2008 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls

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

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208122 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218297 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218892 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,557 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228643 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234813 at NHTSA ↗

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 SINC…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236722 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE SQUEAKING SOUND IS GRADUALLY BECOMING LOUDER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, BUT THEY CANNOT FIND ANY FAILURES. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE TIRES JUST SPIN AND THEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY MOVES. THE CONTACT IS AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE REAR ENDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,620. UPDATED 10/20/08. …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243170 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10248575 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-09-07 (September 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2020-02-14 (February 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.