2004 Kia Sorento Reliability
The 2004 Kia Sorento has 220 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine & cooling. Compared with nearby Sorento model years (2003–2006), it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Sorento's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
220
NHTSA owner complaints
0
Recall campaigns
11
Complaints citing a crash
12
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Kia Sorento complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2004 and 2021. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 46 | 21% |
| Engine & cooling | 46 | 21% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 40 | 18% |
| Suspension | 30 | 14% |
| Body structure | 28 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 28 | 13% |
| Steering | 24 | 11% |
| Air bags | 14 | 6% |
2004 Kia Sorento recalls
No recall campaigns are listed for the 2004 Kia Sorento in NHTSA's recall database.
How the 2004 compares with nearby Sorento years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sorento analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 308 | 1 | Engine & cooling | Caution |
| 2004 (this page) | 220 | 0 | Engine | Better year |
| 2005 | 307 | 0 | Engine | Solid |
| 2006 | 242 | 1 | Engine | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2004 Kia Sorento
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Kia Sorento can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2004 Kia Sorento reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Kia Sorento reliable?
The 2004 Kia Sorento has 220 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine & cooling. Compared with nearby Sorento model years (2003–2006), it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Sorento's typical year.
What are the most common 2004 Kia Sorento problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Kia Sorento are engine (46), engine & cooling (46), powertrain / transmission (40), suspension (30). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Kia Sorento have recalls?
No recall campaigns are listed for the 2004 Kia Sorento in NHTSA's recall database.
How does the 2004 Kia Sorento compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 308 complaints and 1 recall (caution); the 2005 has 307 complaints and 0 recalls (solid). The 2004 has 220 complaints and 0 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Kia Sorento?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Sorento research
Other Kia Sorento model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 Sorento, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.