The airbag light came on when the vehicle was in motion. When able to safely pull over to the a parking lot the vehicle was shut off and turned back on. The light stayed on.
2011 Kia Sorento airbags problems
severe 145 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
145
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
14crashes
17injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 145 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Of the 14 model years of Kia Sorento we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 145.
Owners have filed 145 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
My vehicle was traveling at about 50 miles and hour and a car turned in front of me and I t- boned him. My car went up onto the 2 front wheels and then skidded into a telephone pole at about 30 miles an hour. My car is totaled. My concern is that the air bags never deployed during either impact and I think they should have. I have pictures to show the condition of the car...updated 01/21/15 */bf…
Airbag light has been on for miles. Kia states it is not under warranty, but that the entire airbag system is deactivated due to this error code. They quoted at the least $1,500 in parts alone, not including labor and they can't guarantee that will fix the problem. I am finding this a common issue in 2011 Kia sorento. This should be a mandatory recall. People can't afford to fix this…
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 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 airbags problem on the 2011 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 145 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 107 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 75,000 and 115,430 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 75,000; a quarter make it past 115,430. 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2011/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.