What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2008 KIA Sorento

Typical pattern

4.4% of complaints about the 2008 KIA Sorento came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (67 complaints), typically at 6.3 yr or about 42,000 miles.

Complaints
317
Median age at failure
6.4 yr
Median mileage
59,200 n=254
Crash / fire / tow
13.9% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
67 reports · 42,000 mi
6.3 yr
19.4%
Electronic stability control (esc)
44 reports · 50,500 mi
5.7 yr
4.5%
Engine
35 reports · 80,000 mi
9.0 yr
14.3%
Electrical system
32 reports · 63,000 mi
11.1 yr
18.8%
Speed control
28 reports · 59,200 mi
5.8 yr
10.7%
Power train
23 reports · 40,000 mi
5.9 yr
4.3%
Service brakes
18 reports · 60,300 mi
7.5 yr
16.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V088000 2020-02-14
Electrical system

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.

13V114000 2013-04-01
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

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

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.

11V473000 2011-09-07
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

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

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.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 600 mi 1 mo in service
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
Air bags mileage not reported 2 mo in service
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 200 mi 9 mo in service
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.
Power train 20,000 mi 2.7 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORRENTO. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED ABNORMAL HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE AT A VERY LOW SPEED. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ALLOWING IT TO SIT FOR A FEW HOURS, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE UPGRADES WERE MADE TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE FAILURE SINCE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Other Sorento model years

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