KnownCarProblems2009 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Kia Sorento, most often about the air bags (38% of complaints, typically around 25,500 miles). It is 21st of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2009 Kia Sorento problems
Air bags
21 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 25,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Since january 2009 we have been fighting with Kia motors because my passenger airbag light will not activate when someone is seated in the seat. All Kia has done is update the vehicles computer system, which hasn't worked. They have issued a safety recall on this problem, but they refuse to fix it saying that the…
First noticed in the sept. Time period that the passenger airbag off light remained illuminated even after my wife sat down, and even if she tried shifting around to activate the seat sensor. My wife weighs more than 120 lbs. About 10% of the time the system senses her presence from her first sitting down, while that…
Electrical
14 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, starter assembly.
Esc off sensor and check engine light comes on when starting vehicle or when in motion/driving. Esc off illuminates followed by complete loss of acceleration. While driving at 30 MPH to 70 MPH light appears and quickly looses lack of throttle acceleration powr. I've had this happen (10 plus times) since I bought this…
Upon starting the 2009 Kia sorrento one day, I shifted to reverse and noticed a violent jerk with a loud popping sound. Upon putting it into drive, the car would barely accelerate but the engine would still rev when pressing down on the gas pedal. The check engine light was on but later went away. The dealership has…
Transmission
9 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
2009 Kia Sorento with transmission/driveline issues. Dealership has had numerous attempts to correct and states "normal for this vehicle." vehicle clunks, pops, jolts, and jerks when in operation regardless of time of day, temp, etc. Started in may 2010 and continues presently which is june 2011.
While decending a mountian pass in colorado with the vehicle in 4WD-low range and the shift selector in the sport mode the transmission would up-shift at about 3200 RPM causing the vehicle to gain speed very quickly and requiring the constant application of brakes which causes the brakes to over heat. The owners…
Brakes
8 complaints · 14%Experiencing vibration in brakes caused by warped rotors. This is not covered under warranty because dealer said brakes were used to slow down vehicle while going downhill on mountain roads. Vehicle is not used much in mountains, mostly stop-and-go city traffic. If this vehicle cannot withstand this type of use, it is…
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v088000 (electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to nalley Kia located at 7849 mall pkwy, stonecrest, ga 30038, ([phone], where the recall repair was completed. The contact stated that after…
Stability control
8 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles.
Esc off sensor and check engine light comes on when starting vehicle or when in motion/driving. Esc off illuminates followed by complete loss of acceleration. While driving at 30 MPH to 70 MPH light appears and quickly looses lack of throttle acceleration powr. I've had this happen (10 plus times) since I bought this…
I was driving along a state highway when my car suddenly lost power. "ESC off" lite up on the dash as did an anti lock brake light. I was able to coast to a safe place on the side of the road. I shut the car off and tried to restart it twice with no return of the power. The engine would run but did not respond to the…
Speed control
6 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Esc off sensor and check engine light comes on when starting vehicle or when in motion/driving. Esc off illuminates followed by complete loss of acceleration. While driving at 30 MPH to 70 MPH light appears and quickly looses lack of throttle acceleration powr. I've had this happen (10 plus times) since I bought this…
Less than a week after getting this car, it started having intermittent no acceleration! The first codes were 02 sensor but it was transmission problem, I only drove the car 1000 no in a year and I just had it repaired I thought under warranty with transmission codes as well as a.c. Which was fixed, but 2nd time…
Engine
4 complaints · 7%The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 67 MPH, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The contact stated that the mileage dropped from 67 MPH to approximately 30 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle pedal assembly shorted…
Vehicle was traveling at 65 MPH and the ESC light came on slowing the vehicle to 30 MPH on the highway. We were almost hit from behind. This is happening 2-3 times a day. Vehicle has to be turned off and restarted every time. This is a life threatening incident waiting to happen. Taken to dealer no recall. Vehicle was…
Seats
3 complaints · 6%We have been having a problem with the occupant classification system on our 2008 Kia Sorento. The system is deactivated when there is an adult passenger in the front seat.. The car has been in for repair four times. The passenger seat has been replaced and the computer has been reprogrammed. At this time the dealer…
My 2009 Kia Sorento (87810 miles) has had electrical problems since 2014. In sept 2014, while warranty was void due to over 60, 000 miles) I had trouble with the dashboard illumination lights when the headlights were turned on. $1,000+ dollars later, dimmer switch, instrument cluster, and rheostat circuit were…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 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
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
Questions about the 2009 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (21 complaints, typically around 25,500 miles); electrical (14 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles); transmission (9 complaints, typically around 5,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Kia Sorento have?
- 2 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 2009 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 21st of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 55 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.