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:
2 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,668 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 11 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #6

Jun 222011

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 3,500 miles

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

My Sorento will hesitate to move when the accelerator is pressed and then suddenly lurch forward with full acceleration for a brief time. This is an erratic problem. Dealers response is to wait until it become consistent -- my response, I may be dead before that time. Customer service response is driver error. My response is that I have driven for decades many different model and age vehicles and have logged in appx 2 million safe miles. My experience with the Kia is my first problem with such an issue. Kia denies any problem with the sudden acceleration issue, however a google search turns up numerous similar issues. I have noted that this problem has occurred only when making left hand turns so far.

- Madison, FL, USA

problem #5

Dec 192011

Sorento

  • 12,500 miles
Car will not start with key or remotely control. After car sits for a time, several hours or days, it may start. Car has shut off by itself and will not start... had to be towed several times. Seems to have a computer system malfunction that dealer cannot repair.

- United, PA, USA

problem #4

Sep 012011

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 3,000 miles
Driving home on rainy day when sunroof shattered out of nowhere. Did not run off the road nor did I hear anything hit the vehicle. I heard one loud pop and noticed sunroof visor sagging significantly. Cannot prove something didn't hit it, but did not find any evidence of something hitting the sunroof. Contacted Kia to see if any other cases had been reported with Kia representative stating that she did not believe there is anything wrong with their vehicles, but she also stated that she did not have the resources to look back and see if there was another report. She also declined to let me speak with her supervisor on this matter. Due to safety purposes, I believe Kia needs to look into this possible issue. If this has happened to anyone else, please contact Kia and nhsta in order to help correct this possible problem. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Hardy, VA, USA

problem #3

Apr 012011

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles

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

2001 Kia Sorento. Consumer states all late models vehicles sold in America today by default flash side lights upon each repeated depression of the key pad except his new Kia Sorento the consumer stated flashing upon first depression of the key pad was insufficient, especially when trying to find the vehicle at night in a large dimly lit parking lot.

- Bloomfield, MI, USA

problem #2

Jan 062011

Sorento

  • 145 miles
When taken to a speed over 35 mph felt a drift to the right in the steering. When taken to higher speeds, it became physically necessary to hold steering wheel tightly in order to keep vehicle from going to the right. Steering seemed extremely tight and somewhat jerky when cornering making it difficult to get a smooth turn. Steering wheel did not sit straight when driving straight. Front wheels not pointing at same angle when parked. Noticed odor after driving 15 miles that can only be explained as a "burning brakes" odor. Took vehicle to dealer repair department where they performed an alignment; however, this did not fix the problem and we were then told that Kia was saying new tires would fix this Kia known issue. The tires were ordered and put on within the next few days, but replacing the tires did not fix the problem. At this time, we were made aware that our loan had not actually funded yet, so we asked for a contract recession due to the fact that the problem with this vehicle was a known, non repairable issue. The dealership refused contract recession. We were told we would be contacted if Kia came up with a solution to this issue. We returned the vehicle to the dealership repair shop 2 days later telling them to call us when it was fixed. Kia customer service called 2 days after we dropped the vehicle off the second time to let us know that new springs were needed, had been ordered, and would be at the shop the next day. That was nearly a week ago and we have yet to hear from anyone about the vehicle. Dealership has now determined that the vehicle is performing as it should be, even though it still drifts to the right. Turning to the right feels normal, while turning to the left feels as if I am fighting to keep the wheel from snapping back towards the right. Kia will not look into the problem any further on this vehicle.

- Eugene, OR, USA

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problem #1

Jul 212010

Sorento

  • 485 miles
7/21/10 purchased Kia sorrento ex fwd from moritz 110 ne loop 820 hurst, tx 7/22 noticed engine hesitated several times while driving sufficient that cars pulled around me. Contacted jerry simpson and jim cartwright service manager 7/26 took sorrento back and to moritz and rode with jim cartwright through residential neighborhoods. Car exhibited no hesitation 8/2 have driven sorrento to Oklahoma twice and around residential areas in the metroplex and noticed a slight hesitation. 11/8 while in 8:ooam bumper to bumper traffic East bound on hwy 820 in fort worth, tx at a slow 15mph (est) engine chugged down and then caught and then died completely and car had to be pushed out of way. Was able to restart and make it to doctors appointment then took the sorrento back to moritz Kia where we bought it and told them I wanted it fixed 11/11 not having heard from moritz Kia I called them and asked that they doucument what the found and we were going to pick up the sorrento. Which we did

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

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