Three problems related to front air bag have been reported for the 2005 Kia Motor Sorento. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Kia Motor Sorento based on all problems reported for the 2005 Sorento.
Front passenger airbag is DE-activated when the front seat is occupied by an adult. It should only DE-activate if it senses no passenger seated.
On 4/30/08 my kia Sorento was hit from behind on the interstate. We were pushed into the car ahead of us who also hit the car ahead of them. We were on an extended on ramp so I estimate our speed was 35 mph. As the traffic ahead of us began to stop quickly I applied my brakes, therefore the exact rate of speed at the time of impact is unknown. However we hit car enough that my daughters lid covered soft drink hit the dash. Neither of my cars front air bags deployed. My car sustained major rear and front and driver side damage. The car was totaled. Our seat belts did hold us in. However I received bruising from the seat belt in the check and waist area as weak as an injury to my right knee where it hit the lower dash area.
The 2005 kia Sorento added a front passenger weight detection system to automatically arm or disarm the front passenger air bag for lighter weight individuals. This detector and/or related equipment operates irradically and ineffectively, leaving the users regularly uncertain regarding the status of the air bag system. This is a systemic problem known to kia but no schedule exists for a fix.