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
55 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Mar 3, 2010
2009 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT PROTECT THE FRONT PASSENGER IF THE WEIGHT IS LESS THAN 120 POUNDS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE PANEL READ PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF. *JB
Power train, Feb 10, 2010
2011 KIA SORENTO; RENTAL VEHICLE FROM NATIONAL RENTAL. CRUISING AT 65 MPH AND CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL. MADE POPPING SOUNDS, AND SMOKE CAME OUT REAR OF VEHICLE. CAR BARELY MOVED AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM SCENE. DURING INCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP UNDER CONTROL AND IN DESIGNATED TRAFFIC LANE. NATIONAL RENTAL SENT A TOW TRUCK AND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. THIS KIA HAD 62 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF FAILURE. TOW DRIVER THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS INCIDENT NEARLY CAUSED ME TO TOTALLY LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASH. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY TO GET CAR STOPPED BEFORE HAVING AN ACCIDENT. ALL I HAVE IS LAST DIGITS OF VIN TAKEN FROM RENTAL PAPERWORK. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Nov 30, 2009
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ON OUR 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT.. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR FOUR TIMES. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPROGRAMMED. AT THIS TIME THE DEALER HAS INFORMED US THAT KIA TECH LINE HAS DETERMINED THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND THERE ARE NO FURTHER REPAIRS THAT CAN BE PERFORMED. WE HAVE FOLLOWED ALL PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND STILL THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ACCURATELY REGISTER A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. WITH THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT OFF" LIT, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND PROTECT THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Air bags, Nov 27, 2009
I BOUGHT A USED 2009 SORENTO KIA AND WHEN MY WIFE WAS SEATED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF SIGN WAS ON. THE LIGHT COMES OFF/ON RANDOMLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS ON THE SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Air bags, Jul 14, 2009
SINCE JANUARY 2009 WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH KIA MOTORS BECAUSE MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT ACTIVATE WHEN SOMEONE IS SEATED IN THE SEAT. ALL KIA HAS DONE IS UPDATE THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM, WHICH HASN'T WORKED. THEY HAVE ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. MY PROBLEM IS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOW UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THEM 12 TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. KIA HAS OFFERED ME $1500.00 TO GO AWAY. I REFUSED. I WANT THIS SAFETY ISSUE FIXED. *TR