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.

2011 Kia Sorento body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 9 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #66

Jun 022016

Sorento

  • 86,000 miles

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

I recently purchased this vehicle back in March 2016. Only to find out 3 months later that my driver's door won't open for the outside. This is really a safety issue. The cost to repair it should be on Kia not the owner since we haven't did any damage. I can see if we as the owners are causing the damage but we aren't

- Gloucester, VA, USA

problem #65

Apr 152016

Sorento

  • miles
Back drivers side door handle stopped working, unable to open door from outside of vehicle. Today 6/2/16 drivers side door handle stopped working as well. This is very dangerous I read several post where all 4 doors stopped working, what if there is an emergency and you are unable to get into your vehicle because the doors wont open. Leaving the windows open is not an option since it puts the vehicle at risk for potential theft. Kia dealers are charging almost $400 per door for what is clearly a defect on the vehicle as many people have complained about the same issue on the 2011 model.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #64

May 292016

Sorento

  • 86,355 miles
Passenger rear door will not open from the inside or outside no matter what I try. I couldn't get my child out, had to crawl through car to do this. The child safety lock is engaged but does not explain being unable to open from the outside. I'm going to the dealer to get it taken care of tomorrow. But this is not covered under my powertrain warrantee. It should be a no brainer that this is a recall item. I've seen other's comments and there is no way I saved up my money to spend it on a repetitive $400 repair as I have seen others do. I have a five year old and another one on the way this August. I am livid because frankly I feel like driving my beater car is safer than driving the Sorento. But I worked my butt off to be able to afford the Sorento because I thought it would be safer. I was so wrong.

- Seven Hills, OH, USA

problem #63

May 282016

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles

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

Car doors will not open from outside, will open from inside but not outside. No child safety lock is not on. I see hundreds of people online with this problem. I'm afraid of not being able to reach my child or pet in car. Kia repair man said it is faulty part but not a safety issue.

- Washington, NJ, USA

problem #62

May 202016

Sorento

  • 51,000 miles
This is complaint number two for my Sorento. On May 20, 2016 my passenger side front door will not open from the outside. This is the second door on the same vehicle that will not open. Kia has used a defective part that breaks on the inside of the door without warning, and not due to normal wear.

- Bristow, VA, USA

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problem #61

May 152016

Sorento

  • miles
I have had several issues with the doors. It started with my front drivers door and now it is the back passenger door. You cannot open the door from the outside and you have to take the door apart to fix it. However, I can't open my back door at all because my child safety lock is on, so I cannot open it from the inside like I do with my drivers door. I am unable to get my kids in or out of the car, without having to put them all in through one door and over car seats. I am not the only one who has had this problem. Several people have. Here is the link to the complaints www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T37046_ds615605. if there was ever and emergency I would not be able to get my children out in a timely manner.

- Easley, SC, USA

problem #60

May 172016

Sorento

  • 40,000 miles

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

The exterior door handle on driver's door stopped working. The vehicle can only be opened from the inside.

- Winter Park, FL, USA

problem #59

Apr 182016

Sorento

  • miles
The driver's side outside door handle broke. The door will not open from the outside. The vehicle was stationary, parked in a parking lot

- Cols, OH, USA

problem #58

May 112016

Sorento

  • 68,000 miles
Door latch from outside of drivers door decided to stop working. A reasonable person would understand this to be a safety issue. Kia does not. They keep extra parts on hand to complete this expensive repair. Apparently, it happens often. This is not proper or just. Others having this problem.

- Portland, MI, USA

problem #57

Mar 152016

Sorento

  • 91,000 miles
Front passenger door will not open from the outside

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #56

May 122016

Sorento

  • 81,000 miles

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

Front driver side outside door handle does not open the door when unlocked with either key or remote. Door operates from the inside and not outside. Door was working earlier same day and showed no signs of wear or break before outside door handle stopped working.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #55

May 132016

Sorento

  • 105,000 miles
Driver door inoperable from the outside. Parked in driveway over night - no warning of any imminent failure.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #54

Apr 272016

Sorento

  • miles
"door locked from outside" on April 27, 2016 I noticed that on my lr passenger door on my Sorento that I was unable to open the door from the outside. After review many complaints I understand this is an ongoing problem with the Sorentos, specifically the 2011 year. I feel this is most definately a safty concern for the passengers in my vehicle. I will be taking this truck to the Kia dealership today to get an estimate on repair. What is it going to take to address this problem a death "!?!" please step up to the plate and take responsibilty for this fault.

- Greensboro, MD, USA

problem #53

May 122016

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
The drivers side door will not open from the outside when the door is unlocked. It will only open from the inside. There is no visible damage to the door. The car has not been in a wreck. This is poor craftsmanship and a safety hazard.

- Lenoir City, TN, USA

problem #52

May 012016

Sorento

  • miles
Doors will not open from the outside, poses a safety hazard if child is in car will not be able open the door. Meaning a hot car and a baby in the car seat. For a Kia Sorento 2011, however, it's been reported through multiple forums about this defect Kia charges the customers who are outside of their warranty.

- Fort Rucker, AL, USA

problem #51

Apr 182016

Sorento

  • 105,000 miles
My drivers side door will not open from the outside. I was doing some research regarding this matter and noticed several and I mean several Kia Sorento vehicles with the exact same issue. I believe this should be recalled. I am finding Kia Sorento from 2010 to 2016 with this exact problem. I truly believe this could be a serious problem. What if my grandbaby got into the vehicle and these doors would not open from the outside? they would suffocate due to the heat in the vehicle. That is what would happen. So, yes this is definitely a safety issue.

- Semmes, AL, USA

problem #50

Apr 252016

Sorento

  • 68,000 miles
Front driver door will not open from the outside. Wife had an emergency and was unable to open door. She ended up jumping through the passenger door. Door was working fine prior to sudden onset of the problem. The structure of the door shows no signs of being tampered with. Looked online and saw many other complaints regarding the actuator.

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #49

Apr 072016

Sorento

  • 91,000 miles
Back drivers side door not working. First could not open it from the outside but only from inside. Thought the child safety lock had become engaged and moved the latch - then could not open door from outside or inside. Car has 91,000 miles on it but since it was purchased used, dealer states no warranty and that it will cost $622 to fix. Inability to open door is a huge safety issue, particularly in the event of an accident. Several other instances of this happening with 2011 Kia sorrento have been documented online, particularly at carguru.com.

- Apex, NC, USA

problem #48

Apr 282016

Sorento

  • 68,000 miles
Driver side door only opens from inside. Saw many complaints about this on web when will they recall?

- Phila, PA, USA

problem #47

Apr 162016

Sorento

  • 85,000 miles
Driver inside door handle made a "popping sound" when driving looked at door when at light and handle was sticking out (away from the door like something broke)? difficult to open the door from the inside

- Orange, CA, USA

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