2009 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report the passenger airbag off light staying on or coming on with an adult seated, and sudden loss of power or stalling, often with an ESC OFF or check engine light. Transmission jerks or unexpected shifts, and an ABS module recall (20V088000) where repair parts were reported unavailable, are reported less often. Many airbag complaints involve low mileage, and several owners say the dealer found no fault or that the system was working as designed.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag off light on with an adult seated

   • 21 complaints (38%)
   • median 25,481 mi at 3.3 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2021

   Owners describe the passenger airbag off light coming on or staying on when an adult is seated, sometimes intermittently and sometimes while the car is being driven. Some say the sensor was replaced, the computer reset, or the seat reprogrammed without ending the problem, and one describes a light that stayed on until the engine was shut off. According to complaints, the dealer or manufacturer sometimes said the passenger was seated incorrectly or weighed too little for the system, and some owners were told the system was working as designed. Where mileage is given, reports range from very low mileage to about 62,000 miles, and most are under 40,000 miles.

   What to check: On an inspection or test drive, sit an adult in the front passenger seat and check that the passenger airbag light behaves as expected. Ask the seller for records of any seat sensor, airbag light, or computer repairs, and whether any software update was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have been having a problem with the occupant classification system on our 2008 Kia Sorento. The system is deactivated when there is an adult passenger in the front seat.. The car has been in for repair four times. The passenger seat has been replaced and the computer has been reprogrammed. At this time the dealer has informed us that Kia tech line has determined that the system is working as designed and there are no further repairs that can be performed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10293999, filed 2009-11, 8,000 miles

   “'passenger air bag off' light on repeatedly with a passenger in seat and after turning engine off and on and re-positioning of passenger more than 1 dozen times! This vehicle was purchased used as a replacement vehicle, after surviving being hit head-on, severely injured and our vehicle destroyed. Air bags helped save our lives. The Sorento has had this problem since date of purchase in february 2010. We have repeatedly talked to Kia headquarters and dealerships regarding this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10516089, filed 2013-06, 61,850 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden power loss or stalling, often with ESC OFF light

   • 19 complaints (35%)
   • median 76,800 mi at 6.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners describe the car suddenly losing acceleration or power while driving, sometimes at highway speed, with the ESC OFF or check engine light on. Some say the engine kept running but did not respond to the accelerator, and some say the car stalled and needed to be shut off and restarted. Owners say the problem sometimes returned after repairs such as accelerator pedal, throttle body sensor, or throttle pedal replacement, and some cars were towed. According to complaints, some shops could find nothing wrong during a check. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 30,000 to 185,000 miles, and many fall between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any electronic throttle or throttle position sensor software update from the service bulletins has been applied, especially on a 2.7L engine, and whether stored codes exist for ESC or throttle faults. On a test drive, check that the car accelerates smoothly from a stop and at highway speed, with no loss of power and no warning lights.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 lights went off except tire and airbag. Drove to dealer in morning and when I arrived only light on was airbag. They said there was a wire loose under seat? …”

   NHTSA complaint #11066911, filed 2018-02, 96,600 miles

   “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 garage. They told me to turn the car off and restart it. The ESC off light went out and I was able to accelerate normally but, the check engine light stayed on for 2 more days. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10744565, filed 2015-07, 115,250 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks, clunks, or shifts unexpectedly

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 12,350 mi at 2.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2010–2019

   Owners describe violent jerks, clunks, or banging when shifting between park, reverse, and drive, and some describe a delayed or sluggish response once the car is in gear. Some describe unexpected upshifts that build speed quickly, the car barely moving with the pedal down, or the car going into reverse in every gear. According to complaints, the dealer sometimes said the behavior was normal or could not be duplicated, and in one case the car kept going back to the dealer without a fix. Where mileage is given, reports range from very low mileage to about 229,000 miles, and most of those are under 20,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any transmission service bulletins for this model have been applied, and request the dealer's repair history for shift complaints. On a test drive, check for jerks, clunks, or delayed engagement when moving from park to reverse and drive, and during a downshift.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 going in reverse in all gears”

   NHTSA complaint #11205102, filed 2019-05, 229,045 miles

   “I have 2 complaints. 1) I have complained about the front passenger air bag not coming on when an adult is seated in it. I have taken it to 2 different Kia shops 5 times since 1200 miles and was told it is operating normal. Normal is when an adult sits in it, not when you place a purse on the seat or whenever it decides to work. I am following the manual and still no satisfaction with repair. 2) at 1200 miles I also complained that the car would buck, stick in 3rd gear, and not shift till it red lines. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10365864, filed 2010-11, 1,200 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   ABS module recall: warning lights and repair waits

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 180,000 mi at 12.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe receiving notice of recall 20V088000 about moisture in the anti-lock brake module, then being told by the dealer that the repair part was not available. Some say the manufacturer had exceeded what they considered a reasonable time for the repair. One owner describes the check engine, ESC, and ABS warning lights coming on at startup, and an independent mechanic linked this to possible moisture in the ABS module. No mileage is given in these complaints, and they were filed between May 2020 and January 2026.

   Recall 20V088000

   What to check: Check the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup for recall 20V088000, and ask the dealer whether the ABS module repair part is available. If the warning lights are on when starting the car, ask for a diagnostic report before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11455715, filed 2022-03

   “The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine, ESC, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. Upon speaking with other independent mechanics, the contact was informed that the failure was likely linked to moisture that might have entered the ABS module. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic); which the contact associated with the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11711370, filed 2026-01

Buying note. When considering this model year, ask whether the ABS module recall 20V088000 has been completed, and check the passenger airbag light with an adult seated. Also check for smooth throttle response and smooth shifts on a test drive, since complaints describe sudden power loss and jerky shifting.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 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.