2008 Kia Sorento Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 66about this part
- Share
- 30%of 217 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 66 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Kia Sorento, 30% of the 217 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Hit a guard rail on the front; side and rear (did a 360 and 180) and none of the air bags in my vehicle deployed. I was on interstate 90 going about 65-70”
NHTSA complaint #11210664, filed 2019-05, 203,000 miles“In jan 18 2016 not knowing of any recall as we move from our home address at the time to new address, we took the Kia to dealer becaus the pass air bag shows: off. Dealer just told us this will cost $1800 to fix and never even bother to check on recalls. Now when we check NHTSA for this vehicle we found the recall campaign # 11v473000 . Wr call Kia motors and they refuse to honor the campaign recall on pass air bag on our truck claiming the part affected that makes has nothin to do with the air bag !! Passenger air bag continues to be off so when we ride in the SUV I have no protection. …”
NHTSA complaint #11341086, filed 2020-07, 96,981 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10876112, filed 2016-06, 142,689 miles“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 $2,000.00 to repair. To me this is a safety concern worthy of further action by your agency.”
NHTSA complaint #10587652, filed 2014-05, 85,422 milesRelated recalls
- 11V473000Sep 7, 2011Kia is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 sorento passenger cars manufactured from june 15, 2006 through november 27, 2007. The front passenger air bag…Covers: Kia Sorento 2007–2008
Related service bulletins
- 10030366May 8, 2009Kia motors: these vehicles may experience a problem with the occupant classification system (ocs). The ocs is an integral part of the passengers seat cushion, and may misclassify…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 5% |
| 2024 | 2 | 5% |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 4 | 2% |
| 2020 | 4 | 3% |
| 2019 | 5 | 1% |
| 2018 | 10 | 4% |
| 2017 | 14 | 2% |
| 2016 | 18 | 1% |
| 2015 | 30 | 4% |
| 2014 | 51 | 5% |
| 2013 | 60 | 6% |
| 2012 | 81 | 9% |
| 2011 | 183 | 12% |
| 2009 | 21 | 38% |
| 2008 | 66 | 30% |
| 2007 | 58 | 38% |
| 2006 | 19 | 8% |
| 2005 | 43 | 14% |
| 2004 | 14 | 6% |
| 2003 | 30 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2008 Kia Sorento
44 complaintsEngine
35 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
28 complaintsBrakes
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsExterior lighting
13 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Kia Sorento
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology