10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
82,958 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Kia Sorento:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #9

Aug 242020

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
Please be advised this is in addition to the fuel tank corrosion previously reported. The underside of the vehicle is eaten up with rust. It is affecting the unit body as well as several structural members of the vehicle. Have spoken with Kia and they refuse to do anything about it. I feel that this is a serious issue as it is affecting the entire structural integrity of the vehicle.

- Mount Airy, NC, USA

problem #8

Jul 022019

Sorento

  • 117,000 miles
First issue began when car started pulling to right when going around corners on highway. Took to shop; paid for new brakes including pads, rotors, front calipers plus front driver side ball joint replaced. Ball joint rusted out so bad it crumbled to pieces when tire was taken off. Not out of shop for even a full day when the car started pulling again. This time it was a hard pull to the right while going straight on highway and in town. This time the pull was so strong the car went off road. This time it felt like steering went out completely. So back to shop to find out that the front passenger side ball joint was also shot and needed replaced. Car been out of shop barely 2 wks; now front end is making a hard clunky noise when turning and going over just the slightest bumps. The car feels like you are driving over boulders and sounds like the whole front end is about to fall apart. So back to the shop for third time in less than one month. Read multiple complaints online regarding these same issues" im pretty sure I'll be paying for struts, shocks and/or complete repair of front end suspension after already putting $800 in to it. How has this car not been recalled for such issues"

- Bennington, NE, USA

problem #7

Dec 162018

Sorento

  • 170,000 miles
While diving down the road, the rear passenger side gear box shattered.

- Vernon, FL, USA

problem #6

Mar 202017

Sorento

  • 168,000 miles
All of the Kia sorrento 2011 suspension struts, shocks, strut mounting plate front left needed to be replaced. It sounded like loose bolts and the noise would then be a loud knocking especially on road going up and down hills and turns. Also had to replace the TPMS sensors, front and rear tension rods on both sides. This is the most costly car ever online numerous reports of same issue this should have a recall here is one reflecting same problem with sedona model - I suggest you check this forum under sedona 2002-2005 "sedona front strut". Kia has a history of strut noise related problems. They finally came out with a tsb (KT2007020501) on the front strut issue for 2002-2005 sedona's in early 2007 !!! we have to remember that tsb's are for acknowledged problems by a manufacturer and that they have a fix for said problem, thus the tsb to carry out fix. If the problem is not safety related then no tsb. Safety related issues are handled under recalls. An issue that is too expensive to fix and is not a safety issue is labeled "normal operating characteristics of vehicle" it's that simple and until you all start yelling to Kia and not the service rep who is stuck between a rock and a hard spot you will not get results. My other sugestion to you guys is a mass letter writing campain to consumer reports automotive unit.

- Latham, NY, USA

problem #5

Jul 302015

Sorento

  • 50,622 miles
Vibration, knocking and thumbing noise in the rear passenger's side and both front wheels. Dealer verified thumbing noise as left lower ball joint was loose, replaced both ball joint. Vibration, knocking and thumbing noise continues. Returned to dealer. Dealer replaced rear motor mount. Problems still remains. I phoned dealer, stating vibration, knocking and thumbing still remains including additional problems. In addition to the vibration, knocking and thumbing noises... inside the car, underneath dashboard (glove compartment) causing huge amount of water on the passenger's side floor.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #4

Aug 062014

Sorento

  • 49,000 miles
TL- the contact 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated she had taken the vehicle to a tire dealer to replace four tires on the vehicle. The mechanic informed the contact that the core between the valve stems and the tire pressure sensors were corroded and could cause future failures. The rear driver side sensor was attached to the valve stem and the entire piece had broken off of the vehicle when air was inserted into the tire due to corrosion. The failure caused the "low tire pressure" sensor to not illuminate when the tires were low. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis and the dealer mechanic was not able to locate a problem. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the approximate failure mileage was 49,000.gb

- Lexington, IN, USA

problem #3

Jul 222014

Sorento

  • 32,000 miles
I found that the rear left tire was seriously worn on the inside to the point that it needed to be replaced. I have never before seen a rear tire wear on the inside edge while the rest of the tire was still good at 32000 miles. What would cause the wear?

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #2

Mar 192014

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
On two different dates about a week apart we had two TPMS failures. On the first one the TPMS tire pressure monitor system sensor located in the passenger rear wheel cracked and was losing air. TPMS sensor was replaced. Around a week later while my wife was traveling at highway speed the passenger side front TPMS sensor retaining cap fell off due to corroded threads and the sensor fell into the tire causing a high speed deflation. Dealer has not been notified of the second failure as we have an appointment in the next couple weeks. This vehicle has been dealer serviced since new and has all required service done.

- Holden, MA, USA

problem #1

Nov 042012

Sorento

  • 24,000 miles
Wheel assembly appears to have completely given out. Vehicle traveling at ~35mph when it rose slightly then gave out. Vehicle hit side of parked car and flipped on to side and into retaining wall - full side curtain airbag deployment. Entire front passenger wheel well completely vacant. Everything laying on street including suspension springs. Witness to support events. Vehicle under 25K miles (2011 model, incident 2012). Vehicle totaled by insurance.

- Conroe, TX, USA