2011 Kia SORENTO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Kia SORENTO has 2073 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 25.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: took delivery of a 2011, kia sorento lx, with 2.4l engine, on 4/22/10. during the next 3.5 months and 4,800 miles, this vehicle has experienced the following safety issue seven times, two of which a collision was narrowly avoided. when pressing on the accelerator, from it's default position, the . ⚠️ 100 fire reports filed.

100 fire reports 49 crash reports 57 injuries

2073

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

25.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

321 complaints

15%

• TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2011, KIA SORENTO LX, WITH 2.4L ENGINE, ON 4/22/10. DURING THE NEXT 3.5 MONTHS AND 4,800 MILES, THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUE SEVEN TIMES, TWO OF WHICH A COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, FROM IT'S DEFAULT POSITION, THE
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION,THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE "TIRE PRESSURE" WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLASH FOR FORTY- FIVE TO FIFTY SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE
• 7/21/10 PURCHASED KIA SORRENTO EX FWD FROM MORITZ 110 NE LOOP 820 HURST, TX 7/22 NOTICED ENGINE HESITATED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING SUFFICIENT THAT CARS PULLED AROUND ME. CONTACTED JERRY SIMPSON AND JIM CARTWRIGHT SERVICE MANAGER 7/26 TOOK SORRENTO BACK AND TO MORITZ AND RODE WITH JIM CARTWRIGH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 43 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2011, KIA SORENTO LX, WITH 2.4L ENGINE, ON 4/22/10. DURING THE NEXT 3.5 MONTHS AND 4,800 MILES, THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUE SEVEN TIMES, TWO OF WHICH A COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, FROM IT'S DEFAULT POSITION, THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

268 complaints

13%

• THE CHROME RINGS AROUND INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE VERY BLINDING ON SUNNY DAYS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
• THE CAR IS A 2011 AND IS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD A CRACK AND A LOUD POP. AFTER THAT NOISE THE WHOLE SUNROOF FELL IN ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING, ALL OF THE GLASS AND METAL HOLDING THE GLASS. IT SEEMS THE GLASS HAD POPPED UP BEFORE IT F
• CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT OF CAR WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE AND BANGING AROUND. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WITH NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I WILL LIST MORE LATER. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THE CHROME RINGS AROUND INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE VERY BLINDING ON SUNNY DAYS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

266 complaints

13%

• TOOK POSSESSION OF 2011 KIA SORRENTO ON 2-18-2010. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 14 INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR HESITATED ALMOST DYING OUT AND THEN SURGING FORWARD. AT ONE TIME IT DIED COMPLETELY OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE BEING IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TWICE IT HESITATED AND SURGED
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND LET THE VEHICLE COAST, IT SEEMED AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INF
• 2011 KIA SORENTO [XXX], HAVING ISSUES WITH VEHICLE PULLING OFF TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON VARIOUS ROADS/HIGHWAYS. SAID VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT ALIGNMENT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S WORK RESULTED IN VEHICLE ALIGNMENT WORSE THAN BEFORE. RETUR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“TOOK POSSESSION OF 2011 KIA SORRENTO ON 2-18-2010. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 14 INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR HESITATED ALMOST DYING OUT AND THEN SURGING FORWARD. AT ONE TIME IT DIED COMPLETELY OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE BEING IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TWICE IT HESITATED AND SURGED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

246 complaints

12%

• TOOK POSSESSION OF 2011 KIA SORRENTO ON 2-18-2010. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 14 INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR HESITATED ALMOST DYING OUT AND THEN SURGING FORWARD. AT ONE TIME IT DIED COMPLETELY OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE BEING IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TWICE IT HESITATED AND SURGED
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH BUTTON START/SMART KEY. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER SHIFTED INTO PARK BUT DUE TO THE PUSH BUTTON/SMART KEYS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING IN VERY SUNNY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE SUN WOULD REFLECT OFF OF THE CHROME AROUND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND BLIND THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A REPAIR DID NOT EXIST FOR THE INSTRUMENT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 22 fire reports💥 3 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

221 complaints

11%

• 7/21/10 PURCHASED KIA SORRENTO EX FWD FROM MORITZ 110 NE LOOP 820 HURST, TX 7/22 NOTICED ENGINE HESITATED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING SUFFICIENT THAT CARS PULLED AROUND ME. CONTACTED JERRY SIMPSON AND JIM CARTWRIGHT SERVICE MANAGER 7/26 TOOK SORRENTO BACK AND TO MORITZ AND RODE WITH JIM CARTWRIGH
• WHEN TAKEN TO A SPEED OVER 35 MPH FELT A DRIFT TO THE RIGHT IN THE STEERING. WHEN TAKEN TO HIGHER SPEEDS, IT BECAME PHYSICALLY NECESSARY TO HOLD STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY IN ORDER TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM GOING TO THE RIGHT. STEERING SEEMED EXTREMELY TIGHT AND SOMEWHAT JERKY WHEN CORNERING MAKING IT DIFFIC
• 2011 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE WITHIN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD DOWN SHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN JERK AND JOLT. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 13 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“7/21/10 PURCHASED KIA SORRENTO EX FWD FROM MORITZ 110 NE LOOP 820 HURST, TX 7/22 NOTICED ENGINE HESITATED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING SUFFICIENT THAT CARS PULLED AROUND ME. CONTACTED JERRY SIMPSON AND JIM CARTWRIGHT SERVICE MANAGER 7/26 TOOK SORRENTO BACK AND TO MORITZ AND RODE WITH JIM CARTWRIGH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2073 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2011, KIA SORENTO LX, WITH 2.4L ENGINE, ON 4/22/10. DURING THE NEXT 3.5 MONTHS AND 4,800 MILES, THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUE SEVEN TIMES, TWO OF WHICH A COLLISION WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR, FROM IT'S DEFAULT POSITION, THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: THE CHROME RINGS AROUND INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE VERY BLINDING ON SUNNY DAYS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TOOK POSSESSION OF 2011 KIA SORRENTO ON 2-18-2010. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 14 INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR HESITATED ALMOST DYING OUT AND THEN SURGING FORWARD. AT ONE TIME IT DIED COMPLETELY OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE BEING IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TWICE IT HESITATED AND SURGED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TOOK POSSESSION OF 2011 KIA SORRENTO ON 2-18-2010. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 14 INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR HESITATED ALMOST DYING OUT AND THEN SURGING FORWARD. AT ONE TIME IT DIED COMPLETELY OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE BEING IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TWICE IT HESITATED AND SURGED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)