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 2 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #186

Jul 072022

Sorento

  • miles

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

Headlights either blink on and off or turn off for about 5 seconds and then will go back on. It also will blink when using the directional. It does this while driving and parked. Also, the horn has just stopped working.

- Port Charlotte , FL, USA

problem #185

Jul 012022

Sorento

  • miles
Was driving and came to a red light. Then proceeded to get on the highway when all of a sudden it got 65 mph then off of a sudden lost power and rpms would go past 3000. Had to pull over and shut the SUV off and turn back on and drive 30 mph all the way home. Did I mention I almost got hit by a semi and not to mention my child was in the freaking car!!! Plz kia help

- High Point, NC, USA

problem #184

Jun 012022

Sorento

  • miles
Airbag light stays on and the controls on steering wheel don't work

- Johnson City, TN, USA

problem #183

May 292022

Sorento

  • miles

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

My rear doors are locked and will only open from the inside. This is very frustrating and I believe very dangerous

- Wapakoneta, OH, USA

problem #182

May 032022

Sorento

  • miles
Going down the highway with cruise control on, the car jolted and disengaged cruise control. At another time it jolted at an intersection and the car died. Was able to restart and continue. Turning a corner, felt the small jolt / surge..nothing else noted....yet

- Bartlett, TN, USA

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problem #181

Mar 012021

Sorento

  • miles
Both rear door latches on my 2011 Kia Sorento have failed. I previously had to have my mechanic replace the driver door latch which failed, now both rear door latches have failed making it impossible to open either door from the inside or out. Having researched this issue I have found numerous people who have listed this as an issue they have experienced. A technical service bulletin was issued, I believe around 2016, extending the warranty on the door latches to 10 years from the first date of service. I only found this service bulletin while searching for solutions to the problem and the 10 year period has expired. Not being able to open either rear door is a safety hazard. I transport my grandchildren who are all under 5 years of age, and should I be involved in an accident or caught fire while transporting them, or anyone who is riding in the rear seats, it would be difficult to get them out of the vehicle quickly. I do not understand why a recall on this has not been issued as I believe this is an extreme safety issue and it is well documented that this is an issue with many Kia Sorento owners. My cost to repair the driver door latch was just over $800.

- Pinckneyville, IL, USA

problem #180

Feb 222022

Sorento

  • miles

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

Door does not open Steering wheel is stiff when turning.

- Brooklyn , NY, USA

problem #179

Feb 072022

Sorento

  • miles
ON 2-7-2022 MY 2011 KIA SERENTO began to boggle out while driving it merging onto the freeway I was having a hard time speeding up to even 20mph then out of no where it was just fine again, well I went to pick my children from school about 1 1/2 hours later and the car started out driving fine until out of no where I was unable to accelerate to a higher speed once more but this time it was smelling like smoke but there was no smoke

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #178

Dec 142021

Sorento

  • miles
This car won-??t go into park at times I have to put it with my emergency brake to park it and sometimes it won-??t go into reverse. Called Kia dealership said it-??s common at 150,000 for the interpreter switch/shift cable to get jammed up and to fix it would cost $550. I am afraid to drive this car but I need to go to work, if this is a common issue there should be a recall to fix it as that is a safety issue and it-??s dangerous.

- Taunton , MA, USA

problem #177

Oct 222021

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
I have contacted the manufacturer Kia-ConsumerAssistanceCenter@kiausa.com. I notified them first on September 8,2021. I was given a generic response of to contact a dealership about lights being on that won-??t cut off, the hatch falling on its own, the windows gets stuck and the door handle not working and more recently November 3, 2021 that the car will just stop accelerating when driving and then resumes by itself. I also followed their instructions and attempted to make and appointment with Kia of Orange Park 6373 Blanding Blvd Jacksonville, Florida 32244 (904) 771-6078 and was told each item to LOOK AT it was $159. I informed them of my warranty that would cover Cost and was denied that option but payment would be needed upfront and then they would bill my warranty and apply the cost. This was for a diagnostic check. Not repair at all. Which means fees needed to paid whether I got the work done or not. My car was there in June for a recall with the engine and that was covered by Kia due to a system update. I tried again in October just for the car acceleration and have not received a response back from [XXX] GENERAL SALES MANAGER [XXX] on the cost to look at the vehicle to see what it-??s accelerating on its on. I sent a follow up request again today to Kia the manufacturer and the dealership. I want it documented that I am driving a car that will stall on its own and then accelerates again. I have two kids and if we are killed due to the vehicles stopping in traffic on its own. Or the other mechanical problems it-??s now having they should be sued for our deaths. To just look at my vehicle [XXX] states I must pay because his guys need to get paid too. Not for any work just to look at the vehicle and tell me the cost of repairs. Also they will not submit rose cost to my warranty company who states they will cover the repairs unless they are given money upfront. Sounds illegal to me. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #176

Aug 042021

Sorento

  • miles

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

There was a recall on the passenger doors (all of them) actuators. All have been replaced by Kia. They are ALL BROKEN AGAIN and will not lock.

- Overland Park , KS, USA

problem #175

May 202021

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 132,685 miles
The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at 25 mph, a UPS truck veered off into her lane causing the contact to crash her vehicle into a curb. The contact stated that the next morning, she saw that her vehicle was leaking an immense amount of oil. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where it was diagnosed with nothing needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact then stated while driving at 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and the contact saw smoke emerging from the engine compartment. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact opened the hood to fire behind the engine. There were no injuries. The air bags did not deploy. The fire department was contacted but did not extinguish the fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed back to the repair shop. The repair shop informed the contact that they do not specialize in fires and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was then diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist. The failure mileage was 132,685. The consumer stated the dealer was ceased by Federal Agents for selling vehicles with damaged parts and finance companies fraudulent withdrawal money from the consumer and other accounts.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #174

Jul 142021

Sorento

  • miles
The left rear passenger quit working. The door cannot be opened from inside or outside. Now the driver door will not open from the outside, but will open from the inside. I have ready many complaints about this problem. We have small grand children that are taken in this vehicle and the concern is that both rear doors quit working before the afore mentioned repairs are made. This has repeatedly happened to doors that have been fixed as well from all the complaint I've read. This has just recently happened to my vehicle. What are the chances of the other doors quitting after these repairs are made. Looks to be above average. This car has not been taken to a dealer yet as the driver door just broke.

- West Carrollton, OH, USA

problem #173

Jul 132019

Sorento

  • miles
The Pearl White paint is peeling off of my 2011 Kia Sorento. The dealer is aware of this and had no response. I was told by other individuals with the same problem to file this information in anticipation of a recall. This has been happening over the past year and a half.

- Fallbrook , CA, USA

problem #172

Jun 102021

Sorento

  • miles
I have replaced the drivers side low beam headlight three times and it is out again. I have replaced the passenger side low beam headlight two times.

- Apache Junction, AZ, USA

problem #171

Apr 192021

Sorento

  • 122,000 miles
Inside door handle popped and I was unable to open the driver's door from inside the car. This also happened to the rear door and I needed a door latch kit and also on the front door latch kit had to be replaced. The safety or it is not safe when you cannot open your car door from inside the car.

- Harrisburg, Pa, PA, USA

problem #170

Nov 202000

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
The drivers side rear door will not open.

- Pendleton, SC, USA

problem #169

Jul 102020

Sorento

  • miles
My door handle or door latch will not open from the outside on my drivers side door and also my left back door will not open from the outside or inside. It is dangerous for and my kids. Also, my headrest has fallen off. I have issues with my lights, they will not work for the interior.

- Spring Hill, TN, USA

problem #168

Nov 212020

Sorento

  • 210,000 miles
When driving on the highway, the vehicle will shut-off without warning. This has happened about five times in the last four months.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #167

Aug 032020

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
Doors fail to open from the outside of vehicle. Headlight wiring harness will melt wiring for the light bulb and kill the lightbulb. Driver seat feels loose, however the bolts are as tight as they will go.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

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