2008 Kia Sorento reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2008 Kia Sorento from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 317
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 48 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 20 injuries · 3 deaths · 17 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#1,669
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
+52
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2006-2010
+45
median 272 complaints in 785 records
Top component share
15%
Air Bags: 48 complaints
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
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
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. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. 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?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2008 Kia Sorento. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.