2007 Kia Sorento Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2007 Kia Sorento has a complaint index of 10, ranking 19th worst out of 21 model years, and carries a Good verdict (capped due to less complete records for 2005-2009). It has 154 complaints, 4 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with airbags as the top problem area.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 10/100
- #19 of 21 Sorento years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 154
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 10
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 21.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 0
Top 2007 Kia Sorento problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags58 (38%)
- Brakes36 (23%)
- Electrical System30 (19%)
- Engine21 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain20 (13%)
- Structure & Body13 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (6%)
- Other9 (6%)
- Seat Belts4 (3%)
- Steering3 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front passenger airbags reportedly failed to deploy during frontal or off-road crashes at various speeds.
- Brake lights sometimes failed to illuminate when the brake pedal was applied, leading to rear-end collisions from following vehicles.
- Owners described brake pedals traveling to the floor with no braking response, resulting in collisions.
- Electrical fires were reported starting near the rear tail light or underneath the rear of the vehicle, sometimes while parked and not running.
- Some owners reported hydroplaning and loss of control in heavy rain, with airbags failing to deploy on impact.
- One owner reported sudden unintended movement while parking with a foot on the brake, causing a low-speed crash.
2007 Kia Sorento recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V088000Feb 14, 2020Brakes228,829 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
- NHTSA 13V114000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System980,377 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
- NHTSA 11V473000Sep 7, 2011Airbags10,631 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
2007 Kia Sorento fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 21.5 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2007 compared with other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2007 Kia Sorento reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2007 Sorento a complaint index of 10, the second-lowest among 21 model years, and it carries a Good verdict. That verdict is capped because complaint records for 2005-2009 Sorentos are less complete than later years.
- What problems does the 2007 Kia Sorento have?
- Owners most often reported airbag issues (38% of complaints), followed by brakes (23%) and electrical system problems (19%), including some fires.
- Does the 2007 Kia Sorento have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2007 Sorento covering brakes (ABS module moisture), electrical system wiring, airbags (passenger airbag shut-off), and the stop lamp switch. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2007 Sorento compare to other Sorento years?
- The 2007 model year ranks 19th worst out of 21 years by complaint index, well below high-complaint years like 2011 (index 100) and 2016 (index 95), both rated Avoid.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2007 Kia Sorento?
- The 2007 Sorento gets an EPA-rated 17 mpg combined (15 city / 21.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.