2009 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 55 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 2 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 3 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
EquipmentOct 6, 2011
CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 56024, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ AND KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.
WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
CURT MANUFACTURING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESS. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MANUFACTURING AT 1-715 831-8713.
Campaign 11E041000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: vehicle speed control
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jun 23, 2022
Currently my ESC OFF warning light is lit on my dash, and while lit my vehicle has trouble accelerating from 0 to 40 mph. The warning light goes on and off at random. I have had the accelerator pedal assembly replacement in 2015 and 2019 due to the same issue. It is NOW happening again in 2022!!!. Is this a design flaw issue? It's definitely a safety issue! How can consumers be protected from these issues?
Vehicle speed control, Jul 10, 2019
LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER GETTING THIS CAR, IT STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT NO ACCELERATION! THE FIRST CODES WERE 02 SENSOR BUT IT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, I ONLY DROVE THE CAR 1000 NO IN A YEAR AND I JUST HAD IT REPAIRED I THOUGHT UNDER WARRANTY WITH TRANSMISSION CODES AS WELL AS A.C. WHICH WAS FIXED, BUT 2ND TIME DRIVING AND SAME THING, I COULD PUSH THE THROTTLE TO THE FLOOR AND NOT GO OVER 10MPH! I HAVE SEEN SO MANY OF SAME COMPLAINT! I HAVE NEARLY BEEN CRASHED INTO MULTIPLE TIMES, HAD TO PULL OFF INTERSTATE...I HAVE CALLED FREEDOM KIA AND DIDN'T GET CALL BACK AS PROMISED. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE NOW! I AM DISABLED, AND HAVE A GRANDBABY! WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?? YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT US! THE WARRANTY IS UP IN 10DAYS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FIXED AS YOU CAN SEE BY SO MANY COMPLAINTS! I WANT ACTION NOW WITH THE KIA DEALERSHIP. IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WILL BE MANY LAWSUITS, INCLUDING YOU FOR NOT DOING YOUR JOBS!
Vehicle speed control, Aug 22, 2017
MY 2009 KIA SORENTO,I WAS DRIVING DOWN MAIN ROAD GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN ALL SUDDEN MY POWER DROPPED TO ABOUT 20,LUCKY I WAS NOT ON INTERSTATE ARE PULLING ON TO INTERSTATE,HAD TO HAVE TOWED IN,SAID SOMETHING TO DO WITH GAS PEDAL,WELL THOUGHT WAS FIXED,NOPE,I HAVE HAD CAR FOR A YEAR AND HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES,IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM,I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT BUT IN TOWN AND BACK,PAYING 400 A MONTH FOR 5 YEARS FOR A CAR I AM SCARED TO DRIVE,IF THIS IS A RECURRING THING,WHY DOES KIA NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM,I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA WHEN THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THERE PTODUCT
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MILEAGE DROPPED FROM 67 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT. THE THROTTLE PEDAL WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A RECALL ON THE 2016 MODEL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V089000); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 09/29/16*LJ *JS
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 12, 2015
ESC OFF SENSOR AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN STARTING VEHICLE OR WHEN IN MOTION/DRIVING. ESC OFF ILLUMINATES FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH TO 70 MPH LIGHT APPEARS AND QUICKLY LOOSES LACK OF THROTTLE ACCELERATION POWR. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN (10 PLUS TIMES) SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2012 PRE-OWNED FROM KIA DEALERSHIP IN CAPE CORAL,FL. TONIGHT 5/12/15 I WAS HEADING ON HIGHWAY AND STOPPED 3 TIMES EVERY 2 TO 4 MILES (LOST POWER) IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.. FINALLY,VEHICLE CAME BACK ON MORE FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 TO 70 MPHS VEHICLE SHOWED ESC OFF LIGHT AND LOST ACCELERATION THEN POWER... NO ACCIDENT JUST SWERVED ALOT..
Vehicle speed control, Apr 23, 2015
I SUDDENLY LOST POWER OR CONTROL TO THE GAS. I COASTED THE CAR TO MY WORK A FEW MILES AWAY IN OSSEO, WI. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY GARAGE, THE LOFT SERVICE CENTER IN OSSEO, WI. THEY HOOKED IT UP TO A COMPUTER AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. 10/7/14 THE SAME THING HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ON A TRIP AND LOST POWER, COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT EVERY 20 TO 40 MILES FOR ABOUT 300 MILES UNTIL WE GOT TO THE KIA PRESTIGE IN EAU CLAIRE, WI. THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS REPLACED. 4/20/15 SAME THING HAPPENED. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. SHUT OFF THE CAR. WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO KIA PRESTIGE IN EAU CLAIRE, WI. REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND AIR SENSOR TO AIR FILTER COST $1298. PARTS ARE ONLY GUARANTEED FOR ONE YEAR. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN FOR MANY REASONS. I AM AFRAID THIS IS UNSAFE AND I COULD BE REAR-ENDED THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. I CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-333-4542 AND HAVE A CASE NO. [XXX]. THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OR HOW TO FIX IT. I SEE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I HAD A KIA RONDO BEFORE THIS AND IT HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR AS WELL. I SEE THIS AS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE OR HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN DIE BECAUSE THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR