2011 Kia Sorento Problems And Complaints

Kia Sorento user complaints and problems

Engine problems

• Sudden engine stalling: The sudden engine stalling has been a prominent issue with the 2011 Kia Sorento’s powertrain. The owners complained that while they were driving their vehicles, the engines stalled suddenly. During the occurrences, all the warning lights on the instrument clusters of the vehicles lit up.
• Engine knocking and damage: Several owners have complained about engine knocking and engine damage. Most complaints were against the models equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 motor. Due to the damages, the engines also caught fire, posing a significant safety risk.
• Oil leaks: Apart from the engine stalling and engine fires, many owners faced oil leakages from their 2011 Kia Sorento SUVs. Due to the oil leakages, some of the engines required replacements too.
• Transmission failing to shift: Some 2011 Sorento models faced transmission problems. Most of the affected transmissions failed to shift while some of the faulty transmissions resulted in engine stalling.

Safety problems

• Non-deployment of airbags: In multiple events of crashes, the airbags of the affected vehicles failed to deploy. Due to the airbags not deploying, the occupants received injuries from mild to significant and required medical assistance too.
• Airbag warning light: Other than the airbag failures, the airbag warning lights of several 2011 Sorento models came on and stayed illuminated until further inspection. During the inspections, most of the owners were told by the dealerships that they couldn’t find any issue with the systems.
• Brake failure: While driving under various scenarios, the brakes of some 2011 Sorento units failed completely. Due to the brake failures, the drivers were unable to stop the vehicles which resulted in crashes in some instances.

Miscellaneous problems

• Door lock failure: The door lock actuators of several Sorento units failed. The failures affected all the doors or any single door at random and were not limited to a particular door. Due to the failures, the affected doors failed to open. Even in some cases, the owners were unable to open any doors of their vehicles too.
• Faulty steering system: The steering system of some 2011 Sorento units was faulty according to the reports. The owners complained about the vehicles pulling to one side while driving despite readjusting the steering alignments multiple times. On a few occasions, the power steering system failed and the drivers lost assistance from the systems, making it hard to turn the wheels.

2011 Kia Sorento recalls

S.No.	Recall Date	NHTSA Campaign ID	Issues noticed	Additional remarks	Remedy
1	August 31, 2010	10V388000	Wiring harness replacement	When the lights are illuminated under certain conditions, an electrical short may occur that can result in a fire.	The dealers will replace the wiring harnesses for the lights in the Kia Soul vehicle's advanced lighting speakers, and the wiring harness for the Kia Sorento vehicle's interior accent illumination. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on September 13, 2010.
2	November 24, 2010	10V599000	Brake calipers	As a result, brake fluid will leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel, and if not serviced, reduced braking power which could increase the risk of a crash.	The dealers will inspect the rear calipers and replace it if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on December 10, 2010.
3	April 25, 2011	11V258000	Intermediate driveshaft	Damage to the transmission may cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.	Dealers will replace the right side output gear and intermediate shaft free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin in May 2011.
4	October 6, 2011	11E041000	Wire harness and converter module	Without the circuit protection, the module can overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.	Curt manufacturing will notify owners and replace the tow package wiring harness. The remedy will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on October 17, 2011.
5	April 1, 2013	13V114000	Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently	Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.	Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge.
6	October 6, 2015	15V626000	Brake-Shift Interlock Mechanism Can Chip or Crack	Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.	Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015.

Should you buy a used Kia Sorento?

If you don’t mind a body-on-frame compact SUV with mediocre engines, then a used model of the previous generation Sorento would make a good option. However, the current and updated model is riddled with problems including some serious ones such as engine fires and engine failures. Even though the brand did issue multiple recalls to address the problems, some of the issues are still unaddressed. On the alternative side, you can opt for a used Nissan Pathfinder since it is more reliable and offers a slightly better package than the Sorento.