2011 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,518 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 42 involved a crash and 62 involved a fire. 50 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineDec 21, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2011 Sorento vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Dealers will install Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC291.
Campaign 23V877000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 6, 2015
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "Park" without the brakes being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC124.
Campaign 15V626000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign 13V114000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentOct 6, 2011
CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 56024, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ AND KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.
WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
CURT MANUFACTURING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESS. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MANUFACTURING AT 1-715 831-8713.
Campaign 11E041000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftApr 25, 2011
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM THE START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH MAY 22, 2010. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 11V258000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperNov 24, 2010
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 4, 2010. SOME OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MACHINED.
AS A RESULT, BRAKE FLUID WILL LEAK, FOLLOWED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW AND SHOULD BE CHECKED, THEN A SOFT OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL FEEL, AND IF NOT SERVICED, REDUCED BRAKING POWER WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR CALIPERS AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 10, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 10V599000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringAug 31, 2010
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SOUL AND MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. A LIMITED NUMBER OF WIRING HARNESSES SUPPLIED BY JCI AND USED FOR THE LIGHTING IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, LOCATED IN THE FRONT DOOR TRIM PANELS, AND THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION, LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR TRIM PANELS, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SOLDERED.
WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY OCCUR THAT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE LIGHTS IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, AND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 10V388000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
183 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Dec 9, 2017
KIA HAS BEEN SELLING CARS WITH FAULTY AIR BAGS. MY CLOCK SPRING WENT OUT, AND I HAD TO PAY WELL OVER $600 TO PASS INSPECTION, THAT VIRGINIA REQUIRES. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE AIRBAG COULD HAVE WENT OFF WITHOUT EVEN HITTING ANYTHING.
Air bags, Nov 13, 2017
FOR NO REASON AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. CHECKED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TOOL- CODE B1481-DRIVER AIRBAG RESISTANCE TOO HIGH(2ND STAGE) SHOWED UP. CAR HAS 84000 MILES. READING A LOT OF COMPLAINS ABOUT AIRBAG PROBLEMS. SHOULD BE A RECALL.
Air bags, Oct 24, 2017
AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON
Air bags, Sep 18, 2017
AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON FOR NO REASON. COIL SPRING IS UNDER RECALL, BUT MINE WAS THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. $2000 TO REPLACE THE SEAT. SHOULD BE COVERED OR BYPASS OPTION OFFERED. I DON'T NEED THE SENSOR.
Air bags, Aug 11, 2017
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACEMENT IS UNDER A RECALL AND THAT THE OCS MAT IS DEFECTIVE I CANT PAY 2000.00 FOR THIS REPAIR AND THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS IT IS NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY.
Air bags, Aug 11, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Air bags, Aug 9, 2017
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON UNEXPECTEDLY EVEN THOUGH THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE DESCRIBING A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING OR PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT. KIA HAS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER MODELS AS WELL AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ASAP. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME SINCE I HAVE MOUNTING MEDICAL BILLS. KIA NEEDS TO ADD THIS VEHICLE TO THE RECALL LIST.
Air bags, Jul 26, 2017
AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING IS BAD. OPEN CIRCUIT. DEALER HAS IN STOCK. BUT NOT PERMITTED SELL THE PART BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE UPDATED PART, WHICH IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. KIA OF NORTH AMERICA STATES IT HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER. I CAN NOT ALLOW MY 22 YEAR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE AIRBAG.
Air bags, Jul 20, 2017
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. KIA DEALER SAYS THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE WEIGHT SENSOR MAT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE PART COSTING $2400. ODD THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THE COST OF THE PART VARIES BY OVER $1000! THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY! CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT.
Air bags, Jul 12, 2017
AT 116XXX MILES AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS AND FUSES AND THEIR IS NO REASON THE LIGHT SHOULD COME ON. PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. WISH KIA WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE TO USE THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTER. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY RISK.
Air bags, Jul 12, 2017
AT 76K MILES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN STAYING ON. DEALER INFORMED ME THE OCS MAT, A $1700 PART, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN ACCIDENT AND WAS GARAGED SINCE PURCHASE.
Air bags, Jul 3, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.
Air bags, Jun 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (TONITO AUTO KIA IN RIO PIEDRAS, PUERTO RICO) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BACK IN MARCH OF 2012 AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY TONITO AUTO KIA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Air bags, Jun 18, 2017
STARTED CAR, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. LIGHT STAYED ON FOR ABOUT AWEEK NOW NO REASON FOR IT TO BE ON. GOING TO TAKE IT IN AND SEE WHAT I'M TOLD.
Air bags, Jun 5, 2017
AIR BAG ALARM APPEAR ON DASHBOARD ISN'T GOING AWAY
Air bags, May 17, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DRIFTED TO SLEEP AND REAR ENDED AN 18 WHEELER TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER STERNUM, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED FOR COSMETIC DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, Air bags, May 11, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, IT ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN). THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, May 5, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,766.
Air bags, Apr 27, 2017
STARTED CAR AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON STAYED ON. NO REASON FOR TO BE ON.
Air bags, Mar 29, 2017
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MY VEHICLE AND DISABLED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT, AND FOUND OUT IT WAS DISABLED DUE TO AN ELECTRIC FIELD SENSOR THAT IS SENSITIVE TO ALL KINDS OF ELECTRONICS. THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IS TSB: BOD 072. IT HAS IN THERE THAT "IF CERTAIN ELECTRONIC DEVICES SUCH AS CELLULAR PHONES, LAPTOP COMPUTERS, INVERTERS, DVD PLAYERS, RADIO TRANSMITTERS, GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, SATELLITE RADIO SYSTEMS, VIDEO GAMES, AND MP3 PLAYERS ARE PUT ON/AROUND A PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION (INCLUDING IN THE SEATBACK POCKET) OR IF LIQUID IS SPILLED ON THE SEAT CUSHION, THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE WITH DTC B1447, B1448, B1764, OR B1767" TO ME, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK, AS SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE A CELL PHONE ON THEM OR TOO CLOSE, AND IT DISABLES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS IS FOR KIA SORENTO (XM) 2011 TO CURRENT, KIA OPTIMA (MG) 2009, 2010, AND KIA RIO (JB) 2010 TO CURRENT.
Air bags, Mar 22, 2017
WHILE DRIVING ONE EVENING, MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, THEN IT TURNED OFF, AND THIS HAPPENED FOR ABOUT A WEEK. NOW IT IS ON 100% OF THE TIME.
Air bags, Feb 24, 2017
DRIVER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T TURN OFF
Air bags, Feb 7, 2017
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON BUT NO REASONS, NO ERROR CODES
Air bags, Dec 27, 2016
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR MILES. KIA STATES IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED DUE TO THIS ERROR CODE. THEY QUOTED AT THE LEAST $1,500 IN PARTS ALONE, NOT INCLUDING LABOR AND THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM FINDING THIS A COMMON ISSUE IN 2011 KIA SORENTO. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL. PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BUT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. NOTHING CAUSED THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ONE ACCIDENT NOR HAVE I EVER HIT ANYTHING WITH MY VEHICLE.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Dec 10, 2016
BOTH DOORS LOCKED ON LEFT SIDE. CAN NOT ENTER CARE ON LEFT SIDE. RUNNING OR NOT. I'M LOCKED OUT. AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AT TIME I ASK THEM TO FIX IT. STILL NOT FIXED.