2007 Kia sorento. Consumer writes in regard to defective ABS system.
2007 Kia Sorento brakes problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
1fire
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 brakes complaints filed for the 2007 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Sorento has brake trouble across multiple systems. Most serious are incidents of complete brake failure where the pedal goes soft or travels to the floor without stopping the vehicle. One owner was hit by another car at highway speed after the brakes failed entirely; another reported smoke from under the hood during a brake failure at 55 mph, though a cracked radiator was diagnosed afterward. The manufacturer's recall (NHTSA 20V088000) was pending but parts were not available at the time of complaint.
Brake light switch failure is chronic. Lights either don't illuminate when the pedal is depressed, causing other drivers to rear-end the vehicle, or stay on continuously and drain the battery. One owner replaced this switch four times through recall campaigns, and it failed again.
Brake rotors warp repeatedly at short intervals—some owners report new rotors failing within 3,000–6,000 miles. The warping causes heavy wheel vibration when braking, particularly above 45 mph. One owner noted this hazard.
An ABS control module failure was diagnosed in at least one complaint, and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) malfunctions are mentioned alongside poor braking performance. Kia's customer service response has been slow or absent on several complaints.
Same Kia Sorento brakes reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal travel to floor / complete loss of braking force
Brake pedal goes soft or travels fully to floorboard without stopping the vehicle. Multiple owners report depressing the pedal to the floor and the vehicle not responding. One collision resulted.
When: 131,000 miles (complaint #1); 112,600 miles (complaint #4); various speeds at unknown mileage (complaint #2)
Symptoms owners cite: brake pedal goes to floorboard; vehicle fails to stop; no warning light illuminated (complaint #2); steering becomes difficult to turn during failure (complaint #1); smoke from hood during failure (complaint #1)
Codes mentioned: ABS control module failure (complaint #2)
Repairs/costs cited: Cracked radiator diagnosed on complaint #1 (dealer said not associated with recall); ABS control module replacement recommended on complaint #2; no repairs completed in either case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) — recall parts unavailable for complaint #1; Complaint #4 had no dealer/manufacturer notification
Brake lamp switch failure
Brake light switch fails, causing brake lights to not illuminate when pedal is depressed, or to remain on continuously and drain battery. One complaint notes the switch has been recalled and 'fixed 4 times' but continues to fail.
When: 103,000 miles (complaint #7); 170,000 miles (complaint #5); unspecified (complaint #9)
Symptoms owners cite: brake lights fail to illuminate when brakes applied; brake lights stay on continuously; battery drain from continuous brake lights; cruise control and stability control cannot be activated (complaint #7)
Repairs/costs cited: Brake switch replacement required (complaints #6, #7); complaint #9 owner replaced switch 4 times with continued failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V114000 (Exterior Lighting, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) — complaint #5; complaint #6 manufacturer stated no recalls available and offered no assistance; complaint #9 appears related to recurring recall
Warped brake rotors
Front brake rotors warp repeatedly at short intervals. Owners report the problem recurring after rotors are turned or replaced. Causes significant wheel vibration during braking.
When: Complaint #8 states second occurrence in two years; complaint #10 states warping recurs every 3,000–6,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: front wheels wobble at speeds above 45 mph when brakes applied; heavy wheel vibration when stopping; pulsation during braking
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors turned and replaced; problem recurs within 3,000–6,000 miles (complaint #10); complaint #8 owner notes this is dangerous for inexperienced or inattentive drivers
ABS system defect
One owner reports defective ABS system without elaborating on specific failure mode.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: ABS system defect (unspecified)
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) malfunction and wiring issues
ESC OFF light comes on and off randomly but daily. One complaint also mentions main wiring harness fell into the dash. Owner reports poor braking performance alongside these electrical issues and states all three issues should be recalled.
When: Unspecified mileage; complaint #6 at 70,436 miles (shaking with ESC and check engine lights)
Symptoms owners cite: ESC OFF light illuminates randomly and daily; vehicle shakes abnormally at 35 mph with ESC and check engine lights on (complaint #6); main wiring harness fell into dash (complaint #3); poor braking performance reported alongside ESC issue (complaint #3)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (complaint #6)
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #6 dealer recommended brake switch and throttle position sensor replacement; complaint #3 owner states dealer unwilling or incapable of correcting ESC issue after 7 visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #6 manufacturer stated no recalls available and offered no assistance; complaint #3 owner filed customer service request with Kia but received no response after seven business days
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Kia sorento. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to illuminate when the brakes were depressed. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle due to not knowing that the contact was applying the brakes. The contact sustained injuries to the back and a police report was not filed. After the crash, the contact received…
Had brakes trouble with your 2007 Kia Sorento?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2007 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 51,222 and 131,000 miles, with the median around 103,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,222; a quarter make it past 131,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Kia/Sorento.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.