There are 16 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2017 Kia Sorentoin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My airbag sensor light is on; Kia dealer says it is an OCS sensor has an internal fault for the passenger side, but the sensor comes on when only the driver seat is occupied. I am told NOT to drive the car until it is fixed because the airbag will not deploy. Dealer has confirmed the issue and is quoting $1100 to fix if there is no recall posted on the vehicle. The system first appeared about 3 days prior to taking it into the dealer for inspection. Car is still at the dealer while review of recalls are undeway. We've found recalls for Kias for 2018 but not 2017
I am writing to bring to your attention a concerning issue regarding the instrument panel of the 2016-2020 Kia Sorento. My car - 2017 Kia Sorento. In approx. 2021, I noticed a small 2 cm crack resembling a razor blade cut on my instrument panel (Part Number: 84710-C5000WK, also 84710-C6000WK and 84710-C6001WK). At the time, I did not find this defect alarming as it was minor and located far from the airbag area. However, over time, the situation has deteriorated significantly. The small crack has now developed into three substantial cracks measuring between 6 to 8 inches, with some of them encroaching upon the airbag area. I am increasingly concerned that these cracks may impact the airbag deployment mechanism and potentially result in fragments from the panel flying out during a collision, an issue that has been documented in other vehicle brands in the past. After conducting some research, I found that this problem appears to be common among the Kia Sorento models manufactured between 2016 and 2020. Numerous sources online indicate that these dashboard cracks pose a safety hazard. I have made attempts to address this issue directly with Kia. However, I was informed that the initial inspection fee is $150, and the estimated cost for part replacement and installation is approximately $3,959. This amount is quite significant. I urge your organization to investigate this matter further and consider providing a remedy for affected customers. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, another vehicle t-boned into the driver’s side between the front and rear drivers' side doors. The contact mentioned that the other driver failed to stop at the red light which caused the collision. The air bags in the vehicle failed to deploy correctly. The contact sustained knee, back, and shoulder injuries. The contact's wife sustained a concussion and the daughter sustained bruises on the shoulders caused by the seat belt. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
The airbag light stays on and the Tunersville NJ dealership charged me $169 for a diagnostic of the problem. The error code was a B1448 OC sensor MAT defect and they need to replace the cushion because the Occupant Detection System (ODS) Sensor Pad is located inside the seat and quoted me around $2000 to replace it. I was told by the dealership that if the passenger mat detection is not working then the airbag will not work if an accident happens. I found that Kia Sorento from 2011- 2015 has the same issue and the company replaced it without a charge and extended the warranty for this airbag sensor to 15 yr with unlimited miles. This is a known defect for Kia corporation and they don't address this issue until somebody gets hurt in an accident and the airbag malfunctions.
I was t boned while driving aprox 25 30 non of my air bags deployed and to bolts holding the door had the head shear off while bolts were still stuck in door frame
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving into an intersection at a speed of approximately 10 MPH a second vehicle crashed into the front end of the vehicle. During the crash, the front was severely damaged and the vehicle was destroyed but no air bags were deployed. The contact sustained a head injury and was examined at the local hospital. The driver of the second vehicle also sustained an undisclosed injury. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. the local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 165,000.
Werner KIA sold pre-owned vehicle with driver side seatbelt defect, very loose. It was acknowledged by dealer, on paperwork, stated they repaired/replaced it, only to see it was NOT repaired/replaced due to cost. To date, seatbelt still loose, may not work in crash situation. Werner KIA 2755 W. Tennessee St. Tall, FL.
I was in a wreck in a 2017 Kia Sorento lx on sept 27,2021. Somehow ended on opposite side of road hit a culvert was thrown in air and bounced rolled tumbled all directions all air bags deployed but the steering wheel and dash. I ended up with my L1 lumbar burst and shattered. The state trooper that was there even noticed the nondeployed airbags. The owners manual and Internet says if steering wheel airbag doesn’t deploy can result in severe spinal injury. The car is totaled but I’m sure someone could still check it out. I am in a backbrace unable to lift up to a gallon of milk or able to stand or walk very long. And can’t bewithout brace on.
Rear passenger left seat belt is locked will not release
RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER SEAT HAS NOT WARNING/SOUND TO REMIND PASSENGER TO FASTEN SEAT BELT. SPOKE WITH DEALER AFTER PURCHASE AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE I PURCHASED ONLY HAS A REMINDER SOUND FOR DRIVER SIDE ONLY. DOES NOT SEEM TO COINCIDE WITH REQUIREMENTS FOR SEAT BELT NOTIFICATION.
THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STAYING ON SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. THE DIAGNOSED IT AS THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL COST ME ALMOST $800 TO REPAIR. SHOULD THIS BE A MANUFACTURER ISSUE AND BE REPLACED AT NO COST? IF I DON'T REPAIR IT, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS.
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET AND STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE IS SHOWN BELOW IN THE UPLOADED IMAGE. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
LR SEAT BELT BAYONET FAILED TO RETURN TO FLAT, WHEN PASSENGER ENTERED CAR, DURING TURNING AND TWISTING GETTING IN, HEAD STRUCK BAYONET CAUSING CONCUSSION.
WHEN YOUR IN THE PASSER SEAT AND THE SEATBELT NOT HOOK UP IT DOESN'T ALARM TO LET YOU KNOW YOUR SEATBELT NOT FASTEN. ALL THERE OTHER VEHICLES DO.
MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT BECOME ACTIVE IF I USE MY AIR CUSHION.I NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG.KIA TELLS ME TO BAD .I NEED TO USE A CUSHION FOR MEDICAL REASONS.I WANT THE AIR BAG TO BE ACTIVE .I PAID FOR THIS FEATURE.KIA SAID I CAN'T USE A CUSHION. I FEEL THE AIR BAG SHOULD BE ACTIVE ALL OF THE TIME REGARDLESS PLEASE REQUIRE THEM TO PUT SWITCH ON THIS FEATURE TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG?
When someone is sitting in the front passenger seat and does NOT have their seat belt on there is no warning alerting the operator of the vehicle, no lights blinking or no bells dinging. I have done a little research and this appears to be common on at least some Kia vehicles. Pretty much every other vehicle I have checked gives some kind of warning if passenger is not buckled. The seatbelt system is part of the restraint system (as I'm sure you know) so I would think that would be a big safety issue.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026