CarComplaints.com Notes: Kia really changed the design of the Sorento in the 2011 model year. Instead of a truck-like body-on-frame more capable of offroad adventures, the newest Sorento is a unibody construction and is much more crossover than sport utility. The changes brought a whole slew of problems, including a frustrating problem where the door that won’t open. Is it too late to go back?
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
19 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
22 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,385 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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 2011 Kia Sorento. When the vehicle was started, the passenger side air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was 75,000.
Airbag warning light came on unexpectedly even though the airbags have never been deployed and there has been no damage to the vehicle. There are numerous complaints online about this same issue describing a broken clock spring or passenger occupant sensor mat. Kia has had this same issue with other models as well and there needs to be a recall asap. I will not be able to fix the problem at this time since I have mounting medical bills. Kia needs to add this vehicle to the recall list.
Airbag clock spring is bad. Open circuit. Dealer has in stock. But not permitted sell the part because this is not the updated part, which is on national back order. Kia of North America states it has an extended warranty but parts are not available until October. I can not allow my 22 year daughter to drive on the highway without the airbag.
Air bag light is on. Kia dealer says they need to replace the weight sensor mat on the passenger seat with the part costing $2400. Odd that so many people have this problem and the cost of the part varies by over $1000! this should be covered by the extended warranty! car only has 80,000 miles on it.
At 116xxx miles air bag light has come on. Was driving the vehicle when the light came on. Vehicle has never been in a crash. Checked all connections and fuses and their is no reason the light should come on. Passenger airbag off light is not illuminated when there is no passenger in the seat. Seems to be a common problem with this vehicle. Wish Kia would do something about it. I have to use this vehicle to Transport my daughter. Seems to be a major safety risk.
- Leesburg, IN, USA
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At 76K miles, the airbag light began staying on. Dealer informed me the OCS mat, a $1700 part, needs to be replaced and is not covered under warranty. Vehicle was never in accident and was garaged since purchase.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While the vehicle was stationary, the air bag indicator illuminated without warning. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. When the vehicle was started, the driver side air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact called the dealer (tonito auto Kia in rio piedras, puerto rico) and was informed to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. The contact also stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated back in March of 2012 and was repaired under warranty by tonito auto Kia. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While driving 65 mph, the contact drifted to sleep and rear ended an 18 wheeler truck. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained bruises to her sternum, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be repaired for cosmetic damages. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While the vehicle was in the park position, it rolled away and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the vehicle was recalled per NHTSA campaign number: 15V626000 (power train). The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not towed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the local dealer to have it diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 95,766.
The airbag light came on in my vehicle and disabled the entire system. I took it to the Kia dealership and they diagnosed it, and found out it was disabled due to an electric field sensor that is sensitive to all kinds of electronics. The technical service bulletin is tsb: Bod 072. It has in there that "if certain electronic devices such as cellular phones, laptop computers, inverters, dvd players, radio transmitters, gps navigation systems, satellite radio systems, video games, and MP3 players are put on/around a passenger seat cushion (including in the seatback pocket) or if liquid is spilled on the seat cushion, the airbag warning lamp may illuminate with dtc B1447, B1448, B1764, or B1767" to me, this is a huge safety risk, as someone might have a cell phone on them or too close, and it disables the airbag system. This is for Kia Sorento (xm) 2011 to current, Kia optima (mg) 2009, 2010, and Kia rio (jb) 2010 to current.
Airbag light has been on for miles. Kia states it is not under warranty, but that the entire airbag system is deactivated due to this error code. They quoted at the least $1,500 in parts alone, not including labor and they can't guarantee that will fix the problem. I am finding this a common issue in 2011 Kia Sorento. This should be a mandatory recall. People can't afford to fix this problem. But this is a major safety issue. Nothing caused the airbag light to come on. My car has never been in one accident nor have I ever hit anything with my vehicle.
Both doors locked on left side. Can not enter care on left side. Running or not. I'm locked out. Air bag light has been on while under warranty at time I ask them to fix it. Still not fixed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Atlanta, GA, USA