KnownCarProblems2007 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Kia Sorento, most often about the air bags (38% of complaints, typically around 10,000 miles). It is 17th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2007 Kia Sorento problems
Air bags
58 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly, side/window, sensor.
While traveling about 35 MPH, hit brakes but was unable to avoid frontal collision in Kia spectra rented from alamo. The crash was head on. The Kia's airbags did not deploy. I was wearing a seatbelt. Alamo has been completely unresponsive, so nothing further can be learned about the car. I have pictures taken at the…
The passenger side airbag sensor in my 2007 Kia Sorento has failed intermittently ever since I purchased the vehicle in 2009. It fails at least 50% of the time when a passenger is in the seat (sometimes >200 lbs.) upon complaining to the dealer, they continued to insist that the passenger was not sitting properly in…
Brakes
23 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 98,500 miles.
Esc and check engine light illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer for repairs. Dealer service dept stated that brake light switch was at fault, but that it had been previously replaced in mar 2010 under a recall campaign. After replacing switch this time, dealer service adviser stated that switch appeared to be original…
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 75 MPH, the contact was unable to set the cruise control and unable to activate the stability control. The rear brake lights also would not illuminate. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the brake switch would have to be replaced. The…
Electrical
21 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 115,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator.
Takata recall: vehicle is unstable when driving, it jumps when on motion. When driving in the night the head lights goes on and off, rear wiper is working non stop even when the car is off. This electric system dysfunction also affects the radio system.
My 07 Kia Sorento when trying to enter the state highway. When you push down on the accelerator pedal. The viechel state to accelerate and then all of a sudden the ESC. Light comes on and the SUV. Goes into safe limp mode. Where it will not accelerate and will not climb over 20mph. For a very long period. My family…
Transmission
20 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 11,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
I have a two wheel drive 2007 Kia Sorento. When I drive between 35 and 50 MPH the car begins to jerk, sometimes violently. I have taken it twice to the dealer to have it looked at. The dealer has contacted Kia engineers who say that the jerking is within acceptable parameters and nothing will be done to fix the…
At highway speeds, vehicle check engine light comes on and the power from accelerator greatly reduces. Appears to go into 1st gear, and vehicle only able to drive at 5mph. Stopped car on shoulder, turned engine off and parked. Restarted vehicle with no power or transmission problems; check engine light remained on.…
Stability control
18 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles.
My ESC light will come on and my car will lose all power,step on gas and nothing happens, have to pull over, stop engine and restart, then car runs normal, this seems to be very dangerous if happens on freeway
I was driving on the highway when my steering wheel became really stiff like I lost power steering. I looked at my dash and had a check engine light, oil light, ABS light, and ESC off light illuminated. I pressed the gas to try to switch lanes as I was in the far left lane and needed to reach the shoulder to figure…
Engine
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, cooling system.
2007 Kia Sorento engine blown up. No warning signs had occurred. No check engine light came on. While driving the car lost all power. Upon an inspection the oil had turned to sludge. Oil only had approx. 900 miles. Needed to have new engine installed.
My ESC light will come on and my car will lose all power,step on gas and nothing happens, have to pull over, stop engine and restart, then car runs normal, this seems to be very dangerous if happens on freeway
Lights
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 96,000 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights.
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the electronic stability control and the check engine warning lights illuminated as the vehicle decelerated tremendously. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…
Esc and check engine light illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer for repairs. Dealer service dept stated that brake light switch was at fault, but that it had been previously replaced in mar 2010 under a recall campaign. After replacing switch this time, dealer service adviser stated that switch appeared to be original…
Speed control
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 60,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle with her foot on the brake, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into another vehicle in the driveway. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who would inspect the failure. The contact called…
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. The contact was driving 35 MPH when the vehicle began to shake abnormally with the illumination of the ESC and the check engine warning lights. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and informed her that the brake switch and throttle position sensor would…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2007 Kia Sorento recalls
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: An electrical short within the ABS module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the hecu when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge. The recall began june 5, 2020. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc186.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 sedona and 2007-2009 sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the anti-lock brake (ABS) module and result in an electrical short.
Lights: switch
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'on' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in may 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is sc098.
Full defect summary
Kia motors corporation (kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 rondo, model year 2007-2011 sedona, sorento and sportage, model year 2010-2011 soul, model year 2008-2011 optima, model year 2010 forte, model year 2007-2009 amanti, and model year 2009 borrego vehicles. Originally, in april 2013, kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 rondo and sportage, model year 2007-2011 sorento, model year 2007 sedona, model year 2010-2011 soul, and model year 2011 optima vehicles. In september 2013, kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressi
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: The passenger side air bag is turned off when the ocs misclassifies an adult passenger. With the front passenger airbag off, the front passenger will not have the protection of the passenger air bags in some frontal collisions, thus increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Kia will update the programming in the sorento ocs control module at no charge. The recall remedy is currently available under service campaign sc076. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
Kia is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 sorento passenger cars manufactured from june 15, 2006 through november 27, 2007. The front passenger air bag may be turned off when an adult is in the passenger seat. The front passenger air bag is designed to be turned off in limited circumstances including when children and small adults are seated in the front passenger seat, there is a child restraint in that seat or the seat is not occupied. The vehicle's occupant classification system (ocs), which classifies the occupant in the front passenger seat, may misclassify an adult passenger as a child or child seat and improperly turn off the passenger side air bag. When the air bag is deactivated the "passenger air bag off" light will illuminate on the center instrument panel.
Lights: switch
Risk: Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on june 17, 2009. Owners may contact kia's consumer assistance center at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
Huyndai-kia is recalling 139,844 my 2006-2007- sedona, sportage, sorento and my rondo and amanti vehicles. The stop lamp switch in the affected vehicles may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. A stop lamp switch malfunction may also affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature so the transmission shifter would not be able to be shifted out of the park position. It may also cause the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate, and it may not deactivate the cruise control when the brake pedal is depressed.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Air bag occupant classification system
Summary
The sorento's front passenger air bag may be turned off when an adult is seated in the passenger seat. The front passenger air bag is designed to be turned off in limited circumstances including when children and small adults are seated in the front passenger seat, there is a child restraint in that seat, or the seat is not occupied.but the sorento has misclassified adults sitting in the passenger seat.this causes the passenger side frontal air bag to deactivate and the passenger air bag off light to illuminate. On may 12, 2009, kia launched a technical service bulletin campaign (sc076) to address this problem, installing upgraded occupant classification system (ocs) software in vehicles bui
Air bag ocs
Summary
Kia reports that for vehicles built prior to the software update of 11/27/2007, the vehicles can improperly classify an adult as a child restraint seat and thus illuminate the airbag off warning light and suppress the frontal passenger airbag.on may 12, 2009, kia launched a technical service bulletin (sb076) campaign to re-flash all vehicles built prior to the 11/27/2007 production date.kia also believes that intermittent occupant movement and out of position seating contributed to the high number of complaints.905 of the 947 complaints and 1,014 of the 1,107 warranty claims were associated with the 57,228 vehicles built prior to the 11/27/2007 production date.there was one frontal passenger
Questions about the 2007 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2007 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (58 complaints, typically around 10,000 miles); brakes (23 complaints, typically around 98,500 miles); electrical (21 complaints, typically around 115,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2007 Kia Sorento have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 14, 2020 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2007 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 17th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 154 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.