2012 Kia Sorento Airbags Problems

The clock spring needs fixed no features including the horn is working in my airbag light is staying on. Also I now have a loud knock in my motor I understand this should fall under the extended 15 yr 150k warranty; 2012 Kia vehicles (specifically the Sorento) with V6 engines are covered under major safety recalls for engine failure and fire risks. The primary issue involves metal debris from manufacturing that can cause premature engine bearing wear, stalling, and fire. You should check your VIN on the NHTSA site or Kia's recall page to confirm, as these recalls are still active.

NHTSA ID

11734042

Incident

Apr 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was permanently illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11717050

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

Mileage

97,000 mi

Hey I’ve Recently Wrecked My Vehicle Due To Malfunctions This Year Just A Few Months Ago & I Reported It To The Dealer Before I Crashed It. That Something Was Wrong With The Engine And Also Sent The Dealership I Purchased It From Videos Before Hand But Nobody Would Listen To Me. Now My Car Is Sitting In A lot Engine Blowed And I Can’t Afford Another One. I Have Proof , Names And Also Couldn’t Get My Car Fixed Because I Only Had Liability Insurance Only. No Report Was Filed Because Me And The Other Vehicle Was Transported To Uab Hospital.

NHTSA ID

11688229

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 42 MPH, another vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign, and she collided with the other vehicle head-on. As a result, her vehicle careened off the roadway and into a ditch, colliding with an unoccupied parked vehicle before coming to a complete stop. The air bags did not deploy. A police report and injuries were reported. The driver and her passengers were transported to an area hospital by EMS and treated for various injuries. The driver was treated for injuries to her neck, right shoulder, both wrists, lower back, and left knee; her husband was treated for a two-inch laceration to his neck; and her son was treated for an injury to his right knee. The driver of the other vehicle was treated at an area hospital for unknown injuries. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it remained as the contact had yet to hear from her insurance provider. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11549871

Incident

Oct 12, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11522057

Incident

May 13, 2023

Airbag light is on, indicating a malfunction with the SRS. This is a common issue with this make and model from this year, with several thousand complaints online. Repairs are often over a couple of thousand dollars Since this is such a common issue and complaint, I believe a recall should be issued due to faulty equipment, and the financial burden should not fall on the consumer. The issue began a few months ago, and has been checked by a mechanic. The mechanic has confirmed that there is an issue with the SRS, and the airbag could potentially not deploy when expected, or could deploy without cause, which could cause an accident resulting in injury or death.

NHTSA ID

11482414

Incident

Jul 5, 2022

Airbag light is on, indicating a malfunction with the SRS. This is a common issue with this make and model from this year, with several thousand complaints online. Repairs are often over $3,000. Since this is such a common issue and complaint, I believe a recall should be issued due to faulty equipment, and the financial burden should not fall on the consumer. The issue began a few months ago, and has been checked by a mechanic. The mechanic has confirmed that there is an issue with the SRS, and the airbag could potentially not deploy when expected, or could deploy without cause, which could cause an accident resulting in injury or death.

NHTSA ID

11455914

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

For a year now the Air Bag Warning light has been on in my dashboard. I have taken it to two service centers and they both said I had to take it to a dealer for repair. It is a safety issue because it WILL NOT PASS inspection. The first available appointment was 2 weeks after my last inspection. The dealer had to order the part and will not be able to install and inspect until Feb 2022. I have had to pay for 3 diagnostic tests. And I do not know if the airbags will even deploy. This should be recalled.

NHTSA ID

11446990

Incident

Dec 20, 2021

Airbag light is on and will not cut off

NHTSA ID

11446440

Incident

May 12, 2021

SRS light is on.

NHTSA ID

11437866

Incident

Oct 21, 2021

The air bag light on the driver side dashboard will not turn off and the concern is that the airbags will not deploy if in an accident, or may randomly deploy. The vehicle has been in no type of collision affecting the front of the vehicle. At this time, the vehicle has not been taken to the dealership or a mechanic, but it seems that the dealer should repair at no cost given the issue is related to a safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11429414

Incident

Aug 16, 2021

The airbag light came on for no reason. It will not go off. The concern is the airbags won’t deploy if there is a collision.

NHTSA ID

11427322

Incident

Jul 12, 2021

In 2012 my sister bought new 2012 Kia Sorento from Caribbean Auto Mart in St Thomas VI. About a year ago, the horn stopped working and the air bag light has been on for some time now clearly indicating a possible problem with the clock spring assembly in the steering column mentioned in the recall notice attached. On contacting the dealer, Caribbean Auto Mart, she was told that they were no longer a Kia dealer and that it was not their responsibility to fix the problem. The local Jiffy Lube apparently is doing warranty work for Kia here now but they refuse to fix it without authorization from Kia. On contacting Kia, they refuse to even acknowledge the existence of this vehicle. They say they have no matching VIN. We asked if they would just send the part and I would install it. They refused this as well. I’m concerned that my sister is still driving this vehicle with defective safety equipment with no apparent way to resolve the situation. Any help you could provide in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

NHTSA ID

11421894

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS JUST ON, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN HIT FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO BE ON. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL. AND BACK WIND SHIELD WASHER FLUID IS NOT COMING OUT. WHEN I NOTICED THESE ISSUES MY CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11404713

Incident

Mar 23, 2021

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STEADY. MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG HAS A PROBLEM AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I SEE THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THESE COMPLAINTS NOT RESULTED IN A RECALL?

NHTSA ID

11383553

Incident

Dec 4, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

MY AIRBAG IS ON, WHEN I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED IT . I THOUGHT IT WOULD TURN OFF, BUT IT STILL ON AND THAT WAS 3 WEEKS AGO.

NHTSA ID

11360105

Incident

Aug 31, 2020

I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MADE RIGHT TURN AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND TURN OF AND CAME BACK ON AND STAY ON WANT GO OFF

NHTSA ID

11353481

Incident

Sep 4, 2020

Mileage

132,752 mi

WHEN ME AND MY HUSBAND PURCHASED THE SUV USED IN 2016 FROM A HUYNDAI DEALER THAT IS LOCAL, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SENSOR LIT THAT WE HAD NO CLUE WHAT IT WAS. WE WERE NEVER TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THEY TOLD US THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION THAT IT WAS INSPECTED AND EVERYTHING. WE TOOK THE SUV TO KIA IN 2019 TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED, AND HAD THEM CHECK THE MOTOR TO SEE IF THEY COULD EXPLAIN WHY WE WERE GOING THRU OIL WEEKLY. WHILE WE WERE THERE THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD US THAT THE OCS MAT DOES NOT FUNCTION THAT IT NEEDS REPLACED AND THAT IS WHAT THAT SENSOR IS FOR WHICH WE WOULD HAVE NOT KNOWN AND THE DEALER THAT SOLD IT TO US NEVER TOLD US ANYTHING. I FIGURED IT WAS A WEIGHT SENSOR FOR A CHILD AS I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON THE SAFETY OF VEHICLES.... ALSO, WE WERE TOLD THAT WHEN THE DEALER SOLD US THE VEHICLE AS IS THAT THEY NEVER HAD A SAFETY INSPECTION DONE PRIOR TO PUT IT ON THE LOT. THE LAST DOCUMENTED SAFETY INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE WAS DONE WHEN IT WAS SOLD BRAND NEW WHEN THE FIRST ORIGINAL OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM THE KIA LOT I BELIEVE IN ANOTHER STATE. KIA TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAFETY INSPECTION BEFORE SELLING IT ON THE LOT BECAUSE A NON KIA DEALER SOLD US THE VEHICLE. I DID CONTACT CALIFORNIA STATE ABOUT MY COMPLAINTS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO TO PROVE I DIDN'T CAUSE IT BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT IN THE SUV THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF..... I AM DRIVING DAILY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITHOUT WORKING AIRBAGS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE OCS MAT AND I BELIEVE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. ALSO, WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH OUR GASKET THAT WE HAD TO GET FIXED, WE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING THRU OIL AND WE ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND TOWN. WE ARE HAVING TO ADD OIL IN IT EVERY WEEK SO THE ENGINE DOES NOT BLOW. WE NOW HAVE A VACUUM LEAK IN THE GASKET.

NHTSA ID

11352803

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

I HAVE FAULTY AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE WHY IS THERE NO RECALL VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN WRECKED. AIRBAG WERE NEVER DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE WITHOUT AIRBAG REPAIR, AS LONG AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ON THE DASH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILS INSPECTION. IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAUSE DEATH IF I WAS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11349534

Incident

Jul 21, 2020

Mileage

163,000 mi

AIRBAG ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE KIA NEEDS TO RECALL AIRBAGS MAY JUST SAVE A LIFE AND MINES IS AT STATE HERE... PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAGS DISABLED AND WILL NOT ALLOW OTHER AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I BECOME IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE I'M FEAR OF MY SAFETY

NHTSA ID

11348727

Incident

Jul 21, 2020

I PURCHASED A KIA SORENTO ON JULY 21 2020 AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT POPPED ON THE SALES MAN TOOK IT TO ONE OF THEIR ON SITE EMPLOYEES AND THEY HOOKED UP THE CODE DEVICE NO CODES APPEARED SO HE SUGGESTED ITS JUST A SENSOR PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT SHOULDN'T BE MUCH TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. I DID IN WHICH COULDN'T GET IN TO SEE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL TODAY IN WHICH I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ODS MAT WAS FAULTY. I TOLD THE SERVICE GUY THAT THE CAR LOT TOOK THE SEATS OUT TO CLEAN THE SUV FOR SALE AND HE TOLD ME THEY DAMAGED OR BROKE THE ODS MAT. I CONTACTED THE SELLER AND STRONGER EXPRESSED MY FEELING ABOUT MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE ONLY THING HE SAID TO ME IS MY PAYMENT DUE AUGUST 31 TODAY IS THE 10TH AND THIS REPLACEMENT WILL BE OVER 2300 THAT I CAN'T AFFORD AND THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER. I REALLY FEEL THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG AND JUST TRIED TO MAKE A SALE SAYING IT WAS A SENSOR ISSUE THAT KIA WILL HAVE TO RESET.

NHTSA ID

11348437

Incident

Jul 21, 2020

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DUTCH MILLER KIA IN CHARLOTTE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I WOULD NEED AN OCS MAT REPLACEMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE LIGHT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11340348

Incident

Jul 16, 2020

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY AIR BAG LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME WHEN I START UP MY ENGINE AND MY VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I WAS WONDERING IS THAT NORMAL? I'VE HAVE GOTTEN MY INSPECTION AND EVERYTHING PASSED.

NHTSA ID

11326687

Incident

Mar 27, 2020

I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE MY OCS SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR $ 2100-$2300. THEY SAID THE AIR BAG WON'T WORK. NEXT TO ME WAS ANOTHER WOMAN BEING GIVEN THE SAME INFO AT THE DEALER AND ONLINE I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. RIDICULOUS!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

11324290

Incident

May 2, 2020

AT 97K MILES, THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A $134 KIA SERVICE VISIT, THEY DETERMINED WE NEEDED TO REPLACE OUR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FOR AN OCS SENSOR, AT A COST OF $2,550. THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER REVIEWING MANY WEBSITES (AND NHTSA), I SEE THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING, BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS ISSUE WITH THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11306438

Incident

Jan 30, 2020

Mileage

97,514 mi