Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 227 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.
The 25 most recent of 227, in the owner's own words
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. The car is now unable to be driven because I do not want to do more damage.
My KIA Sorrento spontaneously engulfed in flames approximately 200 yards from my home. This is not a vehicle crash the car had flames coming from the vents and floor boards. I was the driver my daughter was the passenger and my granddaughter was in the rear car seat we barely escaped with our lives before it exploded and we were steps away as car debre was flying past us.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact research and was became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V626000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken back to the residence; the contact stated that an independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the vehicle and determined that an undisclosed part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked with the transmission slipping gear with an engine misfire. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone and a code for the knock sensor failure was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had replaced the spark plugs on the vehicle. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the knock sensor had failed. The dealer related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer cleared the code, but the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a different certified mechanic who confirmed the diagnostic result and cleared the code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,750.
1. Air bag light has been on for over a year. Was checked at dealership, and was told there is a recall on sensor. 2. Power Train, unknown of what's going on. Riding down the road all of a sudden it stalls for a minute. It's a hard jerk, like it's not getting gas, or the transmission is out of sinc. This started about two years ago. Took it to my local repairman, and he said it was a warning in the tire wheel letting me know something was wrong in the wheel. They repaired it, and I had no more problems until recently. It is doing it again. A hard jerk when I'm driving. 3. Other, passenger front and rear and drivers side rear doors locked up and I could not open them. This happen about two years ago. Took car to a certified electrical repairman and it cost me a fortune to get repaired. The clips that lock and unlock doors had to be replace. The repair was very costly.
When I place my vehicle in park it lurches forward several times
I’ve gotten approved to buy another car and was going to trade my 2011 Kia sorento but still has open recall and Kia dealership has no answers when they can fix. What do i do. Thank you for your help!
Family and i were driving home from soccer and car violently stuttered felt like we hit a deer. This has happened three times now and has caused solenoid a in transmission to fail which i fixed . My wife smells a burning smell also randomly.
The ABS, downhill assist, and engine light stay on constantly, even though the clock spring has been replaced and multiple car repair shops are unable to diagnose a “problem.” When driving, the vehicle seems like the engine is getting extremely hot and starts to sputter and even cuts off at times. There are currently recalls on 2011 Sorentos for fire risk while parked and fire risk while driving. However, my VIN is not included in the recall for fire risk while driving, but I believe it should be based on the inability to diagnose a problem with my engine. Vehicle is well maintained. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the front passenger's side and driver's side door handles; however, after the repair, the front passenger's side door handle fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the front passenger's side door handle was replaced at the contact's expense. Additionally, the contact stated that the front and rear passenger's side doors, and the rear driver's side door failed to open from the outside while pulling the doors handles. The contact stated that the steering control buttons, and the cruise control mode had become inoperable. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact also stated that while shifting into park (P), the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound and the gear shifter moved beyond the park (P) position. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The contact stated that the interior lights of the vehicle failed to turn off. The ABS, TPMS, traction control, check engine, air bag warning lights, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, 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 local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
When I started out with the car it drove alright then I had to take it back and forth for the wiring smelling like it was burning 🔥 but have never caught on fire thank goodness had to get a tuneup spark plugs 🔌 and it still doesn’t work right
INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE I Have been having this issue with my car and its getting worse and i just bought this car and i need it to be recalled due to high risk of an accident
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and attempting to accelerate into the HOV lane, the contact became aware that the vehicle failed to accelerate however, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the lane and restarted the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was first experienced on May 9th, 2023, and again on May 30th, 2023. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 181,000.
My vehicle engine chatters uses oil with out leaking and going up hills the transmission stays in 1st gear
I just got this car and it haseven been 30days I read the NHTSA Action Number: DP21003 and it is exactly same problem. It started with spark plugs weak and changed them out then AWD check engine light oil and the battery light came on. And the car wouldn’t move as fast and had a code of P0336 which was the Cranckshaft sensor got that changed and I’m still having issues with accelerating and rpm’s going up without pressing the gas pedal hard and suddenly speeding
Same issue with the whining and pulling as the recall. Kia will not help. Two dealerships and the manufacturer will not recheck the repaired recall.
While driving with family or clients in my Kia Sorento since I bought it brand new in 2011 has had ongoing gear shifting, speed increase and decreasing, stalling while driving at highway speeds almost causing accidents we were just lucky we weren't but it is very unsafe to drive. repairs have been more than the car is worth. This is just a short list estimate of repairs, but keep in mind on 3 occasions I would leave the Kia Service Department in Eugene Oregon after Transmission was replaced the first at 134, 000 miles and it would stall at highway speed and have to have it towed and replaced again this went on as you can see more than a couple times. 2 catalyst converters replaced 4 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED 1 manifold replaced 1 Alternator 1 Serpentine Belt 1 Power steering rack from leaking
While driving engine will die unexpectedly & jerk the car, sometimes it will immediately start up on it’s own, sometimes don’t. Has done this several times in the last few months that I’m afraid to drive it. So it’s sitting, while I’m still making payments.
My car experienced high engine oil consumption at 198,000 miles approximately. Yesterday at 210,000 miles approximately, blew a big ring of smoke and lost compression or the ability to move. When I pulled up to a stoplight, I also lost the ability to start it back up
Was driving and came to a red light. Then proceeded to get on the highway when all of a sudden it got 65 mph then off of a sudden lost power and rpms would go past 3000. Had to pull over and shut the SUV off and turn back on and drive 30 mph all the way home. Did I mention I almost got hit by a semi and not to mention my child was in the freaking car!!! Plz kia help
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.
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
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
I have owned a 2011 Kia Sorento AWD since 2010, and I am reporting an issue with a specific recall and the safety risk the remains with this vehicle. I have been in contact with Kia Motors America since Sept 2020 with no resolution. KMA has not been responsive to my issues and concerns since the Case was opened in Sept 2020 especially with issue associated with the recall. The following details provide the background and current status with the vehicle; Aug2010 - Kia Sorento repaired via recall notice (SC082) to correct an issue with the right front intermediate shaft (grease applied. misaligned shaft. Apr2011 - Kia amends SC082 to SC082A following evidence that Sorentos continued to experience wear and symptoms associated with shaft misalignment (I did not receive a notice of the amended technical service bulletin despite the amended recall SC082A specifically identifying 4WD vehicle repair procedures Aug2019 - Kia Sorento begins to experience intermittent shuttering and vibration from the right front axle (Sorento remaining under Kia's 10 year powertrain warranty) Sept2019 - Kia dealer unable to identify root cause(s). - No repair work performed. Intermittent shuttering, vibration and "whirring" sound continues to present date. Sept 2020 - Kia dealer unable to identify root cause(s) - problem continues. Contacted KMA. Case openned. Jan2021 - Another Kia dealer unable to identify root cause(s) - problem continues Dec2021 to present - In continuous contact with KMA to resolve issue. Issue remains unresolved My specific position is that my 2011 Kia Sorento 4WD is within the scope of Kia recall SC082A (SC082 was amended to correct/revise repair procedures). Kia's position is that the amended SC082A recall does not apply to my vehicle despite the fact that SC082 was initially performed. Additionally, Kia documentation clearly points to revised repair procedures for both 2WD and 4WD Sorentos. KMA is not responding to my calls or emails at this time. In the
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, an abnormally loud banging sound was coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle then started to lose motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the contact was informed that the new transmission was also defective. A used transmission was installed, and the failure was remedied. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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