2011 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a broad mix of problems, but engine failures and door handles dominate the sampled complaints. Engine trouble usually shows up as knocking, stalling or sudden loss of power at higher mileage, while lighting and electrical complaints often involve headlights cutting out. Door handles that stop working from the outside or inside are a recurring body complaint.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, stalling and engine failure

   • 541 complaints (36%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (414 state mileage)
   • 53 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,350 (median of 38 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe knocking sounds, loss of power at highway speed, stalling without warning and, in some cases, a rod bearing failure that required engine replacement. Several owners report smoke or fire from the engine area. According to complaints, some dealers replaced the engine while others said the vehicle was not covered or that no recall applied to that VIN. Mostly reported between roughly 90,000 and 190,000 miles, often with no warning light beforehand.

   Recall 23V8770007 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for a knock at cold start and during a test drive, check the oil level and look for oil consumption records. Ask whether the knock sensor detection software update or any engine campaign work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving to bakersfield to visit my sister. Me and my grandson were on the 5 frwy when my car started losing power. I pulled to the side of the frwy and waited for the tow truck. My car never started again. Since then I have been told that it's the motor. My car never had any problems never ran hot or anything”

   NHTSA complaint #11386062, filed 2021-01, 150,000 miles

   “I have a 2011 Kia Sorento whihc has 136k mileage on it. At 2014 while I was on dealer for regular maintenance they burnned my engine and replaced with new one. Can had 25k on it. Last friday I was driving on highway and my car started to make sound and sound started to come from engine and it stopped completely. Mjaor engine faliure again and delaer not willing to change under warranty. Kia need to address this issue”

   NHTSA complaint #11387174, filed 2021-01, 136,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and exterior lights cutting out or failing

   • 259 complaints (17%)
   • median 89,393 mi at 7.5 yrs old (198 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners report headlights turning off on their own while driving at night, sometimes coming back on after a few seconds, and repeated bulb replacement that does not fix the problem. Some describe a burning wire smell or flickering over bumps, and a few mention melted headlight wiring. Complaints indicate dealers often could not reproduce the fault. Typically above 60,000 miles, mostly reported around 100,000 to 150,000 miles.

   Recall 13V114000Recall 10V3880001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car at night and watch for flicker or dropouts, and inspect the headlight connectors and wiring for heat damage or a burnt smell. Ask whether the brake light switch recall was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354232, filed 2020-09, 150,000 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11350661, filed 2020-08, 215,458 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Door handles and latches that stop opening

   • 384 complaints (25%)
   • median 89,712 mi at 5.8 yrs old (278 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $450 (median of 37 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe door handles that no longer open the door from the outside or inside, most often on the driver's door, forcing owners to enter through another door or use the window and outside handle. Some had latch kits or handles replaced; others report no repair or dealer diagnosis. Mostly reported between about 90,000 and 160,000 miles.

   What to check: Open and close every door several times from both inside and outside during the test drive and check that each handle releases smoothly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drivers door will not open through outside have to climb through passenger door.this could be definitely a safety issue with my well being as I could be pulled from car while attempting to enter..I am almost 60 and this is very hard on me to climb from passenger side to drivers side especially in the rain or dark parking lot with all the crime going on these days.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327122, filed 2020-06, 120,000 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11414192, filed 2021-04, 122,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on

   • 153 complaints (10%)
   • median 95,638 mi at 6.9 yrs old (114 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,700 (median of 29 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report the air bag warning light staying on with nothing on the passenger seat, sometimes after the clock spring or seat and impact sensors were replaced. Complaints mention dealers quoting sensor replacements and the light returning or the repair not being done. Reported from about 90,000 to 180,000 miles, sometimes earlier.

   What to check: Check that the air bag light is off after start-up and, if the seller allows, have the air bag system scanned for stored codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag light came on for no reason and will not shut off. I did troubleshoot according to the manual that came with my vehicle. The light still did not shut off. My guess is that it has malfunctioned. Looking on line other people with the same year Kia are having the same problem. Vehicle was stationary when it came on as well as when I was driving on the highway and city streets.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339518, filed 2020-07, 156,345 miles

   “A month ago while driving home from a day of shopping and the drivers side air bag light came on. I checked the wires underneath the drivers seat to make sure everything was still connected the light stays on. The engine light came on just yesterday 12.5.2020. Stays on will not shut off. I checked the gas cap to make sure it was tight then went to auto zone so they could use their DTC. (the clerk put an estimate of miles on my paperwork as he did not go outside to get actual milage.)the code was obd2. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11378145, filed 2020-12, 161,174 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission, shifting and driveline vibration

   • 339 complaints (22%)
   • median 60,250 mi at 4.5 yrs old (274 state mileage)
   • 30 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $525 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe trouble shifting out of or back into Park, intermittent shuddering and vibration from the drivetrain, and in some cases transmission failure diagnosed after a banging noise and loss of power. Owners report dealers sometimes could not reproduce the shifting or vibration problem, while others had transmissions replaced. Reported across a wide range, from about 34,000 to 130,000 miles.

   Recall 15V626000Recall 11V2580004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Shift through all gears with the engine running, confirm the lever will not leave Park without the brake pedal, and test drive for shudder or vibration at steady speeds. Ask about transmission fluid service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We are having problems with not being able to shift out of park and sometimes not being able to put the car back into park. I have 2 lights on that showed up when this started. The traction control light and the down hilnot being able to shift from park or back into park doesn't happen all the time when it does we have to push a key into the little hole buy the shifter to override it”

   NHTSA complaint #11319638, filed 2020-03, 182,051 miles

   “We were driving on a road at about 35 miles an hour when there was a loud bang from the rear end almost sounded as if a tire head blown upon bringing it back and doing tests and checks we found at the rear transfer case or differential was to blame. Upon further research on the internet we found that there has been many complaints about the rear differential or transfer case occurring on many of the same vehicles”

   NHTSA complaint #11302145, filed 2020-01, 119,450 miles

Buying note. Check the engine for knock or oil consumption and confirm which open recalls apply to the VIN, since owners frequently report engine work and fire-related campaigns. A pre-purchase inspection covering the lights, door handles and transmission shifting is worth the cost on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.