Avg. Price Paid:$10,752 - $15,113
Original MSRP: $20,995 - $26,195
MPG: 16 City / 22 Hwy
Search Used Listings:

2008 Kia Sorento Recalls & Reliability

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2008 Kia Sorento U.S. News Best Cars 8.4
Critics' Rating: 9.2
Performance: 6.9
Interior: 7.6
Safety: 9.5
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Powerful 3.8-liter engine for EX model
  • Excellent government crash test scores
  • Long basic and powertrain warranties
  • Rough ride
  • Mediocre fuel economy for the class

Research Other Years

Review Last Updated: 2/17/09

Recalls

There has been 1 safety recall issued from NHTSA.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULERecall Date: 09/06/2011
  • 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.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 11V473000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 10,631
  • Summary: 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.
  • 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.

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Predicted Reliability Score
  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

All information provided by J.D. Power and Associates is proprietary information owned by J.D. Power and Associates and is protected by U.S. and international copyright law and conventions. Reproduction of this information, in whole or in part, by any means is prohibited without the express written consent of J.D. Power and Associates, other than printing copies of the J.D. Power and Associates content by site visitors for their personal use. J.D. Power and Associates® is a registered trademark of J.D. Power and Associates.

Warranty

The Sorento comes with impressive warranties, including a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty. In addition, the Sorento gets a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

"A pace-setting warranty means peace of mind is standard equipment," says the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. While Kia is a relatively new brand in North America, the Sorento's sales and quality ratings have risen steadily over the past several years. The manufacturer's warranty "lasts longer than most marriages," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution quips. According to BusinessWeek, "The company's basic message: We couldn't afford to offer this warranty if we thought this car would break down, but if it does, you're covered."

Next Steps: Kia Sorento

  • To get local pricing, enter your zip code: Get Best Price Cancel
  • Search used Kia Sorento for sale (6,197 listings)
  • Calculate monthly payment and apply for a loan
  • See Affordable Midsize SUVs rankings