10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 101,271 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
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!
- Puyallup, WA, USA
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
- Ypsilanti, MI, USA
The 2003 Kia Sorento has a problem with extensive frame rusting, to the point where some owners have had the suspension detach from the frame. One owner in particular has had issues with the gas tank needing to be replaced, and Kia motors refuses to do anything about the problem. They built the car, sold it to people, and when consumers have complaints about their vehicle, they (Kia) says that they're not responsible. You need to examine this, because people could get killed by operating an unsafe vehicle. Do something about this now, before it becomes the next pinto. Make Kia fix the [xxx] vehicles now!!! parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Portsmouth, NH, USA
While fueling up the Sorento, the fuel spit out every time even while fueling at slow speeds. Very frustrating, and dangerous, especially when the fuel gets on my skin & clothes, the vehicle, and at times leaves a huge puddle on the ground which could be a fire hazard. The dealership was contacted and will not help me even though there was a recall issued for the fuel filter, which I mentioned.
- Weaverville, NC, USA
When I pump gas into my car, the fuel spits back out at me. I have to pump real slow for this not to happen. This is dangerous, gas gets on my hands and car, I have to carry soap and water to wash this off of my car. I called about this and was told because my car VIN # was not on the their list there was nothing they could do for
- Bristol, CT, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sorento. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle decelerated and stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. In addition, when the contact inserted fuel in the vehicle, fuel spewed out the fuel tank. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.
- Louisville, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sorento. When refueling the vehicle, fuel ejected out of the refueling hole. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,300.
- San Juan, PR, USA
Every time I have to fill the gas tank on my Kia Sorento 2003 it shoots back the gasoline like a proyectile. It takes an eternity to fill the gas tank if you don't want to have gas all over you. I have even being kicked out of some service stations because spiling so much gas is a hazard. Is there any safety recall for this problem? I have not heard a word from Kia.
- San Juan, PR, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sorento. While stationary, the vehicle spewed fuel onto the ground when fuel was being added. This issue recurred regardless of the amount of fuel being added to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 185,000.
- Pensacola, FL, USA
I have fuel still spitting out of the fuel tank, even after the supposed tank air filter replacement by bill Dodge Kia, saco, me. I can only trickle fuel in the vehicle without it spitting back out on me and the ground. I have already had a bad rash due to fuel spilling on me with shorts on last summer. The vehicle is not repaired as stated. I refuse to start trying to just throw money at it and not knowing if it will fix the problem or not. I seen a lot of other complaints even after the tank air filter replacement, the evap system should not be located under the vehicle to begin with, due to moisture getting into the air filter then the charcoal canister and everything else. I have also replaced the closed valve which is located before the tank air filter to no avail this vehicle is a health and fire hazard period !
- Biddeford, ME, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sorento. While refueling, fuel spewed back out of the filler neck without warning. The contact mentioned that fuel splashed all over the floor and his clothes. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 102,000.
- Collegeville, PA, USA
When fueling, after about 45 seconds, gas sprays back up and out all over me and the car and the ground. If the fuel pump handle is barely depressed, which pumps the gas very very slowly, fuel will be accepted. Takes forever - tired of gas-soaked clothes and gas-soaked shoes; tired of spilling gas all over the car and wasting on the concrete; - tired of dangerous situation!! need Kia to issue a recall on whatever is causing the fuel rejection.
- Decatur, AL, USA
Fule is shooting back of gas tank while putting in gas.this is very dangerous. Pleas tell me a fix for this. Car is stationary.
- Pinellas Park, FL, USA
I attempted to fill my 2003 Kia soento ex and after pumpming about $2.75 worth of gas, the fuel began to spit back up through the filler hose and spurted/ gush back out on to me. It gives you a false sense that the tank is full but it's not. I attempted to re-fuel and again, the gas spurt/ gush back out. I could get no more than $5 dollars in the car. I spoke with the Kia dealership in lithonia, Georgia and they told me that they have never heard of such a matter. I was instructed to bring the vehicle back. However, I began to research this matter and it was investigated by you all. Kia did state that they would look into the matter. I'm not confident that will happen. There are thousands of complaints out there among consumers about this same vehicle between the 2003 through 2006. Please investigate! I do believe that this is a recall item. The 2003 Kia Sorento was the first vehicle made by Kia corporation.
- Ellenwood, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the fuel was not going into the fuel tank properly upon refueling the vehicle and there was a clicking noise as if it were full. The contact had to take an extended period of time to ensure the fuel tank was actually full. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they did not diagnose the failure. The vehicle was to be taken to an independent mechanic to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V353000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
- Valley Stream, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and with the fuel tank gauge at 3/4 or below, the vehicle began to sputter and vibrate before stalling. The contact indicated that the fuel tank needed to be at least 75 percent full to prevent the failure from occurring. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 209,000.
- Eastman, GA, USA
I bought my Kia Sorento 2003 in November 2013. In January of the following year I noticed a gas smell. I looked under the vehicle and found a few drips on the ground underneath, which was gas. I had the line under the cab along side door replaced. I am noticing a strong gas smell coming from the side toward front and can't see anything leaking. I saw that there was a recall for this year and make so I called Kia and asked them is my vehicle covered under the recall and they said no after giving them my VIN number. I see that its not just the 2003 vehicles with this issue. Just because I don't have the right VIN number they should still honor my complaint. Regardless I'm still having the same fuel issues as the ones on recall.
- Weedsport, NY, USA
When fueling the vehicle the gas pump automatically shuts off constantly. The tank can be empty and the pump will shut off as soon as you start filling it and continue to do so as you fill it. It will also spit gas out of the tank while you are filling it. There should be plenty of room for gas as the gas indicator shows empty but even after putting one gallon in the tank, the pump will shut off and/or gas will spill/splash out. I have to stand back when filling the tank so that I don't get it all over me. The date listed for incident is when it first started happening but it continues to do so every time I put gas in the vehicle.
- Peoria, AZ, USA
We were attempting to fill the Sorento up with gas when it suddenly spit gas out of the tank when we had only put $11 into to. It was close to empty when we got to the gas station. We tried a couple times with the same result. The car would not take anymore gas.
- Pinellas Park, FL, USA
- Sumter, SC, USA