YearToAvoid

2005 Kia Sorento Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#16 most-complained of 21 Sorento years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Kia Sorento has 307 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 25 out of 100 — #16 highest of 21 Sorento model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (111 complaints, 36% of the total). Complaints report 17 crashes, 5 fires, 20 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
307
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
17 / 5
Injuries / deaths
20 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 18.5 hwy

Top 2005 Kia Sorento problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine111 (36%)
  2. Electrical System85 (28%)
  3. Airbags43 (14%)
  4. Steering39 (13%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain38 (12%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires28 (9%)
  7. Structure & Body23 (7%)
  8. Other22 (7%)
  9. Brakes15 (5%)
  10. Fuel System12 (4%)
2005 Kia Sorento complaints: complaints filed per quarter232005 Q12007 Q42010 Q12012 Q22014 Q32016 Q42019 Q22022 Q4
423 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2024 Q2; peak 2014 Q3 (23).

2005 Kia Sorento recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2005 Kia Sorento fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
18.5 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,050
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Sorento years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good25307016
2006Good20242116
2007Good10154417

All Kia Sorento years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Kia Sorento a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Kia Sorento ranks #16 of 21 among Sorento model years (Complaint Index 25/100, verdict: Good). It has 307 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Kia Sorento?
The most reported problem areas are engine (111 complaints), electrical system (85 complaints), and airbags (43 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 85,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Kia Sorento have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2005 Kia Sorento in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Kia Sorento?
EPA rates the 2005 Kia Sorento at 16 MPG combined (14 city / 18.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,050. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.