NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Kia Sorento. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
1. (11/03/03 1ST INCIDENT) "AIR BAG" SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFFERY KIA FOR REPAIR. I WAS CALLED TO PICKUP VEHICLE TWO DAYS LATER. (UNAWARE AT THE TIME THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HAD BEEN DISABLED) WEEK LATER RECEIVED CALL THAT AIR BAG WAS IN AND TO RETURN VEHICLE FOR AIR BAG REPLACEMENT. REPAIR COMPLETED AND VEHICLE RETURNED NEXT DAY. 2.) (2ND INCIDENT) ON VACATION IN STARKE, FA., DECEMBER 24, 2003 "AIR BAG" SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. TOLD TO RETURN TO DEALER (KIA HOTLINE) DROVE 16 HOURS 12/25/03 TO GET VEHICLE TO JEFFERY KIA AND DELIVERED TO DEALER 12/26/03. I AM DISTURBED THAT VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY RETURNED TO ME IN UNSAFE CONDITION AND UNSATISFACTORILY REPAIRED AND PLACED MY GRAND CHILDREN IN JEOPARDY.*AK
ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING. CAR PARKED IN GARAGE AT 66,000 MILES. WON'T HOLD COOLANT IS LEAKING AT HEATED COIL. I HAVE TAKEN THIS KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM YET. I SAW AND READ THE MANY COMPLAINTS AND SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SORENTO COOLING SYSTEM. THAT IS WHY I AM ENTERING ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO HELP GET SOMETHING DONE. WITH EVERY VEHICLE THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THIS SORENTO SEEMS TO HAVE A TON OF ENGINE COOLANT PROBLEMS. THE ONLY RECALL I HAVE ON THIS 2003 KIA SORENTO IS A FUEL ASSEMBLY ISSUE. I WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE A LIST OF ANY AND ALL RECALLS. HOPEFULLY ADD THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM TO IT. *TR
CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY PENDING SAFETY RECALLS OR INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE 2003 KIA SORENTO**CC *JB
VEHICLE DRIVESHAFT INSTALLED 180 DEGREES OUT (UPSIDE DOWN) CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION. DRIVESHAFT TURNED 180 DEGREES. STILL HAS VIBRATION. DEALER NOT SURE OF CAUSE. DT
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK