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2003 Kia SorentoProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 305 owner complaints about the 2003 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

2003 Kia Sorento
52
CarFlaw IndexSolid year7% below the Sorento median · #14 of 21 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints30521 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage67kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 20, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Kia Sorento has problems

305 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling811
Engine434
Fuel system, gasoline411
Fuel/propulsion system342
Steering312
Air bags305
Electrical system290
Power train222
Suspension170
15 other systems794

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2003 Kia Sorento recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 05V-353 · Aug 4, 2005 · 2,935 vehicles

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

67kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 69 engine and engine cooling complaints. 83% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
7under 30k miles57under 100k miles12100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

17 owners mentioned a cost

$2,900median

Middle half: $200 – $5,000

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Sorento year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sorento median. How we score

'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Kia Sorento safety ratings

2003 Kia Sorento 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2003 Kia Sorento frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2003 Kia Sorento side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Kia Sorento, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Fuel Spill During RefuelingPE10023 · closed Dec 21, 2011
    No recall
In owners' words

What Sorento owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

THE CRANK BOLT BROKE JULY 23, 2013. THE SECOND TIME WAS, THE CRANK BOLT AGAIN AND IT BROKE DECEMBER 19, 2014. THE ODOMETER WAS AT 133181 FOR THE SECOND BOLT BREAK. *TR
Complaint 10680375 · Feb 1, 2015 · 124,797 miles
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. *TR
Complaint 10456810 · Apr 29, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE…
Complaint 10451667 · Mar 14, 2012 · 83,000 miles

Own a 2003 Sorento?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.