2009 Kia Sorento Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving out of the driveway, the warning message "ASC-OFF" appeared on the instrument panel and the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated as she turned off the vehicle, she was able to restart the vehicle and parked in the driveway. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring and several warning lights including the ASC warning light, check engine warning light, and air bag passenger warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the recall repair was completed, however, the ASC warning light, the check engine warning light, and the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11429870

Incident

May 20, 2021

Mileage

140,000 mi

KIA INSTALLED FOUR PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR PADS IN MY 2009 AND A NEW AIR BAG MODULE. WHILE IT WAS ALL COVERED BY WARRANTY WORK, NOW I PAID $133.54 TO HAVE IT CHECKED AGAIN, AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY AN ESTIMATE OF $2535.34 PLUS TAX TO HAVE THE NEW SENSOR INSTALLED. I TALKED TO A MANAGER FOR KIA AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THERE PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM BETWEEN ME AND THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS AS LONG AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM.( WHAT DO I DO}

NHTSA ID

11056110

Incident

May 29, 2014

Mileage

37,413 mi

AIR BAG IS OFF LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE EVEN IF AN ADULT IS IN THE SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THE COMPUTER JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID WE WERE NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT CORRECTLY. I TOLD HIM I WEIGHED 190 LBS THAT THE WHOLE SEAT WAS COVERED WITH MY BOTTOM. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SENSOR. I SHOWED THEM PICTURES OF MY PHONE SHOWING WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY DIDN'T SEAM TO CARE. IT STILL MALFUNCTIONS ABOUT 80%, THE WARRANTY RAN OUT A WHILE AGO. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE YOUR SITTING STILL AND IT WILL COME ON IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT BACK OFF IS TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND GET OUT AND SIT DOWN AGAIN, BUT IT WILL USUALLY DEACTIVATES AGAIN

NHTSA ID

10985484

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

10,000 mi

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 AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. FURTHER INSPECTION AND IT IS DETERMINED THE THE "OCS" SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1900 FOR PARTS AND $200 FOR LABOR.

NHTSA ID

10822048

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

Mileage

87,573 mi

MY SON WAS TRAVELING ON A MAIN ROAD IN TOWN WHEN THE CAR HYDROPLANED AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND HE LOST CONTROL. IT SENT HIM SLAMMING INTO A CULVERT, THEN IT BOUNCED OUT OF THE CULVERT AND RAN UP ON A RESIDENTIAL PORCH AND HIT A TREE. THE DRIVERS SIDE TOOK THE MAJORITY OF THE IMPACT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED (FRONT OR SIDE). HE WAS SLAMMED INTO THE DRIVERS DOOR PANEL AND THE CENTER CONSOLE. HE HAS CONTINUING PAIN IN HIS BACK.

NHTSA ID

10790528

Incident

Oct 23, 2015

Mileage

96,000 mi

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 FROM MY RESEARCH. SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT MY ATTORNEY SAID DEFECTS ARE NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND MY VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE PRODUCT LIABILITY PERIOD.

NHTSA ID

10786719

Incident

Oct 23, 2015

Mileage

92,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT, AIRBAG INDICATOR WORKS ONLY SOME OF THE TIME WITH ADULT PASSENGER.

NHTSA ID

10717761

Incident

May 11, 2015

Mileage

118,000 mi

FIRST NOTICED IN THE SEPT. TIME PERIOD THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN AFTER MY WIFE SAT DOWN, AND EVEN IF SHE TRIED SHIFTING AROUND TO ACTIVATE THE SEAT SENSOR. MY WIFE WEIGHS MORE THAN 120 LBS. ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME THE SYSTEM SENSES HER PRESENCE FROM HER FIRST SITTING DOWN, WHILE THAT RISES TO ABOUT 75% IF SHE SHIFTS AROUND TO ACTIVATE THE SENSOR. COMMUNICATION ON THE WEB AND THE AUSTIN DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE NOTED THAT KIA HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ACTIVATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. IN PARTICULAR, KIA HAD A SAFELY RECALL SC 076 A (COVERING 2007-2008 KIA SORENTOS) WHICH HAD SYMPTOMS IDENTICAL TO WHAT WE NOW ARE EXPERIENCING. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE KIA TELEPHONE HELP LINE CLAIM MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THAT RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660695

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

33,100 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON BLACK TOP RD. IT HAD BEEN SLEETING THE KIA I WAS DRIVING VEERED OFF THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF RD. I WENT OFF IN DITCH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON MY AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IS THIS NORMAL I DON'T THINK SO I THOUGHT THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE FOR MY INJURIES WERE SPRAINED WRIST & NECK & BACK & MY BREAST BONE HURTS I WAS DRIVING A 2009 KIA SORENTO LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY DOES THIS HAPPEN VERY OFTEN TO THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10563790

Incident

Feb 2, 2014

Mileage

77,935 mi

'PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF' LIGHT ON REPEATEDLY WITH A PASSENGER IN SEAT AND AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF AND ON AND RE-POSITIONING OF PASSENGER MORE THAN 1 DOZEN TIMES! THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AS A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, AFTER SURVIVING BEING HIT HEAD-ON, SEVERELY INJURED AND OUR VEHICLE DESTROYED. AIR BAGS HELPED SAVE OUR LIVES. THE SORENTO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE IN FEBRUARY 2010. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY TALKED TO KIA HEADQUARTERS AND DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. NORMAL PASSENGER IS MUCH HEAVIER THAN 120 LB "GRAY AREA" NOTED TO AFFECT ACTIVATION. ONE DEALERSHIP PRINTED A READOUT "PROVING" USUAL PASSENGER "SITS LIGHT" - ADVISED ADJUSTING SITTING POSITION. YESTERDAY TEMPS IN AZ EXCEEDED 110 DEGREES AND THE PROBLEM WAS SEVERE. THE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, WOULD GO OFF AND COME BACK ON AS SOON AS THE SHIFTING LEVER WAS MOVED. THE PASSENGER LIFTED AND READJUSTED EACH TIME TO NO AVAIL. THIS PROCESS WAS REPEATED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. OFTEN THE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TO EXIT DRIVEWAY OR PARKING PLACE, WITH NO MOVEMENT FROM PASSENGER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD!! MUST SOMEONE DIE BEFORE KIA CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM?!?! (AIR BAG SHOULD ALWAYS BE ACTIVATED!!!!!) KIA SHOULD BE MANDATED TO FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR!!!!!!!! CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM IS SURELY LESS EXPENSIVE THAN LAWSUITS FOR INJURIES/DEATHS CAUSED BY INACTIVE AIR BAGS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10516089

Incident

Jun 9, 2013

Mileage

61,850 mi

AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO HAVE PROBLEM FIXED, KIA STATES THAT IT IS NORMAL THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT ALWAYS DETECT PERSON ON SEAT. WHAT BS!!! NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL? SOMEONE DYING? OR MULTIPLE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10442300

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

8,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS HAS REPEATED ISSUES WITH PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR NOT RECOGNIZING 120 LB. FEMALE PASSENGER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER (FISHER KIA IN BOULDER, CO) AND WAS TOLD AIR BAG HAD A "GRAY AREA" BETWEEN 80-120 LBS WHERE IT MAY NOT ACTIVATE PROPERLY. I FIND THIS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATED WITH MY WIFE IN PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ID

10391028

Incident

Dec 15, 2009

Mileage

100 mi

2009 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER STATES THAT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATED THE AIRBAG WAS DISABLED. THE DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT HIS WIFE DIDN'T WEIGH ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO REGISTER. *KB

NHTSA ID

10375748

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

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 WAS TOLD BY KIA THAT UNLESS THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. EVEN AFTER THE #1 REPAIR TECH IN THE WORLD FOR KIA EXPERIENCED THE NOT SHIFTING TILL IT RED LINES FOR HIMSELF. I WAS TOLD THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO IS REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER. THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED IT 4 TIMES THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I HAVE 22 REPAIR INVOICES FOR THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I AM FIGHTING ON A DAILY BASIS WITH KIA TO REPAIR THIS CAR. IT IS A SHAME TO SAY BUT I FEEL SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR WORST KILLED BEFORE KIA FIXES THESE ISSUES! *TR

NHTSA ID

10365864

Incident

Feb 17, 2010

Mileage

1,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED SUCCESSFULLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,253.

NHTSA ID

10360991

Incident

Jul 28, 2010

Mileage

7,253 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE CONSOLE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE SENSOR YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE MANUFACTURER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,920.

NHTSA ID

10347484

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE VEHICLE INCORRECTLY AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT WANT TO ADMIT FAULT TO THE FAILURE AND WAS CONCERNED WITH THE OVERALL SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/11/10.*LJ

NHTSA ID

10321575

Incident

Dec 7, 2009

Mileage

700 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10314369

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

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

NHTSA ID

10293999

Incident

Apr 12, 2009

Mileage

8,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10293703

Incident

Oct 31, 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

NHTSA ID

10276722

Incident

Jan 30, 2009

Mileage

17,863 mi