2009 KIA SORENTO

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    airbag system

    18 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    19
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=22, median 25,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE VEHICLE…"~700 mi, complaint #776342
    • "AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO HAVE PROBLEM FIXED, KIA STATES THAT IT IS NORMAL THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT ALWAYS DETECT PERSON ON SEAT. WHAT BS!!! NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL? SOMEONE DYING? OR MULTIPLE? *…"~8,000 mi, complaint #898293
    • "FIRST NOTICED IN THE SEPT. TIME PERIOD THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN AFTER MY WIFE SAT DOWN, AND EVEN IF SHE TRIED SHIFTING AROUND TO ACTIVATE THE SEAT SENSOR. MY WIFE WEIGHS MORE THAN 120 LBS. ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME THE SYSTEM…"~33,100 mi, complaint #1134208
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON BLACK TOP RD. IT HAD BEEN SLEETING THE KIA I WAS DRIVING VEERED OFF THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF RD. I WENT OFF IN DITCH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON MY AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IS THIS NORMAL I DON'T THINK SO I THOUGHT THAT IS WH…"~77,935 mi, complaint #1037859
    • "PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT, AIRBAG INDICATOR WORKS ONLY SOME OF THE TIME WITH ADULT PASSENGER."~118,000 mi, complaint #1184492
  2. #2

    stability and traction control

    9 unsafe

    9
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 96,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "WHEN MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE (INCREASING SPEED FROM 25MPH AND UP) VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE AND THE ESC OFF ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO MOVE OFF OF THE…"~44,450 mi, complaint #974237
    • "ESC OFF SENSOR AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN STARTING VEHICLE OR WHEN IN MOTION/DRIVING. ESC OFF ILLUMINATES FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH TO 70 MPH LIGHT APPEARS AND QUICKLY LOOSES LACK OF THROTTLE ACCELERATIO…"~66,000 mi, complaint #1182171
    • "I WAS DRIVING ALONG A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. "ESC OFF" LITE UP ON THE DASH AS DID AN ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT TWICE WITH NO RETURN…"~76,800 mi, complaint #980069
    • "ALMOST A YEAR AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE WITH A POSTED 65 MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND THE ESC OFF LIGHT LIGHTS UP ON THE DASH. I STARTED LOSING ACCELERATION AND COULDN'T GO ABOVE 40 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CONTACTED THE GARA…"~115,250 mi, complaint #1203648
    • "VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AND THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO [REDACTED ADDRESS]. WE WERE ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND. THIS IS HAPPENING 2-3 TIMES A DAY. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED EVERY TIME. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT W…"~141,000 mi, complaint #1583747
  3. #3

    transmission automatic

    8 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "2009 KIA SORENTO WITH TRANSMISSION/DRIVELINE ISSUES. DEALERSHIP HAS HAD NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT AND STATES "NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE." VEHICLE CLUNKS, POPS, JOLTS, AND JERKS WHEN IN OPERATION REGARDLESS OF TIME OF DAY, TEMP, ETC. STARTED IN MAY 2010 AND CO…"~5,200 mi, complaint #861819
    • "WHILE DECENDING A MOUNTIAN PASS IN COLORADO WITH THE VEHICLE IN 4WD-LOW RANGE AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IN THE SPORT MODE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD UP-SHIFT AT ABOUT 3200 RPM CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GAIN SPEED VERY QUICKLY AND REQUIRING THE CONSTANT APPLICATION OF BR…"~5,200 mi, complaint #878727
    • "THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES SHIFT HARD. WHEN IT DOES THIS AND I PUT IT INTO DRIVE, THE TACH WILL GO UP AND THE ENGINE REVS, BUT THE CAR MOVES AT A SNAILS PACE. EVEN IF THE PEDAL IS TO THE FLOOR. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THAT POINT AS I COULD NOT SAFELY MAKE A LEFT…"~19,500 mi, complaint #1074210
    • "UPON STARTING THE 2009 KIA SORRENTO ONE DAY, I SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND NOTICED A VIOLENT JERK WITH A LOUD POPPING SOUND. UPON PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD STILL REV WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CHECK EN…"~46,000 mi, complaint #924057
    • "I'VE ONLY HAD MY KIA SORENTO FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AND I WAS TRYING TO GO FORWARD WHEN MY CAR JUST STARTED GOING IN REVERSE. I HAD THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT JUST STARTED GOING IN REVERSE. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. SO NOW IT JUST…"~229,045 mi, complaint #1562921
  4. #4

    other

    1 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V088000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONAB…"complaint #1661517
    • "The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had ex…"complaint #1800267
    • "Driving on the interstate @ 65mph the car cut off then caught on fire. Smoke came in the car we pulled over to emergency lane exited the car and then flames came up through the console. The car became completely engulfed in flames and totally destroyed. There…"complaint #2019812
  5. #5

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER GETTING THIS CAR, IT STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT NO ACCELERATION! THE FIRST CODES WERE 02 SENSOR BUT IT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, I ONLY DROVE THE CAR 1000 NO IN A YEAR AND I JUST HAD IT REPAIRED I THOUGHT UNDER WARRANTY WITH TRANSMISSIO…"~77,000 mi, complaint #1582815
    • "MY 2009 KIA SORENTO,I WAS DRIVING DOWN MAIN ROAD GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN ALL SUDDEN MY POWER DROPPED TO ABOUT 20,LUCKY I WAS NOT ON INTERSTATE ARE PULLING ON TO INTERSTATE,HAD TO HAVE TOWED IN,SAID SOMETHING TO DO WITH GAS PEDAL,WELL THOUGHT WAS FIXED,NOPE,I HAVE…"~96,500 mi, complaint #1402324
  6. #6

    throttle and pedal

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "I SUDDENLY LOST POWER OR CONTROL TO THE GAS. I COASTED THE CAR TO MY WORK A FEW MILES AWAY IN OSSEO, WI. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY GARAGE, THE LOFT SERVICE CENTER IN OSSEO, WI. THEY HOOKED IT UP TO A COMPUTER AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. 10/7/14 THE SAM…"~35,486 mi, complaint #1177133
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MILEAGE DROPPED FROM 67 MPH TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHE…"~42,000 mi, complaint #1293882
  7. #7

    wiring harness

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "2 WEEKS AGO MY DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH ALL LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING BRAKES,AIRBAG,TIRE PRESSURE,ENGINE,SWIRVE CONTROL,DOWN HILL, TACH JUMPED UP AND DOWN AND ALSO SPEEDOMETER, LOSS OF POWER LIKE DRAG ON ENGINE. MADE IT HOME AND SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED 3TIMES ALL LI…"~96,600 mi, complaint #1445312
    • "The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 15 MPH, she activated the windshield wipers and the radio, and the vehicle started to stall. The contact stated that her daughter saw the TPMS, and check engin…"~185,000 mi, complaint #1890719
  8. #8

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V088000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY KIA LOCATED AT 7849 MALL PKWY, STONECREST, GA 30038, [REDACTED PHONE]…"~180,000 mi, complaint #1690674
  9. #9

    brake pads and rotors

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "EXPERIENCING VIBRATION IN BRAKES CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE USED TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE WHILE GOING DOWNHILL ON MOUNTAIN ROADS. VEHICLE IS NOT USED MUCH IN MOUNTAINS, MOSTLY STOP-AND-GO CITY TRAF…"~21,000 mi, complaint #848954
  10. #10

    control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "SHORTLY AFTER BUYING SUV IN 2009 WE EXPERIENCED "QUERKY" STUFF LIKE DOORS RELOCKING, DOME LIGHT S COMING ON, BACK HATCH UNLOCKING ALL THIS HAPPENING ON THEIR OWN!! I KEPT TELLING THE DEALERSHIP AT OIL CHANGES! THEY KEPT IGNORING IT ALL! NOV 1, 2009 KIA E…"~29,804 mi, complaint #1225667
  11. #11

    instrument cluster

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "2011 KIA SORENTO, CHROME BEZEL ON INSTRUMENT PANEL REFLECTS SUN LIGHT AND STREET LIGHTS INTENSE ENOUGH TO CAUSE TEMP BLINDING FLASH. CONTACT KIA VEHICLE IS NEW AND NO OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. *TR"~600 mi, complaint #773483
  12. #12

    power windows and locks

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "KIA SORENTO DOORS LOCKS DO NOT WORK FROM INTERIOR SWITCH OR KEY REMOTE CONTROL, THE DEALER JUST CHANGE A FUSE FROM THE FUSE HOLDERS, BUT FUSE POPPING DUE TO SHORT SOMEWHERE, MAIN CONCERN DRIVING THE CAR LIKE THAT IT COULD CAUSE A BIG SHORT INSIDE THE CAR, AND…"complaint #814444
  13. #13

    timing belt or chain

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "My check engine light is on. It has been on for over 2 or more years. Nobody knows what the codes mean. My timing chain needs to be replaced. My tires are constantly leaking. My battery has been replaced 2 times, and I still cannot start my vehicle even when I…"complaint #2097675
  14. #14

    tire failure

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "DRIVING ON NYS THRUWAY AT 65 MPH. SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. NO PUNCTURES, GOOD TREAD AND PRESSURE. MY 3 YEAR ODL SON WAS IN THE CAR. REPLACED WITH FULL SIZE SPARE. *TR"complaint #991741

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for KIA SORENTO directly.