2003 Kia Sorento Airbags Problems

Your air bag clock spring mechanism has failed, and Kia has stopped producing replacement parts for 2003 Sorento models with cruise control. This component is critical to your air bag safety system, and you're unable to get it fixed through normal parts channels. Your air bag warning light is on, indicating the system isn't functioning properly.

Your airbag warning light is on and you've been told one of your airbags won't inflate properly, even though your car hasn't been in an accident. This is preventing your vehicle from passing inspection. Your car is subject to a Takata airbag recall, and you should contact your Kia dealer to have the defective airbag module inspected and replaced under the recall.

AIR BAGS COIL SPRING HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND KIA REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY IN CASE OF A ACCIDENT. THIS IS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE DAY I PURCHASE THE CAR. I DON'T KNOW THE MAKER OF THE AIR BAG SISTEM.

AIRBAG INDICATOR TURNED ON AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED ON IN FEAR OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING ON THEIR OWN WHILE I'M DRIVING OR NOT DEPLOYING IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS.

4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE USED OFF DEALERSHIP LOT, I WAS HAVING 4 NEW TIRES INSTALLED FOR WINTER. WHEN I CLIMBED BACK INTO THE CAR AND TURNED OVER THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY LIT EVER SINCE. *KB

THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE SRS SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (AIR BAG) KEEPS GOING OFF WENT OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY AT 80,000 MILES IT STARTED AROUND 80, 800 DEALER WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS. LIGHT IS NOW CONSTANT AND WHEN I WAS SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOUND SAME COMPLAINTS WITH THE SRS. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 2003 KIA SORRENTO AND FELL A SLEEP AT THE WHEEL AFTER COLLEGE EXAMS. SHE DROVE INTO THE REAR OF A TRACTOR TRAILER TANKER AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. SHE HAD A CONCUSSION AND A CRACKED STERNUM. STATE FARM INSURANCE DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO A BENT FRAME, ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE AND A TOTALED FRONT END. AFTER CONTACTING KIA, THEIR RESPONSE TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE ANGLE THE CAR HIT THE TRAILER, WAS SUCH THAT NONE OF THE SENSORS WAS COMPROMISED , THERE FOR THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BASICALLY IS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT OF THE CAR. *TR

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING. NOW I'M TOLD MY AIRBAGS WON'T WORK. THE DEALER STATES I NEED A NEW CONTROL MODULE. IT IS COMING UP AS A SEAT POSITION ERROR. THEY SAID IT IS COMMON. THIS IS A REQUIRED SAFETY ITEM ON NEW CARS, THE AIRBAGS. IF IT IS A COMMON DEFECT WHY NO RECALL. KIA WON'T HELP. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. VEHICLE HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED OR OFF ROAD. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR LIFE. I HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS IN MY VEHICLE. *TR

REFERENCE NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10015248 -- TSB# 029 2003 KIA SORENTO -- AIR BAGS PURCHASED CAR IN 8/2003 AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG COMING ON AND OFF OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS. NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS THREE MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT INCLINED TO COVER THE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE "ADU" BUT RATHER WISHES TO CHARGE ME MORE THAN $500. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A SCARY ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. KIA FIXED THIS ISSUE AT LEAST 5 TIMES NOW THE LIGHT IS BACK ON AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. IF AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AT TIME OF IMPACT I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

IN SEPTEMBER, 2006, AT APPROXIMATELY 55200 MILES, THE AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER ON 5 SEPT 2006 (INVOICE 107484) REVEALED "ORDERED DRIVERS AIR BAG, FAULT B1346, 1ST STAGE RESISTANCE TO [SIC] HIGH." ON 25 SEPT 2006, AFTER FIRST ORDERING THE WRONG PART(INVOICE 107945), THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG (INVOICE 108174). ON 31 JULY 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 59200 MILES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON 1 AUGUST, AND ON 2 AUGUST THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG. THE DEALER INVOICE INDICATES "56910R00 REPLACED DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. RESISTANCE TO [SIC] HIGH." (INVOICE 119075). ON THE MORNING OF 3 AUGUST 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 59220 MILES, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY 4-1/2 YEARS ONLY. DESPITE THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG BEING REPLACED TWICE, THE CAR IS INDICATING FOR THE THIRD TIME THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG HAS FAILED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A PAVED STREET AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE-IMPACT AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT IMPACT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. UPON INSPECTION, THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN A MAJOR COLLISION. THE DEALER IS AWAITING APPROVAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE REPAIRS ARE MADE. UPDATED 5/22/2006 - *NM

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK TO KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED 2003 KIA SORENTO (NEW) WAS TOLD THAT THE "CLOCK SPRING" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS VERY COMMON THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIR. I ASKED IF IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE A LOT WHY HAD IT NOT BEEN A "SAFETY ISSUE" AND A RECALL BEEN ENACTED. THEY DID NOT KNOW. *NM

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT ENGAGED WHEN A PASSENGER SAT IN THE, SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AFTER BEING SERVICED NINE TIMES. *JB

THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END ACCIDENT. *BF AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING, THE CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

ON SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2004, MY 2003 KIA SORRENTO WAS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I MOVED THE LAWN. AFTER RETURNING MY LAWN MOWER TO THE GARAGE, I GOT INTO THE SORRENTO TO MOVE IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE. AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, PULLED ME THROUGH THE GARAGE AND THROUGH THE BACK WALL, WHICH IS SOLID BRICK. I WENT THROUGH MY FRONT YARD, AND THE ONLY REASON I STOPPED WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WENT OVER SOME BOULDERS AND DOWN AN INCLINE, CAUSING THE BACK WHEELS TO COME OFF THE GROUND. I ALSO HIT A TREE IN MY FRONT YARD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 EX KIA SORENTO IN JUNE 2003. ON JULY 13,2003 THE AIR BAG LIGHT SYSTEM CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARRON KIA. THEY STATED THEY REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE. IT TOOK FIVE DAYS TO REPAIR. ON NOVEMBER 11, 2003 THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARRON KIA ON THE 14TH. IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER SIX DAYS. THEY STATED IT WAS THE LOJACK ALARM SYSTEM THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT WAS FIXED. ON NOVEMBER 29,2003 THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO BARRON KIA ON DECEMBER 3, 2003, IN ORDER FOR A LOJACK TECHNICIAN TO REMOVE THE ALARM AND FOR BARRON KIA TO FIX AND RUN TEST ON THE AIRBAG. THE CAR WAS THERE 11 DAYS AND SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED FOR ALL AIRBAG POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. ALL TEST CAME BACK NORMAL. ON JANUARY 19, 2004 THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT BACK ON. THE CAR WAS ONCE AGAIN TAKEN TO BARRON KIA ON THAT DAY. AT THIS POINT, THE ALARM IS DISCONNECT AND THE AIR BAG CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE AND INDICATING THAT THERE MAY BE A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SAFETY SYSTEM WITH THE CAR. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT BARRON KIA (HAS BEEN THEIR 7 DAYS NOW) AND IS AWAITING THE INSTALLATION OF ANOTHER AIRBAG MODULE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACTED WITH THE KIA HOTLINE SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS LOJACK CUSTOMER SERVICE. NEITHER COMPANY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OR ACCOUNTABILITY. IT IS DISTRESSING TO ME THAT SUCH COMPANIES WOULD JEOPARDIZES THE LIVES OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I AM ALSO DISTURBED THAT A NEW CAR WOULD BE SOLD AND RETURNED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WITH A DEFECTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM. *LA

1. (11/03/03 1ST INCIDENT) "AIR BAG" SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFFERY KIA FOR REPAIR. I WAS CALLED TO PICKUP VEHICLE TWO DAYS LATER. (UNAWARE AT THE TIME THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HAD BEEN DISABLED) WEEK LATER RECEIVED CALL THAT AIR BAG WAS IN AND TO RETURN VEHICLE FOR AIR BAG REPLACEMENT. REPAIR COMPLETED AND VEHICLE RETURNED NEXT DAY. 2.) (2ND INCIDENT) ON VACATION IN STARKE, FA., DECEMBER 24, 2003 "AIR BAG" SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. TOLD TO RETURN TO DEALER (KIA HOTLINE) DROVE 16 HOURS 12/25/03 TO GET VEHICLE TO JEFFERY KIA AND DELIVERED TO DEALER 12/26/03. I AM DISTURBED THAT VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY RETURNED TO ME IN UNSAFE CONDITION AND UNSATISFACTORILY REPAIRED AND PLACED MY GRAND CHILDREN IN JEOPARDY.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB