2011 Kia Sorento problems
The 2011 Kia Sorento has 2,080 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (15%) concerns engine. After that come body & structure (13%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,080 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 65 and 111
- Injuries and deaths
- 75 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 1,498 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 240 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 154 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 122 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 209 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 239 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 169 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 152 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 95 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 53 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 22 |
| 200k+ miles | 43 |
What the data shows
Among the 1,498 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 80,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 99,000 miles (224 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 65 complaints mention a crash; 111 complaints mention a fire; 75 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 22 model years of the Kia Sorento with enough data (921 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 kia sorento. While at a stop, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a whiplash as well as spine and back injuries. The front passenger sustained injuries to the neck and back along with whiplash, the second passenger sustained spinal, neck, and back pains.
On jan 12,2011 I was coming down my driveway. I tried to apply brakes and it felt like they weren't working. The driveway was ice covered so I just thought it was the icy roads. The car would not slow down or stop. The car was sliding towards the edge of the hill, I turned the steering wheel to try to avoid going over the hill and the tail of the car went over and then we rolled. It rolled probably twice and came to rest on its top.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. While driving 60-70 MPH, the contact attempted to switch lanes due to construction on the highway and crashed into the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The front passenger sustained fractures on her ribs, nose, cervix, and pelvic bone. The rear passenger sustained right optical bone and sinus bone fractures. The contact sustained a right leg injury, hip fracture, and spinal injuries. Medical attention was required for the contact and the two passengers.
I drove my 2011 kia sorento about 9:15 at night. By 12:45 am a passerby had called 911 due to my car being in flames. I was woken up to the fire department arriving at my house and my car engulfed in flames. After the flames were extinguished, they checked it over and determined that it had started in the engine area. I bought the car in 2017 and it currently only has 120,750 miles on it. They investigated it and determined it had started on the passenger side near the engine.
At 68,000 miles the oil pressure sensor (part #94750-37100) failed and caused a sudden and immediate loss of all engine oil. In the half mile it took us to safely pull over the oil pressure light activated and the dip stick read bone dry. I have researched the issue and found it to be a common problem with kia's, a recall should be issued to replace the part with a better engineered version.