2009 Kia Sorento problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (11) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (6) · Power Train (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Sorento model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
40 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Electrical System 2020-02-14 · campaign 20V088000 · 228,829 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V114000 · 980,377 vehicles
Defect: 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 20
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.
Equipment 2011-10-06 · campaign 11E041000 · 2,398 vehicles
Defect: CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 56024, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ AND KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.
Risk: WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: CURT MANUFACTURING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESS. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MANUFACTURING AT 1-715 831-8713.
Service bulletins (16)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure 2021-09-13 · TSB_BOD055_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: information for headlamp condensation and moisture - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information relating to some kia models tha
Engine And Engine Cooling 2018-03-02 · PS539 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pitstop - engine component re-use guidelines - in general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.
Equipment:mechanical 2017-01-18 · TSB-GEN085R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware - by design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washe
Latches/Locks/Linkages 2016-11-04 · TSB-GEN085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware - by design, certain fasteners utilized in various kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2016-04-04 · PS443 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb - use of aftermarket usb charging cables in usb/12v ports - this article provides information regarding the use of usb ports and 12v power outlets to connect/charge mobile phones. customers may experience issues with their head units that may be related to the use of aftermarket usb charging cab
Visibility/Wiper 2013-03-22 · TSBBOD095 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: windshield washer pump inlet filter replacement - this bulletin provides information relating to possible foreign debris accumulation on the windshield washer pump inlet filter. over time, some kia vehicles may exhibit a limited application of windshield washer fluid when the washer function i
Showing the 6 most recent of 16 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-01-16 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2009 kia sorento. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine, esc, and abs warning lights were illuminated. upon speaking with other independent mechanics, the contact was informed that the failure was likely linked to moisture that might have entered the abs module. upon investigation, the contact discov…”
2025-06-04 · Exterior Lighting“my check engine light is on. it has been on for over 2 or more years. nobody knows what the codes mean. my timing chain needs to be replaced. my tires are constantly leaking. my battery has been replaced 2 times, and i still cannot start my vehicle even when i get a jump. the interior light when you open the car door, has fallen and is hanging. whe…”
2024-08-27 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“driving on the interstate @ 65mph the car cut off then caught on fire. smoke came in the car we pulled over to emergency lane exited the car and then flames came up through the console. the car became completely engulfed in flames and totally destroyed. there were no injuries. i have a video of the event. i do not know the cause. all of the gauge…”
2023-04-26 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 185,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 kia sorento. the contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 15 mph, she activated the windshield wipers and the radio, and the vehicle started to stall. the contact stated that her daughter saw the tpms, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. the contact's daughter drove the vehicle back to the re…”
2022-06-23 · Vehicle Speed Control“currently my esc off warning light is lit on my dash, and while lit my vehicle has trouble accelerating from 0 to 40 mph. the warning light goes on and off at random. i have had the accelerator pedal assembly replacement in 2015 and 2019 due to the same issue. it is now happening again in 2022!!!. is this a design flaw issue? it's definitely a s…”
2022-03-08 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2009 kia sorento. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v088000 (electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware …”
2021-08-20 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 140,000 mi“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 driveway. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired …”
2020-09-08 · Service Brakes · 180,000 mi“tl* 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, (770) 288-5283, where the recall repair was completed. the contact stated that after the recall repair was…”
2020-06-17 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia sorrento. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v088000 (electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. an unknown dealer was…”
2020-05-05 · Electrical System“tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia sorento. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v088000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. gettel kia of bradenton located at 6423 14 th st.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.