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
154 reports, newest first.
Air bags, May 21, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1000. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY OFF WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.
Power train, May 15, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SORENTO LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SURGES AND HAS DIFFICULTY SWITCHING GEARS. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE BECAUSE THE TORQUE CONVERTER CONTINUES TO LOCK UP. THE FAILURE IS NOTICEABLE AT 35 MPH. DURING THE FIRST SERVICE VISIT, A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE DEALER STATED THAT NO REPAIR WAS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 720 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Air bags, May 1, 2007
I BOUGHT A 2007 KIA SORENTO A MONTH AGO. IT HAS A PASSENGER SENSOR IN THE SEAT THAT ACTIVATES THE AIR BAG ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. IF A CHILD OR PASSENGER WHO DOESN'T MEET THE WEIGHT REQUIREMENT SITS IN THE SEAT IT WILL DEACTIVATE THE AIR BAG. PROBLEM IS THAT THE SENSOR ISN'T WORKING FOR PASSENGERS WHO MEET THE WEIGHT REQUIREMENT . THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED AND THEREFORE THE SAFETY FEATURE THAT IS THE AIR BAG IS NO LONGER THERE TO PROTECT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THERE IS NO WAY TO OVERRIDE THAT FEATURE. I ASKED THE SERVICE GUY AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG HASN'T BEEN WORKING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. *TR
Power train, Apr 5, 2007
I PURCHASED A 2007 KIA SORENTO ON 1/6/07 FROM CHRIS LEITH KIA IN WAKE FOREST, NC. NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I NOTICED THAT IT FREQUENTLY JERKED WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED. ON 1/11/07, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED OF THE PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WHICH WAS SELF ADJUSTING ,AND WOULD FIX ITSELF AS I DROVE IT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO KIA ON 3/5/07. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS. AFTER CORRESPONDENCE WITH KIA, I WAS TOLD TO COME PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THAT KIA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON A SOLUTION. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A SOFTWARE ISSUE. AS OF TODAY, 4/5/07, I STILL HAVE NO SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON A SOLUTION. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED! A BRAND NEW VEHICLE SHOULD NOT RUN LIKE THIS!!!*AK