NHTSA vehicle safety data

2007 Kia Sorento Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2007 Kia Sorento has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 154 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2007 Kia Sorento, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2007 Kia Sorento owner complaints

Owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Kia Sorento, describing incidents dated January 7, 2007 to September 27, 2024.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 58 complaints
Service Brakes 24 complaints
Electrical System 21 complaints
Power Train 20 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 18 complaints
Engine 13 complaints

Of the 154 complaints on file, 10 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 154 complaints, owners report 10 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11622757 · Filed October 30, 2024
I went in to the burlington, wa kia dealership for this recall fix. And after waiting an hour they tell me they don't have the right part. It's now been about a month later and I'm still waiting to hear when the part will be available. I don't think this is ok for a safety issue.
ODI #11554308 · Filed November 9, 2023
The doors were locked by using the button on the driver side of our Kia Sorento. This is performed each time the car is traveling on the road. When the car was parked, the automatic unlock for all the doors worked for both front seat passengers but not the two rear doors. The inside handles for…
ODI #11546947 · Filed September 27, 2023
Passenger seat air bag sensor doesn't work.

Read all 154 complaints

Owner-reported

2007 Kia Sorento mileage at failure

119 of the 154 complaints on file for the 2007 Kia Sorento give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Air Bags	Median 10,000 miles	Middle half 500–90,000 miles	Based on 41 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2007 Kia Sorento in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP21-003: Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Closed June 20, 2023
Engineering Analysis EA09-017: Air Bag Occupant Classification System
Closed September 26, 2011
- Recall 11V-473
Preliminary Evaluation PE09-034: AIR BAG OCS
Closed November 30, 2009

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

ABS Module May Short Circuit

NHTSA #20V088000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported February 14, 2020 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 228,829 vehicles

Repair completion: 31.61% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC186 · Owners notified June 5, 2020 · Vehicles built June 15, 2006 – December 15, 2008 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Hyundai and Kia ABS module fires

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently

NHTSA #13V114000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported April 1, 2013 · Kia Motors Corporation

Potentially affected: 980,377 vehicles

Kia campaign SC098 · Owners notified April 19, 2013 · Vehicles built November 21, 2006 – June 24, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

NHTSA #11V473000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported September 7, 2011 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 10,631 vehicles

Kia campaign SC076A · Owners notified September 30, 2011 · Vehicles built June 15, 2006 – November 27, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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. 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. THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS), WHICH CLASSIFIES THE OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, MAY MISCLASSIFY AN ADULT PASSENGER AS A CHILD OR CHILD SEAT AND IMPROPERLY TURN OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. WHEN THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Safety consequence

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF WHEN THE OCS MISCLASSIFIES AN ADULT PASSENGER. WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF, THE FRONT PASSENGER WILL NOT HAVE THE PROTECTION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS IN SOME FRONTAL COLLISIONS, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

KIA'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS SC076A.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT

NHTSA #09V130000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported April 17, 2009 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 139,844 vehicles

Kia campaign SC077 · Owners notified June 17, 2009 · Vehicles built June 1, 2006 – November 20, 2006 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Safety consequence

ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

HYUNDAI-KIA RECALL NO. SC077.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2007 Kia Sorento 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

19% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

3 investigations

154 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2007 Kia Sorento.

Exterior Lighting; Service Brakes

ODI #11622757

Incident: September 27, 2024 · Filed: October 30, 2024

I went in to the burlington, wa kia dealership for this recall fix. And after waiting an hour they tell me they don't have the right part. It's now been about a month later and I'm still waiting to hear when the part will be available. I don't think this is ok for a safety issue.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11554308

Incident: November 3, 2023 · Filed: November 9, 2023

The doors were locked by using the button on the driver side of our Kia Sorento. This is performed each time the car is traveling on the road. When the car was parked, the automatic unlock for all the doors worked for both front seat passengers but not the two rear doors. The inside handles for opening the doors on both of the rear passenger doors did not open. Attempting to prior the lock mechanism on both rear doors did not work either thus I was trapped in the back seat of the vehicle. I had to crawl out of the truck of the vehicle to exit. In my opinion, this poses a serious safety concern not only with this Kia but with other ones as well. What interesting about this incident is that mechanics, at Kia or other places have no idea how to solve the problem.

Air Bags

ODI #11546947

Incident: July 18, 2019 · Filed: September 27, 2023

Passenger seat air bag sensor doesn't work.

Service Brakes

ODI #11496713

Incident: December 9, 2022 · Filed: December 9, 2022

2007 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE ABS SYSTEM.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11456457

Incident: February 1, 2022 · Filed: March 12, 2022

ABS LIGHT STAY ON, AND WHEN DRIVING THE POWER WILL TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON WILL DRIVING

Air Bags

ODI #11440016

Incident: May 6, 2021 · Filed: November 10, 2021

With or without passengers in vehicle, passenger side air bag does not come on.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11428371

Incident: July 31, 2020 · Filed: August 9, 2021

I tried to contact the manufacturer to fix the recall but they have told me multiple times they do not have the part to replace or fix.

Steering; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Service Brakes

ODI #11366308

Incident: October 25, 2020 · Filed: October 25, 2020

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME REALLY STIFF LIKE I LOST POWER STEERING. I LOOKED AT MY DASH AND HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND ESC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I PRESSED THE GAS TO TRY TO SWITCH LANES AS I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE AND NEEDED TO REACH THE SHOULDER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TURNED MY FLASHERS ON AND WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I WAS ON THE SHOULDER I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT WENT AWAY, BUT THE ABS LIGHT AND THE ESC LIGHT REMAINED ON. I STARTED TO DRIVE BACK TOWARDS MY HOUSE AND FELT THE CAR IDLING ROUGHLY WHEN AT A STOP. AT HOME MY HUSBAND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR A FEW MINUTES WHICH SOLVED THE ROUGH IDLING ISSUE BUT THE ABS AND ESC LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND HAVE THE CAR SHIFT OFF AGAIN. I HAVE READ SIMILAR REVIEWS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY KIA TO SOLVE THIS. THEY RECALLED SOME VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MINE IS NOT LISTED AND CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE! *TR

Air Bags

ODI #11364482

Incident: August 18, 2020 · Filed: October 15, 2020

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.

Electrical System; Service Brakes

ODI #11355554

Incident: August 22, 2020 · Filed: September 17, 2020

I RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER RECALL NOTICE ABOUT POSSIBLE FIRES DUE TO BRAKING CIRCUITS IN THE EARLY SPRING, BUT THE DEALERSHIP KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AS SUGGESTED. I RECEIVED A SECOND NOTICE AT THE END OF JUNE. THE SUV WAS SERVICED 7/14/20 FOR A RECALL ON THE BRAKING CIRCUIT. ON 8/22/20 A BEAUTIFULLY CLEAR SATURDAY, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY ON A PAVED COUNTRY ROAD. I NOTICED THAT THE ESC OFF INDICATOR LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. I STOPPED TO LOOK IN THE MANUAL TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE. I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND NOTICED THAT TAIL LIGHTS/BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ON EVEN WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. BECAUSE OF TWO PRIOR MANUFACTURER WARNINGS ABOUT FIRE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, I PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AS RECOMMENDED. I CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT 4:30 THAT DAY AND ARRANGED WITH CAMERON TO DROP THE SUV OFF ON SUNDAY. ON SUNDAY, MY NEIGHBOR HELPED JUMP START MY CAR AND HE FOOLED AROUND UNDER THE DASH TO TURN THE BRAKE LIGHTS OFF. HE SAID TO TELL THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE WIRES WERE WARM WHICH I DID. I INCLUDED A LIST OF CONCERNS/FACTS WITH MY KEY IN THE DROP OFF BOX. ON MONDAY, 8/24/20 CAMERON, THE SERVICE AGENT, SAID THAT THE BRAKING CIRCUIT "WAS FRIED" . THE REPAIR COST OF $2,516.07 WOULD INCLUDE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND ALL WIRES. THE COMPLETED WORK ORDER BILL SAID THAT THE HYDRAULIC MODUL WAS REPLACED, THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY, AND HECU,

Other Kia Sorento model years

Check your 2007 Kia Sorento VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Sorento at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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