123 complaints reported

2011 Kia Sorento Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
123
Crashes
12
Fires
0
Injuries
9

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

May 2019

MY KIA SORENTO 2011 THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON FOR DAYS WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL IT GOES OFF THAN GOES ON WHEN I STRAIT IT IN MOVEMENT OR NOT THE LIGHT IS ON .SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THAT HAVE TO BE RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2019
May 2019

AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. LIGHT ON BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL AND LIGHT STILL ON DEALER SAID IT WAS OCS MAT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NOT INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS RECALL. SO I STILL HAVE NO AIRBAG AND THEY ARE REQUESTING $2,000+ TO FIX. SAFTEY ISSUE IS STILL NOT TAKEN CARE OF AND PUTTING ME AND MY CHILDREN IN HARMS WAY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2017
May 2019

FAULTY OCS MAT SENSOR PREVENTS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2019
May 2019

I TOOK MY 2011 KIA SORENTO IN TO KIA MOTORS IN AMERICAN FORK, UTAH TO GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT CHECKED OUT. IT HAS BEEN ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE OCS MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1600 TO FIX. SINCE MY AIRBAGS CAN NOT DETECT ANYTHING WITHOUT GETTING THIS PART REPLACED, ITS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2018
May 2019

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER WENT OUT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE THIS LIGHT IS LIT, MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA VEHICLES. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
May 2019

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN MY HORN STOPPED WORKING AND NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY RECALL AS OF I'M A ACCIDENT MY AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE RECALL AND FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2019
Apr 2019

MY VEHICLE STALLS AT TAKE OFF OFTEN AND ALSO MY HORN ONLUY SOUNDS WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL A CERTAIN POSITION . MY AIRBAG LIGHT REMAIN ON ALSO .THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS MALFUNCTION HAPPEN IN THE STREET ALSO.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2017
Apr 2019

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT DOES NOT GO AWAY WHEN TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THIS MEANS THAT'S THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASEBOOK OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH IS A HAZARD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2019
Apr 2019

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE THEIR IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR WITH THEIR SEATBELT IS ON WHILE THE VECHICLE IS BEING OPERATED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2019
Mar 2019

LAST WEEK THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR AND APPARENTLY IT IS THE COIL SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. FROM WHAT WE HAVE DONE OUR RESEARCH ON, THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT IS NOT A RECALL. I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THE IS OCCURING IN SEVERAL OF THESE MODELS, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IF THE CAR IS WRECKED. I WOULD APPRECIATE PROPER CHANGE FOR THIS TO BE A RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2019
Mar 2019

MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON WITH CODE B1764. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME. THIS MEANS THAT I HAVE NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT LEAVING MY FAMILY IN DANGER OF INJURY OR DEATH IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2017
Feb 2019

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT AIRBAG SENSOR MAT FAILED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT CAUSE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH KIA'S. MANY KIA'S HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THIS MODEL HAS BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET. PLEASE ADVISE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2019
Nov 2018

MY 2011 KIA SORENTO IS ACCIDENT-FREE. WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS AT ABOUT 85,000, THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ONE DAY, AND HAS STAYED LIT WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING EVER SINCE. AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" LIGHT IS SOMETIMES LIT WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT PASSENGER, AND IT IS SOMETIMES NOT LIT WHEN NO PASSENGER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX (THE CLOCK SPRING ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY AND THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT OR ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT). IT LOOKS LIKE KIA HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE FOR THE 2007-8 KIA RONDO AND THE 2006-8 KIA OPTIMA; THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE 2011 KIA SORENTO. I WILL GET THIS REPAIR COMPLETED SINCE IT IS AN OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE DEFECT - I READ MANY CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT AIR BAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2018
Oct 2018

SRS LIGHT ON, REPLACE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT $3000. NO ACCIDENT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, CAR STATIONARY LIGHT COMES ON YET PASSENGER IN SEAT SENSOR WORKS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2018
Oct 2018

AIRBAG SENSOR CAME ON DESPITE NO ACCIDENT AND HASN'T GONE AWAY. NO DAMAGE OR HITS TO MY VEHICLE TO CAUSE ANY MALFUNCTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2018
Oct 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" MY AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN I HAVE MY SEAT BELT BUCKLED! I'M SO WORRIED OVER THIS! IT'S MY ONLY VEHICLE THAT I DRIVE AROUND WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT! WHY ISN'T THIS BEING RECALLED!? DOESN'T MATTER OF I'M DRIVING OR IN PARK. NOTICED AROUND 75000 MILES

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2017
Sep 2018

ABS LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 120,000 MILES. BELIEVE IT IS CAUSING ISSUES FOR STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. CLOCK SPRING SENSOR BAD. REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $2,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WILL AIR BAGS DEPLOY AT ALL???? WHY IS THIS NOT RECALLED??? READ MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2018
Sep 2018

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME IT SEAMS THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE IVE ALREADY READ ABOUT 20 POSTED ON THE INTERNET. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN I STAR THE CAR THEN GOES OF FOR 2 SECONDS AND STAYS ON ALL THE TIME UNTIL I SHUT DOWN THE CAR. IVE DONE ALL THE QUICK CHECKS LIKE LOSE CONNECTIONS TO NO AVAIL. ON LINE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM SEAMS TO IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR MAT. I PROBLEM THAT COST AROUND $2000 TO HAVE FIXED. I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS SAFETY RELATED AND THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2018
Sep 2018

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH ABOUT 115,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CODE WAS DTC B1764 THE PASSENGER OCS MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2,000 TO REPAIR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2017
Aug 2018

THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2018
Aug 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BALISE KIA (LOCATED AT 603 RIVERDALE ST, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA 01089, (413) 316-1500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 12933624. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2018
Aug 2018

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER GOING OVER A SET OF RAIL ROAD TRACKS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2018
Jun 2018

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT 70000 MILES. DEALER RAN A SCAN AND WE WERE TOLD THE PASSENGER OCS MAT WAS BAD. THEY QUOTED US AT $1600 TO FIX. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE NOT HAPPY AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2018
May 2018

AIR BAG ILLUMINATION LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON AT 65450 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATES AIR BAG WON'T DEPLOY AS SYSTEM IS RENDERED INOPERABLE. NEEDS SOP CLOCK SPRING & OCS MATT. TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $2000. & IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY KIA SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2018
Apr 2018

AT 100,900 MILES MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, CAR BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS INFORMED BY AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM I WILL NEED TO PAY $1900 TO GET ENTIRE DRIVERS SEAT REPLACED. I CURRENTLY AM DRIVING WITH NO AIR BAGS IN THE ENTIRE CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Kia Sorento has 123 Air Bags complaints on file. 12 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.