2004 Kia Sorento: sudden loss of power

Filed May 7, 2019 · Steering · 120,000 miles · MO · crash

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 lost all power steering and I could not turn correctly. Someone hit the back of my car and shoved it into another vehicle in the front. So now my back and fron in looks like crap and I have no power steering.. But my son and I are still alive.. When researching this issue, I found out it was not my fault or my car.. This is a faulty manufacture safty issue that has not even been researched yet !! There have been so many customer complaints about the danger of this vehicle and this issue I can not believe it's still on the road. Https://www.carcomplaints.com/kia/sorento/2004/steering/steering.shtml and to find out the state was aware of it and just never even looked into protecting us. This is a danger and needs to be recalled asap before someone looses their life and the life of their child like I almost did !!!!

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.

Filed Jul 6, 2016 · Engine, Steering · 121,000 miles · CA

I was driving our 2004 kia sorento with my 3 young children in the car. Driving down a city street at 45 MPH the car began to jerk as all the lights flashed on the dashboard. I lost all power, but I was able to cruise to park next to a curb, however the vehicle would not restart. I had it towed to my mechanic. The mechanic found that the crankshaft sprocket, key shaft, damper pulley, and crank bolt all were damaged and needed to be replaced.

Filed Dec 30, 2015 · Engine · 105,930 miles · NE

On 10-4-2015 I was driving on interstate 80 from hastings, ne to kearney, ne. My girlfriend heard a bang from the engine, shortly after that noise I lost all power. I managed to steer our 2004 kia sorento onto an off ramp. I popped the hood and saw the harmonic balancer and the lower timing sprocket laying on the skid plate. We had her brother-in-law come get us. We put the kia sorento up on his trailer and towed it to a mechanic. The mechanic told us that the crank shaft bolt had sheared off. After fixing this bolt, and putting everything back together he then informed us there was no compression in the engine. It has been sitting every since.

Filed Nov 3, 2015 · Driver assistance, Engine · 100,000 miles · WA

200 miles from home, out of the blue, car acted like it was misfiring then lost power and died on highway at highway speeds. Car would not turn over or crank. Called tow truck to bring vehicle home for $490.00 and mechanic came out and hooked up machine to it and code came out crankshaft position sensor system. Check engine light wasn't on at all, until we got it home and it started up like no problem, but then died again. Weren't the crankshaft bolts already recalled and fixed?! Maintenance schedule always kept up to date and wouldn't you know, happened one month to the day that my extended warranty expired! Still haven't had it to shop, can't afford to bring it in after having it towed 200 miles, others thinks it can be fuel filter/pump or the brain, ECM. Who knows. Sitting with no vehicle is so much fun, thanks, kia!

Filed Sep 2, 2015 · Engine · 190,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia sorento. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the fan and air conditioner. The battery indicator was illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted. This was a recurring failure. The contact stated that the neighbor assisted her with the failure by check under the engine. It was discovered that the air conditioner belt fractured, was on top of the engine block, and the pulley was loose. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.

Filed Aug 17, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 92,400 miles · MI

I was driving approximately 35-40 MPH and my car suddenly lost power with all the dash lights briefly coming on (battery, oil, etc.). Fortunately I was close to a side street and was able to make a hard turn and coast to the curb. I waited a minute and was able to restart the vehicle. I drove home and there was one more incident when the car started to lose power (lights dimmed) however I pushed on the gas and it powered up again. I have had the lights dim and the car seemingly lose power several times. Just prior to this the car typically hesitates when you are going full speed and then the dimming occurs. I've had my car idle at stop signs and at train crossings and have not experienced any power loss. It always seems to happen while driving 35-40 MPH or more. I've had it happen while driving 60-70 MPH on the highway. I had a diagnostic run on the car at the dealership with no concerning results. I've had a mechanic I trust check the alternator, the spark plugs, flush the coolant, put in fuel cleaner, etc. And he cannot locate the problem.

Filed May 13, 2015 · Engine, Steering · 124,094 miles · NC

In this instance, the car failed to start. However, there were several more incidents concerning the same issues. In those instances, the car would suddenly lose power, stall out and if able to be restarted, could be driven with a lag in the engine a short distance before all the dash lights would turn on and the car would lose power steering. In two instances, the power steering was suddenly lost when making a left turn with a break across oncoming traffic.

Filed Mar 8, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · NY

Was driving down the road at 55 power steering went car lost power lights went crazy car shut down. I almost wrecked harmonic balancer fell into pieces all pulley belts and pin have to be replaced. I just got this car I have a payment on it. Going to cost 1200 to fix. This is on top of it sputtering and spottying. Replace head lights the radio glitches the air bag light is on all the time and if u turn the interior dash lights up it turns the interior lights on.over drive button does not work and transmission lags... I have read al these complaints over and over again why isn't anyone forcing a recall? These are serious issues I almost got rear ended and the electrical problem could cause fire.... Someone is going to end up very hurt if kia is not forced to fix these. Could u imagine this happening on a thru way?

Filed Mar 5, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 109,000 miles · MI

Driving down the road and all of a sudden I have no power and can not go over 25 MPH. How safe is that on the highway, especially as I am driving with my kids!!!?? This has happened twice. The 1st time, it self corrected when I went to take it to the dealer to look at. This time, it has not. The lights constantly go off and on at any moments notice (real safe while driving at night)- and remain off for great lengths of time. I have had to replace the fuse that controls the fan in the engine twice already. I would shut the car off and the fan would not turn off unless I popped the hood and pulled the fuse myself and pocketed it until it was time to drive again. Not to mention major rust issues on the body of the vehicle. The cosmetic I can deal with, the losing power while on the highway I cannot. It is just a matter of time until someone is very seriously injured, or killed. The smell of exhaust comes thorugh the vents, even with normal scheduled maintenance. This car is full of dangers and I am shocked there are not recalls of these issues. In particular, the losing power while driving, and the lights turning on and off for no reason. Try googling any of this and you will be amazed how many people are dealing with the same issues. Unbelievable that these complaints have not been taken into serious consideration.

Filed Dec 21, 2014 · Engine · 76,308 miles · PA

Loud crack was heard while driving. Lost power steering. Pin in the crank pulley snapped and belts stopped turning. Car was very difficult to steer and fortunately we were able to get it to the side of the road. This car has a 10 year, 100m mile warranty which expired in september of 2014. Dealer contended that this problem, although part of the engine was not covered.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Engine · 62,894 miles · FL

@ 62,894 miles: driving from gas station to home less than 1 mile away, engine made noise and started running rough. Parked car overnight, then drove about 3 miles to closest repair shop. Diagnosed as sheered off crankshaft pin/bolt. Repaired under extended warranty with new parts from kia, but one week later had to be towed in because it happened again. Crankshaft was warped so engine was rebuilt with used crankshaft and new parts from kia. @ 104,595 miles: driving on rural road in heavy traffic, lights on dashboard came on and lost power steering. Speed was 55 MPH. Managed to steer car off road without incident. Towed to repair shop. Crankshaft pin/bolt sheered off. Cost to repair $895.30. @ 109,885 miles: engine began making clicking noises and lost power steering, etc. Crankshaft pin/bolt sheered off. Repair not recommended. Replacement engine recommended. There is a class action lawsuit pending against kia for this problem. Please search online and you will find there are literally thousands of people who have had this issue with this same vehicle (2002-2009) and many had accidents because of it. Why is this not in the news? Kia knows this part is bad, they know this design is bad, and they continue to put band aids on engines rather than fixing them.