2005 Kia Sorento Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

37Steering complaints

12.1%Of all 307 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE63 · 20.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM46 · 15%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING44 · 14.3%

STEERING37 · 12.1%

AIR BAGS27 · 8.8%

Share of the 307 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Kia Sorento overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE HOME I NOTICED PULSATING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN…”NHTSA complaint 10429231 — filed 10/09/2011

“ON TUESDAY MAY 24, 2011 AS I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN IN MY 2005 KIA SORENTO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BRAKE…”NHTSA complaint 10404011 — filed 06/01/2011

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 -65 MPH WHEN THE BATTERY AND PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY…”NHTSA complaint 10395872 — filed 04/14/2011

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Kia Sorento have steering problems?

Steering is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2005 Kia Sorento: 37 of 307 complaints on file (12.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2005 Kia Sorento have in total?

307 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 17 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 20 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.