2011 Kia Sorento Driver assistance Problems

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,6 times total to get parts installed from my mechanic. If it was so unsafe,how could my mechanic lift the vehicle without any issues. I needed to get the underbody sprayed to stop rust and corrosion but KIA refused me.The recall for the ABS module needed fixing,they refused me. Having problems with the ABS and my subframe/crossmember broke. I feel the spray could've helped

NHTSA ID

11733480

Incident

Jan 9, 2026

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

NHTSA ID

11681986

Incident

Aug 20, 2025

I have a problem with my Kia Sorento since last year and I expensed a lot money with the eng8ne. The motor is broken down. Also, one shop gave me the receipt, 4 guys for $59 because I refuse any repair again. But, the other shop mechanic where I expensed a lot of money does not give me the receipt, inspire of my request they have not given me the receipt yet. I am so embarrassed, I expensed a lot $5500 for the repair. And, another shop too for $500. Thanks

NHTSA ID

11589687

Incident

Mar 8, 2021

12-29-2023, the Kia Sorento started smoking on the way home. When I got home I opened the hood and saw fire. I put the fire out with a fire extinguisher. On 1-9-2024, I made an appointment with Archer Kia and had the car towed there for a diagnosis. After a month with no response, the service manager at Kia advised me to contact Kia Corporation. I spoke to a representative and was assigned a case number. The representative stated that I should have gotten a software update but could not produce any information that I received a recall notice for the software update. All recall notices that I received were addressed and oil changes were regularly done at a major retail store. I was told that an investigation would be done and that I would be contacted. I didn’t receive a response for two months. I called Kia Corporation and was told that they sent information to an address that belonged to my mother which was calling her number instead of calling me. It was never determined why the information was sent to my mother. The car had been registered to my address for over 10 years. Once we established the correct information, I was asked to send service records. I was sent a letter before the representative received the service records stating that the cause of the fire was normal wear and tear. I went to the Archer Kia dealership to talk about the next step. The service manager stated that Kia didn’t send him anything so I waited. This was May 2023. January 2024, I contacted Archia Kia for information. They had received a decline notice to replace the motor. I called Kia Corporation again. I discovered that the original representative no longer worked there. The new representative wanted to call the dealership on a three way call. The service manager was not available and the representative told me he would call me back. In February 2024, I received a recall notice concerning the software issue and a notice stating that the car could catch on fire. In March 2024, I rec

NHTSA ID

11584614

Incident

Dec 27, 2022

3/11/24 The first thing I noticed was that my cruise control shut off with a couple of jerks to my vehicle. Then a few minutes later, I lost all steering, put in it park. There was smoke coming from under the hood, but not fire. It is sitting at my house still. A couple of months or so ago, when I received the letter of the recall, I called the dealership I bought my vehicle from and inquired about it. I was told that the part was not available but when it does, I will receive another letter. Also wanted to note, that right before I made that call, my engine light came on the day before that. Today, I called the same dealership to let them know what happened yesterday and they told me there was a cost for a tow truck to come get my vehicle. I was given a phone number to Kia, to which I called and started some kind of process. But it stopped when she told me it was going to be over $200 for a tow truck to come get my vehicle. I am not able to pay that nor feel as if I should due to Kia knowing about the recall and danger of same. Right when I lost steering and a red lamp popped up. I immediately parked it.

NHTSA ID

11576975

Incident

Mar 11, 2024

As I was backing into my driveway on Thursday 1/18/2024 @ 5:25 pm. I was on my way home from work. As I was backing into my driveway I lost power, the ABs and the MIL light both came on, the abs went off but the MIL began to flash and I lost all power in the car. I shut it off immediately and we pushed my car the rest of the way into the driveway. I had received a KIA Safety recall notice that said if this happens, Call KIA, immediately to request a tow to the nearest Authorized dealership. Was told they cannot perform this task and that I need to wait till tghe figure out the recall before they will help me. I have no vehicle to get back and forth to work now and KIA is refusing to help me.

NHTSA ID

11566982

Incident

Jan 18, 2024

While driving, my car slowed down and wouldn't accelerate pass 35 or 40 mph. I had to turn into a parking lot and restart the car. It drove fine, upon restarting. My OBD reader indicated DTC P200A Intake Manifold Runner. AAA informed me of KIA's notice regarding the same issue. This has happened on 4 occasions over the past weekend.

NHTSA ID

11556928

Incident

Nov 26, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon depression of the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal became stuck, causing the vehicle to unintendedly accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

NHTSA ID

11540734

Incident

Sep 1, 2022

Mileage

139,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact stated that she was able to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.

NHTSA ID

11510593

Incident

Mar 7, 2023

Mileage

34,000 mi

Kia Sorento 2011 LX 2.4L Oil disappears weekly, I have to check it often and/or refill. I use the required oil it calls for on the engine oil cap. Vehicle jolts while driving. I've been parked with vehicle off, turned it on, reversed from parking spot and about an tenth of a mile vehicle stalled, put it in park, and restarted. While driving headlights flicker Tapping/knocking noise from engine area, checked oil and its full, mechanic can't seem to find issue. Some forums have suggested throttl control module?

NHTSA ID

11476822

Incident

Sep 4, 2018

Airbag light stays on and the controls on steering wheel don't work

NHTSA ID

11468091

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

ON 2-7-2022 MY 2011 KIA SERENTO began to boggle out while driving it merging onto the freeway I was having a hard time speeding up to even 20mph then out of no where it was just fine again, well I went to pick my children from school about 1 1/2 hours later and the car started out driving fine until out of no where I was unable to accelerate to a higher speed once more but this time it was smelling like smoke but there was no smoke

NHTSA ID

11450884

Incident

Feb 7, 2022

I have contacted the manufacturer [email protected]. I notified them first on September 8,2021. I was given a generic response of to contact a dealership about lights being on that won’t cut off, the hatch falling on its own , the windows gets stuck and the door handle not working and more recently November 3, 2021 that the car will just stop accelerating when driving and then resumes by itself. I also followed their instructions and attempted to make and appointment with Kia of Orange Park 6373 Blanding Blvd Jacksonville, Florida 32244 (904) 771-6078 and was told each item to LOOK AT it was $159. I informed them of my warranty that would cover Cost and was denied that option but payment would be needed upfront and then they would bill my warranty and apply the cost. This was for a diagnostic check. Not repair at all. Which means fees needed to paid whether I got the work done or not. My car was there in June for a recall with the engine and that was covered by Kia due to a system update. I tried again in October just for the car acceleration and have not received a response back from [XXX] GENERAL SALES MANAGER [XXX] on the cost to look at the vehicle to see what it’s accelerating on its on. I sent a follow up request again today to Kia the manufacturer and the dealership. I want it documented that I am driving a car that will stall on its own and then accelerates again. I have two kids and if we are killed due to the vehicles stopping in traffic on its own. Or the other mechanical problems it’s now having they should be sued for our deaths. To just look at my vehicle [XXX] states I must pay because his guys need to get paid too. Not for any work just to look at the vehicle and tell me the cost of repairs. Also they will not submit rose cost to my warranty company who states they will cover the repairs unless they are given money upfront. Sounds illegal to me. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11439764

Incident

Oct 22, 2021

SUA July 3, 2020, driver was exiting a Kroger fuel station located at 7380 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 in the subject 2011 Kia Sorento SUV vehicle. Suddenly and without warning, the subject Kia vehicle began accelerating without throttle input from the driver. The Kia Sorento then struck the rear of a 2014 RAV 4, pushing it across the street and into a Waffle House parking lot. The 2011 Kia Sorento continued accelerating and gained significant speed before striking a nearby curb and fencing, colliding with an embankment of a retention pond, and ultimately coming to rest in the base of the retention pond. The injured driver was transported from the scene by ambulance, where they began receiving the first portion of many treatments for her injuries. Driver believes they are victim to a runaway throttle control malfunction that caused a sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA). Manufacturer notified. NHTSA has received 54 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), aka U.S. consumer complaints to DOT, regarding Vehicle Speed Control problems with the 2011 Kia Sorento; including NHTSA ID No. 10473983: On August 19, 2012, in Iowa/Missouri, state police footage showed Lauri Ulvestad’s, 47, of Ames, Iowa, 35-minute ride of terror after the accelerator of her Kia Sorento jammed, causing her to careen down a highway at speeds up to 120 miles per hour for 59 miles. The accelerator in this other 2011 Kia Sorento SUV became stuck. A dash-camera video captured by the Missouri State Highway Patrol officers who soon began following her shows the 35 minutes of terror that Ulvestad endured as her car traveled 59 miles at speeds as high as 115 mph. Apparently Kia "technicians were unable to duplicate the issue and this appears to be an isolated incident," per the South Korean company’s statement. "KMA will continue to investigate and analyze the facts of this situation." Source: ABC News. Petition for Defect Investigation. Special Crash Investigation.

NHTSA ID

11436935

Incident

Jul 3, 2020

THE CONTROL OPTION FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAIL. CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO, AND PHONE BUTTONS ALL HAVE FAILED.

NHTSA ID

11398823

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I COULDNT ACCELERATE ANY LONGER. IT OCCASIONALLY GOES OFF BUT ANYTIME IT COMES ON, I CANT ACCELERATE AND THE CAR JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEAR

NHTSA ID

11398152

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON WITH OUR ANY REASON. CAR WON'T ACELERATE, STOP AND GET SPEED IN UNSAFE WAIT ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11376263

Incident

Nov 23, 2020

THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE TENDS TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING LIKE NOT CHANGING GEARS, GETS LOCKED, JERKS BACK AND FORTH TILL IT UNLOCKS OR CHANGES GEARS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SLOWING OR STOPPING CAR IN IT'S TRACKS. RPM GO TO 0. FEEL LIKE A TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE . SOUNDS LIKE TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 2-4 TIME A YEAR SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. THESE PAST TWO YEARS THE GEARS LOCKING IS GETTING WORSE AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN INSTANTLY FROM DRIVING ON THE FRWY 60 MPH DOWN TO 35 MPH INSTANTLY ALMOST HAVING CARS HIT ME FROM BEHIND. SAME FOR DRIVING ON THE STREET GOING 20-40 MPH DROPPING

NHTSA ID

11366539

Incident

Oct 26, 2020

Mileage

4 mi

MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF DOING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE AND THE DASH LIGHTS ALL FLICKERED

NHTSA ID

11339690

Incident

Jul 13, 2020

Mileage

126,101 mi

WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM OREGON TO IDAHO I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL GOING APPROXIMATELY 67MPH AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND NOTHING SO I DISABLED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO PRESS ON THE GAS AND IT CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER SO I PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT HAD BEEN TO THE MECHANIC THAT WEEK TO BE CHECKED OUT AND WHEN IT WAS TOWED BACK THE MECHANIC REPORTED IT HAD BLOWN TWO CYLINDERS.

NHTSA ID

11322499

Incident

Jul 28, 2018

NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, BOTH THE ESC AND DBC INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND STAY ON AS I'M ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS PREVENTED ME FROM SHIFTING THE CAR INTO 'PARK' AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AS I CAN'T GET IT TO SHIFT BEYOND 'NEUTRAL.' WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I'VE HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND START IT AGAIN. IF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS GO OFF AFTER RESTARTING, I CAN THEN SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY LOCAL KIA DEALER THIS MORNING BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, AND SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A TECHNICIAN ON DUTY TO LOOK AT IT, I NOW HAVE TO RETURN ON MONDAY IN THE HOPE THAT THEY CAN FIGURE OUT AND FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11291761

Incident

Dec 22, 2019

Mileage

89,800 mi

ALL STEERING WHEEL FUNCTION HAVE STOP WORKING INCLUDING HORN. RADIO, CRUISE AND BLUE TOOTH CONTROLS. DURING A TRIP ON THE HIGH WAY

NHTSA ID

11289017

Incident

Dec 13, 2019

Mileage

188,000 mi

EVERYTIME I HIT A LITTLE BUMP IN THE ROAD MY ECO SAVER GOES OFF CAUSING ME TO BURN MORE GAS UNTIL I HIT ANOTHER BUMP TO KNOCK THE SAVER BACK ON

NHTSA ID

11268203

Incident

Aug 8, 2019

KIA WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED. CAR ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND LOSES POWER AND KEEPS GOING INTO LIMP MODE. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE DEALT WITH. TODAY WHILE IN THE PASSING LANE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH AND IT WOULDN'T GO . A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS SPEEDING BEHIND ME AND NEARLY REAR ENDED ME AS I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE AND COULDN'T MAKE IT GO AGAIN TO PULL OVER. WHEN I EVENTUALLY GOT IT TO PULL OVER IT WAS IDLING HIGH AND DID NOT SOUND RIGHT. MECHANIC CAME AND PLACED VEHICLE ON COMPUTER AND AGAIN THREE CODES CAME UP INCLUDING ENGINE POWER FAILURE AND LIMP MODE. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO KIAS LACK TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT AND THIS COULD BE A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS OR AN ALLOWANCE TOWARD A NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE.

NHTSA ID

11254549

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

128,000 mi

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO KIA FOR SEVERAL RECALLS. ONE WAS THE DOOR LOCKS BEING FAULTY. I SAID I HAD NO PROBLEMS BUT THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THEM ANYWAY. NOW MY REAR DOOR LOCK IS BROKEN. THE OTHER ISSUE IS WHEN ACCELERATING THE ENGINE REVS. IT ONLY HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES AT FIRST, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE PEDAL IS GETTING STUCK. MY LAST ISSUE IS THE AIR BAG. I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY AND PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS BANGED UP AND THE AIRBAG NEVER OPENED.

NHTSA ID

11254451

Incident

Aug 2, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi