55 complaints reported

2012 Kia Sorento Air Bags

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

Reports
55
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
4

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was permanently illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2025
Oct 2023 Crash Injury

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 42 MPH, another vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign, and she collided with the other vehicle head-on. As a result, her vehicle careened off the roadway and into a ditch, colliding with an unoccupied parked vehicle before coming to a complete stop. The air bags did not deploy. A police report and injuries were reported. The driver and her passengers were transported to an area hospital by EMS and treated for various injuries. The driver was treated for injuries to her neck, right shoulder, both wrists, lower back, and left knee; her husband was treated for a two-inch laceration to his neck; and her son was treated for an injury to his right knee. The driver of the other vehicle was treated at an area hospital for unknown injuries. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it remained as the contact had yet to hear from her insurance provider. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2023
May 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2023
Nov 2022

For a year now the Air Bag Warning light has been on in my dashboard. I have taken it to two service centers and they both said I had to take it to a dealer for repair. It is a safety issue because it WILL NOT PASS inspection. The first available appointment was 2 weeks after my last inspection. The dealer had to order the part and will not be able to install and inspect until Feb 2022. I have had to pay for 3 diagnostic tests. And I do not know if the airbags will even deploy. This should be recalled.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Sep 2022

Airbag light is on, indicating a malfunction with the SRS. This is a common issue with this make and model from this year, with several thousand complaints online. Repairs are often over $3,000. Since this is such a common issue and complaint, I believe a recall should be issued due to faulty equipment, and the financial burden should not fall on the consumer. The issue began a few months ago, and has been checked by a mechanic. The mechanic has confirmed that there is an issue with the SRS, and the airbag could potentially not deploy when expected, or could deploy without cause, which could cause an accident resulting in injury or death.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Jun 2022

Airbag light is on and will not cut off

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Jan 2022

Airbag light is on, indicating a malfunction with the SRS. This is a common issue with this make and model from this year, with several thousand complaints online. Repairs are often over a couple of thousand dollars Since this is such a common issue and complaint, I believe a recall should be issued due to faulty equipment, and the financial burden should not fall on the consumer. The issue began a few months ago, and has been checked by a mechanic. The mechanic has confirmed that there is an issue with the SRS, and the airbag could potentially not deploy when expected, or could deploy without cause, which could cause an accident resulting in injury or death.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2022
Oct 2021

SRS light is on.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2021
Aug 2021

The air bag light on the driver side dashboard will not turn off and the concern is that the airbags will not deploy if in an accident, or may randomly deploy. The vehicle has been in no type of collision affecting the front of the vehicle. At this time, the vehicle has not been taken to the dealership or a mechanic, but it seems that the dealer should repair at no cost given the issue is related to a safety concern.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2021
Jan 2021

The airbag light came on for no reason. It will not go off. The concern is the airbags won’t deploy if there is a collision.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Dec 2020

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STEADY. MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG HAS A PROBLEM AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I SEE THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THESE COMPLAINTS NOT RESULTED IN A RECALL?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2020
Dec 2020

I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE MY OCS SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR $ 2100-$2300. THEY SAID THE AIR BAG WON'T WORK. NEXT TO ME WAS ANOTHER WOMAN BEING GIVEN THE SAME INFO AT THE DEALER AND ONLINE I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. RIDICULOUS!!!!!! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2020
Sep 2020

MY AIRBAG IS ON, WHEN I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED IT . I THOUGHT IT WOULD TURN OFF, BUT IT STILL ON AND THAT WAS 3 WEEKS AGO.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2020
Jul 2020

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DUTCH MILLER KIA IN CHARLOTTE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I WOULD NEED AN OCS MAT REPLACEMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE LIGHT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2020
Jul 2020

I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MADE RIGHT TURN AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND TURN OF AND CAME BACK ON AND STAY ON WANT GO OFF

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2020
May 2020

MY AIR BAG LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME WHEN I START UP MY ENGINE AND MY VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I WAS WONDERING IS THAT NORMAL? I'VE HAVE GOTTEN MY INSPECTION AND EVERYTHING PASSED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2020
Jan 2020

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS ON. ACCORDING TO UNIVERSTIY FORD/KIA DEALERSHIP IN DURHAM NC THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS BAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $2200.00. THIS VEHICLE HAS 142,000 MILES AND I THINK KIA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. TO REPAIR WILL REQUIRE A NEW SEAT. ACCORDING TO KIA SERVICE THE AIRBAGS NO LONGER WILL FUNCTION OR MAY BE ACTIVATED PREMATURELY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2019
Jan 2020

AT 97K MILES, THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A $134 KIA SERVICE VISIT, THEY DETERMINED WE NEEDED TO REPLACE OUR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FOR AN OCS SENSOR, AT A COST OF $2,550. THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER REVIEWING MANY WEBSITES (AND NHTSA), I SEE THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING, BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS ISSUE WITH THE CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2020
Dec 2019

MY SUV HAS NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY INCIDENTS THAT INVOLVE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. YESTERDAY WHILE LEAVING WORK THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT STILL HAS NOT TURNED OFF. LOOKING AT RECENT COMPLAINTS IT APPEARS THAT KIA HAS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED NATIONWIDE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2019
Nov 2019

MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING YESTERDAY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CAME ON AND STAYED ON ALL THROUGH MY TRIP. IT WILL NOT GO OFF. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SEEN THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT BY SO MANY OTHER USERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS LIKELY FAULTY AND MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2019
Oct 2019

I TOO HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON OUT OF THE BLUE; NO ACCIDENTS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2019
Oct 2019

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM KIA MOTORS STATING THAT I NEED TO BRING IN MY 2012 SORENTO IN TO HAVE THE "CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY" CHECKED AS MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD IS ILLUMINATED. I BROUGHT IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT'S NOT THE "CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY" BUT THE OCS MAT THAT IS DEFECTIVE ( CODE B1764 ) AND WOULD COST ME $2640 TO REPLACE...I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM "MIGHT NOT" FUNCTION PROPERLY WITH WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED...WHY IS THE OCS MAT NOT A RECALL MATTER AS IT IS APPARENT THAT THEY ARE FAILING MISERABLY...VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON CONTINUALLY...

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Aug 2019

VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 88000 MILES AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DEALER SAYS WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM 1500 TO 2600 DOLLARS TO FIND AND REPLACE ISSUE. OTHER SORRENTO OWNERS COMPLAINING ONLINE ABOUT SAME ISSUE. ON INITIAL START FOR THE DAY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WONT GO OUT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2019
Aug 2019

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. I TURNED MY CAR ON LIKE NORMALLY AND THE AIRBAG LIKE CONTINUED TO STAY ON INSTEAD OF TURNING OFF ONCE YOU ARE BUCKLED AND STARTED DRIVING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2019
Jul 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT ON. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING TO SET IT OFF. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND THIS IS THE ICING ON THE CAKE. SO UNSAFE!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2019

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Kia Sorento has 55 Air Bags complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.