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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2011 Kia Sorento Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
265about this part
Share
17%of 1,520 total for the year
Median mileage
34,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 265 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 Kia Sorento, 17% of the 1,520 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 34,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“I was driving at 65 miles an hour on flat roads and the car went to shift to a higher gear and clunk the transmission feels as though it is going to break. This has happened numerous times. I have also had trouble with the clunking noise when I am going 40 and getting ready to speed up. Please help fix this problem for the saftey of others.”

NHTSA complaint #11013616, filed 2017-08, 86,120 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

“2011 Sorento shift really hard, sometimes I have to force it to shift by lowering speed, sometimes it does not want to shift at all and then my engine light comes on, then shifts really hard and wants to stop on me as I am driving. Sometimes at a light it does die, but then start back up. One time it would not go even with pushing the gas all the way down.”

NHTSA complaint #10908186, filed 2016-09, 52,000 miles

“The car has a no-star condition, uneven engagement when shifting gears. Whenever driving and if I want to suddently speed to avoid an object or to adjust to traffic speeds the car hesitates for a second or two. I almost crash today due to this problem, putting at risk my whole family... I believe there a some recalls on similar vehicles with this problem but my VIN is not on the list yet”

NHTSA complaint #11041871, filed 2017-11, 20 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20251925%
2024511%
20232218%
20226835%
202114456%
20201813%
20195112%
201894%
2017375%
201612610%
2015426%
2014727%
2013697%
2012556%
201126517%
2009916%
20082311%
20072013%
20063514%
20053812%
20044018%
2003227%

Other parts of the 2011 Kia Sorento

Engine
284 complaintsBody and structure
268 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 30, 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