2007 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Complaints for the 2007 Sorento cluster around two themes: the front passenger air bag system and a group of drivability/electrical symptoms (jerking or shuddering at low speed, ESC and check engine lights, limp-home behavior). Reports of the air bag issue often come in at very low mileage, while brake, lighting and structural complaints tend to appear much later in the vehicle's life. Many owners say dealers could not reproduce the symptom or described it as normal.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag turns off or warning light stays on

   • 50 complaints (32%)
   • median 7,634 mi at 2.4 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2023

   Owners report the passenger air bag indicator showing OFF when an adult is seated, or the air bag warning light staying lit while driving. Several say small or lighter passengers trigger it most often. According to the complaints, dealers replaced seat sensors, mats or software and the symptom returned, and some owners say they were told their vehicle was not covered by the recall or that a new seat assembly would be needed. Frequently reported at low mileage, often under 60,000 miles, and in some cases within the first weeks of ownership.

   Recall 11V4730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With an adult in the passenger seat, confirm the air bag indicator reads ON and that no warning light stays lit. Ask whether the occupant classification sensor or seat assembly was ever replaced, and check the VIN against recall 11V473000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag sensor light on passenger side of 07 Kia rio was on after repairs from an accident. Took to Kia of conyers for diagnosis. Almost a month later, my car is still at the dealership. It was determined that it was a warranty issue which I am reporting in case more people have this same problem. Safety is my main concern.”

   NHTSA complaint #10225345, filed 2008-04, 6,600 miles

   “The air bag light on my 2007 Kia Sorento remains illuminated while driving the car. Upon further investigation I found there was a recall from Kia motors sc076a and also from NHTSA #11v473000 to replace the sensor. I took the vehicle to hart Kia in salem virginia to have this recall and another recall for brake lights repaired. The dealership repaired the brake issue but told me that my car was not recalled for the passenger air bag sensor and a new seat would cost $1,300.00. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10609600, filed 2014-07, 74,688 miles
2. 2
   Electronic stability control

   ESC light on with reduced power or limp mode

   • 23 complaints (15%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2020

   Complaints describe the ESC OFF light coming on at random, sometimes with the check engine light, followed by a loss of power or a limit to roughly 15-20 mph. Owners report the light clearing only after a restart, and some say dealers traced it to the brake light switch, the transfer case motor or other components without a lasting fix. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 miles to well past 100,000 miles.

   Recall 20V088000Recall 13V114000Recall 09V1300001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Watch for an ESC OFF or check engine light during the test drive, and confirm whether brake light switch and ABS module recalls were completed. Ask whether the transfer case motor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Esc and check engine light illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer for repairs. Dealer service dept stated that brake light switch was at fault, but that it had been previously replaced in mar 2010 under a recall campaign. After replacing switch this time, dealer service adviser stated that switch appeared to be original, but that I would still have to pay for parts and labor ($129.86). I paid but protested. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10629465, filed 2014-08, 98,432 miles

   “I am an owner of a 07 Kia Sorento ex. A few months ago I noticed the ESC off light would illuminate at random instances and would not turn off until the vehicle's engine was turned off and then restarted again. This issue is of concern to myself as well as other Kia owners I have come across. Reason being, when the ESC off light engages and stays on, the vehicle loses power while driving. I have had two separate occasions where this has happened on the freeway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10366470, filed 2010-11, 55,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Jerking, bucking or hesitation when accelerating

   • 19 complaints (12%)
   • median 4,425 mi at 1.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2018

   Owners describe shuddering, jerking or a pause in power delivery, most often while accelerating at around 35-45 mph, and sometimes a feeling of the vehicle briefly dropping out of gear. Complaints say dealers called it normal torque converter lock-up behavior, applied a software update, or told owners no repair was available. Often reported at low mileage, many under 10,000 miles and some within the first months of ownership.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at steady 35-50 mph and during light acceleration, watching for shudder or a lag in power. Ask whether the transmission control module has been reprogrammed under a bulletin.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my 2007 Kia Sorento in october 2007, and I have had it into the shop more times then I can count for a violent jerking, stuttering, stalling. Each time I take it in the service department drives it and tells me they can't find anything wrong with it. I had it in a couple of weeks ago and they adjusted the air intake valve which helped but did not solve the problem. If they can't fix it soon it will be pushed off a cliff....”

   NHTSA complaint #10213705, filed 2008-01, 1,050 miles

   “I own a 2007 Kia Sorento lx with 47,760 miles on it currently (today's date 09/10/2014). The first symptoms happened a few months ago where my car would hesitate upon acceleration and/or I would be traveling between 30-45 MPH and the car would begin bucking/jerking for a few seconds. This was very intermittent and random. If I took my foot off the gas pedal, then reapplied the gas the car would be fine. Then that symptom went away and I gained a new symptom. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10632129, filed 2014-09, 47,760 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake lights not working or staying on

   • 16 complaints (10%)
   • median 98,432 mi at 7.8 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2020

   Owners report brake lights that fail to illuminate, stay lit and drain the battery, or come on unexpectedly, sometimes with cruise control and gear selection affected. Complaints note the brake light switch has been replaced under recall and the symptom returned, and some say they were charged for a repeat repair. Most often reported past 50,000 miles, with many complaints above 90,000 miles.

   Recall 09V130000Recall 13V1140001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have someone watch the rear lights while you press and release the brake, and confirm the switch has been replaced under recalls 09V130000 or 13V114000. Ask whether the switch has been replaced more than once.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Part was already replaced on a mandatory recall. Now the replacements for the recall are failing. Kia will not stand behind the repair costs, this means many people will be driving with out brake lights. I am on my third switch- the part should easily out live the car! I am sure they replaced it with the same exact part thinking most people would be out of the vehicle by the time it failed again. I am sure this is not what you had in mind when you issued the other recalls on this part.”

   NHTSA complaint #10594565, filed 2014-05, 50,000 miles

   “The brake lamp switch continues to be faulty. In some cases the brake lights do not illuminate at all and other times the brake lights remain on and drain the battery. This occurs while driving or stationary. (this has been a recall and fixed 4 times and continues to occur).”

   NHTSA complaint #10899620, filed 2016-08, 51,222 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical shorts, smoke or fire from wiring

   • 15 complaints (10%)
   • median 116,000 mi at 12.3 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2020

   Complaints describe smoke or a small fire from the engine compartment, under the dash or near the rear wiring, in some cases with the vehicle parked and switched off. Owners report disconnecting the battery or using a towel to stop it, and one case was traced to a shorted trailer hitch wiring harness. Some complaints tie warning lights and no-start conditions to the ABS module recall. Mostly reported above 80,000 miles, including vehicles parked and not running.

   Recall 20V088000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 20V088000 (ABS module moisture and short) was performed, and look for signs of wiring repairs, scorching or a non-factory hitch harness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a manufacturer recall notice about possible fires due to braking circuits in the early spring, but the dealership knew nothing about it. The car was parked outside as suggested. I received a second notice at the end of june. The SUV was serviced 7/14/20 for a recall on the braking circuit. On 8/22/20 a beautifully clear saturday, I was driving home from a neighboring community on a paved country road. I noticed that the ESC off indicator light displayed on the dashboard. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11355554, filed 2020-09, 142,864 miles

   “Daughter was driving the vehicle when the turn signals started flashing. As she pulled to a stop, someone came up to her window and told her there was smoke coming from the back of the vehicle. She pulled in to a parking lot to call me. When I arrived at the vehicle there was a small fire coming from underneath the right rear of the vehicle. Fire department was called and fire was out by the time they arrived. Fire department looked underneath the vehicle and found that the trailer hitch wiring harness shorted out and started on fire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10854993, filed 2016-04, 12,000 miles

Buying note. Check completion of the air bag and brake light switch recalls by VIN before buying, and test the passenger air bag indicator with a lighter adult in the seat. During a test drive, watch for shudder at 35-50 mph and for ESC or check engine lights, since owners report these symptoms were often hard for dealers to reproduce.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.