2008 Kia Sorento Reliability
The 2008 Kia Sorento has 217 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and stability control. Compared with other Sorento model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Sorento's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
217
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
15
Complaints citing a crash
9
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Kia Sorento complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2007 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 66 | 30% |
| Stability control | 44 | 20% |
| Engine | 35 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 32 | 15% |
| Speed control / throttle | 28 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 27 | 12% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 23 | 11% |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 6% |
2008 Kia Sorento recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2008 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V473000 | Sep 7, 2011 | Air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive | Kia is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Sorento passenger cars manufactured from June 15, 2006 through November 27, 2007. The front passenger air bag may be turned off when an adult is in the passenger seat. The front passenger air bag is designed to be… |
| 13V114000 | Apr 1, 2013 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009… |
| 20V088000 | Feb 14, 2020 | Electrical system | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short. |
How the 2008 compares with nearby Sorento years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sorento analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 242 | 1 | Engine | Better year |
| 2007 | 154 | 4 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2008 (this page) | 217 | 3 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2009 | 55 | 3 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2010 | 3 | 2 | Suspension | Too few reports |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2008 Kia Sorento
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Kia Sorento can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Kia Sorento reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Kia Sorento reliable?
The 2008 Kia Sorento has 217 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and stability control. Compared with other Sorento model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Sorento's typical year.
What are the most common 2008 Kia Sorento problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Kia Sorento are air bags (66), stability control (44), engine (35), electrical system (32). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Kia Sorento have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2008 Kia Sorento, including 11V473000 (air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive) and 13V114000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2008 Kia Sorento compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 154 complaints and 4 recalls (solid); the 2009 has 55 complaints and 3 recalls (better year). The 2008 has 217 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Kia Sorento?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Sorento research
Other Kia Sorento model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 Sorento, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.