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 #118

Apr 212019

Sorento

  • 123,000 miles
The engine started making noise and locked up, checked with Kia on recalls dues to I've seen so many, and after trying to find one at many engine shops, they have none at the time because they said they were in high demand right now. The 2.4 is failing, and the only recall is on the 2.4 tdi, but I highly believe Kia has to be aware of this. Motor locked up while driving on the interstate and almost caused me to be rear ended.

- St. Albans, WV, USA

problem #117

Apr 152019

Sorento

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the engine produced a loud knocking noise when the vehicle was started. Also, while driving 35-48 mph, a deer jumped out into the street. The contact swerved and crashed into a guardrail. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to fuccillo Kia (3900 state St, schenectady, NY 12304, (518) 847-0800) where the mechanic stated that the contact should have the vehicle serviced at the dealer's collision shop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to have the body damage repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Canada Hairy, NY, USA

problem #116

Feb 012019

Sorento

  • 75,000 miles
Vehicle has 75,000 miles on it and has started to stall at low idle times. Mostly upon start up but has increased to stalling occasionally at stop lights. Engine light will come on car will restart and sometimes engine light goes off other times it will stay on. Has been happening about 3 months now. Had it in the dealership for faulty door handle which is a known problem but was not covered under warranty. Had dealership run diagnostics which of course I had to pay for and they claimed it was reading a cpu error and the board should be replaced $1,400. Lots of recalls on this vehicle, don't see myself buying another Kia.

- Crafton, PA, USA

problem #115

Feb 012017

Sorento

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was an internal oil consumption failure that caused the oil to constantly have to be refilled in the vehicle. An oil consumption test was provided by benson Kia of spartanburg (1100 N pine St, spartanburg, SC 29303, (864) 585-3611) and it was diagnosed that there was a crack in the radiator. After the oil consumption test was rendered, the oil leaked under the vehicle. The dealer and manufacturer refused to comply with an extended warranty campaign for the engine assembly and oil consumption failures due to the vehicle's maintenance record. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer provided no assistance. The failure mileage was not available.

- Inman, SC, USA

problem #114

Apr 052019

Sorento

  • 151,000 miles
Engine shut off while car moving. No indication no lights across dash and lost all power.

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

problem #113

Mar 292019

Sorento

  • 137,440 miles
So this morning I'm just heading to work and my Kia start a limp mode which it stop in middle of a highway and their where kids in the car it has a bunch of light

- Ruston, LA, USA

problem #112

Feb 152019

Sorento

  • 138,288 miles
Every time I changed the oil, I noticed it was not the same as used oil coming from my other vehicles. Engine problems started approximately 3 years ago. I was constantly checking the oil and needing to add. I took the vehicle to the Kia dealer where we bought the car and they said the oil was burning up in the motor. It was getting hot. I ran two flushes on the motor and then continued my regular oil changes. In February of 2019 the motor seized up and quit while being driven on city streets. I drained 4.5 quarts of oil from the vehicle after it was towed. I heard about the recall on various years of Kia/Hyundai motors and thought this migh be the problem with my 2011 Sorento.

- Quincy, IL, USA

problem #111

Oct 012018

Sorento

  • miles
2011 Kia, just over 100,000 miles. Started knocking from the engine, pulled over had it towed to my mechanic. Stated that lower engine block broke the engine blown. Dealership would not do anything.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #110

Jan 252019

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles
I have been a Kia customer for over 7 years and are on our third vehicle from them. Traded my Kia forte for 2011 Sorento in 2016. It has had a lot of issues with the electrical system and it cost $1,200 to fix it. Recently on Jan 25th my timing chain broke and also ruined the engine. Now told that I need new engine for $5.100. I have learned of many recalls on Sorento engine motor but starting for the year 2012.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #109

Feb 202019

Sorento

  • 200,000 miles
Taka recall- vechicle has stalled on the highway/streets while driving several times, example I could be in the middle of driving and the car just completely slows down, almost causing accidents which can be very serious. I have taken the car back to the dealer and they said there's nothing wrong, clearly there's and issue with the car. I have been reading storys with consumers having the same issues that I'm having. Kia has not issued a recall which is sad due to the many complaints and life threading situations this has put people in. I'm in the process of hiring and attorney to look into this because no one is giving me answers. Not sure what it could be but I've ask around and some say it sounds like a transmission issue I need answers

- St.Louis, MO, USA

problem #108

Feb 152019

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles
A cam sensor melted, there were pieces of plastic on the spark plugs, and all mechanics we talked to have never seen anything like this. They initially thought that it was the exhaust vvt solenoids, but as they inspected further they realized something else was majorly wrong. We were on a road trip when this happened and have been stranded for 4 days because they haven't been able to fix the problem. The only solution they found is to replace the engine. The symptoms seem to be consistent with the NHTSA campaigns #11V258000 and #17V224000 after discussing with the mechanics we've worked with. See attached image of melted cam sensor.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

problem #107

Feb 112019

Sorento

  • 140,000 miles
My car went into limp mode after check engine light came on for transmission and electrical system failure in solenoid a of transmission. Car struggled to shift between gears and would would jerk me driving. Driving yesterday and pedal went straight to the floor causing total motor loss and hole in motor.

- Stow, OH, USA

problem #106

Jul 272018

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
2011 Kia Sorento was parked in the attached garage at 7:30 pm. It had a nearly full tank of gas. No problems were noted. My son went cycling the next morning at 5:30 am and returned at 7:30 am. He went into the garage to turn on sprinkler system. Nothing out of the ordinary was noticed. At approximately 7:45 am he started taking a shower. A few minutes later he heard a loud pop. Then a few minutes later another loud pop. Then a few seconds later the lights went out. Then he heard a loud banging at the front door. A man was yelling that the garage was on fire. My son and another young man who was renting one of the bedrooms in the house escaped without injury. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire but the car the attached garage were completely destroyed. The rest of house suffered extensive smoke and water damage. See attached picture taken at 7:59 am. Garage is totally engulfed in flames. Fire investigators determined that the fire appeared to be center at the front of the 2011 Kia Sorento. The car was totally destroyed. Investigators hired by the home insurance company were not able to determine what component in the engine compartment failed and caused the fire. Not enough left to be certain. Kia motors usa has stonewalled us all the way. They sent people twice to make sure there was not something else in the garage to blame the fire on and to make sure that the fire investigators made a definitive determination of of what component failed or otherwise had to say it was undetermined. They also hired a local law firm to observe all the investigation efforts. Intimidation and stonewalling is what Kia has provided to us. My concern is that someone is going to have to die before Kia and Hyundai admit they have defect in their engine manufacturing process and get it fixed.

- Spring Branch, TX, USA

problem #105

Oct 282016

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles
When driving car jerks and engine cuts out losing all power and mobility. Usually comes back on within seconds. This happens when driving at any rate of speed. A few times I had to pull over to the side of the road with no power and restart the car. When losing all power I have been on the highway driving 55-60mph. All power is lost and with no power steering I have had to get the car off the road out of the way of traffic. This has happened about 6 times. Often smell something burning or melting. Smoke from dash a few times. No fires yet... also passenger side head lamp continues to go out because of the wires and harness melting.

- Sheffield, IL, USA

problem #104

Jul 262018

Sorento

  • 190,000 miles
I am having issues with engine stall or wont start then oil is going somewhere and no clue where. I thought I had a great vehicle when I bought it didnt know there was any issues with it. But I am afraid to even drive it that something would happen while I am out with the grandbaby an family.

- Niota, TN, USA

problem #103

Dec 092018

Sorento

  • 15,000 miles
Recall!!!when accelerating more than 60-80 mph on the interstate, the eco sensor light pops on and my SUV jerks back then picks up speed causing the back of my head to hit your head restraint. It is very scary!!!!

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #102

Oct 232018

Sorento

  • 77,000 miles
My Kia has been in and out of the dealership repair facility since July 1st 28. I have had to have it towed there twice. My original id complaint # with NHTSA is NHTSA id number: 11142672. I still have an open complaint with Kia that has been ongoing. Due to melted parts connected to the engine that had to be replaced a couple weeks prior to the vehicle going in this time. Now I am being told the engine mating surface is an issue. The cylinder head is warped & the block is warped. How" I have not driven this car hot that I am aware of! this is a 2011 Kia that is outside of the recall for engine issues but is still being pushed for recall by NHTSA...what do I do now if Kia won't replace the motor" there are only 77K miles on this vehicle. I bought it with 900 miles on it. I am still waiting to hear from Kia. This is getting ridiculous! Kia knows very well there are problems with these motors and feels content to sit back and let people's hard earned money result in a non-driveable vehicle. I have babied this vehicle since the day I got it. This issue is through no fault of my own. This is on them. Someone needs to do something. A $25K vehicle with 77K miles should not need a new motor!

- Binghamton, NY, USA

problem #101

Jun 082018

Sorento

  • miles
My engine went out on my 2011 Kia Sorento on June 8, 2018. I was getting ready to leave for work. I was backing out of my driveway. It sounded very rough and started shaking really bad when I put it in reverse. I didn't know what was going on. The check engine light came on. I pulled back up into the drive way and put it in park. It was still shaking very bad and sounding very rough. I turned it off and call a mechanic over. He perform a code diagnostic. There were about 10 or 11 engine codes that popped up on the screen. I had it towed to his shop on June 13, 2018 to do a more in-depth diagnostic. It was found that the engine is non-repairable. From there, he had it towed to advanced automotive diagnostics for a second opinion. It was determined there also that the engine is non-repairable. There was no warning and I got my servicing in reasonable time-spans. I am at a lost. I am still paying on a vehicle and carrying insurance on a vehicle that I cannot drive right now. I am reporting this because I saw where the 2012 and a few other year Sorento's had a engine recall. I believe that the 2011 Kia Sorento should have been inclusive in that recall.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #100

Oct 312018

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
My engine gave out and my car will not start. I've had a mechanic look at it and they told me I need to replace the timing belt but the complete engine is no longer working.the car does not start and when it did it would still jolt from time to time. I've seen a recall online for my car online but Kia said it's not covered because it was off by a couple months. Although the issue is the same.

- Fridley, MN, USA

problem #99

Jun 152018

Sorento

  • 67,000 miles
Car has been in shop since June awaiting an engine. I am told that when and if I get an engine I have to pay 6, 500 dollars for it. I know that some 2011 Sorentos have a recall on there engines. I am told that my manufacturer has not put a recall on. After waiting all this time it seems to me this should be a recall. The vehicle just seized on the highway. That's all I was told. I had just purchased this car. Had it checked by a mechanic who told me it was fine. How does this happen

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

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