PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT MATT FAULTY. PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT COME ON.
2005 Kia Sorento
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Kia Sorento do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 242.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sorento years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
257 reports with mileage · 50 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
43 reportsTHE AIRBAG LIGHT IS SHOWS UP ON THE BOARD OF THE CAR NEED TO KNOW WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAR
SEAT SENSOR ON MY KIA SORENTO FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. WHEN A PASSENGER SETS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS ON. YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, YOU DRIVE AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON. CITY OR HIGHWAY TRAVEL, THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IF OFF.
PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILED, VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE IN PERFECT CONDITION. THE REPAIR IS ALMOST 2000.00. WITH THIS REPAIR NEEDED THE VEHICLE WON'T PASS INSPECTION, SO WHAT IS OTHERWISE A PERFECTLY FINE VEHICLE IS NOW SCRAP. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS HARDLY USED ( MAYBE 20% OF THE VEHICLE USE ) SO A FAILURE OF AN EXPENSIVE OCCUPANCY S…
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PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILED, VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE IN PERFECT CONDITION. THE REPAIR IS ALMOST 2000.00. WITH THIS REPAIR NEEDED THE VEHICLE WON'T PASS INSPECTION, SO WHAT IS OTHERWISE A PERFECTLY FINE VEHICLE IS NOW SCRAP. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS HARDLY USED ( MAYBE 20% OF THE VEHICLE USE ) SO A FAILURE OF AN EXPENSIVE OCCUPANCY SENSOR LIKE THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
DRIVING ACROSS A 4 LANE EXPRESSWAY, BARELY MADE IT ACROSS, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND COMES TO A STOP AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE POWER STEERING LOSING ALL CONTROL. CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAS DAMAGED THE ENGINE SO SEVERE, THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN AT OUR EXPENSE ($5,000), GAS TANK WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A HOLE AND LEAKING GAS. AIR BAG …
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DRIVING ACROSS A 4 LANE EXPRESSWAY, BARELY MADE IT ACROSS, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND COMES TO A STOP AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE POWER STEERING LOSING ALL CONTROL. CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAS DAMAGED THE ENGINE SO SEVERE, THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN AT OUR EXPENSE ($5,000), GAS TANK WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A HOLE AND LEAKING GAS. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF JUST DEPENDS ON IT'S MOOD, THE DISPLAY ON THE RADIO, ETC. GOES AWAY IN COLD WEATHER, AND NOW HAVE A CONSTANT THUMP THUMP WHEN DRIVING AS IF THE TIRE IS FLAT. DRIVING FOR 5 MONTHS WITH NEW ENGINE, I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR QUICKLY TO PASS A TRUCK WHEN A LOUD NOISE (SOUNDING LIKE THE ENGINE BLEW) FROM THE ENGINE WAS HEARD THEN SOMETHING COMES LOOSE AND HITS THE UNDERCARRIAGE SO HARD I CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD. NO SMOKE, NO ELEVATION IN TEMPERATURE. PULL OVER, THERE IS NOW A VIBRATION WHEN IDLING BUT CANNOT SEE ANYTHING OBVIOUS MISSING. WHATEVER IT WAS TOOK CHUNKS OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK UP AT TIMES AND YOU COULD FEEL SOMETHING LIKE A PUMP LOSING AIR AND THE CAR SLIDES JUST BEFORE THE COMPLETE STOP WITH A LOW GROANING NOISE. HAVEN'T TOOK TO THE MECHANIC YET, BUT WILL BE SOON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR MAT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SORENTO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR MAT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
I PURCHASED THIS 2005 KIA SORENTO AND ON MY WAY HOME THERE WAS A KNOCK BEFORE I LOST MY STERRING AND BRAKES. LUCKILY I SLOWED DOWN WHEN I HEARD THE SOUND. I GOT THE CAR HOME SAFELYBEING ONLY A HALF A MILE AWAY. CALLED THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE KIA FROM AND HE CAME AND GOT IT TO REPAIR IT. HE BOUGHT THE UPDATED SO CALL BOLT THAT…
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I PURCHASED THIS 2005 KIA SORENTO AND ON MY WAY HOME THERE WAS A KNOCK BEFORE I LOST MY STERRING AND BRAKES. LUCKILY I SLOWED DOWN WHEN I HEARD THE SOUND. I GOT THE CAR HOME SAFELYBEING ONLY A HALF A MILE AWAY. CALLED THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE KIA FROM AND HE CAME AND GOT IT TO REPAIR IT. HE BOUGHT THE UPDATED SO CALL BOLT THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT. THEN I GOT THE CAR BACK AND HAD THE GAS TANK LEAKING FROM THE SEAMS. HE FIX AND REPLACED THAT. JUST THE OTHER NIGHT ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I LOST MY STERRING AND BRAKES AGAIN..I TRAVEL ON MAIN ROADS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF AMISH HERE AND THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING AROUND ANY OF THERE BUGGY AND HURT THOSE PEOPLE OR MYSELF..THERE IS NO FIX WHAT SO EVER FOR THIS ISSUE AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE KIA STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAULTY DEFECT BEFORE A INNOCENT CHILD OR WOMAN OR HUSBAND GETS KILLED.
I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FEW MONTHS AGO AS A USED CAR, WHENEVER I START THE CAR , PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIR BAGS LIGHTS IS ALWAYS ON. I WENT TO KIA SERVICE CENTER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME IT'S NOT INCLUDED ON A RECALL LIST, I EVEN SHOWED THEM A PAPER WHICH STATED A GROUP RECALL SC076. AND ALSO READ ON A KIA FORUM THAT …
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I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FEW MONTHS AGO AS A USED CAR, WHENEVER I START THE CAR , PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIR BAGS LIGHTS IS ALWAYS ON. I WENT TO KIA SERVICE CENTER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME IT'S NOT INCLUDED ON A RECALL LIST, I EVEN SHOWED THEM A PAPER WHICH STATED A GROUP RECALL SC076. AND ALSO READ ON A KIA FORUM THAT THAT THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL WHICH IS SC045, STATING A GROUP RECALL ALSO. KIA MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S MATTER OF LIFE & DEATH IF THEY DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM.
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OCS SYSTEM. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I BELIEVE THE OCS SYSTEM IS BROKEN, HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 2007 KIA RIO THAT HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME PART. *TR
INTERIOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTING TURNS ITSELF OFF AND ON. HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY SHUT THEMSELVES OFF. LIGHTS REGULARLY BURN OUT/NEED REPLACING EVERY 45-90 DAYS. DASH LIGHTS HAVEN'T WORKED IN OVER A YEAR - FUSE REGULARLY BLOWS, GAVE UP ON REPLACING IT. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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