2012 Kia Sorento Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG NOT ALLOWING IT TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT (AT ALL TIMES), WILL COST $2,000 TO REPAIR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH DARCARS KIA OF FREDERICK (5826 URBANA PIKE, FREDERICK, MD 21704, (301) 696-1200) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,200.
TAKATA RECALL - OCS MAT PASSENGER FRONT SEAT- AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT - KIA SAID IT IS NOT A DEFECT HOWEVER I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1950.00 TO FIX IT.
AT APPROXIMATELY 123K MILES, THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A KIA SERVICE DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I NEED AN OCS MAT REPLACEMENT, PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THE COST IS $2,700. AFTER REVIEWING MANY CONSUMER WEBSITES, I SEE THAT A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS STARTING THE CAR AND NEVER WENT OFF. THIS APPEARS TO BE A NATIONWIDE ISSUE WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING. (I HAVE A RECALL LETTER, BUT IT IS FOR THE DRIVER AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING.)
WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED AT AROUND 103,000 MILES AND HAS NOT TURNED OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO UNION CITY AUTO MALL (4080 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (770) 964-3825) AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,892.
THE AIRBAG LIGJT CAME ON AND STAYED THEN IT CUT OFF BUT IT WAS NEVER IN A ACCIDENT AND NOTHING ELSE HAS CAME ON HAVE YOU HEARD OF MALFUNCTION
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE FRONT PANEL TURNED ON WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 90,000 MILES WITH NO ACCIDENT OR OTHER ISSUE. THE KIA DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LET ME KNOW THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE AND THE AIR BAG AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $800 IN PR. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON. I CONSIDER THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS IT IS NOT RELATED TO AN ACCIDENT OR ANY EVENT CAUSED BY THE CONSUMER. INSTEAD, THE ISSUE JUST APPEARED WITH TIME AND NOW OUR SAFETY IS AT RISK.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. LOCAL KIA DEALER CLOSING SO NOT TAKING APPOINTMENTS. TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS BOTH RECOMMENDED CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL. THEIR COMPUTER SAID HIGH RESISTANCE IN STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG. LIGHT IS ON WHETHER SITTING IN THE CAR OR NOT SITTING IN IT BUT IGNITION ON. AS LONG AS CAR IS ON LIGHT IS ON. IT HAS ABOUT 79,000 MILES.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. CODE SAYS IT IS A PASSENGER SEAT BODY SENSOR MAT. KIA HAS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR MANY AIRBAG ISSUES, BUT SAYS THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MENTOR KIA IN MENTOR, OHIO, 440-953-1000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. *TT
TAKATA RECALL? AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON FOR NO REASON!!! PLEASE INVESTIGATE!! THERE ARE OVER 2000 COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, KIA WANTS TO CHARGE $2000 TO REPAIR SEAT OR SENSOR?? I CANNOT GET MY CAR INSPECTED!! FURIOUS-THIS IS A RECALL- I DID NOT BEAK MY AIR BAG!!! PLEASE CHECK COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH SAME ISSUE THERE ARE THOUSANDS!!!!!!! FOR 2012 KIA SORENTO - PLEASE HELP!!! SO TIRED OF BEING RIPPED
SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON. INITIALLY TOOK IT INTO A DEALERSHIP IN 8/2017, WAS TOLD THEY WERE ABLE TO RESET THE SENSOR AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. IT HAS SINCE COME BACK ON AND NOW I AM TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE OCS MAT AND IT WILL COST ME $1900. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SRS LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON
HI - TODAY, ON MY WAY TO THE PARK - A 10 MIN DRIVE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY CAR HAS ALMOST 130,000 MILES. READYING ONLINE - I AM DREADING TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID FIND A POST THAT IN FEBRUARY OF 2016 - KIA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT THERE IS NO NUMBER ATTACHED, THEREFORE, I AM GUESSING I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. HAS THERE BEEN ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THIS ISSUE? IF SO, PLEASE CONTACT ME.
WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AT 28K MILES, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND REAR QUARTER PANEL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH REAR PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS, WHICH FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL FOR A FRACTURED COLLAR BONE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. JENKINS KIA OF GAINESVILLE (3345 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609, (855) 764-9404) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE DATA FROM THE BLACK BOX IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
98,000 MILES. AIR BAG LIGHT STAYING ON FOR NO REASON. TOOK TO KIA DEALERSHIP. CODE 1764 OCS MAT DEFECT. HAS TO DO WITH MAT ON SEAT OF FRONT PASSENGER TO DETECT PASSENGER AND WEIGHT. PRICE TO FIX $2000.00 THAT IS RIDICULOUS! I HAVE SEEN TONS OF REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE ON KIA SORENTOS. THEY ADVERTISE FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY VEHICLE THAT HAD ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED ON THESE VEHICLES. KIA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR NOT FIXING THIS RECURRING ISSUE,.
THE AIR BAGS DID NOT COME OUT AND THE CAR WAS TOLLED.
AIRBAG LIGHT SENSOR ITS ON, THEY CHANGE THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON 2015 BUT KNOW ALMOST 5 YEARS AND 81K ARE NOT COVERING IT. SAYING ITS NON SECURITY ISSUE
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 77K MILES AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IN SEEING POSTINGS ONLINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FORT MYER KIA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,478. UPDATED 08/22/17*LJ UPDATED 8/25/2017*JS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. NO ACCIDENTS OR SUCH. CHECKED FUSES AND THEY ARE FINE. PLEASE HAVE KIA COMPLETE A RECALL. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH ALL KIA'S
CAR PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2014. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON A WEEK AGO ABOUT 81,700 MILES. TOOK TO KIA DEALER ON 5-4-17 AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW AIR BAG COSTING $1,032 AS EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER IT. WARRANTY SHOULD COVER COST OF REPLACING AIRBAG AS IT IS PART OF THE VEHICLE AND IS FAULTY THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT SIMILAR ISSUES. I AM NOT ABLE TO REPLACE AIRBAGS AT THIS TIME DUE TO COST. PLEASE HELP. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER ON THIS. SAFETY IS A PRIORITY.
LETTER FROM KIA SAYING AIRBAG MAY BE ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED DEALER I TOLD THEM AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY SAID I'D BE CHARGED IF NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ACCORDING TO KIA. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE MANY OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVE FACED SAME ISSUE WITH THE SORENTO AND OTHER KIA MODELS. UNDER WARRANTY, DEALERS HAVE CHANGED OUT SEATS AND RESOLVED THE AIRBAG ISSUE. MOST CASES THOUGH, DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE TO CORRECT THIS VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE! THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND MADE A RECALL FOR KIA OWNERS. IF YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD INVESTIGATE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, I'M SURE YOU'D AGREE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ASAP. *TR
HAVE A 2012 KIA SORENTO. TOOK IT IN TO HAVE A RECALL REPAIRED. DEALER HAD IT FOR 3 HOURS AND WHEN WE GOT IT BACK THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE CONTROL PANEL WAS ON. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY DID NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON. FOR 67,000 MILES NO PROBLEM. THEY HAVE IT FOR 3 HOURS AND NOW THERE'S A PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR IT FOR $700-$800. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THE BAG NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOYING FOR NO REASON WHILE I'M DRIVING. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO WAY OF KNOWING UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF WEB-SITES OF OTHERS (SORENTO AS WELL AS OTHER KIA MODELS) THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. FOR A SAFETY DEVICE TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DEVICE. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. NOT JUST ON MINE BUT ALL KIA VEHICLES.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
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.