10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,811 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #176

Oct 102019

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 213,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle stalled while the fourth wheel warning indicator flickered. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed and caused the vehicle to operate independently. Also, the contact heard an abnormal noise while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed to visit a Kia dealer. The vehicle was taken to matthews auto group (3721 vestal rd D, vestal, NY 13850, (607) 584-5354) where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft sensor needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 213,000.

- Bath, NY, USA

problem #175

Jun 012019

Sorento

  • 130,156 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the gear selector indicator did not illuminate and the check engine indicator illuminated intermittently. The contact also mentioned that the ABS, dbc, ESC, and air bag warning indicators illuminated and then turned off. When the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the failures went away. The contact stated that it took multiple attempts to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to bob bell Nissan (7900 eastern ave, baltimore, md 21224, (410) 288-2500) to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,156.

- Middle River, MD, USA

problem #174

Feb 202016

Sorento

  • 65,000 miles
I bought the car new and as soon as I hit 60,000 miles it became almost un drivable on the highway. While in drive and upwards of 50 mph the vehicle completely loses power and the gas pedal becomes unresponsive. Can not accelerate at all. I have to pull over and shut the vehicle off before it will accelerate again. It has almost got me into many crashes, more than I can count. I have taken it to Kia, they will not diagnose. However a recall with an identical problem took place for the same model year but mine was manufactured 2 months out of their recall dates so I'm S out of luck? many people report the same malfunction. Kia knows about the problem but will not even diagnose the specific problem so I can get it fixed. The dealer tried talking me into trading it in for a new one and they would find the problem and fix it. I told him I will never own a Kia again. It is a danger to drive.

- Kanab, UT, USA

problem #173

Sep 022019

Sorento

  • 106,000 miles
Transmission problems like not getting into gear or jerking when shifting and engine seem to loose power or not have enough also there is a noise the A/C making a rattling noise and vibrating.

- Jarrell, TX, USA

problem #172

Jun 122019

Sorento

  • 86,548 miles
In November 2015 had major oil line failure, dealership replaced oil pressure switch. In December 2017 had major oil leak, dealership replaced oil pressure switch. June 2019 check engine light activated upon putting vehicle in park. Took it to Kia dealership and they found pieces of bearing in the bottom of oil filter housing. Kia dealership recommended replacement of bank oil control valve and ultimately replacement of engine. Vehicle only has 86,600 miles on it. Kia dealerships not interested in buying vehicle and quote me approximately $6,000 to replace engine. I suspect this may be same issue Kia had with 2012 sorrentos which led to recall.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #171

Aug 022019

Sorento

  • 165,000 miles
2011 Kia Sorento sx vehicle was put into reverse, started to back up, the transmission gear slips out of reverse, into neutral or not in an engaged gear position and engine rev's up. Observed that the gear shift did not appear to move or displace itself. Placed the gear shift back into park. Waited a 10 seconds or so and put into reverse again. Transmission pauses for a few seconds then shifts hard with a very loud thud /clank /bang sound. This is the replacement transmission of the original equipment transmission and now the issue of slipping out of gear in reverse is exactly unequivocally the same.

- Red Oak, TX, USA

problem #170

Jun 012019

Sorento

  • 140,000 miles
While at highway speed of about 50 mph, the vehicle will shift hard. The feeling you get is that you have driven over a curb. Have brought to dealership. They checked transmission fluid and reprogrammed transmission. They were unable to determine an issue. The problem persists and is intermittent.

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #169

Jun 182019

Sorento

  • 166,000 miles
Hearing whirring and whining noise from drive shaft on 2011 Kia sorrento. We think it could be related to the recall: Https://www.NHTSA.gov/vehicle/2011/Kia/Sorento/SUV/4WD#recalls after calling the dealer - our VIN# is not listed with this recall. I've seen several forum posts of other consumers with the same issue with 2011 Kia sorrento and na VIN#. such as: We are going to have this repaired before an accident occurs, but think it should be covered under the recall...

- Fort Atkinson, WI, USA

problem #168

May 302019

Sorento

  • miles
When speeding up transmission. Will shift hard. The vehicle looses power and I have to pull over, shut it off, wait a minute to restart then begin driving again

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #167

Jan 082018

Sorento

  • 65 miles
"takata recall" when I'm driving and accelerate the car don't shifting the gear or its delaying. Sometime it not shifting from 4 ht speed and up. I read on internet about many complains and about recalls in 2015 regarding this type of problem. Https://www.cars.com/research/Kia-Sorento-2011/recalls/ please help me to fix this problem

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #166

Mar 212019

Sorento

  • 135,386 miles
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.

- Carrollton, GA, USA

problem #165

Dec 012018

Sorento

  • 99,000 miles
According to the obd code reader: Code P0335, $07E8 generic. Crankshaft position sensor a circuit. Vehicle has trouble starting. The tachometer falls to 0 as opposed to sitting at a higher idle, and does not move when pressing foot on gas pedal when stationary or in motion. When in motion, there can be temporary loss of power, the inability to shift gears, and/or the vehicle shakes and rattles. This happens on city streets and highways, when in all types of traffic and when moving at constant speeds. When this situation happens, the car does not shift gears at all and must be restarted. This has caused dangerous lane changing to highway shoulders as well as difficult attempts back onto the roadways during rush hour.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #164

Jan 142019

Sorento

  • miles
Took my car in to the dealership and found out I need to pay over 4K in repairs the repair listing consisted of intermediate bearings (which later was told they didn't need to be repaired after I fussed about the cost. Had to get my transmission replaced again along with 2 cv shaft front suspensions. With labor and parts 4K. My rebuilt transmission warranty was up in August 2018.

- Saint Rose, LA, USA

problem #163

Aug 252017

Sorento

  • miles
My horn stopped working. My transmission went completely out and was repaired a little after a year the transmission completely went out again. The vehicle also stops accelerating. The sorrento seem like a hazardous vehicle and I can't believe there are absolutely no recalls on certain issues. I have read other issues and I'm seeing I'm not the only one with the same issues.

- St Rose, LA, USA

problem #162

Aug 052018

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles
(1)transmission got stuck in 2nd gear while driving on the highway. Transmission would "jump" every time the car hit 50mhp. Could not replicate after sitting in driveway overnight. (2)ABS light is constantly on-told it is a clock spring. Kia not worried about it. (3) doors stick-drivers door will lock itself and cannot open from outside. This happened 3X while car is running and I exited to get mail. Front passenger will not close- have to knock handle to close. (4)backup camera intermittent. (5)bluetooth does not pair with phone-intermittent. (6) gas door sticks- must hit release button dozens of times before it opens. (7) tire pressure guages broken.

- Fleming Island, FL, USA

problem #161

Sep 232018

Sorento 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 116,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While driving 50 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph; however, the accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to turner Kia (4201 chambers hill rd, harrisburg, pa 17111, (717) 564-2240) where the cause of the failure was not determined; however, the contact was informed that the engine might be faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. Consumer notified corporate headquarters. Updated 12/11/18

- Millersburg, PA, USA

problem #160

Sep 242018

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
When driving between 35-45 mph the tachometer will drop to 0 and the Sorento will lunge or buck, hesitate and will not respond to acceleration. The engine light flashes and sometimes stays on. One time I accelerated to pass, it responded but stopped midway thru the pass, decelled back to 20 mph. I could not complete my pass and had to fall back behind the slower vehicle. I understand there is a voluntary service campaign by Kia # SC106 but no dealership acknowledges it. There is 130,000 miles on the vehicle.

- Harbor Springs, MI, USA

problem #159

Sep 112018

Sorento

  • 137,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact was informed that the lower radiator hose fractured and also needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was contacted and provided a cost estimate to replace the engine. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

problem #158

Aug 012018

Sorento

  • 41,000 miles
Have problems shifting into gear, took it to repair station and they don't know what's wrong with it. It doesn't happen all the time but when it happens you are stuck where your at. The shifter gets very stiff or hard and won't go into gear.

- Seaford, DE, USA

problem #157

Aug 152018

Sorento

  • miles
Since I bought the 2011 Kia Sorento the transmission or engine tends to stall in the middle of driving like not changing gears, gets locked, jerks back and forth till it unlocks or changes gears while at the same time slowing or stopping car in it's tracks. Twice I have hit my head on the steering wheel, have had seat belts lock tight against me and my passengers when it locks while trying to change gears. It happens at least 3-6 time a year since I have had the car. I have reported it to my service dealership kearny pearson Kia, 7303 clairemont mesa blvd, san diego, ca 92111 and they have not found anything wrong. These past two years the gears locking is getting worse and the car slows down instantly from driving on the frwy 65 mph down to 35 mph instantly almost having cars hit me from behind. Same for driving on the street going 35-40 mph dropping to 5-10mph and stop/jerk/go/stop/jerk and almost having cars behind me crash into me. I have been blessed to have had fast reacting drivers behind me or no drivers. This last incident last month was so powerful that I smacked the steering wheel and thought I had gotten hit but didn't. my chest got tight as if I was having a heart attack from the force and my kids cried from the whiplash. This was yet the strongest. Also, since 2011 I have had 7 - 10 incidents of smoke coming out of the air vents, smiling like fire. I turn off the vent and it continues for 10min then goes away. I am no mechanic but if I had to guess I would say something with the air-conditioning being high for long periods and then when it gets turned down or off seems to activate these things especially the gears locking. Just my observation. I hope you can get to the bottom of this because for the first time in my life I fear for my life and those with me or around me with this car. You just don't know when it will happen next.

- San Diego, CA, USA

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