2008 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report the passenger air bag indicator acting inconsistently — showing OFF with an adult seated — and a separate pattern of sudden loss of acceleration where the ESC and check engine lights come on. Engine and electrical complaints (stalling, check-engine lights, occasional smoke or fire) tend to appear at higher mileage, above 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag light shows OFF with an adult seated

   • 53 complaints (24%)
   • median 17,863 mi at 2.3 yrs old (45 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners describe the passenger air bag indicator staying ON (air bag off) while an adult is properly seated, sometimes intermittently and sometimes at start-up. Several complaints say the dealer could not replicate the condition, or that the sensor would not register a smaller adult as heavy enough. Some owners report the light at both driver and passenger positions. Complaints filed after the later air bag campaigns note the vehicle's VIN was not included in the recall. Reported from very low mileage on new vehicles up to around 150,000 miles, at any speed and often only intermittently.

   Recall 11V4730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Sit an adult in the passenger seat with the ignition on and confirm the passenger air bag indicator reads ON; ask whether the OCS seat mat or occupant classification repairs were ever done. Check whether the VIN is covered by campaign 11V473000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Passenger airbag light will not turn off when passenger sits in seat. Meaning the airbags will not deploy if an accident occurs. This has been happening intermittently since december 2008, the first documented time was january 2009, and has been documented five times. The only attempt to repair was to update the computer chip, which did not work. We have been told by the dealer that they will not repair this problem, which to me is a major safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10261142, filed 2009-03, 17,863 miles

   “Since we purchased our 2008 Kia Sorento in march 2009, there has been a problem with the passenger seat where when I am sitting there and the passenger airbag off light is illuminated. I am 150 pounds, and moved myself around in the seat, weight centered, sitting properly. At the same time we have been fighting the issue of the ESC off and check engine light as well, so the 3 times the vehicle has been to service for the ESC off problem, we also told them about the passenger airbag off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10417074, filed 2011-08, 4,000 miles
2. 2
   Electronic stability control

   Loss of acceleration with ESC and check engine lights

   • 72 complaints (33%)
   • median 48,750 mi at 5.5 yrs old (68 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,080 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2022

   Owners describe the vehicle suddenly losing power or refusing to accelerate, often at highway speed, with the ESC OFF and check engine lights coming on. Many note the problem clears after shutting the engine off and restarting, which makes it hard for a dealer to reproduce. Complaints mention throttle pedal sensor replacement, wiring repair and ECM/TPS reprogramming as attempted fixes, with the problem sometimes returning. Several owners report the same loss of power in damp or humid weather. Commonly reported between roughly 20,000 and 90,000 miles, sometimes during acceleration onto a highway or in moist weather.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, note whether the ESC OFF or check engine light appears and whether power drops; ask for any service history showing throttle pedal sensor, ECM or TPS reprogramming work. Scanning stored codes (P2135, P0638) can help.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2008 Kia Sorento tps problem causing my vehicle to have no acceleration very dangerous while driving ESC and check engine light come on when problem occurs. Took to local auto zone to see why engine light came on and there code reader said I had 3 different codes wrong with the car which all were related to the tps sensor. This needs to be a safety recall asap.”

   NHTSA complaint #10420887, filed 2011-08, 27,010 miles

   “When it's humid outside or there is any kind of moisture in the air my check engine light comes on along with the ESC light. The car seems bogged down and wont go above 2000 RPM. It takes 15 minutes just to get the car up to 50 MPH and thats with the gas peddle pushed all the way to the floor. It does it mainly when I'm driving on the highway which is scary. It looses most of its acceleration power”

   NHTSA complaint #11343129, filed 2020-08, 140,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on, or air bags not deploying in a

   • 66 complaints (30%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (55 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2024

   A separate group of complaints describes the air bag warning light staying illuminated during driving, and in some cases air bags not deploying in a collision or rollover as owners describe it. Owners say dealers told them no recall applied to their vehicle or offered no remedy. Some complaints mention repairs quoted for the occupant sensing system. Reported from near-new vehicles up to around 155,000 miles, including after collisions.

   Recall 11V4730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm all air bag warning lights go out after the bulb-check at start-up, and ask for any air bag or occupant classification repairs. Have the VIN checked against open recalls before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was in an auto accident 8/18/17 tossed back and forth like a rag doll my air bag didn't deploy on impact until the 4th time and I was knock out unconscious. Don't recall my seat belt worked I recall being tossed back and forth back and forth and took my last breath. This is my 3 time doing this. It was moving I was hit in an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330925, filed 2020-06, 13,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10493077, filed 2013-01, 100,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults, smoke and fire near the dash or ABS

   • 30 complaints (14%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 10.6 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe smoke or a burning odor in the cabin, the engine cutting out while driving, and in some cases fire originating near the dash or under the hood. Several complaints were filed after campaign 20V088000 (moisture in the ABS module) and describe smoke, stalling or the vehicle going into limp mode after that repair. Others say the recall remedy part was not available for a long period. Ignition switch and lighting faults are also reported. Mostly reported above about 60,000 miles, with several complaints filed years after the ABS recall was announced.

   Recall 20V088000Recall 13V1140001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether campaign 20V088000 (ABS module fuse kit) and 13V114000 (brake light switch) were completed and get proof, then look for a burning smell, dash or ABS warning lights and check that all exterior lights work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I drove my 08 Kia Sorento home at about 730 am. I work night shift and went to sleep and was woken up at 945 by ems to my car up in flames. It was showing no signs of any problems, not running hot, nothing. It was parked for about an hour when it went up in flames. The fire chief was on the truck that day as he had orientee's, and said the fire started behind the steering wheel/dash and that it was an electrical engine fire which is stated on my fire report. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11089996, filed 2018-04, 63,000 miles

   “My 2008 Kia Sorento has had numerous instances of the rear taillight/signallight failing to operate correctly. The vehicle does have a recall on this issue for which it was taken in for service and the dealership has since worked on the vehicle to remedy the situation a number of times. They have said and noted that in a prior visit they replaced the stoplight switch. However the problem continues and I have been cited a number of times with a warning for law enforcement. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10855477, filed 2016-04, 48,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine stalling, check-engine light and loss of power

   • 51 complaints (24%)
   • median 46,250 mi at 5.7 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2021

   Owners report the engine stalling, bogging down, running roughly or going into limp mode, sometimes with a loud banging noise from the engine bay that a dealer attributed to internal damage (a thrown rod and a hole in the oil pan in one case, main bearing noise in another). Some complaints describe intermittent check-engine lights with misfire codes and burned spark plugs and coils. Several owners say diagnosis was inconclusive or repairs were quoted at high cost without a fix. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 100,000 miles, with some complaints at higher mileage.

   Recall 20V0880004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for knocking or banging from the engine on start-up and during a test drive, check the oil level and condition, and ask for service records showing engine repairs or the cylinder-head sealing work described in the service bulletin.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2008 Kia sorrento, with only 92k miles on it... I had it in the service shop at the Kia dealer, for a noise coming from the engine.. They informed me it was the main barring going out.. And they quoted me 12k to replace my engine as a fix... Of course I said no, that was 3 years ago, my sorrento is still sitting in my driveway un-driven, which is completely paid off.. Instead I purchased another car from Kia... Recently I have seen numerous reports of the same problems on newer versions of the sorrento's... …”

   NHTSA complaint #11120106, filed 2018-08, 92,000 miles

   “My vehicle was experiencing several issues causing the check engine light to turn on. I took the vehicle for recall repair today and all trouble codes and issues resolved themselves. I believe the electrical issues also caused failure of the air conditioner compressor that has been replaced twice and immediately burned up. These issues have cost $500+ to attempt to repair and I believe Kia should be responsible due to faulty wiring. Kia denies the issue is related, however, resolution of many issues upon recall repair tell me they are wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343369, filed 2020-08, 163,500 miles

Buying note. Check the air bag and ESC warning lights carefully on a test drive, and confirm which open recalls have actually been completed on the VIN. Ask for service records covering engine, throttle pedal and ABS work, since several of these issues recurred after repair on the sampled complaints.

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.