Passenger air bag light is on. The dealer said that the passenger seat air bag sensor needs replacement. I have been reading many others are experiencing this problem which could cause the air bag may deploy unexpectedly or not even at all. The dealer said my car does not fall under some recall with the same problem for different production dates. The dealer was quick to say t would cost around $2000.00 to fix this. Called kia and they said it is not a safety issue they worry about. Scary it is an air bag fault. I have been going back in forth with dealer and corporate for assistance but there is no help and I found this site searching and hope you can help not just me but all the others out there having the same problem
2007 Kia Sorento airbags complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 58, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated that the front passenger side door was jammed and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
I received a recall notice on my 2007 kia sorento to have the clock spring replaced. Prior to taking the carto the dealer the airbag warning light came on. I took the car to the franklin tn dealership assuming the light was caused by the clock spring recall. The tech informed me that it was caused by the ocs mat in the passenger seat and it could be fixed for $2,200+. He also said that I did not need a clock spring. When I checked on the clock spring recall I see my car now has no recalls active. With the same ocs mat problem being covered on the spectra model I feel the sorento should also be included in the extended coverage.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. While driving 15 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger sensor mat failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated that the driver and the passenger side air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
2007 kia sorento passenger seat air bag alarm - due to seat sensor problems or other problems. Problem has recurred hundreds of times since purchased new. Advised by service manager of greer, sc kia that fault was due to passenger not sitting properly in seat with feet positioned properly but advised by a kia technician, confidentially, that this is not true. Passenger seat sensor was adjusted after several visits but fault recurs time after time which means the passenger air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash. Kia does not appear to take matter seriously. This could result in deaths. Other dealer representatives refers the problem back to service manager only. Number of complaints: at least six or more - to little avail. Problem still exists from time to time. Usually the passenger can bounce up and down several times and finally get the alarm to extinguish showing normal air bag operation for the passenger side. Wrote letter to regional kia dealership to no avail. Called kia help line to no avail. Only told to refer problem to kia dealership service manager. Incident date since time of purchase in june or july, 2007. Guessing purchase date since it has been a few years. Still own vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. While driving 10 MPH, the driver side air bag warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred numerous times and was similar to the failure listed in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v473000 (air bags). The dealer stated that the sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred intermittently at various speeds. The dealer could not diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000.
The air bag light on my 2007 kia sorento remains illuminated while driving the car. Upon further investigation I found there was a recall from kia motors sc076a and also from the federal safety agency #11v473000 to replace the sensor. I took the vehicle to hart kia in salem virginia to have this recall and another recall for brake lights repaired. The dealership repaired the brake issue but told me that my car was not recalled for the passenger air bag sensor and a new seat would cost $1,300.00. I called kia motors and filed a claim because my vehicle was manufactured between june 15, 2006 and november 27, 2007. Kia motors and the dealership said they would pay for the seat itself but I would have to pay for the labor. When I asked why I should have to pay for a recall item I was told by both parties that it was not their fault.I did not manufacture the car, I purchased their product. Kia motors should be responsible for the part and the labor, since they installed faulty parts when the car was manufactured. They paid for the part and labor on the brake recall, they can not be selective when repairing recalls. They manufactured the car so they should pay 100% of the repair bill it makes me wonder how many people actually had to pay $1,300.00 for a recall..
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the occupant position detection system sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number 11v473000 (air bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 119,000.
Tl - the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated that the passenger air bag occupancy classification system could not determine when the passenger seat was occupied and would erroneously deactivate the air bag. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed but the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v473000 (air bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 65,000. Dr
Tla* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, it began to rain heavily and the vehicle suddenly hydro-planed. The consumer regained control of the vehicle, but it hydro -planed again and the vehicle hit an embankment with the front bumper spinning the vehicle around. The vehicle then rolled over four-six times, before landing in a ditch. Both rear seat belts became unlatched independently and the air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact sustained bruises, scrapes and lacerations to the shoulder area. Two rear passengers also sustained lacerations. Another passenger suffered from a concussion and a bruised kidney. A police report was filed of the incident. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage center. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 08/27/13*lj the consumer stated the air bag did not deploy and the seat belts release
We were traveling down I-64 at 6:45 pm at 70 MPH when a downpour began suddenly my husband eased off of the accelerator and as we entered the rain. We began to hydroplane we spun 180 degrees. He regained control only to hydroplane again. This time he did a 360 and went into a ditch hitting a earthen embankment with the front fender spinning us around and pushing the rear of the car up the embankment this then caused the car to begin rolling we rolled at least 4 times before sliding at least 100 yards down the interstate. No airbags deployed. My husbands seat belt held. However, I was in the back seat with our son and my seat belt as well as his released throwing us into the cargo area. We all were injured and transported to the hospital by ambulance. When we notified kia they acted as if this was no big deal.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, her vision became blurred and she lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was then driven off into a ditch and the contact crashed into a concrete block. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed back to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact suffered major injuries to her back and sustained a fractured rib. The vehicle had major damages to the front end. The failure and the current mileages were 120,000. ..updated 05/23/12
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 the seat. This is ridiculous. I know of no other cars where that is an issue. The dealer says to get out and back in again, but that is not going to happen when you are on a busy highway going 65 MPH and realize the airbag is not on. So, then they say to lift your butt up for 10 seconds and then sit back down. It sometimes works, but takes a few tries. And, do you know how embarrassing that is to ask a guest (particularly if a business guest) to do that? Again, it is just so ridiculous that I fear owners will ignore it thus putting their passengers at risk. So, I was thrilled to see that there was finally a recall of the 2007 sorento passenger airbag sensor in the fall of 2011. Finally, they admit there is a problem. However, then the dealer says that my VIN is not covered by the recall. Really??? This recall needs to be expanded. I am taking my car back again next week and if it is not replaced by kia, I will be calling the kia headquarters legal department to complain. If you can help get this recall expanded so that I and others do not have to go through this, I would greatly appreciate it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. While the contact started the ignition, the front passenger side air bag warning indicator began to illuminate. The failure occurred whenever an occupant was positioned in the front passenger seat and weighed 115 pounds or less. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on five different occasions for the same failure. The computer software was updated and on a separate occasion, the side air bag detention sensor was replaced. The failure continued to occur after each repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 14,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated that the passenger air bag occupancy classification system could not determine when the passenger seat was occupied and would erroneously deactivate the air bag. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v473000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module) but was advised by an authorized dealer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was also contacted and confirmed to the contact that the vehicle was not recalled. No repairs were performed. The current mileage was 55,736 and the failure mileage was 39,325.
Kia sorento-2007-front passenger-air bag "idiot light". For 2 yrs. Trips back and forth regarding this light to dealer. Unable to assure that air bag system is really working. Light is on when someone is sitting in seat and indicates the air bag is off. Seats and sensors have been replaced to no avail. They just told me today 8-23-2010 that there is no more they can do. Light is still on and their computer still says that it is working. You have many complaints of the same thing-is anything being done? Either the light,sensor,air bag or computer is not right. This has been a problem since I bought the car new. This is an intermittent occurrence-doesn't matter when or who is sitting in the seat, if the car is warm or cold. The seat(sensor) has been changed,computer has diagnosed and kia has talked to the tech's. Their machines are not telling them that something is wrong but the service managers and sales people have witnessed it. Are you investigating this?
Our 2007 kia sorento, purchased new, and now with 20,000 miles, has, since purchase, had the passenger airbag not on signal go on, almost every time we use it. The dealership said they must see it happen, and cannot replicate it. When we made our way to the dealership, while the signal was lit, they saw it, visually it, and made a note, however, the "computer" did not recognize it as a problem, so they will not correct the "problem". We have been told that if that is lit up and someone is in the seat during an accident, the airbag will not deploy. I am told that kia and their dealerships are aware of this problem, and could replace the seat bottom to fix this problem, yet none of the dealerships we have taken it too, will replace it, unless the main office makes it a recall. Our second complaint that they are not willing to do anything about is the strong odor of antifreeze, which literally makes me sick on my stomach when it happens, which is not all of the time. I am afraid these fumes could be harmful.
Had a recall on kia sorento- 2007. A year later they call me on it. I told them about recalls when I first received the vehicle. They want me to pay for it first. Then they fixed it a year later and now one of the recalls is acting up again. Now it is something with the itu control ???? So after they default on our contract about my personal info they had extra finance charge because I was sick and had a warranty. They refused on that too! So they repo my car after I told them to come and get it. Total of 4 recalls on a car I bought two years ago.
The passenger air bag sensor in the vehicle is poorly designed and will frequently disable the front passenger airbag while an adult passenger is riding in the proper manner, as displayed by the vehicles owner manual. Moreover, the air bag sensor does not continuously monitor the passenger after it has determined that the air bag should be off - the only way to reset the airbag is to have the passenger lift themselves off of the seat (while remaining buckled) for over 2 seconds. Even turning the vehicle off, removing the key, and turning the vehicle back on does not work very reliably - resetting the sensor ~35% of the time. The airbag sensor on this vehicle is a known issue (tsb# kt2008022001), and repeated calls to service centers re-enforce that the manufacturer has no intentions of issuing a recall or even a simple software update to remedy the problem. Instead, they instruct that the service members find a 'sufficiently large' mechanic, instruct them to sit in the seat to ensure that the device works correctly. Obviously, if you significantly exceed the minimum weight, the sensor works correctly. However, I've had the problem with adult passengers with weights ranging from 120-170 lbs and consider it to be a significant safety flaw with the vehicle.
The sensor for the passenger air bag is nor working reliably. Most of the time it either does not detect my wife at all, or, while I am driving, it suddenly signals that the passenger air bag is off, even though she is still seated. When it does not detect her, the sign 'passenger air bag off' is lit. There is no problem when I (210 pounds) sit on the passenger side, only for my 148 pound wife. I am afraid that our 2007 sorento will not be capable of performing a possibly lifesaving act in the case of an accident. As a passenger, she is unprotected. A friend of ours has a 2008 sportage that also has a sensor for the air bag in the passenger seat cushion and there it works every time my wife gets in the car. We have visited our local dealership several times; having the program reflashed three times and even the seat cushion was replaced with a new one with a new sensor. Unfortunately, the problem was never resolved. Our dealership informed us after our last visit that they have done all they can do.
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. The contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminates while the passenger seat is occupied. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer approximately four times; however, the contact believes that the failure has not been repaired. The dealer stated that they needed to order a part for the third time. The failure mileage was 7,634 and current mileage was 9,654. Updated 01/09/09. *lj updated 01/09/09
Attempt to fix airbag system module and seatbelt assy failed three times by authorized kia dealerships (03/08/08, 09/22/08, 10/01/08). Vehicle was sold to me by authorized kia dealer as a precertified used car with manufacturer warranty with 12000 miles on 09/05/08. Kia manufacturer notified of failed attempts on 10/02/08 & have been asked to purchase or replace the vehicle under ca civil code(s) 1792, 1794.
I lease a 07 kia sorento with 8700 miles on it. The problem that I can't get resolved through the dealer or with kia's customer service is the passenger airbag doesn't always work. They say we like to complain, but I don't want to take a chance of being in an accident and hope the airbag will deploy. This is a very big safety issue! The 1st time my husband (who has worked as a mechanic for 15 years) took it to the dealer he was told we weren't the only one complaining but as soon as the seat softened up it would start to work. 10 months later it still isn't working. The second time we took it back they said there wasn't anything wrong with it. The service report says the switch is "fickle" but they don't call that a malfunction. How do I know the airbag will deploy if the light says it is turned off? They said we need to move around in the seat by bouncing on it, sitting back in the seat more, move the seat forward or backwards to find the right spot for the airbag to work. I shouldn't have to and it doesn't make a difference anyhow! The 3rd time was to a different dealer because the car became inoperable due to a major electronic problem and had to be towed. They had my car for almost 2 weeks and said they found some codes and replaced the switch. It still isn't working. I was going down interstate with my 160 lb son and an hour into the trip we noticed the airbag switch said airbag turned off. I had to pull over turn the car off, have him get out, turn the car back on, have him get back in, before the airbag would turn on. I was in the city for an appt. This week and before I left the hospital parking lot, the airbag switch turned to off. We had to shut the car off, and restart it. The switch would say airbag turned on, drive 15 feet, and now says off. Turn car off, get out, restart car, get in airbag on, drive 20 ft, airbag off. We do this 3 or 4 times before switch says airbag on and stays on. Can you put pressure on them to help us out?
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 kia sorento. Three days after purchasing the vehicle, the air bag light illuminated, which indicated that the passenger side air bag was deactivated. While driving between 40-45 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. When the vehicle is stopped at a stop sign or a red light, the exterior lights shut off. The contact has had to strike the dashboard in order to get the air conditioning to work. In addition, none of the windows will roll down. The blinkers, turn signal, and cruise control do not work. After owning the vehicle for ten months, the alternator had to be replaced and it currently needs to be replaced again. The rails to step up into the vehicle had to be replaced twice. During a crash with a deer, both the driver's and passenger side air bags failed to deployed and the seat belts did not work. As a result, the passenger sustained a broken arm. On two occasions, when the vehicle was taken to the dealer, the contact was informed that the tires needed to be rotated and aligned. On the third occasion, she was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. Since owning the vehicle, she has been to the dealer several times with many complaints, but they have never made any repairs. A hyundai inspector stated that the entire vehicle was out of specifications. The failure mileage was 600. Updated 09/23/08. *lj the consumer hit a deer and the air bags did not deploy and the seat belts did not perform as they were designed. The transmission would delay in shifting and would not shift in the correct gear. Updated 09/24/08.
The passenger side airbag sensor malfunctions intermittently on my 2007 kia sorento. There are times when a normal sized person is seated properly, but the airbag sensor indicates the airbag is not activated. Previously, if I restarted the car with the passenger seated the issue was corrected, but I have since encountered times when restarting the car does not fix the problem. I have brought my vehicle to two kia dealerships and contacted kia corporate, but was told that there was nothing they could do to help me.
2007 kia sorento passenger side air bag indicates off with adult in front seat.
Air bag sensor light on passenger side of 07 kia rio was on after repairs from an accident. Took to kia of conyers for diagnosis. Almost a month later, my car is still at the dealership. It was determined that it was a warranty issue which I am reporting in case more people have this same problem. Safety is my main concern.
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