If the airbag light comes on in your Kia Sorento, it could mean there’s a problem with your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and your airbags may not deploy properly in an accident. It’s a good idea to have your vehicle checked out as soon as possible if you notice the airbag light turns on.

Airbags are a critical component of your vehicle’s safety system—and any malfunction with the system should be taken seriously. So if you notice the airbag light comes on while driving in your

Kia Sorento

, it could mean there’s trouble afoot. Here’s what you need to know.

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What does the airbag light mean on a Kia Sorento?

If you notice the

airbag light

illuminate in your Kia Sorento, it’s a sign of trouble. In most cases, an illuminated airbag light means there’s a problem that could prevent your airbags from deploying in an accident—but uncovering exactly what that problem is might take some troubleshooting.

Your Kia’s Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) is responsible for detecting faults with your vehicle’s airbags, such as a faulty airbag sensor or low battery. When a problem is detected, your SRS triggers a warning light to appear on your instrument cluster.

The light usually features an icon shaped like a passenger with the airbag represented as a round shape in front of them. The letters “SRS” may also light up.

The most common problems that trigger your Kia Sorento’s airbag light are:

Faulty sensors: Impact sensors let your vehicle know when to deploy the front and side airbags, and occupancy sensors located in the front seats tell your vehicle when someone is in the driver and passenger seats. Over time, sensors can wear out or malfunction—and when they do, it will trigger your Kia’s airbag light.

Wiring problems: Sensors can also malfunction as the result of a wiring problem, since they’re connected to the SRS via wires. If a wire is knocked loose or a fuse is blown, the airbag light may activate as a result.

Low battery voltage: Sometimes, an illuminated airbag light isn’t the result of an SRS problem, but rather a failing car battery. A tell-tale sign of a dying car battery is the appearance of warning lights on your dashboard—so if you notice the airbag light flickering or appearing suddenly alongside multiple warning lights, your car’s battery could actually be to blame. The average lifespan for a Kia Sorento battery is just three to five years.

Damaged airbag clock spring: The airbag clock spring, mounted behind your Kia Sorento’s steering wheel, expands and retracts as you turn and maintains electrical continuity for the driver-side airbag. Like other springs in your car, it’s subject to wear and tear over time—and when it fails, your airbag light will flash.

Previous accident damage: Minor impacts—such as with fender-benders—may not be enough to trigger airbag deployment at the moment. But after the fact, you may notice the airbag light is illuminated. This could be the result of a triggered crash sensor—and you may need to reset your airbag light to make it go away.

But these aren’t the only reasons your airbag light could turn on. If you’re having trouble determining the root of your airbag issue, you can always use an

OBD-II scan tool

to check for trouble codes associated with the airbag system. Alternatively, you can bring your Sorento to a repair shop to have the problem diagnosed by a professional.

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What you need to know about the Kia Sorento airbag recall

Airbags are a critical safety feature in any vehicle—but all too often, they’re the source of malfunctions that result in manufacturer recalls. The Kia Sorento is no exception. Over the years, many Sorentos have seen airbag recalls, including in 2007, 2008, and 2018.

Below, we cover what you need to know about Kia’s airbag recalls if you drive one of these models:

2007-2008 Kia Sorento: According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), Kia Sorentos manufactured for the 2007 and 2008 model years may have a malfunctioning passenger-side airbag. The malfunction is actually the result of an occupancy sensor issue, which may not be able to detect the difference between child and adult passengers in the front seat—meaning the airbag may not deploy in the event of a crash. The good news is, you’ll be able to tell if this is the case thanks to the “passenger airbag off” light, which will illuminate on your Kia’s instrument panel.

2018 Kia Sorento: According to the NHTSA, certain 2018 Sorento models have been recalled for problems with the side curtain airbags. In some versions of the vehicle, the side curtain airbags may have a component that is likely to detach during airbag deployment, potentially causing injury.

If you drive a Sorento model affected by a recall, Kia will have the issue corrected at no cost to you.

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How to reset the airbag warning light on a Kia Sorento

You may be able to reset your airbag light manually to get it to turn off. But to do so, you’ll need an airbag scanner that’s compatible with Kia vehicles. Once you’ve got one, just follow the steps below to reset the system:

First, turn your ignition to the “ON” position without starting the engine.

Next, locate the access port for your airbag scanner tool, which is hidden underneath the left-hand (driver’s) side of your dashboard.

Plug in the airbag scanner tool.

When the scanner tool lights up, select your Kia model (the Sorento) from the list of available choices, then select the menu option titled Airbag/SRS module.

Select the option to “Read DTC” or “Read Fault Codes.”

Make sure all codes are marked as stored. You cannot reset the system with fault codes that are current.

Once all fault codes are shown as stored, select “Clear Fault Codes” to reset the system.

If you can’t get your hands on the right airbag scanner tool, you can always bring your Kia to a local dealership—there, a certified technician should be able to reset the airbag light for you.

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Is it OK to drive with the Kia Sorento airbag light on?

Technically, yes, you can drive even while the airbag light is illuminated in your Kia Sorento. But it’s still a good idea to have your vehicle checked out as soon as possible.

Whenever the airbag light comes on in your vehicle, it means there’s an issue with the airbag system. If left unchecked, your airbags may not deploy in the event of an accident—or, if they do, they may deploy incorrectly.

Since airbag failures often result in injury or death, it’s imperative not to take any unnecessary risks and have your system checked out as soon as you notice the light come on.

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