2003 Kia Sorento Engine Problems
- 43
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 43 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- crankshaft bolt · 11 records
- lost power · 9 records
- power steering · 9 records
- crankshaft pulley · 8 records
- failure mileage · 7 records
- crank shaft · 7 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 15 |
| 150–400k mi | 9 |
| 30–60k mi | 8 |
| 60–100k mi | 7 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 kia sorento. While driving at 60 mph, the contact stated that smoke came from out of the vents. The contact pulled over on the shoulder and exited the vehicle. There were sparks coming from the engine and the vehicle caught on fire. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was totaled and towed away. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not…
Crash reported
ODI 11252485
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sorrento. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also mentioned that a 'snow' warning light illuminated as well. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for a diagnostic test or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 202,699.
ODI 11207192
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. The contact stated that the rpms would not go over 4,000 and smoke appeared from the engine. The contact stated that the speed would not exceed 40 mph and the engine was draining the oil. The vehicle was taken to peak kia (5077 s wadsworth blvd, littleton, co 80123, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed an oil change. The vehicle was repaired; however,…
ODI 11203928
Engine
Engine crank shaft has broken four time , air compresser two time
ODI 11002360
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. While driving 65 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter and crankshaft bolt failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred several times. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.
ODI 11040233
Engine
While under motion on highway at 65+ mph, lost power steering due to crank shaft bolt and pulley failure, resulting in complete loss of accessory functions.
ODI 10891883
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. The vehicle stalled and lost motive power while driving the contact was concerned for his safety when the vehicle stall the contact was concerned that it was related to the fuel system while driving at approximately 60 mph, the sputtered and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the vehicle was…
ODI 11265349
Engine
The crankshaft bolt supporting the timing sprocket and balance pulley snapped again for the third time. Right now the vehicle is in the the kia dealer service center to replace it. Once again they are asking for a ridiculous amount of money to fix. Last bolt lasted 4,000 miles before it snapped while driving 25 mph.
ODI 10851895
Engine · Service Brakes · Steering
Crankshaft bolt backed out lost power steering brakes,kia is aware of this problem from 2002 to 2009 many reports have been filed,its the manufacturing of the bolt which is to small,they are not standing by this defect,there is no permenant fix for this and kia isn't warning anyone of this problem which could lead into a fatile accident with injuries and death.going at a high rate of speed there would be no control…
ODI 10810897
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle lost power. The brake light and battery light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart after numerous attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the crankshaft bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage…
ODI 10789557
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia sorento. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle decelerated and stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. In addition, when the contact inserted fuel in the vehicle, fuel spewed out the fuel tank. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.
ODI 10947627
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
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…
ODI 10786737
Engine
The car started making a scrubbing sound and the brakes would not work. The next day the brakes worked scrubbing sound continued and we were told by the mechanic that the engine needs replacing.
ODI 10749594
Air Bags · Electrical System · Engine
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…
ODI 10735581
Air Bags · Electrical System · Engine
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…
ODI 10735552
Engine
The bolt holding the harmonic balancer pulley to the crankshaft fell out and all the engine belts and pulleys stopped turning resulting in a loss of power steering, and making the vehicle very difficult to steer. This happened at a low speed and the driver was barely able to turn off the road without an accident. At a higher speed, in heavy traffic, or on mountain roads, the result would likely have been much worse.…
ODI 10735597
Engine
I purchased this car brand new from stevens kia in patchogue, ny and had them replace the timing belt @ 58k miles as per their guide lines. While driving the car i lost my power steering and electrical charging system, i was going around 45mph, i lost control of the car and was able to get it on the side of the road without any damage to the car or anything else. I called corporate kia and explained the problem and…
ODI 10715387
Engine · Power Train · Steering
I have service records showing i had the crankshaft pulley replaced at 55,000 miles under warranty by kia. The crankshaft pulley broke off at 105,000 miles. I was able to have the vehicle repaired cost $1500 out of my pocket. On 1/11/2015 the crankshaft pulley broke off for a 3rd time, shearing the threads to the engine, and causing the engine to no longer work. All 3 events caused loss of power and able to steer…
ODI 10672207
Engine · Unknown Or Other · Vehicle Speed Control
While driving on highway approx 55mph the car just power. Dead gas pedal. Had to get over to shoulder but could not due to the steering locking up and the car shutting down. I got assistance from passerby who go me over to shoulder. I started up the car and it started up and ran with no issue. Sudden shut dowm of engine is very dangerous. Once i got home and had the car checked the mechanic could not duplicate the…
ODI 10766537
Engine
I was told by the mechanic that "something happened inside the engine that cannot be repaired". Prior to the engine failure (may, 2014) the rear throttle plate came apart and lodged in the lower intake manifold. The mechanic was unable to retrieve the screws and one was even lodged in a cylinder head. A throttle plate assembly was installed and the car was drivable but with an audible noise. At this time i was told…
ODI 10628837
Engine
The overflow bottle for the radiator has been leaking again. The first one that came with the car was replaced in 2011 and now we are having to replace the radiator reservoir again. *tr
ODI 10629793
Engine
My check engine light came on 2 months ago and i brought it to a kia dealership who told me it was the cylinders that were miss firing and the belts needed to be replaces and they fixed that. I asked about the crankshaft and they told me it was fine. When i left the light came back on and they told me i need new spark plugs, fixed that and the light came back on again. While driving on the highway the break light…
ODI 10609842
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
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…
ODI 10608643
Engine · Power Train · Steering
The bolt on the crankshaft pulley as well as the pin broke off causing the motor to stop and overheat dumping all the antifreeze and stopping all belts. My mother could have been injured while driving but it ended up being she was just blocking traffic thankfully and not on the highway. This seems to be a very common issue with hundreds if not thousands complaining about the crankshaft pulley bolt and pin. Kia says…
ODI 10597334
Engine
While driving on route 495 north in massachusetts between exits 7 and 8, my kia sorento lost power to the engine to the point i had to stop in the breakdown lane. No warning of prior smell or power loss had occurred prior to the incident. Towed to two different service stations and both informed me that the engine failed and lost compression on more than one cylinders. Very dangerous situation to be on the highway…
ODI 10823943