Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 7 MPH down an icy hill, the vehicle was shifted into 4-wheel drive but it failed to engage. The driver lost control and crashed into another vehicle without warning. The driver's shoulder and left arm were injured, but did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the front pinion fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,700. Updated 03/31/15
My vehicle was in motion on a highway driving 60 miles per hr to work (30 miles from home) in pouring rain when engine, brake and battery light came on. Thank god that I made it to work safely but then only to realize that power steering had locked up. Looked under the hood, power steering fluid and brake fluid fine but one belt had came off and the other belt just barely hanging on from the alternator and pulley. Thought pulley had locked up but took to a mechanic just 1/2 mile down from my job and he said that my problem is that the crankshaft bolt had broken off inside of the crankshaft. I go online and find that there were a lot more complaints of the same issue with my make and year as well as others. …
In November of 2015, I was on my way home from work and just picking my one year old up from daycare, when I heard a loud screeching noise from a belt. My gauges went wild and I my power steering was in and out. By the time I hit the main highway to get home as I was exiting my power steering went completely out and the car could not be driven any further, so I had to coast to the side of the road. This was during rush hour traffic, I am soooo lucky that I hadn't quiet entered the highway yet. Had to get towed home. Got home and noticed the crankshaft bold was broken and the belts were thrown. We fixed it and now it has just done it again on July 1st as I was backing out of the driveway to go out of town. I didn't drive it because I knew the bolt was about to break because the harmonic balancer pulley was wobbling really bad, the air wouldn't work and the gauges started going crazy. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the crank pulley bolt fractured without warning. The failure disabled the steering wheel, which made it difficult to control the vehicle. The contact coasted the vehicle to a stop. A certified mechanic stated that the crank pulley bolt fractured and detached from the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer for repairs. After the repair, the vehicle stalled without warning and lost all steering power. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer under warranty for repair. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 10/13/16
I was driving down the highway and all the sudden my car gave a big sound and died. The steering was really hard to steer, luckly I was in the slow lane and coasted off the edge of the road. Had it towed to mechanic the started was bad, along with the fuel line and fuel pump. After got it running once again ran fine hour later the crank shaft sensor went out. I have read many many complaints about the same issues, also was told that my fuel tank and bottom was rusting out. And my sway bar is bad. My car shakes, I have had new tires and brakes put on and a new muffler put on. I have had all my oil changes and tune ups. They say there is no recalls, how could there not be recalls here in the USA. They had a class action law suit in Canada and Kia was made to fix these same issues.
I went to my doctors appointment the car ran fine well about half way home the car started making a funny noise sounded like a tractor or if u turn your wheel to far the noise it makes like a grinding metal noise so I stop at a light the noise stopped all seemed normal I lightly stepped on the gas and the noise came back well ive got to get home only seconds away from home no light are coming on its not over heating I go to turn a corner and the steering was gone for a second but came but steering came back decided to take it to the shop all the way to the shop the steering and noise was all going at the same time its clear theres problems with this car that needs to be addressed before someone does get killed is that what has to happen to get a recall?
Driving approximately 55mph 22 nov 2013, heard a thump from engine compartment, and lost all power to vehicle, ending up in a ditch. Engine stopped, no steering, no brakes. Dash lights illuminated. Vehicle would not re-start. Crank pulley bolt broke off. Over 5 hours to extract remainder of bolt to repair engine. $1359 in repairs. Now, 22 sept 2014, 10 months later, had same happen on highway at 70mph in heavy traffic. Thankful I was in a lane at the edge of the roadway. Current mileage slightly under 114,000. Yeah. 10 months and 13000 miles and another huge repair bill. No recall, Kia claims no liability. Other issue: interior lighting turns itself off and on at whim. Headlights burn out every 45-90 days.
At a stop light, I heard and felt a shudder throughout the vehicle. The brake and battery light came on immediately after the shudder. The engine continued to run normally. Proceeding through the intersection, I experienced the loss of power steering making the car very difficult to control. Managed to get the vehicle to a nearby parking lot where I called for a tow to the Kia dealer. Dealer confirmed a sheared crank shaft bolt. Incident occurred on a busy state highway during rush hour. Speed limit is 45 MPH on this stretch of road and very busy at rush hour. Had the vehicle been in motion at the time of the part failure there would have been an accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia Sorento. The contact was traveling 10 MPH when the power steering assist failed while attempting a left turn and the contact crashed into a ditch. The vehicle was destroyed. The police were not contacted. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was 143,000 . . Updated 07/27/12 the consumer stated the power steering failure happened on four different occasions. The airbags did not deploy during crash. Updated 08/02/2012.
Driving on highway rte 24 when crankshaft pulley broke off causing engine and brake lights to come on. It was impossible to control and to steer the vehicle causing me to nearly get into an accident. Subsequently, my vehicle got towed from the highway to a mechanic shop who informed me that my 2005 Kia Sorento's crankshaft pulley bolt broke off - therefore to buy an engine or junk it. Unfortunately, I owned this vehicle for only 1 year 3 months and with these problems. I don't have any money to replace it right now and I don't know what to do to get to work going forward.
Steering complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2005 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the steering of the 2005 Kia Sorento, 13% of the model year's 307 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist system (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Kia Sorento steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2005 Kia Sorento. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Kia Sorento steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 106,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.