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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Kia SORENTO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

55 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

43,225 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 55 complaints (25.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1323.6%
Transmission and shifting1120.0%
Electrical and battery issues916.4%
Engine operation59.1%
Steering behavior11.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
14
Electrical System
12
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
8
Power Train
6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6
Air Bags:Frontal
5
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Engine
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags14
Electrical System12
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)8
Power Train6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
Air Bags:Frontal5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Engine4

Air Bags: 14; Electrical System: 12; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 8; Power Train: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9998
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009
3
2010
8
2011
5
2012
2
2013
6
2014
3
2015
7
2016
3
2017
4
2018
1
2019
3
2020
3
2021
1
2022
2
2023
1
2024
1
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20093
20108
20115
20122
20136
20143
20157
20163
20174
20181
20193
20203
20211
20222
20231
20241
20251
20261

2009: 3; 2010: 8; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 6; 2014: 3; 2015: 7; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10393470 · 2011-03-26 (March 26, 2011)

EXPERIENCING VIBRATION IN BRAKES CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE USED TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE WHILE GOING DOWNHILL ON MOUNTAIN ROADS. VEHICLE IS NOT USED MUCH IN MOUNTAINS, MOSTLY STOP-AND-GO CITY TRAFFIC. IF THIS VEHICLE CANNOT WITHSTAND THIS TYPE OF USE, IT IS NOT SAFE FOR USE ON AMERICAN ROADS. KIA APPARENTLY USES UNDER DESIGNED, INADEQUATE MATERIALS AND THEN EXCLUDES THESE PARTS FROM THEIR SHAM OF A WARRANTY.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393470 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10424514 · 2011-09-09 (September 9, 2011)

WHILE DECENDING A MOUNTIAN PASS IN COLORADO WITH THE VEHICLE IN 4WD-LOW RANGE AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IN THE SPORT MODE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD UP-SHIFT AT ABOUT 3200 RPM CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GAIN SPEED VERY QUICKLY AND REQUIRING THE CONSTANT APPLICATION OF BRAKES WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO OVER HEAT. THE OWNERS MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS IS AN APPROVED USE OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT SHIFT UNTIL THE RED-ZONE (APPROX 6000 RPM). I CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN NOVEMBER OF 2009 AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS W…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424514 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10308610 · 2010-02-10 (February 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 CONTRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 62 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308610 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10365864 · 2010-11-15 (November 15, 2010)

I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS. 1) I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT COMING ON WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DIFFERENT KIA SHOPS 5 TIMES SINCE 1200 MILES AND WAS TOLD IT IS OPERATING NORMAL. NORMAL IS WHEN AN ADULT SITS IN IT, NOT WHEN YOU PLACE A PURSE ON THE SEAT OR WHENEVER IT DECIDES TO WORK. I AM FOLLOWING THE MANUAL AND STILL NO SATISFACTION WITH REPAIR. 2) AT 1200 MILES I ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR WOULD BUCK, STICK IN 3RD GEAR, AND NOT SHIFT TILL IT RED LINES. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND I WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365864 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10822048 · 2016-01-25 (January 25, 2016)

MY 2009 KIA SORENTO (87810 MILES) HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE 2014. IN SEPT 2014, WHILE WARRANTY WAS VOID DUE TO OVER 60, 000 MILES) I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION LIGHTS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. $1,000+ DOLLARS LATER, DIMMER SWITCH, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND RHEOSTAT CIRCUIT WERE REPAIRED. IN DECEMBER 2015, STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN BUT NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF. TOOK IN JANUARY, AND $275 MORE, REPLACED DIMMER SWITCH AGAIN AND CLEANED THE CONNECTION TO AIR BAG SENSOR. THREE DAYS LATER, THE A…

Owner-reported narrative. 87,573 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822048 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11323336 · 2020-05-05 (May 5, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V088000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. GETTEL KIA OF BRADENTON LOCATED AT 6423 14 TH ST. W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941)417-5210, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND CONFIRMED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11323336 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10779832 · 2015-10-05 (October 5, 2015)

SHORTLY AFTER BUYING SUV IN 2009 WE EXPERIENCED "QUERKY" STUFF LIKE DOORS RELOCKING, DOME LIGHT S COMING ON, BACK HATCH UNLOCKING ALL THIS HAPPENING ON THEIR OWN!! I KEPT TELLING THE DEALERSHIP AT OIL CHANGES! THEY KEPT IGNORING IT ALL! NOV 1, 2009 KIA ELECTRIC SYSTEM SERVICE BULLETIN #282603 (TS B-044) ISSUED. SEPTEMBER THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC OFF LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON TOGETHER, SUV IMMEDIATELY DECENDS TO 15-20 MPH! YOU CAN'T GIVE IT GAS, ONLY RPMS RISE HIGH! GAS IS EATEN UP! COAST TO SIDE, SIT A FEW TO 20 MINUTES. MAYBE BOTH O…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,804 miles reported. Look up ODI 10779832 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10993351 · 2017-06-06 (June 6, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE AND THE ESC SENSOR ILLUMINATED. PREVIOUSLY, THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING A CORNER. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATION WAS VERY SLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (KIA OF CHATTANOOGA LOCATED AT 2136 CHAPMAN RD, CHATTANOOGA, TN, 37421) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC NEEDED TO BE RESET AND OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPA…

Owner-reported narrative. 53,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993351 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10786719 · 2015-10-28 (October 28, 2015)

THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE BACKING UP IN A PARKING LOT. I TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 6-10 FEET TURNING LEFT IN REVERSE AT MAYBE 1-2 MPH IF THAT MUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT NOR DID IT HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AND THE HORN TO STAY ON. WHEN AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THE STEERING WHEEL COVER WHEN FORCED OPEN GASHED LEFT THUMB. AUTO INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER DEFECTS. TRYING TO WORK WITH KIA MOTORS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND MAKE VEHICLE SAFE. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THEY WILL FIX. OTHER KIA VEHICLES HAVE HAD AIRBAG PROBLEMS FR…

Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10786719 at NHTSA ↗