2003 Kia Sorento: multiple warning lights

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 May 2, 2014 · Engine · 160,753 miles · WI · crash

In february this beautiful vehicle became a nightmare quick. A horrid sound came from below and I lost steering, several lights on the dashboard lit up and our was very difficult controlling the SUV. Me and my children were very afraid. I allowed the SUV to slow n it veered off and jumped the curb. After a tow, $2000 bucks plus, and several shops including kia is just sitting like hunks unless I can stuff another $2000 or so in. Kia needs to fix this!!

Filed Apr 29, 2012 · Engine · OH

Driving to store and heard noise. Several warning lights came on and I had no power steering. Returned home and found crank pulley and broken crank pulley bolt laying in the skid plate.

Filed Nov 9, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 36,000 miles · IL

I have had my 2003 kia sorento since march 2010. It was purchased with 32,000 miles on it, and as of the end of october 2010, it had 36,000 miles. So far, I have had to replace the coolant reservoir, because it was cracked. I was driving, and it overheated out of nowhere. It was in the shop for four days, because they could not find the problem even after doing several pressurized systems tests. At the end of october 2010, I had to replace the oil pump, because it had a crack in it. No one anywhere I called could believe I had to replace an oil pump. All the mechanics stated that's one of the few things they never have to replace on any vehicle, and certainly not at 36,000 miles. Anyway, due to oil leaking onto the timing belt, that had to be replaced also. The timing belt was in fine condition otherwise. Consequently, I now have engine problems. I'm sure the engine will have to be replaced from overheating and then having no oil. At high rpms, you can hear a slight tick, which I'm pretty sure is a lifter issue. Headlights burn out quickly. I was driving one day, and both burnt out at the same time. I had to drive on high beams in the city. Constant electrical problems with the dash. Dash lights rarely work, and then all of a sudden all the lights will start flashing here and there - dash lights flash on/off, ceiling light flashes on/off, all back and forth while I'm driving in the dark. Very distracting, especially in traffic. The truck itself (seats, comfort, etc.) is awesome, but it was definitely manufactured poorly. Worst purchase ever. Glad I bought the 5 star warranty or I'd be paying for a truck I can't drive.

Filed Nov 20, 2009 · Engine, Steering · 79,000 miles · MD

I have a 2003 kia sorento. As I left the garage at my office around 6 p.m. Monday 11/16, the car began making a horrible squealing noise. It immediately lost power steering, several warning lights came on, and it felt like the parking brake was on (it wasn't). I managed to get out of the garage to a space on the street. I turned the car off. When I tried to start it again, it wouldn't start. I had it towed to a service station, which said the car had thrown its drive belts and that it needed a new crankshaft balancer pulley, crankshaft sprocket, crankshaft pulley bolt and crankshaft pulley washer to fix the underlying cause. I called kia customer service to see if there was a recall related to those parts. There was a recall in 2007 and my car was serviced at that time as ordered by kia. Kia said tuesday that they would only consider paying for needed repairs if I had the car towed to a kia dealership. I had it towed to king kia in gaithersburg, md., at my expense. The service writer, wayne johnson, told me that the garage that had put my new timing belt on had left a bolt loose. He told me his mechanic put the three drive belts back on. He told me I needed a new battery (though the current battery was only 2 years old) because the current one wasn't holding a charge. I told him to put one on. He told me the car was running fine and ready to go. I assumed -- it now turns out, wrongly -- that the kia mechanic had tightened whatever bolt he found loose. I picked up the car wednesday night and drove it straight home. When I started it yesterday morning to leave for work, I drove it about 1.5 blocks and the steering locked up, the brake and battery warning lights came on, and it felt like the parking brake was on. This time the engine kept running. I brought it back home and called the kia garage back. Wayne now admits the mechanic never looked for an underlying cause. He simply put the old drive belts on and a new battery in. Today he says it needs a new crank pulley.

Filed Jul 15, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 63,000 miles · MI

I was dropping off someone at work when the car made a thump and all the dash warning lights came on. I drove it home about two miles away, and took it to a automobile service center the next day. They told me that the crankshaft pulley was ready to fall off. The next day I had it towed from the service center to the dealer. The dealer said the same thing as the service center, and that it was under warranty. Also, it a needed a 60000 mile service for which I paid extra. When I went to pick the car 5 days later the car was making a belt noise, it was slow in starting, the dash light wouldn't come on, and the airbag light was on. When I took it back to the dealer, they tightened the belts and checked the other problems at a cost of $150, and that these other problems were not under warranty, and would cost $1400 to fix them. I have never had a problem with this car until the crankshaft pulley failed, and could not see why if a warranty failure caused something else to fail, why wasn't it fixed under warranty? Also, the person who worked on the ca rcomplained about the oil pan with the sealer that was used to seal the engine.

Filed May 5, 2007 · Engine · 64,000 miles · TX

As I was driving down the freeway, the engine stalled and all lights on the dash came on. I was able to pull to safety (just by sheer luck) and called kia 1-800 for towing service. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership. I was initially told that the timing belt was malfunctioning. Supposedly the analyzer showed that there were "multiple misfires. I was asked if the car was missing prior to the stall. I told them it ran as smooth as silk. I authorized them to replace the timing belt despite the fact that it had been replaced as part of scheduled maintenance two months earlier. The dealership then called and told me they had "good news and bad news". The timing belt was repaired but it appeared the head was blown and that kia refused to pay for repairs because the overflow bottle was cracked. They stated that the head blew because the engine overheated and was caused by my negligence. The gauges never indicated that the car overheated. They are unable to tell me how much the repairs will cost because there may be further damage once they tear it down. The estimate is between $2500 and "wore case scenario" $4700 I am furious. The car is not yet four years old and still has 36,000 miles left on the warranty.