2008 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 217 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 15 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 17 people were injured and 3 people died.
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
Representative owner complaints: air bags
66 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Nov 3, 2009
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND SAYS THAT AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. WIFE WEIGHTS 160 AND IS A FULL SIZE ADULT. KIA SAYS SHE IS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT RIGHT, I HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEAL TWICE NOW FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND ARE AVOIDING IT. IT IA A KIA SORENTO. *TR
Air bags, Oct 14, 2009
"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT REMAINS ON WHEN ADULT PASSENGERS OVER 108 LB SIT IN SEAT. NO AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT INDICATED. HAD DEALER REP INSPECT AND DO CALIBRATION TO OCS IN LATE AUG. HOWEVER, THE FAULT STILL HAPPENS ABOUT 1OUT OF 10 TIMES. *TR
Air bags, Oct 8, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE OCS MISCLASSIFIES THE PRESENCE OF CERTAIN ADULT PASSENGERS BASED ON A COMBINATION OF THEIR WEIGHT, STATURE, BODY SHAPE AND POSITION ON THE SEAT CUSHION. AS CONSEQUENCE THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ONCE ACCORDING TO SERVICE BULLETIN #10030366 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,321. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30.
Air bags, Oct 5, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MISCLASSIFIED A SMALL ADULT AS A CHILD. AS A CONSEQUENCE IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS, THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND A TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HOWEVER HE SPECULATED THAT THE SEATS WOULD HAVE TO BE POSITIONED FAR AWAY FROM THE AIR BAG IN ORDER TO BE OPERATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900.
Air bags, Oct 1, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR MISCLASSIFIED A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT SINCE THE PASSENGER WEIGHED ONLY 130 LBS, SHE WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE SENSOR TO DETECT HER WEIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 380 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,200.
Air bags, May 22, 2009
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE FIXED THE SENSOR. IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. I HAVE SEEN ON A FEW FORUMS (IE. EDMUNDS.COM) THAT IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND IT IS NOT GETTING RESOLVED. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY PASSENGERS SAFETY. *TR
Air bags, May 20, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHENEVER AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES, WHICH INDICATES THAT IT IS NOT ENGAGED NOR WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT MOVEMENT IN THE SEAT WILL USUALLY ENGAGE THE AIR BAGS. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY AT THAT TIME. A WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO SIT IN THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL DIM ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RESTARTED A FEW TIMES. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED AND STATED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNABLE TO BE LOCATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150. UPDATED 06/10/09. *JB
Air bags, Mar 9, 2009
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN PASSENGER SITS IN SEAT. MEANING THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE DECEMBER 2008, THE FIRST DOCUMENTED TIME WAS JANUARY 2009, AND HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED FIVE TIMES. THE ONLY ATTEMPT TO REPAIR WAS TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER CHIP, WHICH DID NOT WORK. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH TO ME IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Air bags, Feb 2, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SUDDENLY THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER AN OCCUPANT WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND PAD WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND AN ENGINEER CONDUCTED AN INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,400.
Air bags, Nov 12, 2008
I HAVE 2008 KIA SORENTO. ON THE EVENING I BOUGHT THE CAR, I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON STATING THAT THE AIRBAG WAS OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER FOR THE PART AND NOT TO ALLOW ANYONE TO SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS WAS A MONTH AGO THEY STILL CANNOT GET THE PART. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS FRIDAY TO SEE IF THEY CAN RESET THE COMPUTER. THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Air bags, Aug 2, 2008
JUST PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ONLY ACTIVATES 50% OF THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER A 2ND TIME WITH A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE SEAT AND THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACTUALLY WITNESSED A 150LB PASSENGER PROPERLY SEATED IN THE SEAT AND THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE 5 ADDITIONAL DAYS. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND CONTACTED KIA. KIA WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE A REPAIR SINCE ALL THE DIAGNOSTICS PASSED EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER PERSONALLY WITNESSED IT NOT WORKING. THE DEALER STATES THAT KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR. *TR
Air bags, Jul 18, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED REGARDLESS IF A PASSENGER WAS SEATING IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 871 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
Air bags, May 22, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE SOFTWARE. THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO WAIT FOR A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,557. UPDATED 06/25/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 06/25/08. *JB
Power train, Air bags, Feb 22, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE, SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER ON JANUARY 21, 2008. TWO MECHANICS TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE CODES TO MAKE THE REPAIR. AS OF FEBRUARY 22, 2008, THE DEALER HAS YET TO CALL THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR WORK. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO GET USED TO THE WAY SHE DROVE AND THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT SHE HAD TO SIT IN THE VEHICLE A CERTAIN WAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO MATTER HOW SHE SITS, THE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,020 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Air bags, Feb 8, 2008
2008 KIA SORENTO FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT DOES NOT WORK WHEN HIS FATHER IS IN THE VEHICLE. *KB THE WIRING CONNECTION WAS LOOSE AND THE SENSOR WAS RESET ON THE FIRST VISIT. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A CUSHION TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS IN THE CUSHION. *JB
Air bags, Nov 7, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED. AS OF NOVEMBER 7, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 600. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN ON THE WAY HOME FROM CHURCH RECENTLY. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR