CarComplaints.com Notes: Kia really changed the design of the Sorento in the 2011 model year. Instead of a truck-like body-on-frame more capable of offroad adventures, the newest Sorento is a unibody construction and is much more crossover than sport utility. The changes brought a whole slew of problems, including a frustrating problem where the door that won’t open. Is it too late to go back?
I've always loved my Kia Sorrento and used to tell my family and friends what a great vehicle it is. But over the summer the drivers side door stopped opening from the outside. I couldn't understand what was happening and finally got a quote to get it fixed for $700 CAD. I haven't gotten it repaired yet, just keep the window down or stretch across from the back seat door. A couple of days ago the same thing happened to the back door on my passenger side - it won't open from the outside!! My friends are making fun of me, asking if being able to open the doors is a 'feature' on the Sorrento,!!
I think this is a real safety issue, but haven't been able to find a recall notice. Can anyone help?
2011 KIA SORENTO, DRIVER SIDE, OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. I TOOK IT APART SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT'S THE ACTUATOR. SO FRUSTRATING THAT HAVE TO ENTER THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR. BUT, AM ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. KIA, PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL A UNFORTUNATE CATASTROPHE HAPPENS. KIA MUST RECOGNIZE AND OWN UP TO
I've never had any complaints as I have had very good experience with my KIA.......But, after reading all the complaints about this door locking problem, I felt it was time to speak up.
Kia has one of the best warranties of any car manufacturer in the US. That said, my only hope is that KIA would not blow off these complaints as most seem to address a safety issue. There seems to be a substandard locking mechanism that could end up costing someone their life or lives.
In an extreme emergency, if any of the door mechanisms fail, lives could be lost. Seconds do matter.
My wife was in a serious accident while driving our GMC Envoy. While being pinned in her seat and not able to get out of her car, Thank God a CHP officer was able to open her door so paramedics could get her out of the car. If he had to wait for the Fire Department's Jaws of Life to arrive, it might have been too late. She's fine but it could have been a disaster. Considering the several complaints I've seen only at this site, I'm sure there are more. It's not like fixing the few will break the company....it won't...,.but it's the Right thing to do especially for loyal Kia customers that have trusted in their product...,,.,.,.Time to step up KIA and restore our faith in the Auto Manufacturing Business... We trusted you, Time to stand by us and your product. It will go a long way !
Back in March, my back driver's side door stopped opening from the outside. I drove myself crazy trying to figure out what the problem could be. Three weeks later, my passenger front door did the same exact thing! I contacted my Kia dealer and they said there were no recalls on this issue for my car. However, when I went online, I found tons of others, with 2011 Sorentos, experiencing the same issue. I went to a local auto body shop and they want $500 to fix both doors with no guarantee that it is a long-term fix as the guy there said the part is defective.
Kia wants just as much- but that's over a two hour drive for me...
Update from Oct 22, 2016: Not too long after I wrote this complaint, I received a customer service letter stating that Kia would be fixing my doors at no charge as well as extending the warranty. On 10.20.16, I took my car in and had the two broken doors repaired. It's been months since I've had all my doors working but I am back to being satisfied with Kia. My only complaint at this time would be how long it took them to address this issue.
After not being able to open my back driver's side door from the outside, the passenger front door did the same exact thing! I contacted my Kia dealer and they said there were no recalls on this issue for my car. However, when I went online, I found tons of others, with 2011 Sorentos, experiencing the same issue. I went to a local auto body shop and they want $500 to fix both doors with no guarantee that it is a long-term fix as the guy there said the part is defective.
Kia wants just as much- but that's over a two hour drive for me...
Update from Oct 22, 2016: Not too long after I wrote this complaint, I received a customer service letter stating that Kia would be fixing my doors at no charge as well as extending the warranty. On 10.20.16, I took my car in and had the two broken doors repaired. It's been months since I've had all my doors working but I am back to being satisfied with Kia. My only complaint at this time would be how long it took them to address this issue.
- Sharon B.,
Newport, OR, US
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I contacted the dealer in town, and I was told that the latch mechanism is broken on both front doors, and that this is normal wear. The KIA corporation will not take responsibility. I have to open the back door and extend my arm to the inside front door handle to open the door. The passenger side went out last summer, which is a nuisance, but now that the driver's side has the same problem it's become a major problem to simply get into my car; if there's someone parked next to me it's difficult to make sure the door is open enough to stay open before I can climb out of the back of the car and catch the door so that I may enter the front. Aside from the nuisance, it's indignant. Nobody wants to lose their dignity simply trying to get into their car. This also creates the problem of selling the vehicle, as I'd have to pay to have the latches replaced before selling the car.
I went to open my drivers side door and the door would not open from the outstide. Only can be opened from the inside. This is really a pain just trying to see what my options are and what it could possibly be.
I went to open the driver side door and it would not open from the outside. Had to open it from the passenger side. That would not be good for my wife if she had to go out at night to get in the car. On April 26,2016 I had to pay $ 757.20 to have the passenger door side fixed. I think that this should be covered under a recall after reading all the complaints that i have read. They say it is not a safety hazard, what would happen if you couldn't get your kids out if they were a wreck or your car on fire ,or if your car is filling with water. Or maybe your spouse or children would get attacked trying to get in the car. To me this is a BIG SAFETY hazard. I just can't dish out over $700.00 to keep getting a defect fixed. This makes me not want to BUY another Kia and hope everyone that has one fills the same way.
Recently joined the fairly large group of 2011 (and other years) Kia Sorento (and other models) owners who have a variety of door lock problems, ranging from one door which will not open from the outside all the way to most doors won't open from outside or inside. In my case, it is only the driver door which will not open from the outside.
The problem appears to be either the rod that is operated by operating the handle, or (more likely) the plastic part inside the door that the handle operates. The defective part, according to others on the internet is relatively inexpensive, but the extensive labor involved in removing and re-installing the door panel causes the repair cost for each door to average approximately $500, and when the body shop causes additional damage while removing the replacing the panel, can easily approach $1000 (and of course the owner will never know about the extra damage, only the price).
I have filed complaints with NHTSA and Kia. Apparently, according to other owners with this problem, Kia's position is that this is not a safety hazard???? (how about being in an accident, with car on fire or filling with water and two little kids belted in, and you can't open the door to get out! (or in my particular case, can't open the door from the outside to get us out). Many have asked for a recall, and a no-cost repair in or out of warranty.
In the meantime, although there are a couple of U-Tube videos showing how you can remove and replace that panel, but very time-consuming and several minor parts most likely will break or door may be damaged beyond repair, I'm trying be content with crawling across from the passenger side to reach the inside latch (not too easy with hip arthritis), or when the car is garaged, leaving the driver window down.
My grandson was trying to open the door in the back, so I put the child lock on both doors. When I got home to get him out neither door in the back would open. I had to climb through the front door to take him out. My kids have to climb over my seat to get inside the car.
Front Passenger Door wouldn't open from the outside. When I was able to get it fixed in July 2015 it was covered under the warranty. Just 2 months later, at the end of September 2015 the driver's door won't open from the outside. Now being told I am no longer covered by warranty.
This is the second time this year that one of the doors isn't opening from the outside. If traveling alone I must open either the driver's side back door or the front passenger door and climb over the seat to open the driver's door. This is a real pain in the ass. This can be very dangerous for a woman, like myself, who travels alone and with children a lot.
The problem occurred on a Saturday. By the time I called the dealer, I was at a little over 100,000 Km and passed the overall warranty. (the 5 year anniversary is next January). I was told by the dealer representative that the repair won't be covered.
The driver's side door of my 2011 Kia Sorento just stopped working. I could NOT open the door from the outside. Every time I needed to get into my vehicle, I would have to walk over to the passenger side, open the door, get in, reach all the way over to the driver side door and open it from the inside. This is embarrassing and annoying, especially when your vehicle is fairly new and when this has never happened on any of the other 4-5 vehicles you have owned...Honda, Toyota, etc.
If any one experienced this problem I'm sure they will be frustrated. Just imagine to get in the car, you have to go around the passenger side in order to open the drivers' door. It's a drivers nightmare . If somethings wrong while you are driving, no one can help you because your door cannot be opened from outside. Let them fixed it before you drive around for peace of mind.
IN JULY DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. SEARCHED FOR RECALLS THERE WAS NONE. TOOK TO KIA BUT CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY, COST TO DIAGNOSE $89 WHICH WAS OUT OF BUDGET FOR A DISABLED FAMILY.
2 MONTHS LATER IN SEPTEMBER DRIVER DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. IF AN INFANT WAS INSIDE AND THE DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR A FIRE OR ANY OTHER ISSUES COULD BE FATAL AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. LOOKING ONLINE THERE ARE MANY WHO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THIS AS WELL WHEN I CALLED THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS RUDE AND UNCARING.
Back door shut a little hard by a child, then wouldn't open. Car dealership repaired under warranty saying a clip fell out. A month later happened to the other back door and dealership said doors were both put together with no clips. Then happened a third time and they couldn't explain. Evidently something falls down inside the door and blocks it at the bottom so it wont open.This happened 3 x before car was 1 year old. Now it has been 2 years and it happened again.Haven't been able to get to dealership yet. It seems to me a door should not have this problem, even if it is slammed. Has anyone else had this experience? Dealership said they haven't had any other owners with this issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I've always loved my Kia Sorrento and used to tell my family and friends what a great vehicle it is. But over the summer the drivers side door stopped opening from the outside. I couldn't understand what was happening and finally got a quote to get it fixed for $700 CAD. I haven't gotten it repaired yet, just keep the window down or stretch across from the back seat door. A couple of days ago the same thing happened to the back door on my passenger side - it won't open from the outside!! My friends are making fun of me, asking if being able to open the doors is a 'feature' on the Sorrento,!!
I think this is a real safety issue, but haven't been able to find a recall notice. Can anyone help?
- Laurel D., Calgary, AB, Canada