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:
2 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,826 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.
I went to the store and tried to open the back passenger driver's side door from the outside and it would not open. I thought that the child safety locks were on so I went inside from the opposite side and opened the door. Still haven't figured out why I can't open my door then today the other side will not open now. Both back doors will not open from the outside, this is a huge safety issue. What if there was an accident god forbid or a fire and I had my children or grandchild in my vehicle and could not get them out! Kia needs to recall this immediately. Looking back I can see a number of complaints and this is just unacceptable. Please help with this issue. Thank you
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.
Kia Sorento 2011 door handles keep coming apart in our hands when just opening doors 'normally' (I.e.- no jerking forces used, just normal opening force !!!) Kia must be held accountable for these absurd 90% plastic door handles ! this is the 3rd time - we are not going to keep paying Kia dealer to fix handles ! us gov't must get involved in this!what kind of bogus design uses plastic handles? please make this issue known to proper gov't agencies & Kia 🧐thank you
- Clearwater, FL, USA
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Door will not open from the outside on the driver rear side. Also I am starting to have issues with my gear shift. I can't put my vehicle out of park. If I do get it out of park, 2 of my dashboards lights come one. I also notice when these lights are on my brake lights do not show on the rear side. This is am hazard and my truck slips from time to time.
I am having problems with the front doors on the driver and passenger side. The doors are inoperable and do not open from the outside. I have to open the back door and reach inside handle to open the front doors. This is a safety issue as I worry that eventually all of the doors will stop working. I have read online that many people have had the same issue. Apparently, there is a plastic mechanism inside the door frame that fails at some point. My wife contacted Kia concerning the issue and was told there was no recall at this time. The dealership has quoted over $300 to repair one door. This should not cost the consumer as this is obviously a manufacturer defect. Please provide assistance with this matter. Thank you.
My car driver side air bag light came on suddenly and dealer wants to charge to diagnose and repair. The driver seat lower back adjusting cushion does not function anymore. The rear driver side door does not umlock dealer wants to charge to diagnose or inspect and order the door handle base mechanism part, then charge for that and installation.
Engine light is on, keeps stalling out at a stop or when turning, smells like something burning, now making a rough grinding noise from motor. Keeps going through oil, putting two quarts of oil in every other day. Passenger side door in back wont open from the outside. The passenger side headlight keeps blowing out, the tires on the front end keep going bold.
Rear driver's side exterior door handle broke off while trying to open the door from the outside. The broken door handle renders that door useless, and in an emergency, the door could not be opened from the exterior. The vehicle was stationary/ parked when the door handle broke. An internet search shows that this is a frequent occurrence with the Kia sorrento. The local Kia dealership, when asked, stated that they have seen this happen, but there is not yet a recall. However, there was a recall for the door "latch", which did not cover the handle itself. A recall of a door "latch" should include the handle, if broken.
Passenger side rear door locked, unable to open from outside or inside manually or with remote. Previously door was repaired due to recall, door handle broke off also door locks malfunctioning. Vehicle stationary or in motion wont open. Please advise.
My back passenger door will not open. I put my two grandsons in the vehicle one on each side put the safety locks on the next day the door would not open from the inside or outside
Door latch problem, won't open from inside, and then won't open on outside. It has been a lot of problems with this Kia, found a lot of people have same issues. You unlock the door and door latch won't unlock the door. It will not open. So you have to go outside to open. The second similar problem. Door unlocked, but you can't open the door, this same issues happened on driver's side!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Brick, NJ, USA