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2004 Kia Sorento engine problems

92 complaints (42% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 92,400.

owner complaints
92
of this car's complaints
42%
typical mileage
92,400
crashes
0
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Engine
    12
  • Cooling system
    7
  • Exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (PCV)
    2
  • Exhaust system: emission control
    1
  • Exhaust system
    1
  • Cooling system: radiator assembly
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Kia Sorento engine problems in other years

200320052010201520202026

Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Kia Sorento engine

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Loss of power 19Engine failure 18Check engine light 16Stalling 14Overheating 12

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2004 Kia Sorento owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 26, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 180,000 miles · MA · fire

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 4 y/o daughter out of the car and by boyfriend opened the hood to find a small fire on opposite side fro where battery is. Once fire was put out we drove .5 miles on a city rd to family. The power steering was gone at that time as well. 10/13/19 - the directional worked all day and come night time when I came out from the store and started vehicle they did not work. The next day they worked finehowever, on 10/14/19 - I started the car in am and there was a squeaky belt. I hit the gas pedal quickly and noise went away. Then while driving, the battery and brake indicator lights came on the dash and stayed on so I pulled over and shut car off. Iwas driving my daughter to the park a mile away from home when the battery and brake indicator lights came on again. I turned car off for a few minutes and when I restarted it the lights were off. I went to turn around to go home and the steering completely failed so it was extremely difficult and dangerous. I have not driven it or started it since. My mechanic camt to my home 2 days in a row and was convinced it was crankshaft bolt that snapped. He got it into his shop the following week on friday 10/26/19 and called a short while later informing me that it was in fact the crankshaft bolt that snapped deep in the shaft and the crankshaft would need to be replaced for a cost of around $3000. I called a few other places and they said the engine would need replacing which would coat around the same. My daughter and I now have no vehicle and are walking her to school which will be difficult come winter months.

Filed Oct 17, 2019 · Body, Electrical · 140,000 miles · NC · fire

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 own. The vehicle does not run but I wanted to know what started the fire. My daughter and I were headed out of town for a week, about 200 miles into the commute the front of the vehicle began to smoke from under the hood, we were traveling at 55-60 MPH. As I was exiting the 421 highway flames began coming out from around hood and the paint on the hood began to bubble up due to heat. I immediately called the fire dept, as I was driving, pulled onto the shoulder and immediately removed my daughter and our belongings from the vehicle and distanced ourselves from the vehicle. When the fire dept arrived they put the flames out and the vehicle was transported to a local shop, I had the vehicle towed back to our home city upon departure from our vacation. Upon further observation I was able to see the fire started in the area closest to where the engine meets the dash on the drivers side and continued to spread from that point to the front of the vehicle and under on the drivers side.

Filed Feb 28, 2019 · Engine · KS

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.

Filed Jan 18, 2019 · Engine · KS

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

Filed Aug 13, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 71,000 miles · UT

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 on cruise switch never indicated it was operating. Vehicle was operating as well as stopped at lights when this occurred.

Filed Oct 17, 2017 · Brakes, Engine · 99,000 miles · MA

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.

Filed May 8, 2017 · Engine · 1 miles · WV

Crank shaft bolt issues. I am on my 3rd harmonic balancer and now my mechanic is saying it is the crank shaft bolt. . I called a&b kia and they said no issues . I have received a claim letter for this issue and a&b kia is refusing to correct this issue.

Filed Oct 19, 2016 · Engine · 170,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia sorento. While stationary, the vehicle caught fire without warning. The contact extinguished the fire. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Sep 12, 2016 · Engine, Steering · AR

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.

Filed Sep 4, 2016 · Engine · 70 miles · NV

Harmonic balancer pulley bolt broke. Very bad design. Driving down the road it broke off causing loss of power steering. Bolt snapped off inside crankshaft.

Questions about the 2004 Kia Sorento engine

Does the 2004 Kia Sorento have engine problems?

Owners have filed 92 complaints about the engine of the 2004 Kia Sorento, 42% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2004 Kia Sorento engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 92,400 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2004 Kia Sorento engine?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Kia Sorento have bad engine?

The Kia Sorento model years with the most engine complaints are 2016 (722 complaints), 2013 (516 complaints) and 2012 (475 complaints).

Other 2004 Kia Sorento problems

Transmission 40Suspension 30Body 28Electrical 28Steering 24Airbags 14Fuel system 14Lights 14Brakes 11Acceleration 7Tires 4Visibility 3Driver assistance 2Wheels 2Seat belts 1Seats 1

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