2011 KIA SORENTO Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Kia Sorento. This model year has 1,515 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2011 Kia Sorento Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Structural Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Considering a 2011 Kia Sorento?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Kia Sorento. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 320 | 8 | 42 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 267 | 2 | 8 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 265 | 8 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 245 | 3 | 22 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 213 | 2 | 11 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 182 | 19 | 2 | — | |
| Brake System | 132 | 6 | 5 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 102 | 1 | 6 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 63 | 8 | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 59 | 1 | 4 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 56 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 53 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 33 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 24 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 23 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 20 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 17 | — | 2 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Firerelated | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Kia Sorento. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,515 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Opening car door and whole handle fell off.
I tried months ago to have my 2011 KIA Sorento LX 3.5L v6 AWD to get the recalls fixed @ KIA in Yorkville,New York. They said they couldn't fix the recalls that were on the vehicle because supposedly the suspension is unsafe. But I already had the vehicle on a lift 4 times since,…
Intake manifold. A previously repaired recall that is still causing issue. Rough idle and check engine light.
Subframe, in the rear, where lateral arms are connected completely rusted off from the rest of the subframe. The control arm has broken off and is now rubbing against fuel tank. Car is unrepairable and undrivable.
My 2011 Kia Sorrento caught fire while parked in my garage. Kia is saying it's not due to any recall they have and that it was an electrical fire store behind the steering wheel and they're refusing to take any responsibility financially for it or otherwise due to it being throug…
I was driving my car, while at a stop light I noticed some smoke coming from under my hood. I thought it might have been the cold I turned off the main road onto my street and noticed the smoke increasing, I pulled over turned off my car opened the hood and a fire started at the …
In a letter dated August 14, 2019, KIA advised that the warranty coverage for the driver's front airbag clock spring assembly was extended to 15 years. the clock spring is an electrical connection which rotates with the steering wheel to maintain proper functioning of the airbag …
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a rattling sound coming from the vehicle with smoke coming from the engine compa…
Vehicle was trying to go forward while my foot was on the brake. It would not go in park gear. Eventually shut down completely at a busy intersection. I was unable to use my hazards and could have been in a bad accident. I had to keep on the emergency brake until I was able to ge…
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine). The contact stated that the engine had seized while driving approximately 40-45 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had owned the vehicle fo…
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of ti…
The vehicle is shifting weird out of first, knocking sound. A code of p1326 skds is showing on diagnostic. This was supposedly repaired by kia a few months ago from a recall. I am questioning if they corrected and inspected the recall appropriately, due to this being the issue. T…
the car has been running fine with no problem. I noticed as I was driving the engine light came on. i made it to my destination and as I was processing to head some where else i heard an unusual sound and the smell of burning smoke. Then all of a sudden there's a lot of smoke com…
I was driving and my Kia started over heating and smoking and smelled like plastic burning I got it towed to the Hendricks of Kia and it sat there for 2weeks and I contacted them about giving me a lender until they fix my engine problem and they told me that my engine is not unde…
The engine light comes on and then the wheel lock light will come on and the car will disengage from 4 wheel drive to 2 wheel drive while driving
Was on my way back from picking up my child father from work. My 2 kids were also in the car [XXX] & [XXX] old. My car started smoking and another motorist pulled down his window to let me know that my car was on fire from underneath. I immediately got all of us out of the car …
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. There was an abnormally loud …
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights we…
Growl on cold start
there are eight recalls on my car I do not trust dealerships I do not trust mechanics I work on my own car I have very bad experience with mechanics I would rather return my car to the dealership I want to sell my car do the dealership eight different recalls is too much
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Kia Sorento.
Recalls for 2011 Kia Sorento
8 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Kia Sorento. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2011 Kia Sorento — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 Kia Sorento reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2011 Kia Sorento has 1,515 NHTSA owner complaints, 42 crash-related, and 8 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (320 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Sorento?▾
#1: Engine Problems (320 complaints). #2: Structural Problems (267 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (265 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Kia Sorento?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2011 Kia Sorento?▾
The 2011 Kia Sorento has 42 crash-related complaints and 60 fire reports out of 1,515 total NHTSA complaints. 50 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2011 Kia Sorento have any recalls?▾
Yes — 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2011 Kia Sorento. The largest issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2011 Kia Sorento?▾
The 2011 Kia Sorento has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Kia Sorento reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2011 Kia Sorento
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.