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 2009 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring and several warning lights including the ASC warning light, check engine warning light, and air bag passenger warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic). …
My son was traveling on a main road in town when the car hydroplaned at about 30 MPH and he lost control. It sent him slamming into a culvert, then it bounced out of the culvert and ran up on a residential porch and hit a tree. The drivers side took the majority of the impact. None of the airbags deployed (front or side). He was slammed into the drivers door panel and the center console. He has continuing pain in his back.
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 weighed 190 lbs that the whole seat was covered with my bottom. They said nothing was wrong with the sensor. I showed them pictures of my phone showing we were driving down the road and the light came on. They didn't seam to care. It still malfunctions about 80%, the warranty ran out a while ago. The light will come on while your sitting still and it will come on in the middle of driving. The only way to get it back off is to stop the vehicle and get out and sit down again, but it will usually deactivates again
The drivers side airbag deployed while backing up in a parking lot. I traveled approximately 6-10 feet turning left in reverse at maybe 1-2 MPH if that much. The vehicle was not hit nor did it hit anything to cause this airbag to deploy and the horn to stay on. When airbag deployed, the steering wheel cover when forced open gashed left thumb. Auto insurance will not cover defects. Trying to work with Kia motors to replace defective parts and make vehicle safe. Unknown at this time if they will fix. Other Kia vehicles have had airbag problems from my research. Service manager at dealership said it was out of warranty, but my attorney said defects are not a warranty issue and my vehicle is within the product liability period.
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 repaired. In December 2015, started to happen again but now the air bag light came on and won't go off. Took in January, and $275 more, replaced dimmer switch again and cleaned the connection to air bag sensor. Three days later, the air bag light is on again. Further inspection and it is determined the the "ocs" sensor needs to be replaced to the tune of $1900 for parts and $200 for labor.
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 they said it was not there problem. It is a problem between me and the dealer where I bought the car, it seems to me that the dealer replaced the parts as long as it was under warranty but they never fixed the problem.( what do I do}
I was driving on black top rd. It had been sleeting the Kia I was driving veered off the opposite side of rd. I went off in ditch hitting a tree head on my air bag didn't deploy I would like to know why is this normal I don't think so I thought that is what they were for my injuries were sprained wrist & neck & back & my breast bone hurts I was driving a 2009 Kia Sorento looking forward to your reply does this happen very often to this make of vehicle?
'passenger air bag off' light on repeatedly with a passenger in seat and after turning engine off and on and re-positioning of passenger more than 1 dozen times! This vehicle was purchased used as a replacement vehicle, after surviving being hit head-on, severely injured and our vehicle destroyed. Air bags helped save our lives. The Sorento has had this problem since date of purchase in February 2010. We have repeatedly talked to Kia headquarters and dealerships regarding this problem. Normal passenger is much heavier than 120 lb "gray area" noted to affect activation. One dealership printed a readout "proving" usual passenger "sits light" - advised adjusting sitting position. Yesterday temps in az exceeded 110 degrees and the problem was severe. The light came on when vehicle was started, would go off and come back on as soon as the shifting lever was moved. …
I have 2 complaints. 1) I have complained about the front passenger air bag not coming on when an adult is seated in it. I have taken it to 2 different Kia shops 5 times since 1200 miles and was told it is operating normal. Normal is when an adult sits in it, not when you place a purse on the seat or whenever it decides to work. I am following the manual and still no satisfaction with repair. 2) at 1200 miles I also complained that the car would buck, stick in 3rd gear, and not shift till it red lines. This does not happen all the time and I was told by Kia that unless the "check engine" light comes on they can not find the problem. Even after the #1 repair tech in the world for Kia experienced the not shifting till it red lines for himself. I was told the only thing they could do is reprogram the computer. They have reprogrammed it 4 times the problem is still there. …
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 rises to about 75% if she shifts around to activate the sensor. Communication on the web and the austin dealership service representative noted that Kia has had problems with activation of the front passenger seat sensor. In particular, Kia had a safely recall sc 076 a (covering 2007-2008 Kia sorentos) which had symptoms identical to what we now are experiencing. The dealership service representative and the Kia telephone help line claim my vehicle is not covered by that recall.
Airbag complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Kia Sorento, 38% of the model year's 55 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Kia Sorento airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2009 Kia Sorento, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Kia Sorento airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 33,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 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.