2011 Kia Sorento Suspension 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

Subframe, in the rear, where lateral arms are connected completely rusted off from the rest of the subframe. The control arm has broken off and is now rubbing against fuel tank. Car is unrepairable and undrivable.

NHTSA ID

11718095

Incident

Feb 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 15-20 MPH, the axle popped out of the transmission, and fractured the lower ball joints and steering system. There was an abnormal burning electrical odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was not contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11664495

Incident

Jun 2, 2025

Mileage

200,000 mi

Transmission, shocks and struts had to be replaced. Kia was having a hard bump knock when it changed gears driving down the highway, we had it looked at several times by the Kia dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong. Eventually had to replace the parts above.

NHTSA ID

11633395

Incident

Mar 18, 2024

3 different episodes suv will start by appear warning lights downhill, slippery road, abs, engine , decrease speed, shuts down, tire pressure finally battery dead and rubber smell. I've had it fixed once mentioned it was Altarnator, second time battery, finally third time something electrical or unknown. Total cost now $3000 and my life in danger al 3 times and towec.

NHTSA ID

11621859

Incident

Oct 23, 2024

Brakes feel softer, rear brake burnt smell, replaced brakes one month ago. Headlight and taillight bulbs replaced several times in last 3 months due to blinking blowing replaced and starts over again. Screen will not turn on until car has run for 45 minutes. Cannot use back until screen turns on. Leaving car parked until I can get brake system fixed. Noticed brake light on dash and car with swerve light on dash. Too scared to drive until at least brakes are fixed. Reached out to dealership. No part available for recall which most likely is failing my brakes

NHTSA ID

11574995

Incident

Feb 2, 2024

For awhile now the suspension seems to be worse. Almost every time I go around a corner either to the left or to the right there is a clanging clanging noise. It seems as thought the car is falling apart coming from the back of the car.

NHTSA ID

11478043

Incident

Jun 8, 2022

Vehicle front k frame is severly rusted causing concerns with front suspension stablilty.

NHTSA ID

11460184

Incident

Apr 8, 2022

VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SUFFERED A STRUCTURAL FAILURE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, STRUT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. VEHICLE HAS 85500 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11399069

Incident

Mar 3, 2021

Mileage

85,500 mi

2011 KIA SORENTO EX 3.5 ENGINE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE HAS RANDOMLY CHANGED IN THE WAY ITS FEELS SAFE WITH ROUGH INSTABILITY IN MY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS.MY BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A RANDOM BASIS AS WELL AS WHEN CAR IS PARKED WILL RANDOMLY CLICK IN MY GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM AND WILL FAIL TO LOCK WHEN CAR IS PARKED AND SHUT OFF IT WILL CLICK WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED.MY FRONT LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT CONSISTENTLY AS WELL AS MY STEERING WHEEL HAS FAILED WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS RANDOMLY.CAR HORN IS INOPERABLE AND MY CRUISE CONTROL STOP FUNCTIONING. MY ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT ON ME AND MY CAR HAS HISTORIAL PROOF OF CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE WITH CAR FAX REPORT IN HAND .MY GAS MILAGE HAS SINCE DECREASED. MY SUSPENSION FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND REALLY BAD ON BUMPS AND AVERAGE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE ALSO VERY UNPLEASANT SO I HAVE PARKED IT UNTIL IT'S FIXED FOR ACTIVE RECALLS AND OTHER POTENTIAL MANUFACTURER DEFECTS

NHTSA ID

11395866

Incident

Aug 14, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED WITH AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BATTLEGROUND KIA (2927 BATTLEGROUND AVE, GREENSBORO, NC 27408, (336) 295-1542) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 99,200.

NHTSA ID

11339711

Incident

Jul 11, 2020

Mileage

99,200 mi

MY VEHICLE IS GIVING ME RANDOM PROBLEMS WITH MY SUSPENSION AND BRAKE SYSTEM IT RANDOMLY FEELS LIKE IT IS FINE AND THEN RANDOMLY DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE DUE.TO BRAKE CLICKING NOISE THAT YOU CAN HEAR WHERE SHIFT KNOB IS AND WHEN I PRESS BRAKES MY TIRES LOCK OR.SOMETIMES FEELS AS IF THERE IS AIR AND.IT WILL NOT BRAKE.UNLESS I PUMP BRAKES A COUPLE TIMES..MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOP OPENING FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE BUT WORKS FINE FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE OPENING

NHTSA ID

11316193

Incident

Aug 23, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I'M AFRAID TO PUT CHILD LOCK ON BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT MAKES FOR A VERY DANGEROUS MAYBE DEATHLY SITUATION. HORN DOESN'T WORK.

NHTSA ID

11255466

Incident

Nov 15, 2018

Mileage

98,000 mi

MY TIRES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE GOING TO FALL OFF, ALSO EVERY SMALL BUMP I HIT FEELS AS IF I HIT A BIG POTHOLE OR A OBJECT WHEN THAT'S NOT THE CASE AND MY WHEELS POP AS I TURN

NHTSA ID

11254756

Incident

Mar 14, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE NOT GETTING INTO GEAR OR JERKING WHEN SHIFTING AND ENGINE SEEM TO LOOSE POWER OR NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALSO THERE IS A NOISE THE A/C MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATING .

NHTSA ID

11252733

Incident

Sep 2, 2019

Mileage

106,000 mi

TAKATA BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING BOUGHT 3 SINCE JAN2019. GOT BRAKES DONE IN 2018 BUT PEDAL STILL MOVES AT RED LIGHT CAR MOVES FORWARD. I MASH BREAKS HARDER. ENGINE SHAKES OR JUMPS. IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN ON CAR IT DON'T CRANK UP KEY WAS REMADE A YR AGO. IGNITION STARTED BACK WORKING WELL BUT 6MONTHS AGO SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. TODAY I WAS STUCK 3.5HRS.HORRIBLE PLEASE HELP MY SORENTO IS LOVED BY ME. NO ONE CONTACTED ME ON THESE ISSUES IM HAVING.

NHTSA ID

11235305

Incident

Jul 27, 2019

Mileage

20 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

MY KIA SORENTO 2011. MY PROBLEM IS THAT MY CAR STARTED ACTING DIFFERENT. EVERY TIME I TURN IT MAKES A NOISE. I GOT THE BALL JOINT DONE. THE RIGHT SITE. ALSO I GOT THE STRUT DONE . I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED NEW STRUT AGAIN. .WENT I DRIVE IT SOUND LIKE IF THE CAR GONNA FALL APART.

NHTSA ID

11194850

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY...AND SUSPENSION WHILE DRYING TRIALS YOU OVER IN LEFT LANE IF YOU HIT A BUMP

NHTSA ID

11193642

Incident

Apr 2, 2019

Mileage

65,311 mi

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHILE VEHICLE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ONCE VEHICLE IS IN PARK ON SIDE OF ROAD. NO INDUCATOR LIGHTS LIGHTS SHOW IN DASH.

NHTSA ID

11165362

Incident

Jan 5, 2019

Mileage

54,640 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11162773

Incident

Dec 16, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

PULLS TO 1 DIRECTION WHEN BRAKING AND DRIVING. SOUNDS OF AXEL OR SUSPENSION IN MOTION STARTED ON CITY STREETS NOW ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11124718

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

116,000 mi

I MADE A APPOINTMENT FOR KIA SERVICE COMPLAINING THAT THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENTION R MAKING A NOISE. KIA REPLACE THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINTS AND SAID THE REAR AND LEFT FRONT SUSPENTION ARE WORKING FINE THE CAR STILL SOUNDS VERY LOUD WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS.

NHTSA ID

11089312

Incident

Apr 21, 2018

Mileage

800,000 mi

LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE/SUSPENSION AREA WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS NEW TIRES, AND ALIGNMENT, NEW SHOCKS AND STRUTS, A FRAME BUSHING AND SWAY BAR REPLACED AS WELL, CLANKING NOISE REMAINS.

NHTSA ID

11081033

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

COIL SPRING FROM FRONT STRUT ON 2011 SORENTO BROKE IN THREE PLACES WHILE IN MOTION IN THE CITY (DRIVING STRAIGHT) AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20 KM/HR AND PIERCED SIDE WALL OF TIRE ON DRIVER SIDE. NO INJURIES BUT VERY DANGEROUS INDEED.

NHTSA ID

11061201

Incident

Dec 29, 2017

Mileage

111,846 mi