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EnginePart report

2004 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

Complaints
46about this part
Share
21%of 220 total for the year
Median mileage
109,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 46 complaints about the engine of the 2004 Kia Sorento, 21% of the 220 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 109,000 miles. 5 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My 2004 Kia Sorento has an intermittent check engine light that displays error code p0446. The light comes on and off as it pleases. There is a TSB for this particular problem, but there are no details. This intermittent light is causing my vehicle to fail it's smog inspection. I have replaced the gas cap as indicated but this did not fix the problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10664478, filed 2014-12, 160,000 miles

“Crank shaft bolt issues. I am on my 3rd harmonic balancer and now my mechanic is saying it is the crank shaft bolt. . I called a&b Kia and they said no issues . I have received a claim letter for this issue and a&b Kia is refusing to correct this issue.”

NHTSA complaint #10984169, filed 2017-05, 1 miles

“I was driving our 2004 Kia Sorento with my 3 young children in the car. Driving down a city street at 45 MPH the car began to jerk as all the lights flashed on the dashboard. I lost all power, but I was able to cruise to park next to a curb, however the vehicle would not restart. I had it towed to my mechanic. The mechanic found that the crankshaft sprocket, key shaft, damper pulley, and crank bolt all were damaged and needed to be replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10883147, filed 2016-07, 121,000 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11269088, filed 2019-10, 140,000 miles

“Driving down the road and all of a sudden I have no power and can not go over 25 MPH. How safe is that on the highway, especially as I am driving with my kids!!!?? This has happened twice. The 1st time, it self corrected when I went to take it to the dealer to look at. This time, it has not. The lights constantly go off and on at any moments notice (real safe while driving at night)- and remain off for great lengths of time. I have had to replace the fuse that controls the fan in the engine twice already. …”

NHTSA complaint #10692359, filed 2015-03, 109,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026117%
20251925%
2024512%
20233226%
20225227%
20216827%
20206748%
201915937%
201810742%
201738748%
201669655%
201536348%
201438839%
201349851%
201246152%
201128419%
200947%
20083516%
200775%
20066728%
20056321%
20044621%
20034314%

Other parts of the 2004 Kia Sorento

Engine cooling
46 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
40 complaintsSuspension
30 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsBody and structure
28 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsAir bags
14 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2004 Kia Sorento

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology