2008 Kia Sorento Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorrento. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure also occurred with the driver's side air bag. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V473000 (Air Bags). The failure mileage was approximately 201,000.

NHTSA ID

11606170

Incident

Oct 2, 2023

Mileage

201,000 mi

I bought my sorento used and the airbag light is lit on the front dash in both where the guages are and under the stereo. It doesnt matter if someone is in the seat or not. I found that there was a recall years ago so when i called Kia they told me that my vehicle had been repaired and I told them it must not have been or the repair didnt work. They then told me the date of repair. Crazy thing is they were saying it had been repaired a year before the recall was announced. I said really. Knowing Kia aint gonna pay for a repair that hadnt been part of a recall yet. Now with the newest recall its saying the brakelights might not come on when applied. But with my Sorento the brakelights wont turn off. No matter what you do even when you take the key out and lock the doors, the brakelights remain on. Right when this started the ESC OFF light on the dash came on. The brakelights stayed on so much it apparently fried my battery. I got another battery and replaced the brakelight switch and started it up and it immediately wont idle correctly. It had idle fine before the brakelight issue.

NHTSA ID

11473833

Incident

May 15, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she contacted an independent mechanic who advised her that she needed a new OCS seat mat. The contact stated that she then contacted the dealer who advised her that there was a recall for the failure she was experiencing, however the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V473000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.

NHTSA ID

11458020

Incident

Mar 14, 2022

Mileage

136,000 mi

Driver airbag light has been on a year I keep checking for recalls but none are shown. What is my next step afraid bag will not work if needed.

NHTSA ID

11424133

Incident

Jul 9, 2021

My 2008 kia Sorento has a faulty passenger air bag, or air bag sensor. The ‘passenger air bag off’ light has been on since I purchased this car from a dealership in January of 2019. This jeopardizes the safety of my passengers because if the sensor or software is faulty, the airbags won’t deploy when needed. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, but I plan to take it to a dealership as well, it is available to be inspected upon request. I have called kia consumer affairs twice because there was a recall for this same passenger airbag issue in Kia Sorentos manufactured from 2007-2009 (SC067), but the first time they told me there was nothing I could do because the VIN wasn’t listed as affected. The second time I called to get more information, they put me on hold and then hung up on me so I do not know how to progress when kia is refusing to address my concern. I have to drive on the highway frequently and I am very worried about having a faulty airbag system. Thank you for your time!

NHTSA ID

11423082

Incident

Jan 23, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V473000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAYTONA KIA (510 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114, (386)252-7000) WHERE THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11394611

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

97,000 mi

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. COMPUTER CODE INDICATES THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE SENSOR. AIR BAGS WILL NOT BE ENGAGED DUE TO THE SENSOR MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

11386065

Incident

Jul 30, 2020

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, PASSENGER SIDE SEEMS OPERATIONAL. IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY, DURING THE SAME TRIP INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXCEPT MANUAL PUSH LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD, DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON

NHTSA ID

11377119

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

153,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON FOR BOTH THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SEATS. THE DEALER FIRST TEAM KIA (4834A BRIDGE RD, SUFFOLK, VA 23435, (757) 320-1088) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE AIR BAGS. THE DEALER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11354403

Incident

Sep 9, 2020

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 54 MPH. UPON REALIZING WHAT HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED OFF THE ROAD, INTO A GRASSY DITCH, TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES. AS THE DRIVER TRIED TO RE-ENTER THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A COUPLE OF TIMES FROM EAST TO WEST ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE ROAD AND DAMAGED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SKIN LOSS FROM LACERATIONS ON HIS LEG AND NECK. THE NECK INJURY WAS CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT'S SHOULDER STRAP. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED BY THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE TEAM AT THE ROADSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11353218

Incident

Aug 20, 2020

Mileage

145,000 mi

IN JAN 18 2016 NOT KNOWING OF ANY RECALL AS WE MOVE FROM OUR HOME ADDRESS AT THE TIME TO NEW ADDRESS, WE TOOK THE KIA TO DEALER BECAUS THE PASS AIR BAG SHOWS: OFF. DEALER JUST TOLD US THIS WILL COST $1800 TO FIX AND NEVER EVEN BOTHER TO CHECK ON RECALLS. NOW WHEN WE CHECK NHTSA FOR THIS VEHICLE WE FOUND THE RECALL CAMPAIGN # 11V473000 . WR CALL KIA MOTORS AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE CAMPAIGN RECALL ON PASS AIR BAG ON OUR TRUCK CLAIMING THE PART AFFECTED THAT MAKES HAS NOTHIN TO DO WITH THE AIR BAG !! PASSENGER AIR BAG CONTINUES TO BE OFF SO WHEN WE RIDE IN THE SUV I HAVE NO PROTECTION. WE CALLED KIA TODAY 7/23/20 AND THEY REFUSED TO HONOR IT OR INSTRUCT DEALER TO REPARIR IT . IF THE PART AFFECTED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, THEN WHY IS THE AIR BAG NOT WORKING IF THIS WAS CORRECT? PLEASE HELP US BECAUSE OF UR MOVING FROM ONE ADDRESS TO ANOTHER WE WERE NEVER TOLD AND IN THE BLOGS AND YOUR WEBSITE ALL KIAS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS

NHTSA ID

11341086

Incident

Jan 18, 2016

Mileage

96,981 mi

I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT 8/18/17 TOSSED BACK AND FORTH LIKE A RAG DOLL MY AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY ON IMPACT UNTIL THE 4TH TIME AND I WAS KNOCK OUT UNCONSCIOUS. DON'T RECALL MY SEAT BELT WORKED I RECALL BEING TOSSED BACK AND FORTH BACK AND FORTH AND TOOK MY LAST BREATH. THIS IS MY 3 TIME DOING THIS. IT WAS MOVING I WAS HIT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330925

Incident

Aug 18, 2017

Mileage

13,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER STEP-SON WHOM WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER STEP- SON PASSED AWAY AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PER THE POLICE REPORT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN HE LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CROSSING INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC, COLLIDING HEAD ON INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL DRIVER SIDE AR BAG DEPLOYED HOWEVER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN FOOT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION HOWEVER, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED BY THE CONTACT'S FAMILY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *LN*JB

NHTSA ID

11318775

Incident

Jan 16, 2020

HIT A GUARD RAIL ON THE FRONT; SIDE AND REAR (DID A 360 AND 180) AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 90 GOING ABOUT 65-70

NHTSA ID

11210664

Incident

May 23, 2019

Mileage

203,000 mi

MY CHECK ENGINE GOES ON AND OFF WHENEVER. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GROUT IT TO AUTOZONE FOR CHECK AND IT STATED SENSORS. MY SHOP SAYS THEY FIX IT AND IT CONTINUES I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW

NHTSA ID

11182252

Incident

Jun 4, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED A SIDE IMPACT BY A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES AS WELL AS INTERNAL BLEEDING FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGERS ALSO SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11175087

Incident

Nov 25, 2018

Mileage

86,000 mi

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SAYS ITS TURNED OFF WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ID

11166255

Incident

May 13, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL THUMPING NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE, AIR BAG, AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC CONTROL SENSOR, REAR SENSOR BEARING, AND REAR LINE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID

11129087

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

128,000 mi

THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT IS STILL ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGAR SEAT

NHTSA ID

11100741

Incident

Jun 5, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE CRASH CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD CONTUSION, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN KIA DEALER IN CAPE DORODO, MISSOURI AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. *LN

NHTSA ID

11044238

Incident

Sep 23, 2017

Mileage

103,000 mi

I WAS IN A COLLISION THAT WAS MY FAULT, I REAR ENDED A MINI VAN HIT A CONCRETE/STONE/ DIRT BARRIER AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

11019996

Incident

Aug 27, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER ALERT SYSTEM, WHICH INFORMS WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, REMAINED ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10926748

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

ON OCCASION, "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT GOES ON WHILE AN ADULT (>120LBS.) IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ID

10907675

Incident

May 16, 2016

Mileage

35,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS HIT HEAD ON WHERE MY AIRBAGS NEVER CAME OUT. AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON BUT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STAY STEAL WHEN I WAS HIT.

NHTSA ID

10876112

Incident

May 25, 2016

Mileage

142,689 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IN PARK, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEFT ARM INJURIES AND LEFT LEG INJURIES DUE TO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

10862788

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

Mileage

114,000 mi