2003 Kia Sorento Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Kia Sorento, and owners have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2003 Kia Sorento
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Certain sport utility vehicles may experience a fuel leak from fuel tubes near the fuel tank due to an interference fit with the vehicle floor panel.
Remedy: Dealers will replace a section of the fuel line. The recall began on october 10, 2005. Owners may contact KIA at 1-800-333-4542.
305 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Kia Sorento have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 12 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 77,756 miles. Complaints peaked in 2007 with 35 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“For some reason, KIA has halted production of the Air Bag Clock Spring mechanism for 2003 Kia Sorento's EX with cruise control. In my opinion, this was a vital component of the Air Bag safety system f”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 20, 2025 · Air bags
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 KIA sorento. The vehicle stalled and lost motive power while driving the contact was concerned for his safety when the vehicle stall the contact was concerned that it was r”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 1, 2019 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Kia Sorento (Sorento 2WD, Sorento 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 13–14 / 17–18 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Kia Sorento model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sorento model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Kia Sorento | 1 | 305 |
| 2004 Kia Sorento | 0 | 220 |
| 2005 Kia Sorento | 0 | 307 |
| 2006 Kia Sorento | 1 | 242 |
| 2007 Kia Sorento | 4 | 154 |
| 2008 Kia Sorento | 3 | 217 |
| 2009 Kia Sorento | 2 | 55 |
| 2010 Kia Sorento | 1 | 3 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento | 7 | 1,519 |
| 2012 Kia Sorento | 5 | 880 |
| 2013 Kia Sorento | 5 | 981 |
| 2014 Kia Sorento | 6 | 988 |
| 2015 Kia Sorento | 3 | 751 |
| 2016 Kia Sorento | 8 | 1,254 |
| 2017 Kia Sorento | 4 | 804 |
| 2018 Kia Sorento | 3 | 255 |
| 2019 Kia Sorento | 2 | 428 |
| 2020 Kia Sorento | 1 | 136 |
| 2021 Kia Sorento | 4 | 250 |
| 2022 Kia Sorento | 6 | 190 |
| 2023 Kia Sorento | 3 | 122 |
| 2024 Kia Sorento | 2 | 42 |
| 2025 Kia Sorento | 3 | 75 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento | 2 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2003 Kia Sorento
How do I know if my 2003 Kia Sorento has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Kia Sorento; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V353000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.