2007 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 154 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 10 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical systemFeb 14, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the HECU when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC186.
Campaign 20V088000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign 13V114000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveSep 7, 2011
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 SORENTO PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 15, 2006 THROUGH NOVEMBER 27, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE TURNED OFF WHEN AN ADULT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DESIGNED TO BE TURNED OFF IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING WHEN CHILDREN AND SMALL ADULTS ARE SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THERE IS A CHILD RESTRAINT IN THAT SEAT OR THE SEAT IS NOT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS), WHICH CLASSIFIES THE OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, MAY MISCLASSIFY AN ADULT PASSENGER AS A CHILD OR CHILD SEAT AND IMPROPERLY TURN OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. WHEN THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF WHEN THE OCS MISCLASSIFIES AN ADULT PASSENGER. WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF, THE FRONT PASSENGER WILL NOT HAVE THE PROTECTION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS IN SOME FRONTAL COLLISIONS, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY.
KIA WILL UPDATE THE PROGRAMMING IN THE SORENTO OCS CONTROL MODULE AT NO CHARGE. THE RECALL REMEDY IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE UNDER SERVICE CAMPAIGN SC076. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 11V473000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 17, 2009
HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 09V130000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: vehicle speed control
10 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Jul 28, 2020
THE SPEED SENSOR LOCATED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING WHICH MEANS I HAVE TO START BY SHIFTING 1 AND SECOND GEAR THEN WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES 40 IN WILL GO INTO 3RD AND THE D LIGHTS UP...I WILL ONLY HAVE 4TH GEAR NO 5TH SO THE ENGINE IS AT 3000 RPMS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! IT USES MORE FUEL AND OIL! BEEN DRIVING IT THIS WAY FOR 3 YEARS NOW!
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Aug 30, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ESC AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE MASSAGE "LIMP HOME" WOULD DISPLAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WOULD SUDDENLY REDUCE TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER GRAND KIA OF DENVER CO. AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, May 2, 2017
MY 07 KIA SORENTO WHEN TRYING TO ENTER THE STATE HIGHWAY. WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VIECHEL STATE TO ACCELERATE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ESC. LIGHT COMES ON AND THE SUV. GOES INTO SAFE LIMP MODE. WHERE IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND WILL NOT CLIMB OVER 20MPH. FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN IN A FEW SITUATIONS WHERE WE WERE ALMOST HIT. LOOKING ONLINE I CAN SEE THAT THIS IS FAR FROM BEING A ISOLATED ORDEAL. AND THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VIECHEL . I AM READING WHERE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOT GOING TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED. WITH THE NUMBER OF THE VIECHELS SOLD THERE HAVE TO BE QUITE A FEW THAT HAVE RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVES BODILY INJURY. IF NOT GOD FORBID EVEN DEATH. I JUST HOPE THIS REACHES THE DESK OR SCREEN OF SOMEONE WHO CAN INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT I AM CAPABLE OF DOING.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 10, 2014
I OWN A 2007 KIA SORENTO LX WITH 47,760 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY (TODAY'S DATE 09/10/2014). THE FIRST SYMPTOMS HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE MY CAR WOULD HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION AND/OR I WOULD BE TRAVELING BETWEEN 30-45 MPH AND THE CAR WOULD BEGIN BUCKING/JERKING FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM. IF I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THEN REAPPLIED THE GAS THE CAR WOULD BE FINE. THEN THAT SYMPTOM WENT AWAY AND I GAINED A NEW SYMPTOM. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ECS OFF LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND I INSTANTLY LOST POWER/ACCELERATION. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE? IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME IN THE PAST 3 DAYS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE LOSS OF POWER/ACCELERATION IS INSTANT, IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE IF IT HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. ALL OF THESE SYMPTOMS BEGAN TO APPEAR RIGHT AFTER I HAD THE RECALLS DONE ON MY VEHICLE (I.E. BRAKE SWITCH AND ECM UPGRADE). MY CAR WAS FINE BEFORE I HAD THE RECALLS DONE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 15, 2011
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER FROM ACCELERATOR GREATLY REDUCES. APPEARS TO GO INTO 1ST GEAR, AND VEHICLE ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE AT 5MPH. STOPPED CAR ON SHOULDER, TURNED ENGINE OFF AND PARKED. RESTARTED VEHICLE WITH NO POWER OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING, REPEAT IN ACTIVITIES. OCCURRED 5 TIMES WITHIN 20 MILE DRIVE. VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE OCCUR ON HIGHWAY. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Oct 11, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ESC AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED HER THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,436.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 11, 2011
ESC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON MY 07 KIA SORENTO AND LOSES POWER. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY SPEEDS. I EXPERIENCED THIS FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPAIRED THE THROTTLE POSITIONER TWO TIMES AND NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME, DEALER WILL CHARGE YOU IF MILEAGE IS +60K. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT KIA IS TRYING TO BE MUM ABOUT IT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF CONSUMERS ON THE KIA FORUM EXPRESSING DISGUST ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS THAT CAN HAPPEN. I DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2011, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WOULD INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD RETURN HIS CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,456.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 9, 2010
WHEN I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE MY SPEED (LIKE WHEN MERGING, FOR INSTANCE), THE CAR REACTS AS IF I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. IT STOPS ALL FORWARD MOTION FOR AT LEAST A SECOND. SOMETIMES AS LONG AS FIVE SECONDS. THIS HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN BEING HIT FROM BEHIND OR THE SIDE SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE TAKEN THEIR MECHANICS FOR DEMONSTRATION RIDES SEVERAL TIMES. I'VE EVEN CONTACTED THEIR HOME OFFICE. EACH TIME THE ANSWER IS THE SAME, "WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT MUST BE YOU." I FULLY EXPECT TO BE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN THE FUTURE CAUSED BY THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR, SO I'M STUCK WITH IT. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jan 4, 2008
I BOUGHT MY 2007 KIA SORENTO IN OCTOBER 2007, AND I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE SHOP MORE TIMES THEN I CAN COUNT FOR A VIOLENT JERKING, STUTTERING, STALLING. EACH TIME I TAKE IT IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DRIVES IT AND TELLS ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAD IT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEY ADJUSTED THE AIR INTAKE VALVE WHICH HELPED BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IF THEY CAN'T FIX IT SOON IT WILL BE PUSHED OFF A CLIFF....