NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Kia Sorento Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2003 Kia Sorento has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 305 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Kia Sorento, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2003 Kia Sorento owner complaints

Owners have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Kia Sorento, describing incidents dated October 12, 2002 to January 1, 2025.

Most-cited components

Engine 124 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 77 complaints
Steering 31 complaints
Air Bags 30 complaints
Electrical System 29 complaints
Service Brakes 24 complaints

Of the 305 complaints on file, 10 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 305 complaints, owners report 12 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11649598 · Filed March 20, 2025
For some reason, KIA has halted production of the Air Bag Clock Spring mechanism for 2003 Kia Sorento's EX with cruise control. In my opinion, this was a vital component of the Air Bag safety system for any vehicle. So why the halt in the production of this vital part. Kia part #93490-3E160. Maybe…
ODI #11265349 · Filed October 1, 2019
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…
ODI #11252485 · Filed August 30, 2019
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…

Read all 305 complaints

Owner-reported

2003 Kia Sorento mileage at failure

239 of the 305 complaints on file for the 2003 Kia Sorento give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Engine	Median 75,000 miles	Middle half 55,000–115,000 miles	Based on 109 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System	Median 95,000 miles	Middle half 60,000–130,000 miles	Based on 61 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Kia Sorento in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE10-023: Fuel Spill During Refueling
Closed December 21, 2011

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

FUEL LINE

NHTSA #05V353000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice

Reported August 4, 2005 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 2,935 vehicles

Kia campaign SC-052 · Owners notified October 10, 2005 · Vehicles built June 7, 2002 – August 14, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TUBES NEAR THE FUEL TANK DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE FIT WITH THE VEHICLE FLOOR PANEL.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE A SECTION OF THE FUEL LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC-052.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2003 Kia Sorento 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Safety Technology

1 investigation

305 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Kia Sorento.

Air Bags

ODI #11649598

Incident: January 1, 2025 · Filed: March 20, 2025

For some reason, KIA has halted production of the Air Bag Clock Spring mechanism for 2003 Kia Sorento's EX with cruise control. In my opinion, this was a vital component of the Air Bag safety system for any vehicle. So why the halt in the production of this vital part. Kia part #93490-3E160. Maybe the NHTSA can get an answer to this. I'm sure I not the only one driving a 2003 with the Air Bag light illuminated.

Engine

ODI #11265349

Incident: June 15, 2016 · Filed: October 1, 2019

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 TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, A TUNE UP WAS PERFORMED, THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AND TIMING BELT WAS ALSO REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. LAKESHORE KIA, 330 E HOWZE BEACH RD #2, SLIDELL, LA 70461, (888) 220-8645, WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Engine

ODI #11252485

Crash

Incident: August 29, 2019 · Filed: August 30, 2019

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 MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. TH VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Engine

ODI #11207192

Incident: May 10, 2019 · Filed: May 13, 2019

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.

Engine

ODI #11203928

Incident: April 11, 2018 · Filed: April 26, 2019

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, (303) 904-7800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,300. *DT

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11149624

Incident: October 2, 2018 · Filed: November 6, 2018

WHEN PUMPING GAS THERE IS A SUDDEN SPEWING OF GASOLINE OUT OF THE TANK AND ALL OVER ME. I MANAGED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET A FEW GALLONS IN BY PUMPING SLOWLY BUT THE NEXT DAY THE GAS GAGE READS EMPTY AND HAS ACTUALLY RUN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES! SO NOT ONLY AM I HAVING A PROBLEM PUTTING GAS IN, IT IS IMMEDIATELY DRAINING OR LEAKING OUT!

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11094097

1 injury

Incident: March 1, 2018 · Filed: May 16, 2018

AFTER PURCHASING CAR FROM PRIVATE SELLER I DISCOVERED THAT WHEN TRYING TO PUMP GAS, MY FUEL SPRAYS BACK OUT ALL OVER MYSELF, MY VEHICLE, AND THE GROUND. HAVE EVEN HAD IT SPRAY INTO MY EYES. DID RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. I BELIEVE ITS A FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO!

Air Bags

ODI #11065655

Incident: December 8, 2017 · Filed: January 29, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE AIRBAGS. THE CAR HASN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND I'M TOLD IT WILL NOT INFLATE. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK FOR RECALLS.

Steering

ODI #11048181

Incident: November 8, 2017 · Filed: November 23, 2017

TAKATA RECALL THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT KEEPS COMING LOSE AND THIS CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME STIFF. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A FRIENDS HOUSE. CURRENTLY THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE FOR OVER TWO WEEKS.

Power Train; Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11043741

Incident: October 1, 2017 · Filed: November 6, 2017

MY 2003 KIA SORENTO DRIVES FOR 15 MINUTES AND STALLS OUT. I WAIT 5 MIN AND IT'LL START AND DRIVE FOR A BLOCK OR 2AND CONTINUES TO THAT UNTIL I GET IT TOWED HOME

Other Kia Sorento model years

Check your 2003 Kia Sorento VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Sorento at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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