10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 29
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,750 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #158

Aug 032020

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
One day heard upper motor tapping sound.assumed low in oil.we have had regular oil changes and were do for another shortly.we have never had to add fluids.drove the car around the block to get oil warm.checked oil.found engine completely out if oil!! car does not leak.no engine indicator light came on.the vehicle has no problem telling me it needs air!! but a catastrophic engine failure that it doesn't indicate!! filled engine to manufactured specs.engine has no power!! top of engine tapping bottom of engine knocking. Just finished paying for car with only 90K miles.

- Derby, CT, USA

problem #157

Feb 072020

Sorento

  • 139,600 miles
I have a 2011 Kia Sorento and checked to see if any recalls have been made on the motor. No recalls have been on the motors. But several complaints about the motor smoking and losing power. I feel like Kia should replace those motors before someone gets killed, because lose of power! I was driving down a 4 lane highway and went to change lanes and my car would not go. I could push the gas peddle and it wouldn't go any faster. Thank goodness I wasn't far from my home! it went into limp mode. So I had to limp it home. This could have been a bad situation had I not been able to get on the shoulder of the highway! I've talked to several people that have heard of this happening to their Kia serento. Kia needs to recall these motors!

- Cleveland, TN, USA

problem #156

Jul 282020

Sorento

  • 153,000 miles
Have to replace brakes and rotors 2-3 year;. brake caliper twice; replace headlights and taillights several times per year; back door won't open from inside or out.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #155

Jun 012018

Sorento

  • 129,000 miles
Vehicle kept cutting off while driving or either wouldn't accelerate over 20 mph. After restarting a couple times vehicle would drive fine for a couple weeks sometimes months. Took it to dealership last year was advised of some recalls but no other issues. But vehicle continued to have the same issue. It happens randomly and was very scary traveling at a fast speed. Now it wont stay started at all. Took vehicle to a different mechanic and was advised need a new engine.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #154

Jun 232020

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while her son was driving at unknown speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the technician was unable to retrieve a fault code or duplicate the failure. The vehicle remained with the mechanic for two days after which the vehicle started. The vehicle was driven to the residence. A day later while driving 40 mph, the vehicle loss motive power but restarted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- N. Richmond Hills, TX, USA

problem #153

Jun 182020

Sorento

  • 148,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact activated the parking brakes to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was pushed out of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact reached out to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased however, the dealer went out of business. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.

- Detriot, MI, USA

problem #152

May 272020

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
Engine started knocking several days before catastrophic engine failure. The car was taken to Kia. Staff started engine and said it needs a new engine without looking at it further. Took elsewhere for a second opinion. Knock subsided some after adding additional engine oil (no history of leaks or oil use). Engine then threw a rod through the oil pan as the vehicle was traveling approx 40 miles per hour on a 4 lane street..fortunately, my 17 year old son was able to react to the total engine/power loss and was able to safely get the vehicle pulled off the side of the road into a turn lane. Kia acknowledges they have been having many identical issues with various engines, but this specific engine wasn't included under the recall. Seems very strange that this engine is experiencing the same issues as other Kia engines, but this specific engine isn't covered... Kia is agreeing to cover approximately 1/2 of the estimated $6,000 repair bill. Engine had approx 120,000 miles on it.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

problem #151

Jun 052020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 153,000 miles
Rod barring seizure on my non-gdi theta II engine. Kia is refusing to cover this, in lieu of the recent class action lawsuit settlement. 2011 Sorento's are specifically mentioned in the settlement, even though they were never equipped with the gdi version.

- Franklin, IN, USA

problem #150

Nov 212019

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
On the interstate the car missed & died. Tried to start and it made a rattling sound. A tn trooper sd it sounds like timing chain and we had to tow it home 75 miles $500. A Ford master mech sd in 20 yrs he never saw this B4. Oil level was full but the oil wasn't getting to the engine and the crank cracked in 3 spots. Called local Kia maryville tn & she sd it was over the 100,000 mile warranty and I bought it used.. no telling what the other dealer did to it. Still I do to tow it to Kia parkside knoxville tn and pd them almost $200 to tell me the exact same thing; he'd been a mech for 20+ yrs and had no idea how that could even happen. They won't fix it though the recall is for the 2.0 liter engine, mine is a 2.4 2011. (my car is the 2012 body style made in 2011) they will sell me another engine. We brought the car home and I tweeted about it. Kiamotors_america dm'd me offering help. They denied my claim entirely because my engine isn't part of the recall, even though my issue is the same. I found thousands of ppl just like me being told the same thing. I'm on ss disability paying $267/mo + full cov ins since Nov. I have 2 specialists 100 miles in opp directions that I have no car to go to. I watch my 3yr old grandson and was going to the store for my mom who has stage 4 lung cancer. I would tweet news articles warning ppl and kiaamerica blocked me. I couldn't talk to them if I tried. I thought I filed a complaint here once B4, I don't see it though. I was thinking of trying my senator. Kia is reckless, unprofessional and has no concern whatsoever about human lives. I wish I knew a good lawyer, this has almost destroyed me.

- Lenoir City, TN, USA

problem #149

Jul 282018

Sorento

  • miles
While driving back from Oregon to Idaho I was in cruise control going approximately 67mph and the vehicle lost power. I pressed on the gas and nothing so I disabled the cruise control and again attempted to press on the gas and it continued to lose power so I pulled onto the side of the road. Turned the car off and tried to start it again and it would not start. It had been to the mechanic that week to be checked out and when it was towed back the mechanic reported it had blown two cylinders.

- Mccall, ID, USA

problem #148

Jun 052017

Sorento

  • 125,218 miles
On 6/5/17 I was driving from mccall to boise Idaho which is approximately 90 miles. I parked the car at walmart and went out to start it and it would not start at first then when it would restarted it would die quickly approximately 3 times. I drove it to the boise dennis dillon Kia dealership and on the way it stalled, did chugging sound at a stop sign in town and jerked forward and I was able to make it there. The car has been burning oil and I would have to put a quart of oil in probably once a week. My brother who is a mechanic helped me to get parts for it at O"reilly auto parts and helped me replace the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, plug tube seals, headlight bulb, and air filter to see if that would help. Later I ended up buying a new oil filer cap to see if that would help but nothing ever seemed to.

- Mccall, ID, USA

problem #147

Mar 202020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 43,000 miles
Engine seized up causing engine failure. Vehicle made noise and stopped completely. Unable to start. Personal research online-possible recall SC147.Kia Sorento built 4/2011-2/10/2014, NHTSA camp.id 17V224000. Kia consumer aff.states the veh doesn't fall under the recall.veh.broke down on 3/20/2020 in lynchburg, va. Same symptoms as described in the recall.dealership in lynchburg determined the motor "seized" up causing total engine failure.Kia has determined to pay for parts only, not labor.Kia Consumer Affairs stated the warranty does not cover due to being 2nd owner.the veh. Has less than 43K miles.no warning lights illuminated until time of engine failure.veh. Has been serviced regularly prior to date of engine failure.it is unknown if the dealership has performed testing via scan tools equipped for SC147 inspection.research that I've done shows the noise test cannot be done because the engine seized and cannot be started.when the veh engine failed, I checked the oil and coolant.all fluids were at level and clean.no leaks appeared under veh.thank you for your attention in this matter.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #146

Mar 132020

Sorento

  • 109,000 miles
Today I was driving home from work and everything was fine. I stopped at the grocery store and I finished there and I was making my way home. I got about 3 or so miles away from my home and I noticed my oil light was on. So I pulled over to check the oil and everything was fine. I didn't see a need to have it towed thought it was telling me it was time for an oil change. I proceeded one and I got about a mile or so from my house I'm at a stop light and now my check engine light is on along with my oil light. Then all of a sudden it just died right in front of the traffic light. I called a tow truck and had it towed. They had looked at it and found that the engine had no oil pressure and the engine was shot. I needed a new one. I still owe more than the vehicle is worth. Someone needs to look into this.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #145

Apr 222019

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
My daughter is 21 years olds and she purchased 2011 Kia Sorento from pete's kar smart Kia in amarillo. She goes to college in Lincoln Nebraska and her car is not holding oil. She has on 2 occasions in a short period of time had her oil light come on and when she checked the oil it was bone dry. This is between oil changes. We can get no resolution from Kia as she has taken it to Kia in amarillo and in Lincoln. I have googled this issue for this particular year and their have been several comments from others sharing the same issue with 2011 Kia not holding oil. I am concerned for my daughter's safety. If she breaks down on she side of the road due this issue as she has to drive 10 hours to come home. Please consider investigating and reviewing this issue. Thanks for your assistance with this matter. She got the car towards the end of April/ first of may

- Bushland, TX, USA

problem #144

Nov 172019

Sorento

  • 66,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 40 mph, a loud popping noise occurred and the engine suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to suntrup Kia(6263 S. lindbergh blvd, St. Louis, mo) who indicated that the engine seized. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 66,000.

- Arnold, MO, USA

problem #143

Nov 162019

Sorento

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle stalled and all the instrument panel warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to napletons mid rivers Kia (4555 veterans memorial pkwy, St peters, mo 63376) where it was determined that the engine seized and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #142

Oct 262019

Sorento

  • 116,369 miles
Vehicle was parked in the garage and stationary. When trying to start the vehicle using the key-less ignition, dash and interior lights started to flicker in the vehicle and relays start to click. Locks would not operate nor could I shift into neutral, started to smelt burning, pushed ignition button to shut down. Would not shut off, electrical kept cycling like it was trying to start on its own, had to disconnect the battery to shut down the car. Starter solenoid never engaged at any time nor did the engine try to turn over.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #141

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 #140

Oct 142019

Sorento

  • 150,000 miles
Engine got a loud noise and then car shut down. The engine has a large hole. I will have to get a new one. This happened while driving on 4 lane street. Had have vehicle towed.

- Lexington, SC, USA

problem #139

Jan 032017

Sorento

  • 96,000 miles
We have taken our 2011 Kia Sorento to mulitple dealerships to get fixed. All say the engine is shot. There is a seal inside the engine that is making the vehicle not work. There is multiple recalls for other years of the Kia Sorento but not ours. The mechanics say that this year and make has had multiple issues with the engine. I am wondering when this year will be recalled for engine issues? when I start the 2011 Kia is spudders and blows smoke out the muffler. I have been told that the whole engine needs to be replaced. The spuddering and smoke happens right when I start the vehicle. It is a 2011 and I only have 96K miles on it.

- La Porte City, IA, USA

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