Kia Sorento Warning Lights and Indicators Overview

The dashboard warning lights on your Kia Sorento are designed to alert the driver to critical vehicle situations that require immediate attention and heightened situational awareness.

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Air bag warning light

This warning light appears in your Kia Sorento under the following conditions:

• When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position. The light illuminates for approximately 3–6 seconds and then automatically disappears.

• When there is an SRS malfunction within the supplemental restraint system. If this happens, have the vehicle inspected promptly by an authorized Kia dealer.

Seat belt warning light

This warning light informs the driver that the seat belt is not fastened securely, ensuring your Kia Sorento prioritizes cabin safety.

For more details, refer to Seat belts.

Parking brake and brake fluid warning light

This critical warning light appears in your Kia Sorento under several operational scenarios:

• When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • The light appears for approximately 3 seconds during system checks.

  • The light remains on if the parking brake is applied.

• When you manually apply the parking brake.

• When the brake fluid level in the reservoir is low.

  • If the warning light appears when you release the parking brake, it confirms that the brake fluid level in the reservoir is low.

If the brake fluid level in the reservoir is low, follow these essential steps to maintain your Kia Sorento safely:

1. Drive carefully to the nearest safe location and stop your vehicle completely.

2. With the engine stopped, check the brake fluid level immediately and add fluid as required (for more details, refer to Brake fluid). Then check all brake components for potential fluid leaks. Do not drive the vehicle if you find a leak in the brake system, the warning light remains on, or the brakes do not operate properly.

   Have your vehicle towed to and inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Dual-diagonal braking system

Your Kia Sorento is equipped with advanced dual-diagonal braking systems, which means you still retain braking capability on 2 wheels even if one of the dual circuits should fail.

With only 1 of the dual systems working, you need to press the pedal further and harder to stop the vehicle effectively.

The vehicle will not stop in as short a distance when only a portion of the brake system is operational.

If the brakes fail while you are driving, shift to a lower gear for additional engine braking and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

NOTE

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) warning light

This warning light appears in your Kia Sorento:

• For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• If the ABS malfunctions, though the normal foundational braking system will still remain fully operational.

  Have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

EBD system warning light

These 2 warning lights appear at the same time when both the ABS and regular brake system are experiencing issues. In this case, have your Kia Sorento inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

CAUTION

Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) warning light : (if equipped)

This warning light appears in your Kia Sorento:

• For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• When the EPB encounters a malfunction. In this case, have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

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Electric Power Steering (EPS) warning light

This warning light appears in your Kia Sorento:

• For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• When the EPS system encounters a malfunction. In this case, have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Charging system warning light

This warning light appears:

• When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• When either the alternator or the electrical charging system is malfunctioning.

If either the alternator or electrical charging system is malfunctioning in your Kia Sorento, follow these steps:

1. Drive carefully to the nearest safe location and stop your vehicle completely.

2. Turn the engine off and check the alternator drive belt for looseness, wear, or breakage.

   In this case, have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)

This warning light appears in your Kia Sorento:

• For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• Whenever there is a malfunction with the emission control system, engine, or vehicle powertrain. Have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

NOTE

CAUTION

NOTE

Engine oil pressure warning light

This warning light appears in your Kia Sorento:

• When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position until the engine starts running.

• When the internal engine oil pressure drops below safe operating levels.

If the engine oil pressure is low:

• Drive carefully to the nearest safe location and stop your vehicle.

• Turn the engine off and check the engine oil level (for more details, refer to Engine oil and filter). If the level is low, add appropriate oil as required.

• If the warning light remains on after you add oil, or if oil is not available, have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer. Continuing to drive with the warning light on may cause catastrophic engine failure.

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NOTE

CAUTION

Exhaust system (GPF) warning light (Gasoline Engine)

This warning light appears in your Kia Sorento:

• When there is a malfunction or regeneration requirement with the Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) system.

• When this warning light appears, it may turn off automatically after you drive the vehicle under specific conditions:

  • Drive the vehicle for more than 30 minutes at a steady speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) or faster.

  • Ensure that the following conditions are all met: safe road conditions, transmission 3rd gear or above, and engine speed maintained at 1,500–4,000 rpm.

If this warning light blinks despite following the above cleaning procedure (at this time, an LCD warning message will also display), have the GPF system checked by an authorized Kia dealer.

NOTE

Low fuel level warning light

This warning light appears when the fuel tank is nearly empty. Add fuel as soon as possible.

If the fuel tank is nearly empty, add fuel as soon as possible to protect your Kia Sorento fuel system.

NOTE

Master warning light

This warning light appears in your Kia Sorento during the following situations:

• LED headlamp malfunction: (if equipped)

• General exterior lamp malfunction

• High Beam Assist malfunction (if equipped)

To identify the exact details of the warning, look closely at the vehicle's LCD instrument cluster display.

If the underlying warning situation is resolved, the master warning light will automatically turn off.

Low tire pressure warning light

This warning light appears:

• For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• When 1 or more of your Kia Sorento tires are significantly underinflated. The LCD display shows the specific location of any underinflated tire.

For more details, refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

This warning light remains on after blinking for approximately 60 seconds or repeats blinking on and off at intervals of approximately 3 seconds when the TPMS encounters a system malfunction. In this case, have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

For more details, refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

WARNING

WARNING

LED headlamp warning light

This warning light appears:

• For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• When there is a technical malfunction with the LED headlamp system.

Have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

This warning light blinks:

• When there is a malfunction with an LED headlamp related component.

Have the vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

NOTE

Forward Safety warning light

This warning light appears:

• For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• Yellow: When Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist Forward Safety is deselected, disabled, or when a sensor malfunction is detected.

  If the yellow warning light remains on after the sensor has been uncovered or unblocked when you set Forward Safety, have your Kia Sorento inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

This warning light blinks red when the Forward Safety or Forward Cross-Traffic Safety function is actively operating.

For more details, refer to Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) (Sensor Fusion).

Emergency steering warning light : (if equipped)

This warning light appears:

• For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

• Yellow: When Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist Forward/Side Safety is deselected, disabled, or when a malfunction is detected.

  If the warning light remains on after the sensor has been uncovered or unblocked when Forward/Side Safety is active, have your Kia Sorento inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

This warning light blinks red when the Forward/Side Safety function is actively operating.

For more details, refer to Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) (Sensor Fusion).

Icy road warning light : (if equipped)

This warning light appears when the temperature on the outside temperature gauge drops below approximately 40°F (4°C) to warn the driver that the road surface may be icy. The outside temperature gauge blinks before the Icy Road Warning appears and the warning chime sounds once to ensure vigilance while driving your Kia Sorento.

Washer fluid warning light

This warning light appears when the washer fluid level in the reservoir is nearly empty. In this case, you should refill the windshield washer fluid reservoir promptly.

Door ajar warning light

This warning light appears when any passenger or driver door is not closed securely before driving your Kia Sorento.

Liftgate open warning light

This warning light appears when the rear liftgate is not closed securely.