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 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,940 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.
Air bag light has come on and will not go off. All of the controls on the steering wheel have stopped working, and the fuel door button has also stopped working.
I was driving on a busy hwy my car stalled out almost was hit by a dump truck. The dump truck ran off the road to avoid me thank god no one was hurt after doing some research found out this is a common problem think it's time for a recall
This was noted while the vehicle was stationary but likely also occurs during at all times. Front door latches were repaired(not replaced) by Kia coral springs on 01/06/2017 (invoice K1cs733790) per cs1603A. Currently, the passenger front now never opens from the outside and the driver side occasionally. Dealer said (case# 1331-7164), it was a one time fix even though they repaired not replaced. I reached out to Kia and they agreed. They said I could fix them and petition for reimbursement. Getting to the latches requires completely dismantling the door and would cost about $500 per door and I fear this will happen every 2-3 years (on an 2011/9 year old car!).
First it started with drivers door not working. I can't get in the driver door because the handle doesn't work. So I have been crawling thru the passenger door to get in the car. But now I can't do that because the passenger door won't open from the outside either. You pull on the door handle and it does nothing. What if there were a fire and I was in the car and someone ran up to get me out they would not be able to open the doors. Next problem is I have an extensive oil leak in the car. So bad it keeps dripping down on the alternator whicheck has forced me to replace that twice now. I took it to Kia and they said it was the timing chain cover. It would cost $2,000 to fix. I looked online and found out that a lot of other people are having the same issue and it seems the timing chain cover is a misdiagnosis. Apparently the oil sensor is the culprit. It malfunctions because of its location in the engine. I don't have $2000 just to play a guessing game. This problem needs a recall. Lastly, due to the engine issues the oil leaking the car has now decided if I'm driving 60 mph it will all of the sudden shift the engine almost to a dead stop and then you feel as if you will fly thru the windshield because now the car won't go out of fourth gear manually or automatic. Please help.
My car has stalled plenty of times within 3 months. Two of which I could have been killed on the hwy!. car stalls, no power then shuts off. I would shut it off for a bit then turn it back on. I did take it in to the shop and they found nothing else but was charged for throttle and new sparks.oh, and no lights on dash. Same thing happened. Lots of money spent. I still owe on it so I can't afford to get another car. Don't know what to do next.
- Allentown, PA, USA
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Door's fail to open- modular that controls opening and closing doors has failed entry doors cannot open or closed doors I have one door to get into the car and out this is a big safety hazard
Takata recall both of my rear passenger door handles have completely come of not allowing me to open my doors from the outside. The vehicle was stationary when it happened.
Door handles. First the driver's side front door was unable to be opened from the outside and required replacement. The next handle to break, same issue, was the rear driver's side one. Now, the front passenger side door has the same issue, where the door handle will not allow the door to open from the outside. This is a safety issue, especially in the case of an accident or health emergency, and an expensive repair. The most recent handle broke on June 16, 2019. The first handle, the driver's side door, broke in August of 2017. The second door handle broke later that year.
Towed a boat in July of 2018, stopped at a store and the car would not allow me to put car in park, had to look at owner manual to find out had to push a little button by the parking gear for it to shift into park or drive. After we unhooked boat went back to working normal.
Front passenger door lock clicks but won't lock. Front driver's door will not open from outside handle, only inside handle. Air bag light stays on, steering wheel controls stopped operating radio and phone calls. Electrical system battery light comes on intermittently.
My struts make my tires pop at least every two weeks got them replaced over 10 times and also my fuel injectors have been replaced and still give off a stinky smell it may result in getting another catalic converter
Drivers back side door locks and will not reopen. This is a safety hazard when you have children. I have children that go in the back seat and only one working back door if there was an accident or emergency I cannot get to my kids in time. My lobster work in one day and the next day when I went out to open the door it would no longer open. The children's safety system was engaged on the door so that my son cannot open it from the inside. From what I've read this is a common issue. Please recall and fix this issue for us.
I was driving the car 2 weeks ago May 4 thand the car die in the middle of the road. I got someone to help push the car in there driveway. When back the next day with a mecanic he told me the car engine need to be replaced. Didn't believe him cause I brought the car 3 yrs ago. Before the car die the check engine turn on than die. The seatbelt turn in 1 month ago.now I have 9000 left on the car the won't wrong take back and the dealership won't make a strades
I was driving down the interstate slightly uphill. At about 55 mph when my Sorento began to loose power/speed. Before I could pull off onto the shoulder smoke began coming in through the a.C vents. When I reached the shoulder and opened the hood the back right end of the motor was on fire from the wiring harnesses. I was able to put out the fire. Upin a mechanic looking at it I was told it had thrown a rod and most likely the fire.
'tamara recall' I was traveling up the interstate slightly uphill at 55 miles an hour when I begin to lose power\speed and before I could get it to the shoulder it lost all power to gather and smoke started coming in the ac vent when I got it stopped and open the hood it was burning at the back right hand side of the motor on some wiring harness I was able to put the fire out I later was told that it had thrown a rod and was most likely the cause of the fire
Passenger door front and rear do not open from the outside. A very large known issue from Kia Sorentos, mainly 2011 that Kia wants me to pay $668 per door for a 1.50 piece. This issue in my mind is a safety issue but they do not agree. I have a fear all 4 of doors may have this issue at some time. Clearly after looking at google this is a known issue. The service manager told me the same. He said he has fixed hundreds of these
Car stalls and jerks when driving.when placing in drive it takes off very slow and under power.while driving the car changed gears on its own even jerking hard.
My Sorento makes a clunking sound when I hit a bump, pothole and when. Pulling out of my driveway. Or turning the wheel at school circle drop off. I took car to two different garages. The mechanic test drove and checked frontend of car he could not find anything. He found voluntary service campaign.SC 082A it say the intermediate shaft need replaced. It drive good but, it sounds like its gonna fall apart. The nosie is getting worse. My car was built June 4th 2010. The voluntary service is between oct23 2009-may22 2010. Could I please have my car added by extended the campaign service. SC 082A. April 2011. I have a service appointment on April 4th to get three other recalls to get fixed.
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
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wyandotte, OK, USA