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
1,518 reports, newest first.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Aug 13, 2012, crash
MY HUSBAND WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. HE GOT IN THE CAR, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACKED UP. HE HEARD A LOUD POP. HE PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, AND HIS FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL THE VEHICLE GOT UP TO 60 MILES PER HOUR. TRYING NOT TO HIT THE HOUSE, OR THE PERSON OUTSIDE OF THE PROPERTY HE MANEUVERED THE CAR INTO THE BACK YARD. THE CAR WAS STEADILY PICKING UP SPEED AND HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME. HE COULD NOT GET THE GEAR TO SHIFT OR THE BRAKES TO WORK. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE AND THAT IMPEDED THE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. HE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT OF IT. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 13, 2012
THIS CAR SOMETIMES AFTER THE KEY IS INSERT IN THE IGNITION AND TURN WITH THE INTENTION OF OF STARTING THE CAR IT DOES NOT START. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD COME ON BUT IT DOES NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL TRAYS BY STEPING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL TURN THE WHEEL AND MOVE THE SPEED SHIFT IT STARTS. *TR
Power train, Aug 12, 2012
AT COMPLETE STOP, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. 1.4 MILES LATER, ATTEMPT TO PARK . THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST NEUTRAL. DASH LIGHT ILLUMINATED STEER ASSIST AND DOWNHILL PARK. DEPRESSED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF WITH GEAR SHIFT IN NEUTRAL. RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE INTO PARK. *TR
Power train, Aug 10, 2012
I HAD THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPEN TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHILE MY CAR WAS IN DRIVE. I TRIED ACCELERATING SEVERAL TIMES TO PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP. I HAD TO PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND THEN PUT IT INTO DRIVE AGAIN IN ORDER TO HAVE THE CAR FUNCTION SO THAT I COULD PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I AM TERRIBLY NERVOUS I WILL BE REAR ENDED IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. I RECENTLY HAD A BRAKE SWITCH REPLACED BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY CAR INTO PARK. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE BUT I WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. I DON'T KNOW IF THESE 2 PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Aug 1, 2012
STABILITY CONTROL AND DOWNHILL ASSIST LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. THEN WHEN STOPPED, CAR WILL NOT GO PAST NEUTRAL WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO PARK. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK IMMEDIATELY WHEN PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTED AND STABILITY CONTROL AND DOWNHILL ASSIST LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. LOCATED SWITCH AT THE UPPER PART OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHILE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, WITH PARKING BRAKE ON, WAS ABLE TO BUMP THE SWITCH BOX AND THEN SHIFT CAR INTO PARK. *TR
Engine, Aug 1, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 31, 2012
VEHICLE UNABLE TO START, EVEN WITH KEY IN 'HOLSTER' IN GLOVE BOX. VEHICLE BRAKE APPEARED TO BE PRESSED DOWN ALREADY AND NO REACTION WHEN START BUTTON WAS PUSHED. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER A 3 DAY PERIOD. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OVER TWO DAYS, THE VEHICLE STARTED. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHO DETECTED NOTHING AND WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SITUATION. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jul 28, 2012
THE DATE ABOVE IS THE FIRST DATE THERE WAS A INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. THE ACTUAL SPEED OF TRAVEL HAS VARIED. THE ISSUE IS RANDOM AND HAS AFFECTED MOST SYSTEMS AT ONE TIME OR THE OTHER. IT HAS NORMALLY BEEN A HEADACHE MORE THAN SAFETY ALWAYS GOING AWAY AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN AND RESTARTING. TO ME IT BECAME A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I HEARD A LOUD BANG LIKE I HIT SOMETHING AND THEN MY RPMS INCREASED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE LOWER GEARS. I PULLED INTO A SAFE PARKING AREA, SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND CALLED THE DEALER. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY, JUST AS IT HAS EVERY TIME NO MATTER WHAT SYSTEM HAS BEEN AFFECTED. THE ISSUES HAVE RANGED FROM A CRUISE CONTROL REFUSING TO ACTIVATE, THE CRUISE CONTROL HAVING ERRATIC BEHAVIOR (OFTEN KICKING IN THE PASSING GEAR WHEN NOT REQUIRED), TOTAL ELECTRONIC PANEL SHUTDOWN (INCLUDING RADIO), TO DOORS LOCKING ON THEIR OWN WHEN OPEN, TO HEADLIGHTS NOT BEING TURNED OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AFTER 2-30 SECONDS. THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE HAS BEEN THE MOST SERIOUS. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN SERVICED UNDER A SIMILAR RECALL. I HAVE NOTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INCLUDING A SIMILAR TRANSMISSION COMPLIANT ON KIA FORUMS. KIA ITSELF REFUSED TO GIVE THE GO AHEAD FOR A COMPUTER RESET/UPGRADE. MY DEALER DID THIS ON HIS OWN FOR ME AFTER I MADE IT CLEAR THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR. A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH KIA WAS NEGATIVE AND WAS NOTHING SHORT OF TALKING IN CIRCLES. I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF TRYING TO TRACED RANDOM PROBLEMS, BUT NOT THE FAILURE TO START AN INVESTIGATION INTO, FOR INSTANCE, POSSIBLE COMPUTER SHIELDING ISSUES MAKING OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE A POSSIBILITY. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE COMPUTER UPDATE WORKS, BUT IT IS A ISSUE WHEN A TRANSMISSION SHUTS TOTALLY OR PARTLY DOWN. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY MY COMPLAINTS. *TR
Power train, Jul 25, 2012
WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN I WENT TO LUNCH TODAY THE ESC AND DBC LIGHTS CAME ON AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE OR PARK AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE INTO THAT POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 10 TIMES. TODAY, IT TOOK OVER 20 MINUTES UNTIL IT WOULD MOVE INTO PARK. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME LAST NIGHT. I'M GETTING REALLY AGGRAVATED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M GOING TO BE STUCK AGAIN. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND GET THIS FIXED OR GIVE US A NEW VEHICLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THESE PROBLEMS. *TR
Power train, Jul 23, 2012
AUTOMATIC, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE THIS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES IN 1 DAY. -PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, NOTICED THE ESC AND DBC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO PAST NEUTRAL TO GET INTO PARK. AFTER A MINUTE OR SO OF TRYING TO GET IT TO PARK (WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL ALONG) IT FINALLY RELEASED AND WENT TO PARK. -THE CAR SAT FOR 2 AND A HALF HOURS. -ON MY WAY HOME I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUMPED GAS. WENT TO LEAVE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK, THE ESC AND DBC LIGHTS ONCE AGAIN ILLUMINATED. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE OR SO, WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT RELEASED AND WENT INTO DRIVE. -THE THIRD TIME THAT SAME DAY, I GOT HOME ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND AGAIN THE ESC AND DBC LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO PAST NEUTRAL TO PARK. ONCE AGAIN, AFTER A MINUTE OR SO WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE WHOLE TIME, IT FINALLY RELEASED AGAIN AFTER A MINUTE OR SO. I HAVE YET TO DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN, AND AM ACTUALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT THIS POINT, NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPENED. I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 14, 2012
AS I BACK U THIS WEIRD SCRATCHY SOUND AND ALSO AS I DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEED. *TR
Power train, Jul 8, 2012
ESC AND CBC LIGHTS CAME ON COULDN'T SHIFT INTO PARK. *TR
Power train, Jun 20, 2012
THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO MY SORENTO THAT IS LISTED IN OD10459049. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK FROM THE DRIVE POSITION. THE DBC AND ESC DASH LIGHTS WERE ALSO ILLUMINATED. THIS HAS HAPPEND 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. *JS
Power train, Jun 13, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,500.
Service brakes, Jun 4, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN PROCEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,235.
Power train, May 20, 2012
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WENT TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND WOULD NO GO INTO REVERSE OR PARK. HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES IN LAST TWO DAYS. THE ESC AND DBC LIGHTS WERE ON AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON. I WENT ON A KIA FORUM AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING WITH CARS THAT HAVE EVEN LESS MILEAGE THAN MINE. *TR
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, May 9, 2012
WHEN TRYING TO STEP ON GAS VEHICLE SEEMS TO STRAIN. EXAMPLE, WHEN NEEDING TO GET IN LANE, MY CAR SEEMS NOT TO GET MUCH GAS WHICH I FEEL ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY, MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. MY VEHICLE TEND TO RIDE QUITE ROUGH AS FAR AS WHEEL SUSPENSION. I HAVE HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED. I WAS TOLD NOTHING SEEMED TO BE WRONG WITH IT. I HAD THE 189.00 SERVICE DID ON MY CAR AS WELL. I CALLED THE RECALL CENTER AND I WAS TOLD NOTHING SHOWED FOR MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS NOT PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD. *TR
Power train, Apr 30, 2012
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 KIA SORENTO FEB. 2012 (17,450 MILES) WHEN IT WENT "CLUNK" AND LOST POWER; THE ENGINE RAN AS NORMAL BUT NO/LITTLE POWER FROM TRANSMISSION. SHE WAS ON A DANGEROUS HIGHWAY AND DAMAGED THE CAR TRYING TO BACK UP TO A SAFER SPOT. SORENTO WAS TOWED, DEALER KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS AND SAID THEY'D FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT KIA SAID THE BODY DAMAGE WAS OUR PROBLEM. TODAY, APRIL 30, I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT WENT "CLUNK" - (APPROX 21,500 MILES AT 47 MPH) ENGINE RAN BUT NO/LITTLE POWER FROM TRANSMISSION; I PULLED OVER, SHUT THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED AFTER A MINUTE OR SO - I AM HOME AND THE CAR IS GOING TO THE DEALER. THIS CAR SCARES ME - IF THIS HAPPENS IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES I SEE THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HOW DO I REPORT THIS PROBLEM? OTHER THAN TRADING IT (AND GIVING THE DANGER TO SOMEONE ELSE), WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? THIS IS OUR SECOND DANGEROUS INCIDENT . . . I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE AT KIA REALLY CARES. *JS
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Apr 26, 2012
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY OUR 2011 KIA SORENTO AT AROUND 55 MPH ENTERING THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. SHE TRIED TO USE BOTH THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR AND FOUND THAT NEITHER OF THEM WORKED. THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 5-10MPH BEFORE EVENTUALLY STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AS SHE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF TRYING, SHE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED AND DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. SHE DOES RECALL THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW APPEARED TO BE WORKING. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY THE DAY AFTER THIS HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR. THEY DID UPDATE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR SITUATION CLOSELY. *TR
Power train, Apr 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM DRIVE TO PARK BUT THE SHIFTER BECAME STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 21, 2012
AFTER USING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, ACCELERATOR HESITATES. NEED TO PUSH GAS PEDAL DOWN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ACCELERATING (IT BECOMES "DEAD"). HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IF NOT MORE. REPORTED IT TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE FACT THAT IF YOU USE TWO FEET TO DRIVE (LEFT FOOT ON BRAKE - RIGHT ON GAS) AND IF THERE IS A CHANCE THAT LEFT FOOT MAY BE SLIGHTLY TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL, THEN THE COMPUTER IS "CONFUSED". NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. SOME PEOPLE DO DRIVE THIS WAY AND THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. IT IS A SAFETY RISK AND A NEAR RISK ON A COUPLE INSTANCES. KIA NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND ADDRESS THIS SITUATION. *JS
Other or unspecified, Apr 20, 2012
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. I AM GETTING THE SAME BUT THE KIA DEALERS ARE TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AS MINE IS AN AWD. WHEN STARTING OUT A HESITATION IS FELT WHEN PUTTING IN DRIVE AND WHEN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A WHIRRING NOISE IS HEARD AND IT FEELS LIKE A VIBRATION IS COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE CAR. *JS
Other or unspecified, Apr 19, 2012
MY SORENTO WILL HESITATE TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND THEN SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD WITH FULL ACCELERATION FOR A BRIEF TIME. THIS IS AN ERRATIC PROBLEM. DEALERS RESPONSE IS TO WAIT UNTIL IT BECOME CONSISTENT -- MY RESPONSE, I MAY BE DEAD BEFORE THAT TIME. CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONSE IS DRIVER ERROR. MY RESPONSE IS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN FOR DECADES MANY DIFFERENT MODEL AND AGE VEHICLES AND HAVE LOGGED IN APPX 2 MILLION SAFE MILES. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE KIA IS MY FIRST PROBLEM WITH SUCH AN ISSUE. KIA DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE, HOWEVER A GOOGLE SEARCH TURNS UP NUMEROUS SIMILAR ISSUES. I HAVE NOTED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ONLY WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS SO FAR. *JS
Visibility, Apr 3, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 28, 2012
CAR WILL NOT START WITH KEY OR REMOTELY CONTROL. AFTER CAR SITS FOR A TIME, SEVERAL HOURS OR DAYS, IT MAY START. CAR HAS SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AND WILL NOT START ... HAD TO BE TOWED SEVERAL TIMES. SEEMS TO HAVE A COMPUTER SYSTEM MALFUNCTION THAT DEALER CANNOT REPAIR.