2011 Kia Sorento Airbags Problems

Driver Airbag light is illuminated

NHTSA ID

11756302

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

In a letter dated August 14, 2019, KIA advised that the warranty coverage for the driver's front airbag clock spring assembly was extended to 15 years. the clock spring is an electrical connection which rotates with the steering wheel to maintain proper functioning of the airbag unit. If the airbag light stays on, and the car continues to be used without repair, the driver's airbag may eventually not deploy in a frontal impact. This is a safety issue, since the airbag may not work, KIA knew about it in 2019!! The 2011 KIA that I own is now 16 years old, and of course KIA refuses to pay for the repair. Now I am faced with an approximately $500.00 repair bill to make sure I'm safe in case of an accident. This should be investigated, and KIA should pay for the repair since it is an airbag safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11712727

Incident

Jan 2, 2026

My car has been in the Kia shop for engine. We just stopped on the freeway and for the module recall and my safety bag is just constantly on since I’ve gotten it and now I’m noticing electrical issues that shouldn’t be someone told me. Hey you need to file a complaint because your car can catch on fire And I don’t know what else to do but to do a paper trail just in case but it’s been recalls after recalls

NHTSA ID

11634294

Incident

Jan 6, 2025

1. Air bag light has been on for over a year. Was checked at dealership, and was told there is a recall on sensor. 2. Power Train, unknown of what's going on. Riding down the road all of a sudden it stalls for a minute. It's a hard jerk, like it's not getting gas, or the transmission is out of sinc. This started about two years ago. Took it to my local repairman, and he said it was a warning in the tire wheel letting me know something was wrong in the wheel. They repaired it, and I had no more problems until recently. It is doing it again. A hard jerk when I'm driving. 3. Other, passenger front and rear and drivers side rear doors locked up and I could not open them. This happen about two years ago. Took car to a certified electrical repairman and it cost me a fortune to get repaired. The clips that lock and unlock doors had to be replace. The repair was very costly.

NHTSA ID

11616981

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

1-The front air bag sensor will nor register if a person is sitting in the sear, no matter the weight. 2-The modem keeps direction the vehicle to steer right. No matter how many alignments and parts are replaced, the ECM will not correct itself 3-KIA dealers will only repair the problem if the customer pays $$$$$$$$

NHTSA ID

11600242

Incident

Mar 15, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the front tires independently braked on and off quickly. The contact stated that the "Down Hill" symbol, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the clock spring and the angular velocity sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer retrieved DTC codes: C1260 and 934490RU0. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,757.

NHTSA ID

11588855

Incident

Apr 9, 2024

Mileage

117,757 mi

There is a engine recall for this vehicle u have to be safe where u park it at all time

NHTSA ID

11571204

Incident

Feb 10, 2024

Airbag light on dashboard constantly on

NHTSA ID

11566892

Incident

Sep 23, 2023

When I started out with the car it drove alright then I had to take it back and forth for the wiring smelling like it was burning 🔥 but have never caught on fire thank goodness had to get a tuneup spark plugs 🔌 and it still doesn’t work right

NHTSA ID

11536599

Incident

Feb 7, 2022

I took this car, my mom’s car, to a Kia dealership yesterday for a diagnostic. I was told it had no air bags. I was really upset to find that out. I am not certain if we knew this when purchased years ago. This car was previously in an accident and we were told all the airbags were cut out. I wanted to to voice that I think it should be illegal to drive a car with no air bags. I think that information should be listed under a persons drivers license number and or VIN number. I called the Driving Safety Unit with the DMV yesterday and they said they couldn’t do anything for me and to contact the Department of Consumer Affairs for a complaint or the Governor’s Office. I am leaving my comments here instead. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11523977

Incident

May 25, 2023

Airbag light is on and i need to know if that is a recall since there was a recall for many makes of cars due to air bags.

NHTSA ID

11522593

Incident

Jan 3, 2023

My 2011 Kia Sorento caught fire while parked outside in parking lot overnight while I slept the police an fire department said my vin had two active recalls on it it started fire on its own without even being driven now I’m out of a car

NHTSA ID

11500967

Incident

Jan 6, 2023

The air bag warning lamp is on caused by the malfunction of the clock spring in the steering wheel. None of the functions on the steering wheel work as well due to this malfunction. The air bag according to multiple sites may deploy at any given time

NHTSA ID

11491228

Incident

Oct 27, 2022

Time chain tensioner is faulty and camshafts have been updated the 2011 model. I just purchased a 2011 Sorrento Ex and it will cost 5000 to do the upgrade. The air bag has caused problems in the electrical systems of the horn. This cost 400 to replace airbag.

NHTSA ID

11486688

Incident

Sep 24, 2022

The car will not always go in park and will click into gear a few seconds afterwards. The car rolled out of my driveway in reverse and caused over 5000.00 dollars in damages. Also the seat settings will get stuck moving and not moving. The air bag light is also on and the fuel cap sticks and won't open unless forced opened

NHTSA ID

11480666

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Airbag light stays on and the controls on steering wheel don't work

NHTSA ID

11468091

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

Part failure. Electronic control module for air bag. Air bag warning lamp illuminated and remain lit on dash. Local autopartsO’reilleys on board diagnostic tool reads two codes. B1620 internal fault- replace SRSCM and B1764 body sensor MAT defect. This Kia Sorento has had several repairs done via KIA recall and safety campaigns. 2017 clean and seal and or replace rear wheel speed sensor housing … could AND did illuminate ESC ABS and HILL Climb on dash… vehicle operated in southern Louisiana . Air Bag warning lamp. 10/10/2019, 147716 miles . Code found at Kia performing clock spring assembly warranty extension code for high resistance. Replaced clockspring and cleared code. High resistance is Key at this time. Also the cruise control began to function properly after the lamp turned off. May 28 kia letter concerning newly developed computer software for ECU, engine control unit. Repaired July 28 2021. June 2016, August 2019, Kia Sorento airbag clock spring assembly warranty extension. Air bag illumination. These letters state the warranty extension will be 15 years and subsequent air bag illumination will be diagnosed at no charge for 15 years. Yet I have two codes, return to Kia to validate and am charged for diagnostic as well, the air bag lamp still illuminated. Explained I need NEW SRS module at cost of estimated $1200. Vehicle does not communicate with SRSCM. Recommend replace the airbag control module I ask, is it ossicle with NEW updated ECu as well as prolonged Air bag illuminated due to HIGH resistance from clock spring malfunctioning, could this feedback and prolonged exposure cause the airbag co trip module to malfunction ? Airbags are a safety issue. The electronics should not falter .

NHTSA ID

11466556

Incident

Apr 4, 2022

AIRBAG LIGHT ... FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG FAULT / CURTAIN AIRBAG FAULT

NHTSA ID

11425805

Incident

Jul 5, 2021

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at 25 mph, a UPS truck veered off into her lane causing the contact to crash her vehicle into a curb. The contact stated that the next morning, she saw that her vehicle was leaking an immense amount of oil. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where it was diagnosed with nothing needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact then stated while driving at 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and the contact saw smoke emerging from the engine compartment. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact opened the hood to fire behind the engine. There were no injuries. The air bags did not deploy. The fire department was contacted but did not extinguish the fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed back to the repair shop. The repair shop informed the contact that they do not specialize in fires and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was then diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist. The failure mileage was 132,685. The consumer stated the dealer was ceased by Federal Agents for selling vehicles with damaged parts and finance companies fraudulent withdrawal money from the consumer and other accounts.

NHTSA ID

11425437

Incident

May 20, 2021

Mileage

132,685 mi

Kia motors sent a letter about 2011-2015 sorento occupant detection system (ODS) Sensor pads new vehicle limited warranty extension If the airbag warring light is on the airbag system is not functioning properly, it may or may not deploy in an accident(which should be considered a safety issue) I have already had the diagnostic done by my dealer who said the problem is covered by the warranty but because my car is salvaged which makes it not apply for warranties does the fact that my airbags may or may not deploy not seem like a safety issue?

NHTSA ID

11424451

Incident

Jun 22, 2021

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF WHENEVER THE IGNITION IS ON AND VEHICLE IS RUNNING.

NHTSA ID

11416170

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. I GOT THE CODE PULLED AT A LOCAL SHOP FOR FREE THANKFULLY. THE CODE WAS B1764 OCS MAT DEFECT. NOW BECAUSE IT FAILED FOR NO REASON I HAVE NO AIRBAGS AT ALL. FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS IT CAN COST $1,000 TO $3,000 TO FIX. AWESOME. I REALLY LOVED MY SORRENTO TOO.

NHTSA ID

11406729

Incident

Feb 14, 2021

OIL PRESSURE SENSOR WENT OUT THEN OIL WAS THROWN OUT ALL OVER ENGINE AND UNDER CARRIAGE, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO HEADS UP. THIS HAPPENED TWICE ( 2 DIFFERENT TIMES) IN THREE YEARS AND THIS ISN'T CONCEDED A FIRE ISSUE. 7/4/2016 FIRST TIME, THEN 7/22/2019

NHTSA ID

11378334

Incident

Jul 4, 2016

Mileage

58,469 mi

A MONTH AGO WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A DAY OF SHOPPING AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS SEAT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS STILL CONNECTED THE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON JUST YESTERDAY 12.5.2020. STAYS ON WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I CHECKED THE GAS CAP TO MAKE SURE IT WAS TIGHT THEN WENT TO AUTO ZONE SO THEY COULD USE THEIR DTC. (THE CLERK PUT AN ESTIMATE OF MILES ON MY PAPERWORK AS HE DID NOT GO OUTSIDE TO GET ACTUAL MILAGE.)THE CODE WAS OBD2. I WAS DUE FOR A OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH. I GOT THOSE REPAIRED BUT STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH THE LIGHT. THE PAPERWORK STATES ERROR CODE READ P0014 EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ADVANCED BANK 1 INDICATES THAT THE BANK 1 EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING WAS ADVANCED BEYOND LIMITS FOR A PREDETERMINED. OF TIME. THE ONLY THING I NOTICED WAS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE HEAT ON AND THERE WAS NICE AMOUNT OF HEAT COMING THROUGH THE VENTS BUT THE HEAT DIAL WAS ON THE OFF POSITION. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

NHTSA ID

11378145

Incident

Dec 5, 2020

Mileage

161,174 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER BATTERY REPLACEMENT. DEALER WANTS OVER 1200.00 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11376291

Incident

Nov 16, 2020

Mileage

164,000 mi