2008 Kia Sorento reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2008 Kia Sorento — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 317
- 19 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 48 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 20 injuries · 3 deaths · 17 fires
What owners report fails — 2008 Kia Sorento
- AIR BAGS 48
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 44
- ENGINE 35
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 28
3 recalls on record for the 2008 Kia Sorento
- NHTSA 20V088000 · 2020 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, inc
- NHTSA 13V114000 · 2013 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk
- NHTSA 11V473000 · 2011 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-I THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF WHEN THE OCS MISCLASSIFIES AN ADULT PASSENGER. WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2008 Kia Sorento
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2008 Kia Sorento units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Kia Sorento reliable?
NHTSA has 317 consumer complaints on record for the 2008 Kia Sorento and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (48 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2008 Kia Sorento units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Kia Sorento?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (48), electronic stability control (esc) (44), engine (35), electrical system (30). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2008 Kia Sorento?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.