This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle's passenger alert system, which informs when the seat was occupied, remained activated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
"takata recall" I was hit head on where my airbags never came out. Airbag lights are on but air bags never deployed. I was at a complete stay steal when I was hit.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and in park, the air bag deployed inadvertently. The contact sustained left arm injuries and left leg injuries due to deployment of the air bags. Medical attention was not required and no police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact's wife, who was 5 foot 6 inches tall and weighed 130 lbs, was seated in the front passenger seat. The front passenger side air bag light illuminated, indicating that the air bag system was deactivated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the seat cushion and re-flashed the software, but the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,648.
- Boynton Beach, FL, USA
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Air bag indicator light on. Dealer test showed problem is with the sensor located inside the driver side seat. They say the solution requires me to replace the drivers side seat for $2500.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. While driving 60 mph, the ESC, passenger side air bag, and motor light illuminated before the vehicle lost power. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V473000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The aproximate failure mileage was 180,000.
Air bag light came on in dashboard after starting the car and stayed on, also light stating passenger airbag is off goes on an off. Took the vehicle to the dealers back on 8/9/12 for passenger airbag light, supposedly it was repaired but still happening. Took vehicle to dealer for air bag light in dash was advised B1448 OCS, passenger bottom seat would need to be replaced which would cost $2219.34. Informed dealer choosing not to have repaired, feel it should be covered under recall 11V473000, they stated my vehicle is not part of recall
The airbag light is on with the trouble codes of B1511, B1513, and B1448 all at the same time. I find it hard to believe that all this goes wrong at the same time.
The passenger side "air bag turned off" sign comes on intermittently even when an adult is sitting in the passenger seat at the starting the vehicle and takes several attempts to get down and get back in to turn the sign off. Occasionally, this sign lights up while driving the vehicle and it is scary at that time and not possible to take any measures at the time. I have complained to Kia dealership and directly to Kia company. I was told to give them pictures taken of the lighted sign when the vehicle was in motion and there was passenger in the passenger seat. I provide such pictures too. However, the dealer after keeping the vehicle for over a week at a time told us they are unable to repeat the problem and that we should keep the leather seats treated with smoothing treatment. This is scary situation that Kia is aware of but not willing to address it.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. While driving at an unknown speed, the passenger air bag off was displayed across the message board. In addition, the contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the sensor in the passenger seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign number: 11V473000 (air bags) but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds with the front passenger seat occupied, the passenger air bag off warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the front passenger side air bag system failed and the front passenger seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000. Updated. 06/09/15 the dealer informed the consumer the seat needed to be replaced due to the light not going off. Updated 08/04/15
2008 Kia Sorento. Consumer writes in regards to front passenger seat air bag light problems. The consumer stated the right front passenger seat air bag light would stay on after the passenger fastened the seat belt.
Auto has a dashboard alert when someone sits in the passenger seat. The warning light goes out and there by arming the passenger side air bag. If this light doesn't go out, the airbag system on the passenger side will not activate. I went to the Kia dealer to confirm this is what would happen. He said if the light stays on, the system will not activate. He stated that it was becoming a problem in my model of Kia. It is approximately $2,000 to repair. To me this is a safety concern worthy of further action by your Agency.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the passenger air bag light continuously illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000 and the current mileage was 169,720. Updated 6/10/14
My 18 year old son was driving my Kia Sorento along with his 16 year old brother in the passenger seat when the vehicle hydroplaned on a wet road. The vehicle crashed into a tree on the passengers side of the vehicle in between the front passenger wheel and the door hinge. My 18 year old managed to get out of the vehicle and get help for his brother that unfortunately had passed away on the scene. After reviewing my vehicle, I personally noticed that none of the driver's or passengers air bags were deployed. I tragically lost my 16 year old son in the mist of the situation as well as having my 18 rushed to the hospital. My concern is that when I received the report from my insurance adjuster for the loss of my vehicle... there was recall attached to the findings for these air bags for which I had never been notified of. I know this will never bring him back to me but the air bags may have prevented the injuries and the fatality!!!!
The contact owns a 2008 Kia sorrento. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph in snowy weather, he attempted to avoid crashing into another vehicle and swerved off the roadway. The contact traveled over a grassy area before crashing into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy and the vehicle was destroyed. The contact struck her head on the windshield but was not transported to the hospital. The police were notified and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 50,500.
The front passenger air bag is turned off when an adult sets in the seat. The OCS miss classifies the adult in the front seat and the air bag light stays on which turns the front and the side air bag off. Kia has a recall campaign for certain Sorentos to be reprogrammed. However when I took my car to the Kia dealer I was told that my VIN number was not in the recall even though I have the same problem. They told me that I would have to pay for the reprogramming my self. This doesn't make sense to me because my Sorento was manufactured within the recall dates and has the same problem. I feel this is a serious safety concern and should me paid for my Kia motors.
This vehicle has a problem with the passenger side air bag indicator and auto shut off feature. The vehicles of the same make and model manufactured only 6 months prior to mind have a recall. The problem lies that the passenger side seat has a sensor to turn on the air bag. The feature will only turn on if the passenger is 130 lbs or more. So my wife that weighs 120lbs will not activate the air bag, and the passenger side air bag off remains on. I was told of this by my local Kia technician that said this is a problem on all the Sorento of this year. So there is nothing he can do. My vehicle is still under warranty. Kia said they are unwilling to fix. So they may have a lawsuit on their hands later. This needs to be resolved are there are many adults that weigh less than 130lbs.
1. a whining noise developed around 40K and progressively got worse. Was told the differential needed to be replaced. Come to find out it was a faulty bearing. 2. passenger side seat airbag lights come on for no reason stating that airbags are off even when there is an adult passenger in the seat 3. sudden loss of power and car is literally not able to accelerate, due to sensor that controls accelerator, happened twice before being replaced.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jackson, MS, USA