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:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,811 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.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. When the vehicle was placed into any gear, it would not respond. When the gear was placed in reverse, the vehicle would remain in neutral or park. When placed in drive gear, the vehicle would be in neutral or reverse. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that a recall was placed on the transmission and the contact was informed it was repaired. As soon as the contact received the vehicle, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The NHTSA campaign number was unknown. The failure mileage was 52,000.
The Sorento lurches at slower speeds and engine light comes on. It appears as if the transmission is slipping. At higher speeds it does not occur. The code from the engine light analysis is P0713 (transmission fluid temperature sensor). Kia forum shows a number of people have similar complaints.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While trying to start the vehicle and going in reverse, the vehicle lunged and did not move due to the shifter not functioning properly. The vehicle made an abnormal noise. The vehicle was able to be operated by shifting the vehicle into park and going back into reverse. The ABS sensor and traction control sensor illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 72,078. Updated 02/12/16 the consumer stated he went to the dealer for a failed transmission and a problem with the ABS sensors on the rear wheel hubs. Updated 03/31/16.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated when driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked. The failure occurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was not available...updated 02/01/16 the consumer stated vehicle had an appointment to be repaired.
2011 Kia Sorento airbag light came on out the blue. Took to dealership was advised either defective passanger airbag or the sensor for passenger seat. Would have to pay $$$ to put on diagnostic. Car jerks forward when switching gears. Also, car just accelerated by itself.. put the car in park and it jerks forward. Its jerks so hard I could get whiplash.like the car doesn't want to stop.scarriest thing ever. I am really concerned how sometimes I don't even have to press the brake to put in gear. Last, went to change headlight, rightside extremely jot and could hear boiling like something cooking.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the gear shift unintentionally switched gears independently without warning. In addition, the contact mentioned that the vehicle jerked forward. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V626000 (power train). The failure mileage was 30,000.
Vehicle falls out of gear when I'm slowly backing up in reverse gear or slowly starting to drive forward at just about 2 mph. I try to accelerate but my vehicle doesn't move. Also, on a few occasions, the vehicle clunked/jerked backward or forward very aggressively (feeling like it hit another car when nothing is nearby) which has caused me to fear hitting something or someone. The car does not seem to recognize when it is in gear.
We purchased a used 2011 Kia Sorento from an individual. The vehicle had roughly 19,000 miles. The car was fine until approximately 35,000 miles. While leaving from a stationary position, on the interstate or just main roads, the transmission started slipping, lurching, and at times would not engage. We took the car to our loacal Kia dealer and were told that they could not find anything wrong. At roughly 45,000 we again took it to the dealer and got the same response. At 58,000 the car would hardly drive so we took it back in. The dealer told us that the computer wasn't giving them any codes but could tell there was a problem. After going back and forth, Kia replaced the transmission. Now at 78,000 miles, we're having a O take it in for transmission issues and the car is making terrible noises. We took it out O the dealer and were told at first that there was nothing wrong. Later in the afternoon they came back and said our intermediate drive shaft needed to be replaced. Cost $598. After some research, I saw you that there was a recall on my model year cars, but my VIN number did not fall into the recall. How can they tell me that these issues have nothing to do with the recall for the intermediate shaft!"!? these failures fit the recall details exactly. Why weren't the bad shafts caught and replaced when the transmission was replaced" I asked the dealer about the recall and was told my VIN did not fit the recall. I called Kia and was told that my VIN has no open recalls. Basically again my "VIN" was not in the recall. All the exact same issues, but the problems have nothing to do with the original 2011 recall. Kia/Hyundai are the only car manufacturers that do not transfer their 100,000 mile 10 year power train warranty to a 2nd owner unless it's purchased through a dealership. It's frustrating that a large car manufacturer will not just do the right thing.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. Upon switching gears from reverse to drive, there was hesitation from the driveshaft before the vehicle would move forward. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,430.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, making a left turned and depressing the accelerator pedal, a riddling noise emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle failed to go forward. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,700. MA 10/2
My 2011 Sorento lost all power after a high pitched whirling noise while driving on a 55 mph highway. We had it towed and learned the transmission was gone. Once the vehicle was taken apart, the intermediate drive shaft was excessively worn, warped and obviously in need of repair. Quick research on your site and Kia's site showed the recall concerning right sided drive shaft leading to transmission failure if not taken care of and the made on dates which included my car's date (March 16, 2010). My calls to Kia motors, my local dealer, and the service manager only uncovered that my warranty was no longer valid. I have explained to everyone I am well aware of this but would like an explanation as to why my vehicle with a March 16, 2010, born on date, with excessive wear on the drive shaft that lost power while driving on a 55 mph highway just as the recall states (almost to a T) was not covered. No one and I mean absolutely no one can explain to me why it is not covered.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the vehicle needed an alignment and the two front tires were worn out. The vehicle was repaired, however, the abnormal noise persisted. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V258000 (power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. MA 10/22/2015 updated 12/05/2017
When slowing down, the transmission would bang forward. This has been happening all the time the car's speed is reduced. We have complaint to dealer many times. The last time we brought the car in for servicing the mechanic said there was something wrong with the transmission, but could not find the problem. He said he adjusted it back to factory start, what ever that means. We are still having the problem to this day.
Started vehicle and put into reverse, once in reverse I began to back up, the gear slips out of reverse into neutral. If placed back into gear park, reverse or drive it pauses for a few seconds then shifts hard with a clank sound. If you proceed to drive it shifts like it is going from first to third gear. It will not correct itself once driving. Sometimes when this happens I can turn the vehicle off and restart it and it works fine with no slipping or shifting problems, the check engine light does not come on. However today it will not correct itself and the check engine light has come on. Updated 11/02/2017
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While the vehicle was parked, it rolled away and crashed into two headstones. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the shift interlock solenoid failed. The vehicle was unable to be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that when driving over a bump, there was an whining sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V258000 (power train). The failure mileage was 76,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that when attempting to shift the vehicle into reverse, the transmission failed to recognize the gear for which the lever was shifted. The contact mentioned that the vehicle had to be turned off and restarted in order for it to resume normal operation. Also, the contact mentioned that the vehicle would make a loud knocking sound when the transmission was forced into reverse. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Houston, TX, USA