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:
3 / 18
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,369 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 12)

problem #232

Jan 062025

Sorento

  • miles

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

My car has been in the Kia shop for engine. We just stopped on the freeway and for the module recall and my safety bag is just constantly on since I-??ve gotten it and now I-??m noticing electrical issues that shouldn-??t be someone told me. Hey you need to file a complaint because your car can catch on fire And I don-??t know what else to do but to do a paper trail just in case but it-??s been recalls after recalls

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #231

Mar 122023

Sorento

  • miles
My headlights are not working properly. This is an ongoing issue with Kia model vehicles- check online forums

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #230

Oct 232024

Sorento

  • miles
3 different episodes suv will start by appear warning lights downhill, slippery road, abs, engine, decrease speed, shuts down, tire pressure finally battery dead and rubber smell. I've had it fixed once mentioned it was Altarnator, second time battery, finally third time something electrical or unknown. Total cost now $3000 and my life in danger al 3 times and towec.

- Kenosha , WI, USA

problem #229

Aug 222024

Sorento

  • miles

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

This very dangerous issue has happened at least 3 times. It happens in frequently but is terrible when it happens because at night you are put into immediate darkness with no warning. Upon flashing the high beams on or using the turn signal the headlights go dark/off. Then you need to restart the car. This is particularly dangerous when driving on dark or high traffic roads because the driver cannot see anything.

- Fairfax Station, VA, USA

problem #228

Jan 012024

Sorento

  • miles
I bought my 2011 Kia Sorento used from a dealership. The Air Bag Warning light was on & I insisted that they inspect car before I buy it, which they did. I go to pick the car up & the Air Bag Warning light is still on. When I questioned it, I learned that, for SOME REASON, a car's #1 safety feature, the Air Bags, is NOT part of PA's Safety Inspection!! A couple months go by and 1 by 1 the Bluetooth/Audio controls on the steering wheel stop working. So, after reading the Owner's Manual & finding that there is no fuse for the steering wheel controls, I go online to see if I can find the cause &/or how to fix it. That's when I run across hundreds of posts/blogs from other 2011 Sorento owner's saying the exact same thing happened to them and all the replies say that it's caused by the Clock Spring and upon replacing it, all their Bluetooth/Audio controls on steering wheel worked again. I then remember the letters regarding the Clock Spring in with the car's Owner's Manual. I have 2 letters, 1 from 2017 & 1 from 2019 saying that Kia Extended the Warranty on the Clock Spring to 15 years. To take the car to a Kia dealership and have the Air Bag Warning light diagnosed & if it's determined that the Clock Spring is reason it's illuminated, Kia will pay to fix it. What I don't understand is if Kia saw fit to issue TWO identical letters TWO years apart from each other, why didn't they just issue a recall" They obviously knew it was a problem that effected most, if not all of the 2011 Sorento's manufactured. And the real reason I'm writing" Since my research on the internet TWO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS things have happened. 1)my horn no longer works! At 1st it worked when it wanted to but now it doesn't work at all! I've almost gotten in 3 accidents because of it & my car will NO LONGER PASSES INSPECTION and 2) Now the Air Bag system cannot detect when someone is in the passenger seat, so their Air Bags never turn on!! The Extended Warranty expires in 2024 & NO RECALL!"??"

- Warminster, PA, USA

problem #227

May 192024

Sorento

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the -??Low Oil Pressure-?? warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there was engine oil leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic where it had been diagnosed that the oil pressure switch had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V388000 (Electrical System). The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall or in the Technical Service Bulletin with the manufacturer ID number 026 and NHTSA ID Number: 10235099 (Electrical System). The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was 170,000.

- Millville, NJ, USA

problem #226

Mar 152022

Sorento

  • miles

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

1-The front air bag sensor will nor register if a person is sitting in the sear, no matter the weight. 2-The modem keeps direction the vehicle to steer right. No matter how many alignments and parts are replaced, the ECM will not correct itself 3-KIA dealers will only repair the problem if the customer pays $$$$$$$$

- Kissimmee , FL, USA

problem #225

Apr 132024

Sorento

  • miles
Car dash lights flashed and car shut down

- Denton , MD, USA

problem #224

Feb 092024

Sorento

  • miles
The Hydraulic Electronic control unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, whioch can result in an engine compartment fire while paked or driving the car.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #223

May 132024

Sorento

  • miles
I called Courtesy KIA in Altoona, PA. I informed them that I have another recall addressing this latest issue "The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit, " as I was there last month addressing another recall. That situation was resolved. However, I called today 5/13/24 at about 12:50PM and was told by service dept. member Toby that we already have all the parts we can order for recall. He also told me to call him back in a month"?" My concern is I am getting a letter saying the engine could catch fire and I am being told to call back in a month. I just wanted to log this incident for my personal file to show that I am trying to remedy the problem. Regards, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Huntingdon, PA, USA

problem #222

May 012024

Sorento

  • 92,000 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 while attempting to unlock the vehicle with the key fob, the contact heard the doors unlocking, but the rear doors failed to unlock. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure initially started after the vehicle was serviced by the dealer. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 92,000.

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #221

Nov 052023

Sorento

  • 225,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the "Theft Prevention" warning light was illuminated, and several other warning lights were blinking on and off. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that after several attempts a relative jumpstarted the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence and parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the battery became drained. The contact stated that when the vehicle was jumpstarted, the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact no longer drove the vehicle. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 225,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Carlisle, IA, USA

problem #220

Apr 192024

Sorento

  • miles
After my daughter pulled into her school parking lot on Friday morning, 4/19/24 she reported smelling a very bad smelling smoke. She immediately got out of the car because she then saw flames from under the hood. The car lit on fire, and was completely totaled. I have since been made aware of the recall that causes engine fires.

- Lagrange, GA, USA

problem #219

Apr 132024

Sorento

  • miles
Knock Sensor Code came up when having my car checked P1326

- Greenville, NC, USA

problem #218

Nov 162023

Sorento

  • miles
My Kia Sorento 2011 in November 2023 started having the instrument cluster warning lights flashing, abs warning light, tire pressure light and sometimes the check engine light. There is also a very strong burning or melting smell when the car is on. I was very scared to drive my car and have had to find ways to get to work when I received the notice from Kia that there was a recall SC284. About HECU fuse that many Kia Sorento 2011 owners are having issues with the engines catching fire while driving or parked. And the symtoms before a fire occurs are the same as I have experienced with the instrument cluster illuminating and the strong burning smell as well. Its April 2024 and I haven't had a car since November 2023 because the recall has yet to be remedied. This is completely unacceptable I cannot drive I cant take my car to emmissions and might eventually get my car towed due to not being able to it not passing emissions and cant pass for registration. There needs to be compensation for this inconvenience and for this recall not being a priority.

- Bristol , CT, USA

problem #217

Nov 142023

Sorento

  • miles
Preventative complaint. I received a recall notice on November 14, 2023 regarding recall of my 2011 KIA Sorento. Recall #23V652000. Manufacturer's recall #SC284XM. I have contacted my dealer, Danbury CT KIA to find out when they can repair the recall. They just keep stating that they don't have the parts. The recall is not done in a timely fashion and I am greatly concerned that my only car could catch fire at any time. This should be repaired immediately if such a great hazard is possible. Lives could be in jeopardy since I seldom have my grandchildren in my car. Please provide Danbury Connecticut KIA the necessary parts to address the recall.

- New Milford, CT, USA

problem #216

Mar 162024

Sorento

  • miles
I-??ve gotten approved to buy another car and was going to trade my 2011 Kia sorento but still has open recall and Kia dealership has no answers when they can fix. What do i do. Thank you for your help!

- Tallahassee , FL, USA

problem #215

Jan 032024

Sorento

  • miles
Family and i were driving home from soccer and car violently stuttered felt like we hit a deer. This has happened three times now and has caused solenoid a in transmission to fail which i fixed. My wife smells a burning smell also randomly.

- Tallahassee , FL, USA

problem #214

Feb 082024

Sorento

  • miles
The engine showed signs of overheating and smoke emissions. The vehicle was taken to a authorized Kia dealership where the recall components: KSDS software, and one other out of the three recall components was replaced. The KSDS software failed to activate and the engine overheated several days later, the vehicle was taken to a dealership where the engine recall replacement order was refused and instead was given a cost estimate of $10,000 USD to replace.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #213

Feb 072023

Sorento

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the horn was inoperable and the front and rear driver's side windows did not go up and down as designed. In addition, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

- Watsonville, CA, USA

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