2011 Kia Sorento Other / unspecified Problems

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving on a main road at 40 MPH an abnormal burning smell entered the cabin and no warning lights were illuminated shortly afterword's smoke was being emitted from the front end of the vehicle, the contact immediatley proceeded to pull over and exit the vehicle. The origin of the fire was front engine compartment. The vehicle was occupied during the fire however the contact was successful in exiting the vehicle. The location of the fire was the front engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the local fire department. A fire department report was filed. A police department report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11673670

Incident

Jun 28, 2025

Mileage

60,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11458644

Incident

Mar 22, 2022

Mileage

192,000 mi

PLEASE BE ADVISED THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE FUEL TANK CORROSION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS EATEN UP WITH RUST. IT IS AFFECTING THE UNIT BODY AS WELL AS SEVERAL STRUCTURAL MEMBERS OF THE VEHICLE. HAVE SPOKEN WITH KIA AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS IT IS AFFECTING THE ENTIRE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11350917

Incident

Aug 24, 2020

Mileage

80,000 mi

FIRST ISSUE BEGAN WHEN CAR STARTED PULLING TO RIGHT WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS ON HIGHWAY. TOOK TO SHOP; PAID FOR NEW BRAKES INCLUDING PADS, ROTORS, FRONT CALIPERS PLUS FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT REPLACED. BALL JOINT RUSTED OUT SO BAD IT CRUMBLED TO PIECES WHEN TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF. NOT OUT OF SHOP FOR EVEN A FULL DAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED PULLING AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS A HARD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAY AND IN TOWN. THIS TIME THE PULL WAS SO STRONG THE CAR WENT OFF ROAD. THIS TIME IT FELT LIKE STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. SO BACK TO SHOP TO FIND OUT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT WAS ALSO SHOT AND NEEDED REPLACED. CAR BEEN OUT OF SHOP BARELY 2 WKS; NOW FRONT END IS MAKING A HARD CLUNKY NOISE WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER JUST THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS. THE CAR FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING OVER BOULDERS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END IS ABOUT TO FALL APART. SO BACK TO THE SHOP FOR THIRD TIME IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH. READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THESE SAME ISSUES? IM PRETTY SURE I'LL BE PAYING FOR STRUTS, SHOCKS AND/OR COMPLETE REPAIR OF FRONT END SUSPENSION AFTER ALREADY PUTTING $800 IN TO IT. HOW HAS THIS CAR NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR SUCH ISSUES?

NHTSA ID

11229624

Incident

Jul 2, 2019

Mileage

117,000 mi

WHILE DIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE GEAR BOX SHATTERED.

NHTSA ID

11162773

Incident

Dec 16, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

ALL OF THE KIA SORRENTO 2011 SUSPENSION STRUTS, SHOCKS, STRUT MOUNTING PLATE FRONT LEFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT SOUNDED LIKE LOOSE BOLTS AND THE NOISE WOULD THEN BE A LOUD KNOCKING ESPECIALLY ON ROAD GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS AND TURNS. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TPMS SENSORS, FRONT AND REAR TENSION RODS ON BOTH SIDES. THIS IS THE MOST COSTLY CAR EVER ONLINE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SAME ISSUE THIS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL HERE IS ONE REFLECTING SAME PROBLEM WITH SEDONA MODEL - I SUGGEST YOU CHECK THIS FORUM UNDER SEDONA 2002-2005 "SEDONA FRONT STRUT". KIA HAS A HISTORY OF STRUT NOISE RELATED PROBLEMS. THEY FINALLY CAME OUT WITH A TSB (KT2007020501) ON THE FRONT STRUT ISSUE FOR 2002-2005 SEDONA'S IN EARLY 2007 !!! WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT TSB'S ARE FOR ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS BY A MANUFACTURER AND THAT THEY HAVE A FIX FOR SAID PROBLEM, THUS THE TSB TO CARRY OUT FIX. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT SAFETY RELATED THEN NO TSB. SAFETY RELATED ISSUES ARE HANDLED UNDER RECALLS. AN ISSUE THAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS LABELED "NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF VEHICLE" IT'S THAT SIMPLE AND UNTIL YOU ALL START YELLING TO KIA AND NOT THE SERVICE REP WHO IS STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD SPOT YOU WILL NOT GET RESULTS. MY OTHER SUGESTION TO YOU GUYS IS A MASS LETTER WRITING CAMPAIN TO CONSUMER REPORTS AUTOMOTIVE UNIT.

NHTSA ID

10991409

Incident

Mar 20, 2017

Mileage

168,000 mi

VIBRATION, KNOCKING AND THUMBING NOISE IN THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE AND BOTH FRONT WHEELS. DEALER VERIFIED THUMBING NOISE AS LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE,REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINT. VIBRATION, KNOCKING AND THUMBING NOISE CONTINUES. RETURNED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED REAR MOTOR MOUNT. PROBLEMS STILL REMAINS. I PHONED DEALER, STATING VIBRATION, KNOCKING AND THUMBING STILL REMAINS INCLUDING ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION TO THE VIBRATION, KNOCKING AND THUMBING NOISES... INSIDE THE CAR, UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD (GLOVE COMPARTMENT) CAUSING HUGE AMOUNT OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID

10762800

Incident

Jul 30, 2015

Mileage

50,622 mi

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT WOULD ONLY OPEN FROM INSIDE THE CAR. WHEN THIS ISSUE IS GOOGLED I REALIZE THIS IS A COMMON KIA PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628975

Incident

Aug 20, 2014

Mileage

68,916 mi

TL- THE CONTACT 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE DEALER TO REPLACE FOUR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CORE BETWEEN THE VALVE STEMS AND THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS WERE CORRODED AND COULD CAUSE FUTURE FAILURES. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SENSOR WAS ATTACHED TO THE VALVE STEM AND THE ENTIRE PIECE HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHEN AIR WAS INSERTED INTO THE TIRE DUE TO CORROSION. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" SENSOR TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TIRES WERE LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE DEALER MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.GB

NHTSA ID

10628447

Incident

Aug 6, 2014

Mileage

49,000 mi

I FOUND THAT THE REAR LEFT TIRE WAS SERIOUSLY WORN ON THE INSIDE TO THE POINT THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE SEEN A REAR TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE WHILE THE REST OF THE TIRE WAS STILL GOOD AT 32000 MILES. WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE WEAR? *TR

NHTSA ID

10615279

Incident

Jul 22, 2014

Mileage

32,000 mi

ON TWO DIFFERENT DATES ABOUT A WEEK APART WE HAD TWO TPMS FAILURES. ON THE FIRST ONE THE TPMS TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM SENSOR LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL CRACKED AND WAS LOSING AIR. TPMS SENSOR WAS REPLACED. AROUND A WEEK LATER WHILE MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TPMS SENSOR RETAINING CAP FELL OFF DUE TO CORRODED THREADS AND THE SENSOR FELL INTO THE TIRE CAUSING A HIGH SPEED DEFLATION. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE SECOND FAILURE AS WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEALER SERVICED SINCE NEW AND HAS ALL REQUIRED SERVICE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584153

Incident

Mar 19, 2014

Mileage

56,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH REMOTE KEY FOB,WONT LOCK VIA REMOTE KEY FOB.VEHCILE WON'T LOCK VIA KEY. VEHICLE WON'T START VIA KEYLESS PUSH BUTTON START WITHOUT KEY FOB IN THE CONSOLE RECEPTACLE. WITH VEHICLE RUNNING,IF KEY IS REMOVED-VEHICLE REMAINS RUNNING AND WON'T SOUND BELL OR SHUTOFF ENGINE SAME PROBLEM IN SUMMER/2012 DEALER REPLACED BATTERY THEN,WITH 22,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. AT DEALERSHIP NOW 9/14/13 WAITING FOR FIX WITH 35,500 MILES ON KIA SORENTO. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS ALSO SOME KIND OF ECM REFLASH THAT IS DUE FOR MY VEHICLE,NOW. STILL WAITING 2HRS NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543579

Incident

Sep 14, 2013

Mileage

35,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING (USUALLY STEADY STATE SPEED ON HIGHWAY - WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED) CAR EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ACCOMPANIED BY A JOLT (AS IF BRAKES HAD BEEN ABRUPTLY AND BRIEFLY ENGAGED, OR AS IF FUEL SUPPLY SUDDENLY SHUT OFF), TACHOMETER DIPS SUDDENLY, CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATES FOR A SECOND OR TWO, AND THEN THINGS RETURN TO NORMAL. SOMETIMES AN INDICATOR LIGHT - OR MORE THAN ONE- FLASHES MOMENTARILY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT,THESE INCLUDE THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND/OR THE KEY IMMOBILIZER LIGHT - SOMETIMES NO INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES AT ALL. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP - SUDDEN LOSS OF FORWARD MOMENTUM W/ A JOLT. I AM AFRAID I WILL GET REAR-ENDED AS THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWS BUT BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ILLUMINATED, AND A CAR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REACT IN TIME. IF CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AT TIME OF INCIDENT IT BECOMES DISENGAGED AND HAS TO BE RESET. THIS SOMETIMES WILL NOT OCCUR IN AN HOUR OF DRIVING, BUT SOMETIMES WILL OCCUR AS OFTEN AS 10 TIMES IN A 20 MILE DRIVE WITH NO DISCERNIBLE PATTERN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND GROWN MORE FREQUENT OVER TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS IN A RAIN STORM AND I SUSPECTED THE ESC WAS SENSING SLIPPAGE AND FIRING THE BRAKES, HOWEVER IT HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF WEATHER OR ROAD SURFACE AND NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE FOR MORE THAN A FEW MILES ON FREEWAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN EVALUATED BY KIA SERVICE MORE THAN THREE TIMES AND PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED - BATTERY AND ABS MODULE WERE REPLACED WITHOUT SUCCESS. CONCERN IS OF SAFETY OF VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494473

Incident

Mar 21, 2012

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHEEL ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO HAVE COMPLETELY GIVEN OUT. VEHICLE TRAVELING AT ~35MPH WHEN IT ROSE SLIGHTLY THEN GAVE OUT. VEHICLE HIT SIDE OF PARKED CAR AND FLIPPED ON TO SIDE AND INTO RETAINING WALL - FULL SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY VACANT. EVERYTHING LAYING ON STREET INCLUDING SUSPENSION SPRINGS. WITNESS TO SUPPORT EVENTS. VEHICLE UNDER 25K MILES (2011 MODEL, INCIDENT 2012). VEHICLE TOTALED BY INSURANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10484814

Incident

Nov 4, 2012

Mileage

24,000 mi

1ST PROBLEM: I BOUGHT THE CAR, DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, DEALERSHIP DID NOT GET IT INSPECTED SO I HAD TO TAKE IT AT 10 MILES TO GET AN INSPECTION STICKER ON IT! 2ND PROBLEM: IMMEDIATELY AFTER BUYING THE CAR, I NOTICED ALL THE WINDOWS AND DOORS RATTLED. TOOK IT TO KIA IN KINGWOOD 5 TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER HEAR THE SOUND AND/OR FIXED OTHER THINGS ON THE CAR THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE FIXED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. 3RD PROBLEM: ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, 3 VISITS LATER, I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AT 13,000 MILES..SOMETHING WRONG WITH SENSOR THAT MEASURES FLUIDS?? 4TH PROBLEM: TAKING BACK AT 14,500 MILES ON MONDAY(3/18/12) TO GET DOORS CHECKED OUT NOW ELECTRONICS ARE MESSED UP AND LOUD NOISE EVERYTIME I LOCK OR ROLL DOWN WINDOWS. ALSO, CANT GET KEY TO TURN IN IGNITION ALOT!! WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10452035

Incident

Feb 10, 2011

Mileage

10 mi

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND MY TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING AND I STARTED LOSING SPEED. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO MANUAL SHIFTING AND RESUME MY SPEED. BUT THE TACHOMETER CONTINUED TO READ "0". *TR

NHTSA ID

10386145

Incident

Feb 25, 2011

Mileage

23,765 mi