Kia Sorento Complaints (2011)

1,520 consumer complaints on file.

#11466556May 28, 2022
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Part failure. Electronic control module for air bag. Air bag warning lamp illuminated and remain lit on dash. Local autopartsO’reilleys on board diagnostic tool reads two codes. B1620 internal fault- replace SRSCM and B1764 body sensor MAT defect. This Kia Sorento has had several repairs done via KIA recall and safety campaigns. 2017 clean and seal and or replace rear wheel speed sensor housing … could AND did illuminate ESC ABS and HILL Climb on dash… vehicle operated in southern Louisiana . Air Bag warning lamp. 10/10/2019, 147716 miles . Code found at Kia performing clock spring assembly warranty extension code for high resistance. Replaced clockspring and cleared code. High resistance is Key at this time. Also the cruise control began to function properly after the lamp turned off. May 28 kia letter concerning newly developed computer software for ECU, engine control unit. Repaired July 28 2021. June 2016, August 2019, Kia Sorento airbag clock spring assembly warranty extension. Air bag illumination. These letters state the warranty extension will be 15 years and subsequent air bag illumination will be diagnosed at no charge for 15 years. Yet I have two codes, return to Kia to validate and am charged for diagnostic as well, the air bag lamp still illuminated. Explained I need NEW SRS module at cost of estimated $1200. Vehicle does not communicate with SRSCM. Recommend replace the airbag control module I ask, is it ossicle with NEW updated ECu as well as prolonged Air bag illuminated due to HIGH resistance from clock spring malfunctioning, could this feedback and prolonged exposure cause the airbag co trip module to malfunction ? Airbags are a safety issue. The electronics should not falter .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11466558May 28, 2022
POWER TRAIN
2011 Kia Sorento, built 2010 , Kia issued a recall notice concerning misaligned intermediate shafts on the passenger side of trans axle. This recall is for vehicles manufactured from start of production thru may 22 2010. Our vehicle has manufacture date of June 9 2010, and has suffered thru 168000 gimpy miles on this gnarled intermediate shaft. Photo included. So Kia did have this problem longer than theinial 4/25/2011 recall for Power Train campaign #11V258000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11466038May 25, 2022
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while pulling into the parking lot at work at approximately 3 MPH, there was what seemed to be steam coming from the engine. The contact stated there was actually smoke and ash which was on the driver's side of the hood. There were no warning lights. The contact exited the vehicle safely. Immediately after exiting the vehicle it was engulfed in flame and was destroyed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The police department was on the scene and conducted a report. The vehicle was towed to the wrecking yard. The contact fell at the time of the explosion. There were smoke ventilation and cuts on the right arm along with bruises from the contact. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11464354May 12, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
Snow White Pearl exterior paint coming off in chunks, progressively getting worse and worse along top roof where front windshield is and along the bottom where the rear windshield is. It literally bubbles up and flakes completely off exposing the body. This has been continually going on for years without resolve and there is no way to stop the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11464255May 11, 2022
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On 06/05/2019 my Kia Sorrento 2011 vin [XXX] EX V6 2WD engulfed in flames yards from my home as my family barley escaped as it exploded. My husband in shock across the street video taped and took pictures of this horrific event. This is not a accident incident no other vehicle or object involved. Kia complaint filed #[XXX] accident millage: 99,000 Police report filed w Missouri Hwy Patrol Corporal Kline #[XXX] Vehicle was "inspected" post fire by a Kia inspector reported due to fire undetermined cause?! Vehicle purchased at World Kia in Joliet 2525 W. Jefferson Joliet, IL 60435 on 10/01/2015 registered Certified Manufactured warranty purchase Vehicle # [XXX] administration address: 175 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60604 Extended Warranty purchased at the time of sale. Warranty extension program letter dated 11/07/2016 received to me purchaser: [XXX] current address: [XXX] [XXX] Please contact me with any additional documents, pictures, or statements My insurance didn't cover the full financed balance... I appreciate any information you have, Thank you, [XXX] Kia did not honor any warranty's INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11463938May 9, 2022
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Going down the highway with cruise control on, the car jolted and disengaged cruise control. At another time it jolted at an intersection and the car died. Was able to restart and continue. Turning a corner, felt the small jolt / surge..nothing else noted....yet
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11463395May 4, 2022
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11461546April 20, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Intake manifold runner control actuator on 2.4L engine has an inherent defect. The plastic coupling that connects the runner male connection on the side of the intake manifold to the runner control actuator has cracked twice, requiring several replacements of the runner control actuator at a cost of approximately $300 (part and labor) each repair. The coupling can't cost more than 25 cents to manufacture but once it cracks, you can't just buy the plastic coupling; you have to replace the entire runner control actuator. Suggest Hyundai/Kia manufacture the coupling from a metal capable of high temperature application and make just the coupling available for purchase.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11460920April 15, 2022
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while attempting to open the passenger’s side door from the outside, the door handle was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11460184April 8, 2022
SUSPENSION
Vehicle front k frame is severly rusted causing concerns with front suspension stablilty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11459359April 2, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
The paint is peeling off down to the metal. On the roof (front and back) and on the hood.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11458644March 28, 2022
EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while her granddaughter was driving at 35 MPH, the a white smoke began to emit from the vehicle the oil and battery warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. A fellow motorist then alerted her that her vehicle was on fire and urged to to pull over and exit the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle, the vehicle became engulfed in flames. Her granddaughter called the authorities as the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed; no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was a case was filed. The fire department determined that the cause of the fire was electrical. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 11E041000 (Equipment) which she linked to her failure. The failure mileage was a approximately 192,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11455753March 8, 2022
SEATS
The base of the driver's seat broke. A tube along the bottom of the backseat broke
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11455605March 7, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Both rear door latches on my 2011 Kia Sorento have failed. I previously had to have my mechanic replace the driver door latch which failed, now both rear door latches have failed making it impossible to open either door from the inside or out. Having researched this issue I have found numerous people who have listed this as an issue they have experienced. A technical service bulletin was issued, I believe around 2016, extending the warranty on the door latches to 10 years from the first date of service. I only found this service bulletin while searching for solutions to the problem and the 10 year period has expired. Not being able to open either rear door is a safety hazard. I transport my grandchildren who are all under 5 years of age, and should I be involved in an accident or caught fire while transporting them, or anyone who is riding in the rear seats, it would be difficult to get them out of the vehicle quickly. I do not understand why a recall on this has not been issued as I believe this is an extreme safety issue and it is well documented that this is an issue with many Kia Sorento owners. My cost to repair the driver door latch was just over $800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11454746March 1, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated when she first started the vehicle in the morning, while seated in the vehicle she started to smell fumes inside the vehicle; however, after the vehicle had warmed up the fume’s odor went away. After transporting her children to school, while driving back to her residence at approximately 25 - 30 MPH, she noticed that there was smoke coming from the front and the rear of the vehicle. A passing motorist then informed her that the rear bumper of the vehicle was on fire. The Fire Department was contacted and arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire. The State Police also arrived on the scene. A fire report and police report were filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11453390February 22, 2022
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the exterior front driver side door handle had malfunctioned and the door could not be opened from outside the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were both notified. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously serviced under a manufacturers TSB for the failure. The failure mileage was 185,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11453463February 22, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Door does not open Steering wheel is stiff when turning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452253February 16, 2022
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Headlights you can't leave them on automatic the lights will stay on and kill your battery. The lights blink off and on sometimes when use turn signal, and sometime goes completely out while driving at night have a fear of running into someone or off hwy. No inspections. No lamp warning messages. I bought the Vehicle used May of 2021 and notice problems about a couple of months later.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11451696February 12, 2022
ENGINE
The engine seized and needed to be replaced. The cost would be $11000 and there was only ONE available in the entire country. We were given $100 for the car. The KIA Corporation knew that this engine was defective and did not recall it or warn us that the engine could seize while driving or catch fire causing catastrophic injuries.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11451471February 11, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, HAD BRAKES REPLACED AND LINES CHECKED, ALWAYS HAVE A CONSTANT BURNING SMELL, BUT CAN NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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