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:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
383,012 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.

2011 Kia Sorento body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #28

May 052020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Drivers door will not open through outside have to climb through passenger door.this could be definitely a safety issue with my well being as I could be pulled from car while attempting to enter..I am almost 60 and this is very hard on me to climb from passenger side to drivers side especially in the rain or dark parking lot with all the crime going on these days.

- Lex, SC, USA

problem #27

Nov 262019

Sorento

  • 97,400 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the front passenger door could not be opened from outside of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, but they were unable to assist. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 97,400.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #26

Sep 172018

Sorento

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While attempting to retrieve some packages from the rear seat of the vehicle, the exterior handle was pulled and a piece of the handle assembly detached. The contact also stated that the same failure occurred to the rear passenger door. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

problem #25

May 162018

Sorento

  • 138,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact was unable to open the doors from outside the vehicle. The dealer (billion auto Kia in sioux city, Iowa) diagnosed that the vehicle doors needed actuators. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 138,000.

- Sioux City, IA, USA

problem #24

Nov 132017

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the door handle was loose. The contact took the vehicle to Kia of greenville (424 laurens rd, greenville, SC)where the front driver and passenger door handles were replaced per a customer satisfaction campaign. The vehicle was repaired; however, the rear passenger door handle experienced the same issue. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Clemson, SC, USA

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problem #23

Jun 102017

Sorento

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the rear passenger door handle fractured. The vehicle was scheduled to be taken to an unknown dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #22

Mar 252017

Sorento

  • 205,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that both front and rear driver and passenger side door handles failed to operate from outside of the vehicle. As a result, the contact was only able to enter the vehicle through an open window with the inside handle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the door actuators and door handles needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 205,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #21

Jan 092017

Sorento

  • 47,500 miles
On 1/16/2017 I went to a dr appointment. When I came out I unlocked the car and the outside handle on the driver's side door wouldn't work. The door was unlocked but the handle would not work. I had to go into the car from the passenger side and climb over to open the door from the inside. This was not easy as I am a short 67 year old woman. Took the car into a mechanic and he had to order the entire latch assembly $243.50. I checked on the NHTSA site and there are so many other cars that have had this safety issue also. It looks like that this problem is becoming a bigger problem as our cars age. Hopefully my other doors won't break also as was the case for several other owners. Please look into this extremely potentially dangerous issue and have Kia issue a recall. Thank you for your time.

- Brea, CA, USA

problem #20

Jan 122017

Sorento

  • 65,000 miles
Driver side door on my 2011 Kia Sorento stopped working yesterday, . would not open by remote or key. I had to climb in and crawl over to drivers door to get into car. This is a serious defect that could result in death or injury to me and my passengers during a very common event in houston - flooding. If I was pinned in my car going under water and no one could open the door by any means then I would drown. Just how many complaints do U need to have to recall your obvious defect? I have seen an alarming number of people who have complained to you on the same but no actions are taken by Kia to remediate this dangerous default. People have been charged up to $900 to Kia dealership to fix their shoddy cost saving cheap door only to have the other door(s) on their car go out within weeks. In other words, we should always be ready for this much reported safety hazard! it is going to flood in houston tomorrow...hope I am not trapped in my car due to your negligence. Oh and there are lots of other issues that could happen, unable to get my grandchildren out of the car in a houston summer!

- New Caney, TX, USA

problem #19

May 152016

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the rear driver side door would not open from the outside. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer diagnosed that the door lock would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 95,000. Updated 01/23/2017 updated 7/10/18

- De Queen, AR, USA

problem #18

Jul 172016

Sorento

  • 70,061 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have been having problems with my driver door and passenger door opening from the outside. I have to open the back door to get in to the front. This has been going on for over 3 years. I've spoken to the dealer ship place where I got the car from, and they informed me it was nothing they could do about it. I also took it to the Kia dealership and they told me it's not a recall or anything can do about it unless I pay for them to fix it. I don't think this is right at all. I am not a ruff driver and I try to take good care of my car. I do not feel as if I should have to pay for this. There are so many people complaining about the same thing going on with their doors and we are not getting any help at all. They are not worrying that we have to pay the car note plus the car insurance and its nothing they can do unless we pay for it. Not to mention if it was someone trying to harm me and my kids. We would have to go through the back door to get in the front to start the car and pull off. That's not if you was to go on cargurus.com you would see all the complaints. Is there anything that you all can help us with please let us know. Thank you. Also the date I put in is not correct it would not let me put 2014.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #17

Jun 032016

Sorento

  • 28,900 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the driver side exterior door handle fractured without warning. As a result, the door only opened from the inside. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the cause of the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,900.

- Thibodaux, LA, USA

problem #16

Jun 062016

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While the vehicle was parked, the rear doors failed to open. The mechanic stated that the rear door panel was warped and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #15

May 092016

Sorento

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the front and rear driver side doors locked and failed to open. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Rialto, CA, USA

problem #14

May 022016

Sorento

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the rear driver side door did not open without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that a practice piece fell off and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure was not remedied. The failure mileage was 92,000.

- Asheville, NC, USA

problem #13

Jun 172015

Sorento

  • 131,940 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia sorenta. The contact stated that the rear driver side door would not open from outside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a cosmetic failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,940.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #12

Dec 312015

Sorento

  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While attempting to open the doors, the front passenger side door failed to unlock form the outside electronically. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the contact was unsure about what part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #11

Sep 092015

Sorento

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While entering the driver side of the vehicle, the door failed to open. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the bar on the door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

- Capitol Heights, MD, USA

problem #10

Sep 092015

Sorento

  • 88,200 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the chrome on the door handle was peeling and caused a passenger to sustain cuts to the hand when attempting to open the door. It was unknown which door handle experienced the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 88,200. The consumer stated the defective door handle, was on the driver's side rear passenger door. Updated 11/05/15.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #9

May 272015

Sorento

  • 64,050 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the 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. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,050.

- Ladera Ranch, CA, USA

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