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?

9.1

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
2,022 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments

problem #4

Jun 142010

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 4,066 miles

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

*altered mileage, * drive and emissions, checked engine light on, fuel cap replaced, 2 journal prefixes, repair kit wiring, brace added for wires to keep from touching tail pipe, transmission gears had to be replaced due to my vehicle not being able to shift to the next gear, and getting stuck in gears keeping me from being mobile in traffic. My windows get stuck in positions all the time when leaving drive thru windows etc. And I have to pull over, stop the car, turn it off and restart a couple of times. *although shift gears have been replaced, my vehicle (with my family in it thank god at safe speeds) will not shift/go to the next gear, becoming immobile. If parking at a store, work etc. Often I can not put my vehicle into park, it remains stuck in drive often making me late for appointments. My dashboard/clusters were replaced behind the steering wheel area due to signal lights not working. My odometer was replaced on my Kia Sorento altering the actual mileage (my 'speedometer replacement record' on the inside was filled in by an authorized Kia dealer). Now we have yet another recall on my vehicle for adding front spring protection recall # SC091. I'm sure I have left off a couple of repairs, but this is just ridiculous. I bought a new car so I could avoid constant waiting at vehicle repair/service departments. I really wish they would just replace my 2011 vehicle; I do not want to be cut short when trading my vehicle some years from now due to an inaccurate odometer reading and transmission problems.

- Texarkana, TX, USA

problem #3

Mar 112010

Sorento

  • 3,000 miles
Something loose on right front wheel of my 2011 Kia Sorento. There is a clunking sound like something is wrong. Kia claims they are all like that but a new car should not fall apart after 3000 miles.

- Westport, MA, USA

problem #2

Apr 272010

Sorento

  • 854 miles
2011 Kia Sorento [xxx], having issues with vehicle pulling off to the right while driving at various speeds on various roads/highways. Said vehicle was brought back to dealership service department to look at alignment. Service department's work resulted in vehicle alignment worse than before. Returned vehicle back to dealer service department, had several (dealership service advisor, dealership service manager, Kia district service manager) all look at and drove vehicle and noticed issue. Dealership service manager stated that he drove several other 2011 Sorento's and noticed a couple of 4 cylinder versions with same issue, and one without the issue. Dealership service manager contacted sister dealership and was informed that they also had a similiar issue with one of their 2011 Sorento's. dealership service department and district manager states vehicle has been put back to factory specs, however, upon customer driving vehicle again along with the dealeship service manager, the said vehicle still pulls to the right significantly. Case number ([xxx]) has been established by Kia consumer headquarters. Field tech rep has been contacted to look into vehicle issue. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #1

Feb 182010

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 169 miles
Took possession of 2011 Kia sorrento on 2-18-2010. Since that time there have been 14 instances when the car hesitated almost dying out and then surging forward. At one time it died completely out and had to be restarted while being in the lane of oncoming traffic. Twice it hesitated and surged ahead 4 - 5 consecutive times before settling down, once while crossing over a 4 lane highway. It has been back to the Kia dealership 3 times and they cannot duplicate the problem, so they claim we do not have a problem. We are very concerned about this and believe it is a safety issue and my wife will not drive the car until this is resolved. Updated 03/16/10 updated IVOQ 07/16/10

- Midland Park, NJ, USA

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