Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags 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.
10
Latest Jun 11, 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.
4%
of 248 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.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 airbag
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 11, 2026
Crash reported2 injuries reported1 death reported
I have replaced my rotors and my brakes soon as I got the car I’ve had the car for a month now I was in a major accident. Someone walked in front of my car. My emergency brake system did not work my rotors and my brakes, have been scrubbing ever since I got the car. And I don’t know how to fix the situation. The brakes are still going out and sound very horrible. I can’t keep replacing them because I don’t think they need to be replaced. Is something wrong with the car. My Insurance adjuster name is Brandon Brooks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ID
11743523
Incident
Apr 13, 2026
Airbags
Filed Feb 23, 2026
Crash reported1 injury reported
The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle had abruptly attempted to merge into the opposite traveling lane and caused the front end bumper to crash into the Front Driver-side door of the other vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed away to a local tow yard. A Traffic Accident Information form was filed by the local police department. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the opposite insurance provider, and the contact was not deemed at fault. In addition, the contact was taken out of the vehicle safely by paramedics and was taken to a nearby UgentCare where he sought medical attention for neck and hand pains and severe mental distress. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
NHTSA ID
11719842
Incident
May 20, 2025
Mileage
18,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 29, 2024
The passenger airbag light remains on even when someone is sitting in it. Also the airbag on the front passenger side has made my dashboard split open. Which if it fully comes open can make the airbag full explode causing harm to the person in the front seat and potentially causing an accident due to a premature expulsion of the airbag.
NHTSA ID
11574724
Incident
Feb 29, 2024
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2023
My passenger occupancy sensor needs to be replaced. I Can not afford the $1170 Kia is charging. My car’s warranty expired in March. The passenger air bag light came on in the ending of July 2023. I tried reaching out to Kia but with no help. They said I have to pay out of pocket. I am really concerned for the safety of my family.
NHTSA ID
11536191
Incident
Jul 24, 2023
Airbags
Filed Nov 29, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported
I was in a weather related accident where I hit the guardrail twice head on and none of my airbags deployed. My vehicle is currently at a tow yard and will be towed to the autobody shop 12/8/2021. No warnings or indications on why the airbags wouldn't have worked properly prior to the accident.
NHTSA ID
11441981
Incident
Nov 26, 2021
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Feb 23, 2021
Crash reported
MY SON WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY BETWEEN 45-55 MPH WHEN HE OVERCORRECTED AND MADE FULL IMPACT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITH A SOLID SNOW BANK IN THE MIDDLE MEDIAN. THE RADIATOR WAS SLAMMED BACKWARDS, THE FRONT END WAS DEMOLISHED WITH AROUND $12,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON WE CAN FIND THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY RATING BUT NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE ISSUES WITH OUR AIR BAGS. WILL THEY PROTECT US IF THIS SHOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN?
NHTSA ID
11397573
Incident
Feb 13, 2021
Mileage
68,702 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 20, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE IMPACT TOTALED THE OTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED $7,500 IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHILE I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, I DID SUFFER SIGNIFICANT WHIP-LASH TYPE INJURIES, AND INJURED MY KNEE WHEN IT HIT THE DASH BOARD.
NHTSA ID
11375594
Incident
Nov 10, 2020
Mileage
49,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 12, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported
FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A DEER ON INTERSTATE 81 NORTHBOUND IN PA., CRUISE CONTROL SET AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65MPH, NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AT TIME OF IMPACT OR AFTER COLLISION CHEST IMPACTED STEERING WHEEL AND ARM PAIN FROM HOLDING STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA ID
11363855
Incident
Oct 11, 2020
Mileage
104,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 8, 2020
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE INTERSECTED HIS LANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT A CRASH BY SWERVING BUT CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL ON THE FAR LEFT SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER DID NOT HAVE ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER (PREMIER KIA SERVICE CENTER LOCATED AT 205 N MAIN ST, BRANFORD, CT 06405, (203) 315-2070) AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
NHTSA ID
11363457
Incident
Sep 30, 2020
Mileage
55,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 10, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, HIT DEER. FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR SWERVED ONTO MEDIAN AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CRASHED INTO GUARDRAIL. SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UNCLEAR WHY SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW AND SHATTERED WINDOW, SUSTAINED CONCUSSION.
NHTSA ID
11150708
Incident
Nov 3, 2018
Mileage
15,000 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