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:
19 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
22 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,385 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2011 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 9)

problem #178

Mar 152022

Sorento

  • miles

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

1-The front air bag sensor will nor register if a person is sitting in the sear, no matter the weight. 2-The modem keeps direction the vehicle to steer right. No matter how many alignments and parts are replaced, the ECM will not correct itself 3-KIA dealers will only repair the problem if the customer pays $$$$$$$$

- Kissimmee , FL, USA

problem #177

Feb 102024

Sorento

  • miles
There is a engine recall for this vehicle u have to be safe where u park it at all time

- Berkeley, IL, USA

problem #176

Sep 232023

Sorento

  • miles
Airbag light on dashboard constantly

- Fall River, MA, USA

problem #175

Feb 072022

Sorento

  • miles

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

When I started out with the car it drove alright then I had to take it back and forth for the wiring smelling like it was burning ??"? but have never caught on fire thank goodness had to get a tuneup spark plugs ??"? and it still doesn-??t work right

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #174

May 252023

Sorento

  • miles
I took this car, my mom-??s car, to a Kia dealership yesterday for a diagnostic. I was told it had no air bags. I was really upset to find that out. I am not certain if we knew this when purchased years ago. This car was previously in an accident and we were told all the airbags were cut out. I wanted to to voice that I think it should be illegal to drive a car with no air bags. I think that information should be listed under a persons drivers license number and or VIN number. I called the Driving Safety Unit with the DMV yesterday and they said they couldn-??t do anything for me and to contact the Department of Consumer Affairs for a complaint or the Governor-??s Office. I am leaving my comments here instead. Thank you

- Turlock, CA, USA

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problem #173

Jan 032023

Sorento

  • miles
Airbag light is on and i need to know if that is a recall since there was a recall for many makes of cars due to air bags.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #172

Jan 062023

Sorento

  • miles

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

My 2011 Kia Sorento caught fire while parked outside in parking lot overnight while I slept the police an fire department said my vin had two active recalls on it it started fire on its own without even being driven now I-??m out of a car

- Cleveland , OH, USA

problem #171

Oct 272022

Sorento

  • miles
The air bag warning lamp is on caused by the malfunction of the clock spring in the steering wheel. None of the functions on the steering wheel work as well due to this malfunction. The air bag according to multiple sites may deploy at any given time

- Bristol, CT, USA

problem #170

Sep 242022

Sorento

  • miles
Time chain tensioner is faulty and camshafts have been updated the 2011 model. I just purchased a 2011 Sorrento Ex and it will cost 5000 to do the upgrade. The air bag has caused problems in the electrical systems of the horn. This cost 400 to replace airbag.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #169

Jan 012022

Sorento

  • miles
The car will not always go in park and will click into gear a few seconds afterwards. The car rolled out of my driveway in reverse and caused over $5000 dollars in damages. Also the seat settings will get stuck moving and not moving. The air bag light is also on and the fuel cap sticks and won't open unless forced opened

- Ringwood, NJ, USA

problem #168

Jun 012022

Sorento

  • miles

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

Airbag light stays on and the controls on steering wheel don't work

- Johnson City, TN, USA

problem #167

Apr 042022

Sorento

  • miles
Part failure. Electronic control module for air bag. Air bag warning lamp illuminated and remain lit on dash. Local autopartsO-??reilleys on board diagnostic tool reads two codes. B1620 internal fault- replace SRSCM and B1764 body sensor MAT defect. This Kia Sorento has had several repairs done via KIA recall and safety campaigns. 2017 clean and seal and or replace rear wheel speed sensor housing -?? could AND did illuminate ESC ABS and HILL Climb on dash-?? vehicle operated in southern Louisiana. Air Bag warning lamp. 10/10/2019, 147716 miles. Code found at Kia performing clock spring assembly warranty extension code for high resistance. Replaced clockspring and cleared code. High resistance is Key at this time. Also the cruise control began to function properly after the lamp turned off. May 28 kia letter concerning newly developed computer software for ECU, engine control unit. Repaired July 28 2021. June 2016, August 2019, Kia Sorento airbag clock spring assembly warranty extension. Air bag illumination. These letters state the warranty extension will be 15 years and subsequent air bag illumination will be diagnosed at no charge for 15 years. Yet I have two codes, return to Kia to validate and am charged for diagnostic as well, the air bag lamp still illuminated. Explained I need NEW SRS module at cost of estimated $1200. Vehicle does not communicate with SRSCM. Recommend replace the airbag control module I ask, is it ossicle with NEW updated ECu as well as prolonged Air bag illuminated due to HIGH resistance from clock spring malfunctioning, could this feedback and prolonged exposure cause the airbag co trip module to malfunction ? Airbags are a safety issue. The electronics should not falter.

- Blythewood, SC, USA

problem #166

Jul 052021

Sorento

  • miles
Airbag light... front driver airbag fault / curtain airbag fault

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #165

May 202021

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 132,685 miles
The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at 25 mph, a UPS truck veered off into her lane causing the contact to crash her vehicle into a curb. The contact stated that the next morning, she saw that her vehicle was leaking an immense amount of oil. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where it was diagnosed with nothing needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact then stated while driving at 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and the contact saw smoke emerging from the engine compartment. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact opened the hood to fire behind the engine. There were no injuries. The air bags did not deploy. The fire department was contacted but did not extinguish the fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed back to the repair shop. The repair shop informed the contact that they do not specialize in fires and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was then diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist. The failure mileage was 132,685. The consumer stated the dealer was ceased by Federal Agents for selling vehicles with damaged parts and finance companies fraudulent withdrawal money from the consumer and other accounts.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #164

Jun 222021

Sorento

  • miles
Kia motors sent a letter about 2011-2015 sorento occupant detection system (ODS) Sensor pads new vehicle limited warranty extension If the airbag warring light is on the airbag system is not functioning properly, it may or may not deploy in an accident(which should be considered a safety issue) I have already had the diagnostic done by my dealer who said the problem is covered by the warranty but because my car is salvaged which makes it not apply for warranties does the fact that my airbags may or may not deploy not seem like a safety issue?

- Hacienda Heights, CA, USA

problem #163

Jan 152020

Sorento

  • 180,000 miles
The airbag light will not go off whenever the ignition is on and vehicle is running.

- Mulberry, FL, USA

problem #162

Feb 142021

Sorento

  • miles
The passenger airbag light came on for no reason. I got the code pulled at a local shop for free thankfully. The code was B1764 OCS mat defect. Now because it failed for no reason I have no airbags at all. From other people's complaints it can cost $1,000 to $3,000 to fix. Awesome. I really loved my sorrento too.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #161

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 #160

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

problem #159

Nov 162020

Sorento

  • 164,000 miles
Air bag light stays on after battery replacement. Dealer wants over $1200 to repair.

- Queen Creek, AZ, USA

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