RoadVitals

2009 Kia Sorento Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jan 16, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 55 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectrical
Filed Jan 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine, ESC, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. Upon speaking with other independent mechanics, the contact was informed that the failure was likely linked to moisture that might have entered the ABS module. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic); which the contact associated with the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was already serviced under recall prior to owning the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11711370
Incident
Nov 1, 2025
BrakesElectrical
Filed Apr 26, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 15 MPH, she activated the windshield wipers and the radio, and the vehicle started to stall. The contact stated that her daughter saw the TPMS, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact's daughter drove the vehicle back to the residence. The contact’s husband attempted to duplicate the failure by letting the vehicle idle and then shifted to reverse (R), and the instrument cluster gauges started to function erratically. The contact shifted the vehicle to drive(D) and depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated he shifted to park(P) and turned off the vehicle; when the vehicle was restarted, all vehicle functionality had returned. The contact stated that the failure had occurred a year prior. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that an electrical relay needed to be replaced. The contact stated that a similar electrical relay had been previously replaced; however, the battery drained due to the defective relay. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

NHTSA ID
11519128
Incident
Apr 26, 2023
Mileage
185,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11455715
Incident
Jan 22, 2021
AirbagsBrakesEngine
Filed Aug 20, 2021

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
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 8, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V088000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY KIA LOCATED AT 7849 MALL PKWY, STONECREST, GA 30038, (770) 288-5283, WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTAC HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT, CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID
11353736
Incident
Aug 1, 2020
Mileage
180,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jun 17, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V088000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) 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. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11329396
Incident
Jun 17, 2020
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKES DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED IN A FORWARD MOTION VOLUNTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WAS FAILING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10928591
Incident
Nov 13, 2016
Brakes
Filed Mar 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.

NHTSA ID
10393470
Incident
Mar 25, 2011
Mileage
21,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .