repaired · 2022 Q1
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.
2009 Kia SorentoProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 55 owner complaints about the 2009 Kia Sorento, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-088 the manufacturer reports only 23% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 16, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Kia Sorento has problems
55 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
21Air bags3 crash/fire/injury
14Electrical system
9Power train
8Electronic stability control (ESC)
6Vehicle speed control
6Service brakes, hydraulic
4Engine
3Seats
2Service brakes
33 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 21 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 0 |
| Power train | 9 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 8 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 |
| 3 other systems | 3 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2009 Kia Sorento recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Brake 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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Sorento year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sorento median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Kia Sorento safety ratings
2009 Kia Sorento 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (19.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2009 Kia Sorento, and the recalls they led to.
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
In owners' words
What Sorento owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving out of the driveway, the warning message "ASC-OFF" appeared on the instrument panel and the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated as she turned off the vehicle, she was able to restart the vehicle and parked in the…
KIA INSTALLED FOUR PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR PADS IN MY 2009 AND A NEW AIR BAG MODULE. WHILE IT WAS ALL COVERED BY WARRANTY WORK, NOW I PAID $133.54 TO HAVE IT CHECKED AGAIN, AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY AN ESTIMATE OF $2535.34 PLUS TAX TO HAVE THE NEW SENSOR INSTALLED. I TALKED TO A MANAGER FOR KIA AND…
AIR BAG IS OFF LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE EVEN IF AN ADULT IS IN THE SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THE COMPUTER JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID WE WERE NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT CORRECTLY. I TOLD HIM I…
Own a 2009 Sorento?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.