FaultScore

2018 KIA Sorento airbag problems

10 of the 336 complaints about the 2018 KIA Sorento are about the airbag system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 52,000 miles.

F

10

Complaints

8

Crashes

0

Fires

6

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 10 100.0%

Airbags across every KIA Sorento year

2003 32 4.6%
2004 14 2.0%
2005 45 6.4%
2006 19 2.7%
2007 61 8.7%
2008 67 9.6%
2009 21 3.0%
2011 183 26.1%
2012 80 11.4%
2013 60 8.6%
2014 51 7.3%
2015 29 4.1%
2016 16 2.3%
2017 13 1.9%
2018 10 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Atlanta, GA Crash 2 injured 1 killed

AIR BAGS

I have replaced my rotors and my brakes soon as I got the car I’ve had the car for a month now I was in a major accident. Someone walked in front of my car. My emergency brake system did not work my rotors and my brakes, have been scrubbing ever since I got the car. And I don’t know how to fix the situation. The brakes are still going out and sound very horrible. I can’t keep replacing them because I don’t think they need to be replaced. Is something wrong with the car. My Insurance adjuster name is Brandon Brooks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11743523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,000 miles Saint Louis, MO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle had abruptly attempted to merge into the opposite traveling lane and caused the front end bumper to crash into the Front Driver-side door of the other vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed away to a local tow yard. A Traffic Accident Information form was filed by the local police department. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the opposite insurance provider, and the contact was not deemed at fault. In addition, the contact was taken out of the vehicle safely by paramedics and was taken to a nearby UgentCare where he sought medical attention for neck and hand pains and severe mental distress. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

NHTSA complaint #11719842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Margate, FL

AIR BAGS

The passenger airbag light remains on even when someone is sitting in it. Also the airbag on the front passenger side has made my dashboard split open. Which if it fully comes open can make the airbag full explode causing harm to the person in the front seat and potentially causing an accident due to a premature expulsion of the airbag.

NHTSA complaint #11574724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Island, NY

AIR BAGS

My passenger occupancy sensor needs to be replaced. I Can not afford the $1170 Kia is charging. My car’s warranty expired in March. The passenger air bag light came on in the ending of July 2023. I tried reaching out to Kia but with no help. They said I have to pay out of pocket. I am really concerned for the safety of my family.

NHTSA complaint #11536191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lewis Center, OH Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I was in a weather related accident where I hit the guardrail twice head on and none of my airbags deployed. My vehicle is currently at a tow yard and will be towed to the autobody shop 12/8/2021. No warnings or indications on why the airbags wouldn't have worked properly prior to the accident.

NHTSA complaint #11441981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,702 miles Tipton, IA Crash

AIR BAGS

MY SON WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY BETWEEN 45-55 MPH WHEN HE OVERCORRECTED AND MADE FULL IMPACT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITH A SOLID SNOW BANK IN THE MIDDLE MEDIAN. THE RADIATOR WAS SLAMMED BACKWARDS, THE FRONT END WAS DEMOLISHED WITH AROUND $12,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON WE CAN FIND THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY RATING BUT NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE ISSUES WITH OUR AIR BAGS. WILL THEY PROTECT US IF THIS SHOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN?

NHTSA complaint #11397573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Knoxville, TN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE IMPACT TOTALED THE OTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED $7,500 IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHILE I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, I DID SUFFER SIGNIFICANT WHIP-LASH TYPE INJURIES, AND INJURED MY KNEE WHEN IT HIT THE DASH BOARD.

NHTSA complaint #11375594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,000 miles Pocono Summit, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A DEER ON INTERSTATE 81 NORTHBOUND IN PA., CRUISE CONTROL SET AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65MPH, NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AT TIME OF IMPACT OR AFTER COLLISION CHEST IMPACTED STEERING WHEEL AND ARM PAIN FROM HOLDING STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint #11363855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles NEW Haven, CT Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE INTERSECTED HIS LANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT A CRASH BY SWERVING BUT CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL ON THE FAR LEFT SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER DID NOT HAVE ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER (PREMIER KIA SERVICE CENTER LOCATED AT 205 N MAIN ST, BRANFORD, CT 06405, (203) 315-2070) AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA complaint #11363457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Princeton, NJ Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, HIT DEER. FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR SWERVED ONTO MEDIAN AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CRASHED INTO GUARDRAIL. SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UNCLEAR WHY SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW AND SHATTERED WINDOW, SUSTAINED CONCUSSION.

NHTSA complaint #11150708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 KIA Sorento problems

← Full 2018 KIA Sorento report