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:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,324 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.
I was approaching a stoplight, applying my brakes ahead of time, got down around 45 mph and then the brakes locked up suddenly and took me across the road into a guardrail. Thankfully no other car was involved. The speed limit is 55 mph on that road and I was still a ways away from the stoplight. I was never notified of the recalls on the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed, there was a jerking and grinding noise detected when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle was slow to stop. The engine, traction, ABS, and Hill Assist warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed and towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 285,658. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the front tires independently braked on and off quickly. The contact stated that the "Down Hill" symbol, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the clock spring and the angular velocity sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer retrieved DTC codes: C1260 and 934490RU0. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,757.
- Sierra Vista, AZ, USA
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Brakes feel softer, rear brake burnt smell, replaced brakes one month ago. Headlight and taillight bulbs replaced several times in last 3 months due to blinking blowing replaced and starts over again. Screen will not turn on until car has run for 45 minutes. Cannot use back until screen turns on. Leaving car parked until I can get brake system fixed. Noticed brake light on dash and car with swerve light on dash. Too scared to drive until at least brakes are fixed. Reached out to dealership. No part available for recall which most likely is failing my brakes
I'm supposed to park my 2011 Sorento outside and away from structures, and not drive it until Kia comes up with a part/solution to fix the engine compartment fire issue relating to NHTSA Recall # 23V652000 (manufacturer recall # SC284XM). This warning was issued Sept 25th, 2023. It's now been over 3 months. Am I supposed to walk everywhere, use a Ride Share service, or take public transportation"?" If Kia won't fix it, they should give me another vehicle to drive....or purchase the vehicle back from me for what I paid for it in 2022, less 1 year's depreciation.
Item- Down hill accent light came on, traction control light came on, Not sure if caused by brake stop lamp switch defective. Item- bugler alarm will not shut off. resetting the alarm failed three different ways. The battery cable was removed to reset alarm, the fuse was removed, and procedure using the key fob to reset alarm also failed to deactivate system. This happened same time as above. Vehicle is non-moveable at present because of the anti-theft system cannot be shut off. Item-driver side seat belt buckle will not latch or must be repeatably latched to be engaged. This vehicle is equipped with Kia remote start accessory. See this NHTSA SC098
2011 Kia Sorento ex 3.5 engine sport utility vehicle has randomly changed in the way its feels safe with rough instability in my suspension components.my brakes failed while driving on a random basis as well as when car is parked will randomly click in my gear shift mechanism and will fail to lock when car is parked and shut off it will click when brakes are depressed.my front lights have dimmed and both brake lights have burned out consistently as well as my steering wheel has failed with electrical components randomly.car horn is inoperable and my cruise control stop functioning. My alternator burned out on me and my car has historial proof of consistent maintenance with car fax report in hand.my gas milage has since decreased. My suspension feels unsafe to drive and really bad on bumps and average road conditions are also very unpleasant so I have parked it until it's fixed for active recalls and other potential manufacturer defects
On December 2, 2020 my Kia Sorento started making a knocking noise. No engine warning lights came on. I went to go head home from work on the interstate and I heard a clank while I was driving my brakes locked in traffic then all the lights on my dash came on and my engine shut off in the middle of traffic. My car would not turn back on and I had to call my insurance company geico to have my car towed home. Very scary and very dangerous. It still doesn't not turn on whatso ever. I have videos but not in the right format to open.
There is brake fluid leaking into my car, the fluid is coming from the brake system leaking down the brake peddle and onto my floor mat. The car was parked overnight, I noticed it this morning and I drove the car and the fluid leaked on my shoe.
Have to replace brakes and rotors 2-3 year;. brake caliper twice; replace headlights and taillights several times per year; back door won't open from inside or out.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle jerked and pulled to the left and right occasionally. Additionally, the vehicle loss power with the ABS and emergency automatic braking warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the brake pedal failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,000.
Sc098xm recall has been completed on my vehicle but the site says 'incomplete'. how can I get it changed? I am military stationed in italy, I'm going to ship the vehicle back to the states but all recalls must be completed for that to happen.
My vehicle is giving me random problems with my suspension and brake system it randomly feels like it is fine and then randomly does not feel safe to drive due.to brake clicking noise that you can hear where shift knob is and when I press brakes my tires lock or.sometimes feels as if there is air and.it will not brake.unless I pump brakes a couple times..my airbag light is on and my driver side door stop opening from outside to inside but works fine from inside to outside opening
We have replaced the brakes several times and the calipers as well. Now we are having issues again with them. We see that there has been a recall for this issue. This happened in 2017, 2018, and now again in 2019. Two out of four of our doors will not open from the outside, we see there is also a recall for this issue. Please advise us how we go about getting these recalls for our vehicle as we are tired of putting out money when we shouldn't have to repeatedly.
My tires feel as if they are going to fall off, also every small bump I hit feels as if I hit a big pothole or a object when that's not the case and my wheels pop as I turn
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Clarksville, TN, USA