Most common 2004 Kia Sorento problems
Share of the 220 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Sorento complaints by model year
Best Sorento years: 2020, 2018, 2024. Years to avoid: 2011, 2016, 2017, 2013, 2014. Compare all years →
What 2004 Kia Sorento owners say
Engine & cooling all 92 →
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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Kia Sorento. Within less than 30 days of owning the vehicle, the contact stated that the fuel gauge on the instrument cluster continued to indicate full whether the contact refueled the vehicle or not. Also, when the air conditioner was turned off, smoke emitted into the interior of the vehicle and under the hood. The contact exited the vehicle and lifted the hood to fan away the smoke. The contact drove the vehicle to her job. Another consumer called the fire department because the vehicle erupted into flames. The fire department extinguished the flames. Neither a fire nor a police report was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Transmission & drivetrain all 40 →
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. …
Rusted brackets posing a dangerous safety risk, 2004 Kia Sorento with 162,000 miles. The entire bracket holding the differential rusted through. The frame rear cross member also rusted through causing the control arms is detached from the rear end also creating a safety hazard. There is a design flaw that allows water to stay inside the hollow cross member that caused the corrosion. Drain or weep holes in the cross member and an anti-corrosion coating would have prevented this. When the bracket(s) breaks the rear axle is no longer held in place there are reports on NHTSA where these brackets have rotted away and failed causing loss of control of the vehicle. This is a known design flaw that has been appearing on the older cars where the entire frame and rear end would have to be replaced. …
Suspension all 30 →
Rusted brackets posing a dangerous safety risk, 2004 Kia Sorento with 162,000 miles. The entire bracket holding the differential rusted through. The frame rear cross member also rusted through causing the control arms is detached from the rear end also creating a safety hazard. There is a design flaw that allows water to stay inside the hollow cross member that caused the corrosion. Drain or weep holes in the cross member and an anti-corrosion coating would have prevented this. When the bracket(s) breaks the rear axle is no longer held in place there are reports on NHTSA where these brackets have rotted away and failed causing loss of control of the vehicle. This is a known design flaw that has been appearing on the older cars where the entire frame and rear end would have to be replaced. …
Was driving wife to work , stopped at light when light turned green I pushed the gas pedal and I heard a bang so loud I thought someone hit us from behind. I drove car home and looked under it and I couldn't believe it ! The rust on the rear end brackets and the two bars connected to them were totally rusted through and hanging off. I went to the Kia dealer where I originally bought the car and asked them about it they said they never heard of that problem. I told them there are hundreds of complaints on the internet about it ,they told me don't believe everything you see on the internet. Then they said that it's not a Kia problem it's a road salt problem. I told them nothing else under the car was rusted that bad , and I believe it's a design problem. They said there is nothing they can do, so now I have a car with only 83,000 miles on it that is too dangerous to drive. …
2004 Kia Sorento engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Kia Sorento a good car?
Based on 220 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Sorento rates better than average: 80% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sorento at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Kia Sorento?
The engine & cooling — 92 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (40) and suspension (30).
How many recalls does the 2004 Kia Sorento have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Kia Sorento. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Sorento?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2018 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2016, 2017, 2013 and 2014. See the full Kia Sorento years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Kia Sorento problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 87,000 miles; 16% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.