Is the 2008 Kia Sorento a bad year?
217 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sorento years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Kia Sorento are in line with other Sorento years. Air bags and stability control stand out for this year: see below.
3th quietest of 16 Sorento years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Sorento owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 53,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 66 (30%) | 11k–113k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 44 (20%) | 34k–77k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 42 (19%) | 38k–99k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 32 (15%) | 48k–88k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 28 (13%) | 47k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 27 (12%) | 50k–128k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 23 (11%) | 22k–71k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 53,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 217 complaints: 15 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 13 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The manufacturer has issued a recall regarding a remedy on hecu repair or replacement. They are asking us to park our car away from other vehicle because the recalled car may get in fire.
Every 6 months the engine light and ecs off lights come on and the car loses power intermittently. This is dangerous when it happens on the freeway.
I was driving down the road and the car shut down and the all the panel lights came on. Had to stop on the side of the road to start the car.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 53,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Kia Sorento: 3
Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short. An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
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 turned off in limited circumstances including when children and small adults are seated in the front passenger seat, there is a child restraint in that seat or the seat is not occupied. The passenger side air bag is turned off when the OCS misclassifies an adult passenger.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 13
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Kia Sorento. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information regarding the inspection and installation of the steel sealing ball…
ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable…
Due to design of drain holes in valley of lambda V6 engines, a misdiagnose of a possible oil leak source in rear main seal or oil pan…
ECM upgrade with tp sensor replacement-mil on with DTC P2135/P0638
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Air Bag Occupant Classification System
Air bag OCS
Neighbouring years
2007 Sorento: 154 complaints, keep it · 2009 Sorento: 55 complaints, keep it.
Every Kia Sorento year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sorento years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2008 Kia Sorento a bad year?
217 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sorento years. At 53,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Kia Sorento?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (66), stability control (44), engine (42), electrical system (32), speed control (28).
How many recalls does the 2008 Kia Sorento have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 20V-088), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 13V-114), Air bags (NHTSA 11V-473). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.