Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl 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. …
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. …
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.
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
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
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.
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 scene with a cell phone camera clearly depicting the failure.
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 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated as the contact sat in the seat. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 81,200.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
AIR BAG OCS
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…
Air Bag Occupant Classification System
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…
Airbag complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2007 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 58 complaints about the air bags of the 2007 Kia Sorento, 38% of the model year's 154 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Kia Sorento airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 11V-473 (sensor/control module-inactive, Sep 7, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Kia Sorento airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 10,000 miles, and 56% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.