2011 Kia Sorento Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Kia Sorento. Part of Generation 2 — 2011–2015.

20102012
Complaints
2,069
per 10K Sold
158.9
US Sales
130,238
Crashes
65
Fires
106
Injuries
75
Fatalities
Recalls
7

Worst 2011 Kia Sorento Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1283 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:102,083 mi
Crash-related:7
Fires:35
#2241 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:83,639 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:22
#3232 complaints

Body Structure

Avg mileage:90,980 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:8
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Kia Sorento.

Engine Problems
283
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
35
Avg Miles
102,083
Electrical Faults
241
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
22
Avg Miles
83,639
Body Structure
232
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
8
Avg Miles
90,980
Transmission / Drivetrain
222
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,338
Airbags
181
complaints
Crashes
19
Fires
2
Avg Miles
98,214
Headlight/Taillight Failures
96
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Avg Miles
101,589
Brakes
71
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
80,286
Unintended Acceleration
60
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
43,295
Hydraulic Brakes
59
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Avg Miles
74,789
Steering Defects
53
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
56,218
Suspension Failures
50
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
87,027
Automatic Transmission
37
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
15,044
Engine & Cooling
31
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Avg Miles
34,416
Structure:Body:Door
28
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
397,197
Electronic Stability Control
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
72,574
Seat-Related Issues
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
83,314
Fuel System
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
62,131
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,728
Latches / Locks
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
97,731
Sunroof/Moonroof
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,118
Seat Belt Issues
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
146,491
Wheel Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
82,958
Visibility
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
15,168
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
112,800
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
17,237
Wipers & Visibility
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,800
Instrument Cluster
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Driveline
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Kia Sorento. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Kia Sorento

7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,223,015 vehicles.

23V877000Engine
~79,812 affected

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2011 Sorento vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

23V652000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
~1,730,192 affected

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

15V626000Automatic Transmission
~377,062 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "Park" without the brakes being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

13V114000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
~980,377 affected

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

11V258000Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
~12,690 affected

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM THE START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH MAY 22, 2010. THE 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 AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

10V599000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
~7,697 affected

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 4, 2010. SOME OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MACHINED.

10V388000Electrical System:wiring
~35,185 affected

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SOUL AND MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. A LIMITED NUMBER OF WIRING HARNESSES SUPPLIED BY JCI AND USED FOR THE LIGHTING IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, LOCATED IN THE FRONT DOOR TRIM PANELS, AND THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION, LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR TRIM PANELS, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SOLDERED.

Other Kia Sorento Years

2011 Kia Sorento — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Kia Sorento reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2011 Kia Sorento has 2,069 NHTSA complaints, 65 crash-related, and 7 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 283 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Kia Sorento?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (283 complaints, avg 102,083 mi); Electrical Faults (241 complaints, avg 83,639 mi); Body Structure (232 complaints, avg 90,980 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Kia Sorento?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 87,632 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Kia Sorento include 65 crash-related reports, 106 fire reports, 75 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2011 Kia Sorento have any recalls?
Yes — 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,223,015 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2011 Kia Sorento?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2011 Kia Sorento shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Sorento reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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