2015 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 27owner reports
- 69,000median miles
- 6involved a crash
Newest report Sep 3, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
27 of the 738 complaints on this car describe airbag.
Tick what matches of 27 reports
Airbag on other Sorento years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (7 reports) and the clock spring (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the airbags covers the 2015 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Sorento
Air bag occupant classification system. Closed sep 26, 2011, led to recall 11V-473.
Air bag ocs. Closed nov 30, 2009.
None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 22,000 and 96,000 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Turned the steering wheel to the right, and the airbag warning light came on. Itâs a safety issue that needs to be addressed. If Iâm ever in an accident will it deploy? This is ridiculous. Waiting to get an appointment with the dealership.”
Filed Jan 6, 2024
“2015 Kia Sorento - Airbag light came on. Mechanic diagnosed as a faulty clock spring assembly. Checked Carfax for recalls and nothing came up with his error code, however, there IS a recall for 2011-2015 Sorento Airbag Clock Spring Assembly. The same repair, but not coming up for my VIN #. Cost of repair is $$$$ out of pocket.”
Filed Jan 16, 2023
“Airbag lights remain on regardless of whatâs in the passenger seat. Engine smells like burning metal when driven longer than 15minutes. Ticking noises when the steering wheel is turned. Acceleration issues Vehicle lags when initially starting after being off for hours. Mechanics have looked at them KIA dealership WONT assist.”
Filed Aug 19, 2022
“My airbag came on in my 2015 KIA. It is a tension airbag, I believe. It won't go off. There are recalls in every other year but 2015. It is the same recall as the other years.”
Filed Feb 15, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 6 of 27 reports involved a crash and 9 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 209 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 138 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 88 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 81 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 78 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 37 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 36 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 35 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 31 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 30 reports