Faults:

Battery was dead a couple weekends ago, when we jumped the car all the lights blew out and had to replace a fuse.

Driver seat has a funny blue stain on it - maybe from my jeans? No other car I use has this issue.

General Comments:

Handles like a big truck, which makes sense because it is built on a big truck chassis - most people don't think about this!

High center of gravity (like all SUVs) means that you have to be careful about taking corners too quickly or making sharp maneuvers in the vehicle; you could roll it with too sharp a turn.

Somewhat noisy ride, but not bad considering it's an SUV.

Sound system is great for stock, pumps out great volume and serious bass.

Gas mileage is what you'd expect from a SUV...15-20 MPG every tank.

Faults:

After a dealer service interval, the battery will discharge completely. Usually occurs twice in a two weeks, then behaves till the next service.

General Comments:

Value for money, without a doubt.

This unit has had tyres replaced at 85,000km, and is still on its original brake pads and rotors.

Handling is certainly good for a car without electronic stability control or traction control.

Easily out performs various mid-sized pretenders, both on and off road. Excellent for towing heavy loads.

The car's ability to turn in quickly gives it a turning circle that is quite small, allowing easy maneuvering and parking in tight places.

Overall for a package with leather and sunroof, this mid-sized vehicle is hard to beat.

Faults:

My Check Engine light has been stuck on even though we have the little machine to read it and turn it out. (once was gas cap and now it says its the emissions stuff) I have had to three headlamps (all low beam) go out in the last three months. Last night... it got "stuck" in first gear and wouldn't come out woudlnt move etc. Kia came and towed it and today dealership says there is nothing wrong with the car at all. its running perfectly. I asked about the headlamps they said they just go through a lot of them. For THEM to replace it it would be about 50$... yuck. I will cook the neighbor dinner. He will change it for me.

General Comments:

I like the car... just not happy with the answers the mechanics give.

Faults:

We have documented with KIA that we are highly dissatisfied with our 2005 Sorento because of its serious safety defect: Since almost new it has had a highly intermittent shifting problem in the defective manual transmission. When it malfunctions (we have logged 9 incidents to date) we are put in a highly unsafe situation as we cannot shift gears at all or move the vehicle at all. Although KIA denied any known complaints of this problem we have confirmed that we are not an isolated case. Because KIA has not duplicated the symptom in our vehicle they will offer no solution.

General Comments:

The shifting problem in the defective manual transmission seriously impairs the safety of our Sorento.

Other than the known safety defect we have no other complaints with our Sorento and think it would prove to be a great vehicle if this problem were resolved.