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?
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,951 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Back drivers side door not working. First could not open it from the outside but only from inside. Thought the child safety lock had become engaged and moved the latch - then could not open door from outside or inside. Car has 91,000 miles on it but since it was purchased used, dealer states no warranty and that it will cost $622 to fix. Inability to open door is a huge safety issue, particularly in the event of an accident. Several other instances of this happening with 2011 Kia sorrento have been documented online, particularly at carguru.com.
Driver inside door handle made a "popping sound" when driving looked at door when at light and handle was sticking out (away from the door like something broke)? difficult to open the door from the inside
I filed a complaint about three exterior door handles not working on my 2011 Kia Sorento on 4/29/2015. Complaint number 10713499. As of today still no recalls. I have seen thousands of complaints and nothing from Kia to repair. My wife spoke to kis service rep and was told he had many calls about exterior handles not working from 2011 - 2016 models of Sorentos. Kia needs to do something. If any accident or emergency help wont be able to get into vehicle without breaking glass and causing more harm. Us Kia Sorento owners need some help to get Kia Corp. To send out a recall to repair issue.
I have a 2011 Kia Sorento in which the front passenger door does not open from the outside, only the interior door handle manages to open the door. I replaced the driver's door last year. It appears that this is a safety hazard if the vehicle is in a crash and the driver or occupants are incapacitated. The door would not be able to be opened from the outside by someone assisting, god forbid that the vehicle was on fire. Numerous complaints have been filed by consumers regarding this issue
- Kankakee, IL, USA
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Driver's side rear door handle will not engage door actuator. Door only opens from inside. Cannot use child locks, as the door can only be opened from the inside. Vehicle is just outside of warranty, and Kia will not repair without charge. Part is defective, and there are numerous online complaints on this issue (including previously repaired vehicles).
The rear drivers side door will not open from the outside. It would open from the inside but recently stopped working altogether. I have seen several complaints about this issue from buyers. This is a safety concern. I have 2 children in car seats and connor get to them quickly because if this defect! I have had to pay to get it repaired but I have seen many buyers having to replace all 4 door latches over time! this has to be considered a defect and should be covered under a recall.
Two weeks ago, while my car was parked (stationary), I tried to open my rear driver side door and it would not open from the outside, today the same happened to my driver side. After googling the problem, I found a website with many other people with the same problem, with the same year, make and model. I also found over 500 complaints with the same problem on this page. I called the Kia recall number and the rep. Told me that there is nothing they can do because this is not a safety issue, therefore it's not a recall issue!!! it is a safety issue because if there was an accident, they would not be able to get me and/or passengers without having to break in through a window or jaws of life. I was told to take the car into the dealership and have the problem diagnosed by them. This is not a problem, but I know (from all other complaints) that I will be told that it's not covered and I will be responsible for the repairs. I will also have to pay to have them diagnose the problem. The car is no longer under warranty. I don't understand why this is not being investigated with this many people having the exact same problem, it is a malfunction in the production of the car and Kia should be responsible for fixing this problem. I am posting this as legal documentation to prove that I have made you aware of the problem in the event of an accident that could jeopardize my safety.
All power doors are unlocked, but front driver side door can not be opened from outside. It can be opened from inside. Door handle, door latch and actuator seems working ok. It is a safety concern as door cannot be opened from outside even as doors are unclocked.
Two of the exterior handles do not work anymore. They will open from the inside but not the outside. If the child safety locks had been on at the time the handles stopped working the doors would not be able to open at all. These handles stopped working at different times with no warnings. This is a very serious safety hazard for my family - I have a 4 year old with autism.
2011 Kia Sorento, none of my doors will open this is a safety hazard in the event of an emergency rescue would be difficult. This vehicle needs to be recalled for the door handle defects. Also I went to open the back door and the handle fell off in my hand. Cannot roll the windows up when parked or you will lose access to the car you have to put your arm in and open from the inside.
Driver side door simply would not open from outside the vehicle one day. No accident or other impact was the cause, so clearly this is a defect of the vehicle. Internet search indicates this has happened to many owners and is a clear safety issue. This vehicle has only been on the road for 5 years and 5 months and has 77,000 miles. Df door latch assembly had to be replaced at cost of $450. Would like to see this investigated based on the number of instances and the fear that this will happen and prevent someone from being rescued from outside the vehicle in a worst case scenario.
About 1 month ago, Jan/Feb of 2016 the passenger side front door handle just stopped working, as far as opening the door from the outside is concerned. The same exact thing just happened today, March 20, 2016, to the driver's side front door. Both outside latches are inoperable. The first incident happened in my driveway, the second happened in the parking lot of our church. I am married with 7 kids, 5 of whom drive, and have never, never, had a door latch break on the many vehicles owned over time. This is not a coincidence, this is an item that has to be recalled. The vehicle is nice, but with recalls or problems to the shift lever, air bags, rear rotors, etc., etc..., why isn't the NHTSA taking a closer look at all the short cuts and/or dysfunctional parts Kia is using to get their car to market quicker. We are the car's 2nd owner, so Kia will not even honor it under the 7year/100,000 mile warranty. Our vehicle is not quite 5 years old with approx. 90,000 miles.
Car was parked in my garage. Back drivers side door just stopped working. Wont open from the inside or out. No damage or excessive use. You can hear the lock clicking when you hit the auto button on the front door, but it will not open. Kia company states it will not repair because we are 2 months over the 5 year/60000 mile warranty. Its a safety issue and they want $1100 to repair.
2/21/16 my driver side door would not open regardless of unlock with alarm or with the key. I can only open from the inside which the only way to get in I have to climb over from the passenger side to get in. Yesterday the passenger side started to do the same. So now I have to go through the back side. I called the dealership I'm not under warranty. I had to go there 2/19 for another issue and it happen to be another lady there and her issue was guess what her doors. I didn't hear the whole conversation but called the dealership yesterday and told them my problem he stated there was a lady last week with same issue. It cost her $350 per door!! I think that is over the top and I shouldn't have to pay that much this should be a recall issue(im not the only one this is happening too)!!! I don't know when I will be able to get it fix. I guess ill be climbing over my seats for awhile and pray the 2 other doors don't lock up. My first and last Kia......
2011 Kia sorrent - I've had to replace the driver side-outside door handle (approx last 6 months), driver side back door outside handle (replaced 12/2015 now broke again 2/16), and now the back passenger door will not open from inside. I am very concerned about life safety. Bad situation if something tragic happens and the doors won't open or can't be opened.
2011 Kia Sorento rear driver side door failed to open. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the door actuator needed to be replaced. Did not fix. This is a Kia problem. It can be a really bad situation if I can't get to my children in the back because my door will not open. The panel on the door also sticks. There are so many complaints about this Kia needs to fix the problem.
Driver door only able to open from within vehicle. Will not open from outside. Had been working fine. No bad weather. Simply stopped working and will not open. Have noticed similar complaints online for same vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Apex, NC, USA