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?

3.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,490 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #53

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 #52

Mar 112024

Sorento

  • miles
3/11/24 The first thing I noticed was that my cruise control shut off with a couple of jerks to my vehicle. Then a few minutes later, I lost all steering, put in it park. There was smoke coming from under the hood, but not fire. It is sitting at my house still. A couple of months or so ago, when I received the letter of the recall, I called the dealership I bought my vehicle from and inquired about it. I was told that the part was not available but when it does, I will receive another letter. Also wanted to note, that right before I made that call, my engine light came on the day before that. Today, I called the same dealership to let them know what happened yesterday and they told me there was a cost for a tow truck to come get my vehicle. I was given a phone number to Kia, to which I called and started some kind of process. But it stopped when she told me it was going to be over $200 for a tow truck to come get my vehicle. I am not able to pay that nor feel as if I should due to Kia knowing about the recall and danger of same. Right when I lost steering and a red lamp popped up. I immediately parked it.

- Jena, LA, USA

problem #51

Feb 022024

Sorento

  • miles
Brakes feel softer, rear brake burnt smell, replaced brakes one month ago. Headlight and taillight bulbs replaced several times in last 3 months due to blinking blowing replaced and starts over again. Screen will not turn on until car has run for 45 minutes. Cannot use back until screen turns on. Leaving car parked until I can get brake system fixed. Noticed brake light on dash and car with swerve light on dash. Too scared to drive until at least brakes are fixed. Reached out to dealership. No part available for recall which most likely is failing my brakes

- Mcalisterville, PA, USA

problem #50

Jan 192024

Sorento

  • miles

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

I was driving my car to work when my check engine light came on and starting flashing. I made it to work just unable to go over 30MPH because it felt like it was in fail safe mode. That afternoon I spoke with KIA Affairs and the lady advise me to go to autozone and get it diagnosed after work. Well after work I went to go to autozone and barely made it half a mile before it felt like it was going to die. so i turned to go back to turn around to back to work in the parking lot next door. When I turned it felt like i had no control over where my car was going like i had no traction control even though i did not hit any patches of ice.

- Independence , MO, USA

problem #49

Oct 152023

Sorento

  • miles
While driving, the front end of the car made a thud sound and vibrated, the lights on the panel came on, the engine light, battery light, key light, and the steering wheel locked up. This happened 3 times in a week. If we had been going faster it could have caused an accident because of car suddenly slowing down and loss of steering. After turning off and then back on it worked again but never know when it could happen again. Yes my car is available upon request. No codes come up when our mechanic diagnosed it, hasn't been to a Kia dealership yet, can't get in until Nov. 6. Refer to article "2011 Kia Sorrento's problems with sudden surging and engine stalls led to 7 investigations, 6 recalls." My mechanic referred us to this article as he thinks our car has a related problem. This problem happened without any warning.

- Springfield, VT, USA

problem #48

Feb 162023

Sorento

  • miles
Same issue with the whining and pulling as the recall. Kia will not help. Two dealerships and the manufacturer will not recheck the repaired recall.

- Lynn, IN, USA

problem #47

Mar 132021

Sorento

  • 35 miles

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

Vibrating sound in front end

- Glenolden, PA, USA

problem #46

Dec 022020

Sorento

  • 164,000 miles
On December 2, 2020 my Kia Sorento started making a knocking noise. No engine warning lights came on. I went to go head home from work on the interstate and I heard a clank while I was driving my brakes locked in traffic then all the lights on my dash came on and my engine shut off in the middle of traffic. My car would not turn back on and I had to call my insurance company geico to have my car towed home. Very scary and very dangerous. It still doesn't not turn on whatso ever. I have videos but not in the right format to open.

- Summerdale, AL, USA

problem #45

Nov 122019

Sorento

  • 160,000 miles
Have had a lot of suspension issues related to alignment, tye rods, bearings - lots of loud noises with every bump. I have gotten some issues fixed only to have the same issues within about two months.

- Evansville, WI, USA

problem #44

Aug 232018

Sorento

  • 160,000 miles
My vehicle is giving me random problems with my suspension and brake system it randomly feels like it is fine and then randomly does not feel safe to drive due.to brake clicking noise that you can hear where shift knob is and when I press brakes my tires lock or.sometimes feels as if there is air and.it will not brake.unless I pump brakes a couple times..my airbag light is on and my driver side door stop opening from outside to inside but works fine from inside to outside opening

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #43

Feb 282020

Sorento

  • 89,162 miles

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

Two days later after buying the car we were driving it down the highway when I noticed that the rpms on the truck were going to high at 70 mph the RPM would be between 6 and 7 so I decide while driving to shift it to standard shift and in this particular truck the odometer shows what gear I am in and I could also shift it manually but the truck is stuck in 4th gear and at a complete stop the start doesnt seem to want to go at all and now it want go forwards or reverse. If I turn left or right signals the head lights go off. When I stopped at the gas station the passby person saw that it was a leak under the vehicle.

- Westwego, LA, USA

problem #42

Dec 132019

Sorento

  • 188,000 miles
All steering wheel function have stop working including horn. Radio, cruise and blue tooth controls. During a trip on the high way

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #41

Nov 122019

Sorento

  • miles
En este ao a partir de julio mi carro Kia Sorento 2011 a presentado problema en la direcion, power tren, de acuerdo a lo que indica que tiene un desperfecto de fabrica, en dos ocaciones he tenido problema muy fuerte, SE bloqueo el carro manejando Y lo frenos no funcionaron Y el carro siguio rodando Y pude haber tenido un accidente... la otra en la carretera el carro comienza a sonar las ruedas Y cuando SE frena tambalea... lo lleve para la inspeccion Y paso correctamente pero me entregaron una hoja que el carro tiene desperfecto de fabrica, ,, lo lleve a la Kia para la revision de las partes, ,,la cual realizaron el pedido de las mismas... pero yo como usuario no me siento conforme ya que ese cambio no me da segurida por que corre peligro mi vidad Y la de la familia, ,, no necesito un carro reparado lo que necesito un carro que me de segurida para toda la familia, ,, una vez que cambien las parte Y SE me falla en la carretera quien responde por mi vida Y la de la familia Y la de otras personas, necesito que por favor me ayuden con una investigacion, ya que tambien tiene otros desperfecto.. lo lleve alinear Y me dice que le falta un pieza en las ruedas que no viene de fabrica Y ES un desperfecto, ,, ya a mi el carro no me da confianza al manejar Y no ES confiable... espero que durante los dos aos que falta de garantia ya que dan 10 aos no me pase nada a mi Y a mi familia.. ya que ese problema que tiene Y no SE realiza bien puede pasar un gran accidente...el punto ES que necesito un carro que me de confianza ya que en este manejo con temor. Adjunto fotos

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #40

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 #39

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

problem #38

Jul 022019

Sorento

  • 117,000 miles
First issue began when car started pulling to right when going around corners on highway. Took to shop; paid for new brakes including pads, rotors, front calipers plus front driver side ball joint replaced. Ball joint rusted out so bad it crumbled to pieces when tire was taken off. Not out of shop for even a full day when the car started pulling again. This time it was a hard pull to the right while going straight on highway and in town. This time the pull was so strong the car went off road. This time it felt like steering went out completely. So back to shop to find out that the front passenger side ball joint was also shot and needed replaced. Car been out of shop barely 2 wks; now front end is making a hard clunky noise when turning and going over just the slightest bumps. The car feels like you are driving over boulders and sounds like the whole front end is about to fall apart. So back to the shop for third time in less than one month. Read multiple complaints online regarding these same issues" im pretty sure I'll be paying for struts, shocks and/or complete repair of front end suspension after already putting $800 in to it. How has this car not been recalled for such issues"

- Bennington, NE, USA

problem #37

Mar 112019

Sorento

  • 10,000 miles
My car just immediately started slowing down and it was extremely hard to turn the steering wheel and the brakes would not let me brake. I almost wrecked my car. Also my camera just stopped working as well.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #36

Oct 252018

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
The wheel locks while driving in rainy puddles. I can not bake any turns during this locking and have to force the steering wheel out of the lock position.

- Brick, NJ, USA

problem #35

Jul 012018

Sorento

  • 151,000 miles
All accessories on steering wheel have gone out: Radio controls no longer work, cruise control does not work, bluetooth capability(answering/ending phone calls) no longer works, and now the horn does not work. Having a working horn is part of the safety equipment on a vehicle. One day while parked, I honked the horn to get my sons attention and it did not work.the horn just stopped working. Another time I was making a left turn and some idiot not paying attention almost did not stop, as I was turning I honked the horn(forgetting it had not been working previously) and it worked just that one time. It has not worked since! how does that happen? also, the head rest on front seats are poorly designed, both have come off completely.

- Jurupa Valley, CA, USA

problem #34

Aug 152018

Sorento

  • miles
Very rough start in the morning or after sitting off for over 2 hours. After 30 seconds engine noise reduced dramatically. Steering control malfunction sometimes. Making up dow button act erraticaly along cruise control and radio control. Bluetooth connection sound quality very poor.

- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA

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