2011 Kia Sorento Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 268about this part
- Share
- 18%of 1,520 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 89,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 268 complaints about the body and structure of the 2011 Kia Sorento, 18% of the 1,520 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 89,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 9 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“In 2017 my driver side exterior rear door handle was being opened by my 98 lbs daughter and the door handle broke off. Car was in park then in 1018. The passenger exterior rear door handle broke off by the same 98 lb daughter. To me this is a safety issues. If I was in a car wreck and passed out. You wouldnt be able to get into the back seat.”
NHTSA complaint #11173747, filed 2019-02, 93,000 miles“My driver side door will not open from the outside. I have two small children and I'm afraid to put child lock on because this is a common problem according to my research. I haven't gotten a recall for this problem and it makes for a very dangerous maybe deathly situation. Horn doesn't work.”
NHTSA complaint #11255466, filed 2019-09, 98,000 miles“2011 Kia sorrent - I've had to replace the driver side-outside door handle (approx last 6 months), driver side back door outside handle (replaced 12/2015 now broke again 2/16), and now the back passenger door will not open from inside. I am very concerned about life safety. Bad situation if something tragic happens and the doors won't open or can't be opened.”
NHTSA complaint #10838144, filed 2016-02, 88,000 miles“Back driver side rear door will not open from side. If I cannot get to my children and something happens to them I will sue the snot out of Kia. Now, my driver side door broke and will not open from outside. Safety hazard because I cannot get into my car very quickly. I have to go to passenger side and crawl across set to open driver door. This is not safe at all.”
NHTSA complaint #10892749, filed 2016-08, 176,000 milesRelated service bulletins
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- 11026980Dec 17, 2025CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software…
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10173247Mar 26, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) SENSOR PAD REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the front passenger Occupant Detection System…
- 10109817Feb 28, 2017TSB: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL - To improve customer satisfaction, Kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional…
- 10109878Dec 8, 2016SC141 - SORENTO OWNER LETTER - Dear Kia Sorento Owner: Kia Motors America, Inc. is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to apply additional anti-corrosion material to the…
- 10109874Dec 6, 2016TSB: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL - To improve customer satisfaction, Kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional…
- 10109877Dec 5, 2016Questions and answers for voluntary service campaign sc141 ? Underbody ? Additional anti-corrosion treatment
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 7 | 16% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 5 | 2% |
| 2019 | 56 | 13% |
| 2018 | 9 | 4% |
| 2017 | 17 | 2% |
| 2016 | 111 | 9% |
| 2015 | 100 | 13% |
| 2014 | 160 | 16% |
| 2013 | 91 | 9% |
| 2012 | 35 | 4% |
| 2011 | 268 | 18% |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 9 | 6% |
| 2006 | 7 | 3% |
| 2005 | 14 | 5% |
| 2004 | 28 | 13% |
| 2003 | 12 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2011 Kia Sorento
284 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
265 complaintsElectrical system
246 complaintsOther or unknown
217 complaintsAir bags
183 complaintsBrakes
132 complaintsExterior lighting
102 complaintsVehicle speed control
63 complaintsSuspension
56 complaintsSteering
53 complaintsEngine cooling
37 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
33 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Kia Sorento
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology