RoadVitals

2011 Kia Sorento Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
54
Latest Jun 17, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 1,517 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Kia Sorento submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 54 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming interior

The 25 most recent of 54, in the owner's own words

ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while attempting to unlock the vehicle with the key, the front driver side door opened; however, the other doors failed to open as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that on another occasion, the interior lights failed to work as intended and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The check engine and ABS warning lights remained illuminated. The contact stated that the buttons on the steering wheel failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be connected to the diagnostic machine. The contact stated that the dealer refused to update the antitheft system or perform the recall repairs linked to the VIN. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11667409
Incident
Jun 17, 2023
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 7, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while attempting to unlock the vehicle with the key fob, the contact heard the doors unlocking, but the rear doors failed to unlock. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure initially started after the vehicle was serviced by the dealer. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 92,000.

NHTSA ID
11587430
Incident
May 1, 2024
Mileage
92,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 31, 2023

Both rear doors do not open from the outside and only the passenger rear door will open from the inside, leaving the driver side rear, not accessible from the inside or the outside. The middle row of seats do not adjust backwards or forwards. The controls on the steering wheel do not work at all.

NHTSA ID
11524578
Incident
May 31, 2023
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 3, 2023

The rear driver side door will not open from outside or inside and I have children who ride in the back seat in children's car seats. This is a definitive safety hazard. KIA issued a recall but just extended the warranty to 10 years for that part. It is obviously a known defect that is the fault of KIA. Since my car is now outside that 10 year extended warranty I have to pay $800 dollrs at teh dealership to have it fixed, This is unnacceptable.

NHTSA ID
11505422
Incident
Feb 2, 2023
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 22, 2022

The car will not always go in park and will click into gear a few seconds afterwards. The car rolled out of my driveway in reverse and caused over 5000.00 dollars in damages. Also the seat settings will get stuck moving and not moving. The air bag light is also on and the fuel cap sticks and won't open unless forced opened

NHTSA ID
11480666
Incident
Jan 1, 2022
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 15, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID
11460920
Incident
Apr 15, 2022
Mileage
93,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 8, 2022

The base of the driver's seat broke. A tube along the bottom of the backseat broke

NHTSA ID
11455753
Incident
May 3, 2021
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 22, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID
11453390
Incident
Feb 20, 2022
Mileage
185,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 19, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN OR OPERATE AS NEEDED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED SPRADLEY KIA (2145 HWY 50 WEST, PUEBLO, CO 81008, (719) 543-6710) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11412872
Incident
Apr 8, 2021
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jan 5, 2021

MY DOOR HANDLE OR DOOR LATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND ALSO MY LEFT BACK DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR AND MY KIDS. ALSO, MY HEADREST HAS FALLEN OFF. I HAVE ISSUES WITH MY LIGHTS, THEY WILL NOT WORK FOR THE INTERIOR.

NHTSA ID
11386698
Incident
Jul 10, 2020
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 20, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT KEYFOB FAILED TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE DOORS ON THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NAPLETON RIVER OAKS KIA (1951 RIVER OAKS DR, CALUMET CITY, IL 60409) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11375589
Incident
Nov 18, 2020
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 30, 2020

DOORS FAIL TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS WILL MELT WIRING FOR THE LIGHT BULB AND KILL THE LIGHTBULB. DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE, HOWEVER THE BOLTS ARE AS TIGHT AS THEY WILL GO.

NHTSA ID
11362057
Incident
Aug 3, 2020
Mileage
150,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 9, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE HOWEVER, OPENED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000.

NHTSA ID
11354005
Incident
Jun 16, 2020
Mileage
144,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jan 24, 2020

AIRBAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER IS ON. ALSO THE BACK RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. DOOR NOT LOCKED AND CHILD LOCK IS OFF.

NHTSA ID
11301586
Incident
Jan 23, 2020
Mileage
162,197 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 5, 2019

ON FRIDAY EVENING 30 AUGUST WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON I-66 IN NORTHERN VA THE HOOD INEXPLICABLY OPENED UP ON OUR 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH HAD APPARENTLY FAILED AND THE HOOD VIOLENTLY SMASHED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF. BY SOME MIRACLE, THE WINDSHIELD DID NOT SHATTER AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER ON A NOTORIOUSLY CONGESTED AND ACCIDENT-PRONE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, THUS PREVENTING INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. WHEN KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE (CA) OPENED ON 3 SEPTEMBER (AFTER LABOR DAY) I FILED A CASE (#13336462). I HAD CONFIRMED ONLINE THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON OUR SORENTO BUT NOTED THERE WAS A RECALL (SC134) ON THE 2006-2014 KIA SEDONA HOOD LATCH BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF THE HOOD OPENING WHILE DRIVING THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. I DROVE THE SORENTO TO OURISMAN KIA IN CHANTILLY, VA WHERE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THE HOOD LATCH HAD FAILED AND REPORTED THIS TO KIA CA. DESPITE OWNING 3 KIA VEHICLES AND CALLING TO SPEAK WITH 3 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS AT KIA CA (LISA, ANNETTE, JEREMY) AS NOBODY WOULD RETURN OUR CALLS TO PROVIDE UPDATES OVER 3 DAYS, NONE OF THESE FACTS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LETHAL VULNERABILITY MATTERED TO KIA WHO REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE OUR 2011 SORENTO IS OUTSIDE OF THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY BY 18,000 MILES. KIA CA DID NOT CARE THAT THE SAME FAULTY PART WAS ALREADY RECALLED ON A DIFFERENT KIA VEHICLE. KIA CA APPEARED UNCONCERNED WITH THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND EVEN DEATH. THANK GOD MY WIFE OR CHILDREN WERE NOT DRIVING THE SORENTO AT THE TIME OF THE HOOD LATCH FAILURE. I IMPLORE THE NHTSA WORK TO HOLD KIA ACCOUNTABLE TO RECTIFY THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND EXTEND THE HOOD LATCH RECALL TO THE 2011 KIA SORENTO BEFORE THERE ARE INNOCENT VICTIMS. PLEASE DON'T LET KIA MEAN 'KILLED IN ACCIDENT.'

NHTSA ID
11253490
Incident
Aug 30, 2019
Mileage
118,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 14, 2019
Crash reported

AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. BEFORE ACCIDENT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS WERE WORKING (CRUISE, HORN, VOLUME ECT.) DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP.

NHTSA ID
11243908
Incident
May 6, 2019
Mileage
144,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jul 20, 2019

MY CAR DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY AND DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. THE DRIVER SEAT LOWER BACK ADJUSTING CUSHION DOES NOT FUNCTION ANYMORE. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT UMLOCK DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE TO DIAGNOSE OR INSPECT AND ORDER THE DOOR HANDLE BASE MECHANISM PART, THEN CHARGE FOR THAT AND INSTALLATION.

NHTSA ID
11233583
Incident
Dec 10, 2018
Mileage
90,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 25, 2019

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY HOOD FLEW UP CAUSING HEAVY HOOD DAMAGE AND THE TOP OF THE SUV

NHTSA ID
11222522
Incident
Jun 24, 2019
Mileage
128,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 20, 2019

MIDDLE ROW SEAT LATCHES ARE STUCK AND THE SEATS CANNOT BE MOVED. NO ACCESS TO THE THIRD ROW BECAUSE THE LATCHES ARE STUCK. ALSO, ONE OF THE SEATS IS STUCK IN A RECLINED POSITION, WHICH I BELIEVE IS UNSAFE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. BOTH OF MY YOUNG CHILDREN'S CAR SEATS ARE IN THAT ROW. APPARENTLY, IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. THE LATCHES ARE LOCATED NEXT TO THE HEADRESTS ON BOTH SEATS.

NHTSA ID
11190339
Incident
Jun 14, 2017
Interior & seatsSteering
Filed Sep 17, 2018

ALL ACCESSORIES ON STEERING WHEEL HAVE GONE OUT: RADIO CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, BLUETOOTH CAPABILITY(ANSWERING/ENDING PHONE CALLS) NO LONGER WORKS, AND NOW THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. HAVING A WORKING HORN IS PART OF THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON A VEHICLE. ONE DAY WHILE PARKED, I HONKED THE HORN TO GET MY SONS ATTENTION AND IT DID NOT WORK.THE HORN JUST STOPPED WORKING. ANOTHER TIME I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND SOME IDIOT NOT PAYING ATTENTION ALMOST DID NOT STOP, AS I WAS TURNING I HONKED THE HORN(FORGETTING IT HAD NOT BEEN WORKING PREVIOUSLY) AND IT WORKED JUST THAT ONE TIME. IT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE! HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? ALSO, THE HEAD REST ON FRONT SEATS ARE POORLY DESIGNED, BOTH HAVE COME OFF COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ID
11129971
Incident
Jul 1, 2018
Mileage
151,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEY FOB. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11120133
Incident
Aug 15, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed May 17, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (BILLION AUTO KIA IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA) DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE DOORS NEEDED ACTUATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID
11096526
Incident
May 16, 2018
Mileage
138,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 12, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LATCHES ON BOTH REAR DOORS DID NOT LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT DID NOT RETURN THE CONTACT'S CALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11078701
Incident
Jan 12, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seatsExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Feb 3, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE LOCK FAILED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 156260000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
10949323
Incident
Oct 5, 2016
Mileage
78,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jan 19, 2017

ON 1/16/2017 I WENT TO A DR APPOINTMENT. WHEN I CAME OUT I UNLOCKED THE CAR AND THE OUTSIDE HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULDN'T WORK. THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED BUT THE HANDLE WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO GO INTO THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CLIMB OVER TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THIS WAS NOT EASY AS I AM A SHORT 67 YEAR OLD WOMAN. TOOK THE CAR INTO A MECHANIC AND HE HAD TO ORDER THE ENTIRE LATCH ASSEMBLY $243.50. I CHECKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER CARS THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAFETY ISSUE ALSO. IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING A BIGGER PROBLEM AS OUR CARS AGE. HOPEFULLY MY OTHER DOORS WON'T BREAK ALSO AS WAS THE CASE FOR SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS EXTREMELY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND HAVE KIA ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10946537
Incident
Jan 9, 2017
Mileage
47,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

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Data on this page last refreshed .