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:
1 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
74,280 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 2 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #73

Aug 022020

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles

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

The issue I am having is that the entire lighting system will shut off when driving. Its spontaneous when it does it but it sometimes comes back on. This causes me to be driving on the interstate at night with no way of seeing or others to see me. Took it into the dealership and they couldn't find anything wrong when they replaced multiple parts on the vehicle.

- Jackson, MO, USA

problem #72

Aug 122020

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
Left blinker is fast after replacement and dim. Right headlight replaced and works temporarily if you unplug it ABS plug in.

- Westampton, NJ, USA

problem #71

Aug 062020

Sorento

  • 215,458 miles
When turning on the lights to drive at night, they will go out without warning. When I turn on the high beams, the same thing happens. After this back and forth, the problem goes away until the next night. I cannot drive the car at night now. My mechanic is researching this issue and there is a record of this problem on line. I have not heard about a recall yet.

- Reading, MA, USA

problem #70

Aug 142018

Sorento

  • 63,496 miles

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

Headlights dont work. Kept teplacing bulbs and still dont work. Brake lights same issue, teplace bulbs and lights dont work. Vehicle has had multiple problems with electrical. Ive had to replace the radio 3 times, the enginition had to be replaced. Since ive owned this vehicle I've had back to the garage multiple times for repairs and kept telling them there is an electrical problem but they dont want to admit it.

- Mcmurray, PA, USA

problem #69

Aug 012020

Sorento

  • 101,000 miles
Passenger head light keep burning out as soon as I replace it it smells like wires are burning and when I drive any bumps will make the head lights flicker

- Pinebluff, AR, USA

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problem #68

Jul 102020

Sorento

  • 163,900 miles
I've replaced the driver side low beam headlight 4 times in 2 months and the driver side front turn signal twice during the same span. There seems to be a short as the headlight will work until I use the turn signal while the headlights are on. The headlight burns out and then the turn signal only flashes when the switch for the headlights is off.

- Easley, SC, USA

problem #67

May 012020

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 140,000 miles

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

While making a turn both headlights go out while turn signal is on. Then after making turn they come back on. Doesn't happen all the time intermittent and random. Very dangerous.

- Monett, MO, USA

problem #66

Feb 132019

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
I was driving down a road at night with my family and I notice that the lights went out completely in a dark road which scared me because everything went completely black I quickly tried to pull over almost going into a ditch in fear that I might hit something or someone. I tried flicking on the headlights and I know that they would come on and then go off. I also notice that my call battery was drained im assuming in may be a short in the wiring.

- Riverview, FL, USA

problem #65

May 152020

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
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.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #64

Sep 032018

Sorento

  • 76,000 miles
There was a replacement of the passenger cv axle. It was aftermarket and not oem. I had to replace the front low beam wiring harness and bulbs at my own cost twice. Once in Florida and another in my home state. Also the passenger side airbag light isn't working properly. They sent me the recalls on both. Then proceeded to say that the recall for the airbag light is under recall. Also if I could not get or find my receipts from the mechanic shop. I would not get reimbursed. Kia has been knowing about this problem for years! on top of the cv axle this is too much. It is damaging my transmission as we speak. My brakes are very spongey.

- New Iberia, LA, USA

problem #63

Oct 082019

Sorento

  • 99,999 miles

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

The low beam lighting "H11" pigtail is a melted connector and the low beam lighting is going out constantly. We have replaced the lights and the pigtail twice this year.

- Springdale, AR, USA

problem #62

Nov 012019

Sorento

  • miles
Headlight low beam light not working. Replaced bulb and within a few weeks, it would work intermittently. I could wiggle the connection and light would come back on. Then that no longer worked. I took the bulb out of the connection to replace and noticed the connection was melted where the bulb connects to the wire harness. I removed bulb until connection can be replaced.

- Culpeper, VA, USA

problem #61

Nov 022019

Sorento

  • 123,000 miles
Headlights come on and off randomly. This is a serious safety hazard that can cause deaths or injuries. I'm very afraid and extremely nervous when this happens especially when I have my children in the car. I've had to replace the lights about every other month which is ridiculously expensive

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #60

Sep 302019

Sorento

  • 123,000 miles
Vehicle has consistently needed headlights replaced every 3 months. Vehicle lights will come on and or off while driving in the dark. This is a deadly safety hazard and should be remedied.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #59

Feb 042018

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
Clock spring malfunction causing airbag light to illuminate on dash. Steering wheel controls do not work. This is a constant and daily issue. It happens while driving as well as parked. Low beam socket melted. Since been replaced by me. Both issues are under a recall but my VIN is not listed. My vehicles year make and model are listed in a current recall but my VIN does not fall within it.

- East Boston, MA, USA

problem #58

Nov 052019

Sorento

  • miles
Vehicles interior lights, interior dash lights, headlights and other panel lights click and flicker off and on during various periods of time. The headlights stay off for a few seconds and repetitively at random times. This has occurred both early in the morning, in the evenings, it also happens just in the middle of the day to the dash lights and with the clicking. This has occurred in winter as well as summer. Originally it only occurred when it was raining, now it occurs daily. This has occurred when the vehicle has been in park and while driving on highways, on back roads, also at stop lights or a stop sign. The clicking has also occurred when the vehicle has been off, it will start making clicking noises coming from the dash area, the same noise as it makes when the headlights and interior and dash lights flicker when it is on. Also after having a recall repaired I am still having problems with the engine start stop not starting, as well as the doors not unlocking with the Kia remote or by pushing the button on the exterior handle. The vehicle has also lost steering control during excessive rain. This occurred on a side street while I was attempting to turn off of a main road onto a side road the vehicle would not turn. It proceeded to go at a diagonal, only partially turning into a front lawn during the turn. It was raining when this occurred. I know there have been other issues with the phantom headlights in other Kia models. And they are not fixing the issue, they are saying it is not occurring. Also they are saying they need to replace a part that cost $400 but it may not fix the issue. I have left the manager a message at the Kia in myrtle beach and have asked for a good faith repair and I have not heard back.

- Little River, SC, USA

problem #57

Jul 292019

Sorento

  • 98,000 miles
My room lp fuse keeps blowing. It had a recall for the same problem. I went out and started my car and seen that the clock and interior lights were not working. I pulled fuse put a new one in and when I started it again it blew again. Then the airbag light came on and it is staying on. I have replaced the room lp fuse about 12 times. It was a recall got fixed and having the same problem again.

- East Berlin, PA, USA

problem #56

Feb 072019

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
My air bag light stays on and my headlights are black and have melted wires

- Cullowhee, NC, USA

problem #55

Jul 172019

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
My Kia Sorento's brakelights will not luminate. I changed the bulbs and they still will not luminate. After doing some research, I found many others with the same problem and in 2013, there was a recall for 2011 Kia Sorentos because the brake lamp switch was faulty. After contacting the dealer. I was told my VIN was not one of the ones recalled.. I had no idea my brake lights were not working until I was pulled over by the police while driving through the city. I have attached a copy of the recall notice

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #54

Jul 022019

Sorento

  • 159,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminated and remained lit. The contact also stated that the headlights operated intermittently and the steering wheel pulled to the right. There was no warning indicator illuminated. An appointment was scheduled with lee johnson Kia (425-827-0521, located at 11845 ne 85th St, kirkland, wa 98033). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

- Redmond, WA, USA

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