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:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,202 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 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #44

Feb 012019

Sorento

  • 0 miles

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

My Kia Sorento 2011. My problem is that my car started acting different. Every time I turn it makes a noise. I got the ball joint done. The right site. Also I got the strut done. I was told that I need new strut again..went I drive it sound like if the car gonna fall apart.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #43

Mar 102019

Sorento

  • 60,000 miles
Rear parking brakes never worked. Using my shift gear for parking. Now front door is not opening from outside. Went to forum on internet about this issue. Thousands of Kia Sorento 2011 owners has same issue with the door. If we go to Kia, they charge $400 for one door lock! crazy! so many Kia owners don, T want a Kia anymore. Me either

- Glenview, IL, USA

problem #42

Jan 062019

Sorento

  • 136,000 miles
Rear right wheel speed sensor replaced at 136,000. Asb, brake and traction lights all on. Was driving appox 45 miles per hour on city street, no reason for loghts to suddenly come on. Owners manual indicated that battery should be checked for low charge, new battery not indicated in this situation. Had replaced brakes, pads and rotators three months previously. Got three qoutes and Kia was $250 more that the other repair options and the indepentent companies included purchasing the sensor from Kia.

- Granville, TN, USA

problem #41

Dec 242018

Sorento

  • 128,000 miles

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

My rear caliper has failed shortly after replacing all 4 rotars, and brake pads. Now I am facing a rather expensive bill that I cannot afford on a limitted income as I am disabled. I am also lucky that this malfunction did not cause me to crash the vehicle. I noticed my gas mileage had significantly gone down, and the rear or the vehicle was dragging, and I also heard what sounded like something dragging on the ground und erderneath the vehicle. That's when I noticed a groove being dug into my rotar by the brake pads locked in the on position.

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #40

Dec 162018

Sorento

  • 170,000 miles
While diving down the road, the rear passenger side gear box shattered.

- Vernon, FL, USA

problem #39

Aug 142018

Sorento

  • 109,400 miles
My brake lamp switch/ stoplight switch appears to be faulty or failing, as my brake lamps are not lightning up when I press my brake pedal, nor will my car go into park or reverse when this happens. If it's when I first crank the car, then it will not go out of park when the brake pedal is pressed. Also, the ESC light and the dbc light comes on when this happens. My pedal/gear shifter won't make the clicking vibration noise that can even be felt in my foot and hand in order to shift the car into a gear or out of gear. This appears to be a very common problem in Kia and I do see a recall that was for 2006-2011 Kia Sorento vehicles. My VIN is not showing as part of the recall, but I'm having the same exact problem, and this is a safety issue because I can be rear-ended and even killed in an mva with no brake lamps. Kia should cover this replacement for me.

- Hueytown, AL, USA

problem #38

Jan 102018

Sorento

  • 100,000 miles

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

Door handles not opening brakes not wanting to stop or grabing ESC ABS downhill on and passger air bag

- Delta, AL, USA

problem #37

Feb 172018

Sorento

  • 1 miles
My Kia was being details, the person detailing the vehicle got into the vehicle. He pushed the start button didn't start the vehicle. He started it by inserting the fob in the console. The vehicle started at high rpms, driver had his foot on the brake, placed the car into reverse and the car exited the garage at a high rate of speed, driver applied both feet on the brakes the brakes did not work he tried to steer the vehicle away from the creek the steering did not work.. the vehicle did stop after it crashed into the creek that was near the business. The driver sustained injury to his head when he tried to exit the vehicle after it entered the creek. Vehicle was pulled from the creek. Driver did seek medical attention at a local hospital.

- Connellsville, PA, USA

problem #36

Jan 052018

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
Was driving my Kia and suddenly could no longer drive pulled over N traffic and could only put the E brake on. Nothing else would go in to gear drive reverse and the brakes were not working properly. So put the E brake on and called tow truck..took it to made in America made in Japan..and the say its the input shaft..exactly described on recall for my VIN # [xxx]. manufacture call#SC124. NHTSA# 15V626.this happened on 225 placerville rd folsom on Friday 1/5/2017.its currently still at made in America made in Japan..please contact. Me a.S.a.P [xxx]. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #35

Aug 012017

Sorento

  • 108,000 miles
When driving at stable speed the vehicle often "feels" as if the gas is not getting to the motor. The speed of the car varies, regardless of the amount of pressure on the gas pedal. The car also shows low tire light, along with all lights on the dashboard at random times. The lights will appear when you start the vehicle and the tire pressure light remains on at all times.

- Jessieville, AR, USA

problem #34

Mar 032017

Sorento

  • 66,000 miles

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

Kia Sorento 2011 ESC dbs lights on dashboard and either cannot get out of park or when trying to shut vehicle down will get stuck in between neutral and drive, I shut down car but obviously cannot take keys out, wait a few minutes restart in neutral and sometimes I can get it in or out of park. Sometimes this is done several times.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #33

Oct 052016

Sorento

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While attempting to open the passenger side door from outside the vehicle, the lock failed to open the door. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 156260000 (power train) and 13V114000 (service brakes, hydraulic, exterior lighting). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #32

Jan 262017

Sorento

  • 168,000 miles
I was informed brake lights were not illuminating. Electric stability control idiot light showed up on dashboard right before being informed. Car is also not shifting into park or reverse. Drive gear seems ok.

- Monroe, NJ, USA

problem #31

Aug 042015

Sorento

  • 73,209 miles
The ABS/traction sensor has gone out. Seems to be a common issue and Kia will not cover it or issue a recall.

- Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA

problem #30

Feb 072016

Sorento

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 45 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and hesitated to stop the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the rear brakes failed to respond; however, the front brakes functioned properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear sway bar ran a hole in the brake line and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Hearty, VA, USA

problem #29

Oct 082015

Sorento

  • 52,000 miles
While driving the traction light and down hill lights come on and start to apply the brakes also after making a turn the traction lights blinks and then applies the front brakes causing the car to rummble and brake peddle to viberate

- Homosassa, FL, USA

problem #28

Jul 142015

Sorento

  • 68,000 miles
I was driving the vehicle at low speed when the brakes started coming on by themselves. The traction control light came on as the vehicle stopped 6 times within a couple of hundred feet. I could feel the anti lock brakes working as the vehicle would stop, then the brakes would release and I would start moving again only to have the brakes come on by themselves again. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a sensor was replaced regarding the steering. The vehicle has worked fine since, but its only been 5 days since it was repaired.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #27

Jun 062015

Sorento

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While driving at 20 mph, multiple warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the right rear passenger side brake sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- North Port, FL, USA

problem #26

Apr 162015

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 41,569 miles
On 04/16/15 pulled into parking space. Car would not go into park or reverse. Parking brake would not engage. Warning lights on didn't make sense., accessories would not turn off. Car rolled w/O hard depress to brake. Brake wouldn't fully engage (wouldn't plunge all the way). Put into neutral, could not fully shut off. Car warning signal blasting. Could not secure car, lock car or or turn car off. Could only drive forward slowly with drag when able to get out of parking spot. Drove forward to get out of paking lot before trapped in there again and reverse rolling occurred. Went to side of road for towing. Huge drag while driving slow 5mph aprox. Ignition finally turned off after putting into neutral again. Warning sound finally went away but accessories still were on. Parking brake would now engage. Car not drivable or fully functioning. Car towed to dealership..diagnosed- failure of recall part put in at time of recall to fix had failed. Resolution: Replaced defective recall fix part with same recall part that just failed, no accident resulted because of this failure but I could not properly, drive, secure, car. Left stranded with medically fragile child with limited cellular reception. Concern: Driving unsafe car with known failure part that could lead to serious accident do to symptoms of failure posted by Kia. Kia resolution was to put same part in that is know to fail and was part of a fix for voluntary recall due to know serious results of part failure. I am driving a car that is on it's third recall which is proven to have special needs medically fragile son would not have had immediate medical emergeny services if failure happened where there was no signal. Lack of brake lights could result in collision resulting in death or serious injury. Summary, driving car with know safey issues by Kia with no resolution.

- Duvall, WA, USA

problem #25

Dec 032014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 77,000 miles
Driving on the freeway in my 2011 Kia Sorento last night, the ABS light came on, along with three other lights (all brake related). Lights will not go out, so I took it to the dealership today. They told me it is a rear speed sensoring issue and my anti lock brakes are not working. Fixing it is not under warranty. This is not the first time my Kia has electronic issues. But these are dangerous! if your brakes don't work and you are driving on the freeway, danger about to happen.

- Boise, ID, USA

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