went to fueling injectors,clogging it and causing problems, told mechanics ,replaced this part ,car got fixed....last incident,major one, back 3 years ago took car to kia dealer, due to letter from kia corporation, major recall on screw that hold harmoney blancer to lower engine case...they replaced it...1/9/2004.driving back from orlando,fl,at nite, car just slows down, shakes, battery light and brake lite come one...miracle , 1 hour I drove car slowly back home...friday I take to shop,find out same recall ,replaced screw,rusted off ,sheared off, half of it still in engine,harmoney fell off,..miracle I did not ger major fire in car,late at nite,on i95..took it fri.to ft.pierce kia,mechanic said can not be repaired, need spend$79000on new engine...nothing was mentioned same screw ,recall, they replaced back 3 years ago...car has history of my complaints to corporate kia..nothing ever done.

Filed Jun 8, 2013 · Electrical · 134,000 miles · NC

When I try to start the vehicle it will not do anything until I open the driver door then it will start.

Filed Nov 25, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 107,000 miles · FL

Driving at night when all of a sudden interior lights started blinking off & on like strobe lights at a disco. I tried turning them off, nothing. It seemed related to the dimmer switch because if I kept pressure on it to the lowest degree, the flashing stopped. For awhile I wedged a pin in the switch & that worked. Eventually, though that stopped working & the light show would begin. It happened day & night, just more noticeable at night. I finally removed the fuse for the cabin lights & as a result, have no dash lights either while driving in the dark. I've not gone to kia as I am sure it will cost way more than I can afford. I'm reduced to using a flashlight when on long road trips to check gas gauge & speedometer.