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:
6 / 27
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,232 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 4 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #185

Jul 242021

Sorento

  • miles

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

I was driving on the freeway, my car just stopped, it wouldn't start I had to have it towed.

- Willoughby, OH, USA

problem #184

Jun 242021

Sorento

  • miles
There was a recall to add a engine knocking warning device. When I got the recall in June of 2021, my engine was already knocking. I took the car into Rapid City Kia Dealership for repair on June 24th. I still do not know if it has been approved for repair. The recall stated there was a warranty extension to provide lifetime coverage due to bearing damage. A knock sensor detection system was to be installed caused by worn connecting rod bearings. They ran the diagnostic test for trouble code P1326 and said the noise only got worse. The service department in Rapid City told me the engine needed to be replaced. I still have not heard the decision of Kia and was told it could be the end of July. I need help getting the service my car requires and I need a rental vehicle to drive until my vehicle can be repaired.

- 308-762-2384, NE, USA

problem #183

Jun 282021

Sorento

  • miles
Engine has a loud knocking noise also had flames coming from under the hood. No check engine light came on. I was so terrified for my life. Kia has a recall on 2012 - 2019 engine and not 2011 Kia Sorento engines and it-€™s causing the same issue.. this is not Safe for anyone.. so can you-€™ll look into this matter and make Kia accountable for the repairs.. total of 187 complaints on the 2011 Kia Sorento engine and nothing is being done-€¦ Please help

- Slidell , LA, USA

problem #182

Jun 182021

Sorento

  • miles

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

A few days before we were to go on vacation we received a campaign letter from Kia about reprogramming the ecm because of the knock sensors. In this letter it stated that after the repairs were done the would warrant the engine for 10 years or 150000 miles from first in service date. My Kia has 144417 miles on it. Because it was so close to our vacation time I didn't have time to take it to the dealer and get the campaign done on it, I was going to do it when I returned from vacation. When we were returning on I-75 outside Chattanooga Tn I heard a loud noise, check eng light started flashing, it jerked me into the right lane which I barely avoided a crash with a vehicle in that lane, smoke was coming up behind me after getting the vehicle to the shoulder of the road some lady pulled up in front of us and said the car was on fire i raised the hood and it was burning at the firewall and underneath it. I instructed my son to get my wife and 3 yr old grandson out of the car, they were in the back seat. I happened to have a case of water in the ack so I started getting out bottles of water out and pouring them on the flames when a dot truck pulled up with a fire extinguisher and finished putting out the flames. There were no warning lights or noises on before this happened. I have been a mechanic all my life and upon inspection I saw that it had slung a rod out the side of the block and that the oil hitting the hot exhaust had set fire to the vehicle. I had to pay $350 to get it towed back to my house. I called Kia on Monday and he took all this information down and then he told me they wouldn't do anything about it because I didn't have the campaign done before it happened. I think that Kia ought to put me an engine in this vehicle

- Scottsboro, AL, USA

problem #181

Apr 012021

Sorento

  • 250,200 miles
The contact owns a 2011 KIA Sorento. The contact stated that at first, the vehicle would seem as though it would hesitate or choke before acceleration after being idle. Now, while sitting idle the vehicle would suddenly stall. The contact stated that at first, they had to wait approximately 5 minutes however, now about 10 minutes before they are able to restart the vehicle and function as expected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 250,200.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #180

May 292021

Sorento

  • miles
Engine knocking when accelerating, leaking oil, sparks of fire almost caught fire, ... no engine light came on. There-€™s a recall for Kia Sorento engine but only the 2.5 engine and not a 3.5 engine in which I have a 3.5 and it-€™s doing the same as the 3.5 engine... that-€™s terrifying

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #179

May 102021

Sorento

  • 111,697 miles

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

Ive had two engines fail on this car both the same connecting rod issue yet my car is not included in recall so my first enging cost me 6,000 dollers the second I have repaced yet it sitting in the driveway drove it only 3800 miles same issue bearing are gone don't know what to do except maybe get a lawyer car is a lemon

- Parish, NY, USA

problem #178

May 052021

Sorento

  • 200,000 miles
Engine making a knocking noise and leaking oil with no oil light on to indicate that it's a oil problem. The vehicle was smoking possible bout to catch fire sparks was coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was running at the moment

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #177

Mar 202021

Sorento

  • 0 miles
The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the engine compartment. The contact pulled over to the side of the road as sparks and flames were seen coming from the engine compartment. The contact exited the vehicle, opened the hood and a fire emerged from the engine. The contact stated that she sustained an eye injury due to the flames. The fire department was contacted and was able to extinguish the fire. The contact was unaware if a police or fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard. The contact notified Kia of South austin (5306 S ih 35 frontage rd, austin, tx 78745) and they informed the contact that they could not assist due to the vehicle not being under a recall. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and complaint was filed. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Mcdade, TX, USA

problem #176

Jan 272020

Sorento

  • 101,000 miles
At 100000 miles engine had major failure needing to be replaced had mechanic install used engine with 75000 miles and this engine is having timing issues unable to get it inspected because it won't pass emission test

- Parish, NY, USA

problem #175

Mar 132021

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 120,750 miles

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

I drove my 2011 Kia Sorento about 9:15 at night. By 12:45 am a passerby had called 911 due to my car being in flames. I was woken up to the fire department arriving at my house and my car engulfed in flames. After the flames were extinguished, they checked it over and determined that it had started in the engine area. I bought the car in 2017 and it currently only has 120,750 miles on it. They investigated it and determined it had started on the passenger side near the engine. My car is a total loss and it was heartbreaking to wake up to that at almost 1:00am. Kia needs to get it together and take care of my expenses.

- Kewanee, IL, USA

problem #174

Aug 142011

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
2011 Kia Sorento ex 3.5 engine sport utility vehicle has randomly changed in the way its feels safe with rough instability in my suspension components.my brakes failed while driving on a random basis as well as when car is parked will randomly click in my gear shift mechanism and will fail to lock when car is parked and shut off it will click when brakes are depressed.my front lights have dimmed and both brake lights have burned out consistently as well as my steering wheel has failed with electrical components randomly.car horn is inoperable and my cruise control stop functioning. My alternator burned out on me and my car has historial proof of consistent maintenance with car fax report in hand.my gas milage has since decreased. My suspension feels unsafe to drive and really bad on bumps and average road conditions are also very unpleasant so I have parked it until it's fixed for active recalls and other potential manufacturer defects

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #173

Dec 152020

Sorento

  • 127,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the failure was due to the timing chain. The contact called taylor Kia of toledo (6300 central ave, toledo, oh 43615:419) 842-8811) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

- Niles, OH, USA

problem #172

Jan 042021

Sorento

  • 176,000 miles
It started like a low sound from the engine when I tried to speed up three days before Monday. And this noise was growing while driving on road. The car slowed down gradually and stopped the engine. The mechanic helped me reach my apt and parked after he changed only the starter, he said engine failure due to defeated bearing.

- Kent, WA, USA

problem #171

Jan 012021

Sorento

  • 136,000 miles
I have a 2011 Kia Sorento whihc has 136K mileage on it. At 2014 while I was on dealer for regular maintenance they burnned my engine and replaced with new one. Can had 25K on it. Last Friday I was driving on highway and my car started to make sound and sound started to come from engine and it stopped completely. Mjaor engine faliure again and delaer not willing to change under warranty. Kia need to address this issue

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

problem #170

Dec 022020

Sorento

  • 164,000 miles
On December 2, 2020 my Kia Sorento started making a knocking noise. No engine warning lights came on. I went to go head home from work on the interstate and I heard a clank while I was driving my brakes locked in traffic then all the lights on my dash came on and my engine shut off in the middle of traffic. My car would not turn back on and I had to call my insurance company geico to have my car towed home. Very scary and very dangerous. It still doesn't not turn on whatso ever. I have videos but not in the right format to open.

- Summerdale, AL, USA

problem #169

Oct 302020

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
I was driving to bakersfield to visit my sister. Me and my grandson were on the 5 frwy when my car started losing power. I pulled to the side of the frwy and waited for the tow truck. My car never started again. Since then I have been told that it's the motor. My car never had any problems never ran hot or anything

- Carson, CA, USA

problem #168

Dec 012020

Sorento

  • 72,350 miles
Check engine code for transmission fluid temperature sensor a circuit high input and transmission fluid temperature sensor ckt range / performance codes 0713 and 0711. Has there been any recalls? 2012 Kia Sorento LX. Always on check engine light

- Glenmont, NY, USA

problem #167

Jul 042016

Sorento

  • 58,469 miles
Oil pressure sensor went out then oil was thrown out all over engine and under carriage, while driving down the road with no heads up. This happened twice ( 2 different times) in three years and this isn't conceded a fire issue. 7/4/2016 first time, then 7/22/2019

- Great. Falls, MT, USA

problem #166

Dec 052020

Sorento

  • 161,174 miles
A month ago while driving home from a day of shopping and the drivers side air bag light came on. I checked the wires underneath the drivers seat to make sure everything was still connected the light stays on. The engine light came on just yesterday 12.5.2020. Stays on will not shut off. I checked the gas cap to make sure it was tight then went to auto zone so they could use their dtc. (the clerk put an estimate of miles on my paperwork as he did not go outside to get actual milage.)the code was obd2. I was due for a oil change and transmission flush. I got those repaired but still have issues with the light. The paperwork states error code read P0014 exhaust camshaft position timing over advanced bank 1 indicates that the bank 1 exhaust camshaft position timing was advanced beyond limits for a predetermined. Of time. The only thing I noticed was that I didn't even have the heat on and there was nice amount of heat coming through the vents but the heat dial was on the off position. The instrument panel.

- Holland, OH, USA

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