171 complaints reported

2011 Kia Sorento Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
171
Crashes
2
Fires
17
Injuries
4

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2018

MY ENGINE WENT OUT ON MY 2011 KIA SORENTO ON JUNE 8, 2018. I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IT SOUNDED VERY ROUGH AND STARTED SHAKING REALLY BAD WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED BACK UP INTO THE DRIVE WAY AND PUT IT IN PARK. IT WAS STILL SHAKING VERY BAD AND SOUNDING VERY ROUGH. I TURNED IT OFF AND CALL A MECHANIC OVER. HE PERFORM A CODE DIAGNOSTIC. THERE WERE ABOUT 10 OR 11 ENGINE CODES THAT POPPED UP ON THE SCREEN. I HAD IT TOWED TO HIS SHOP ON JUNE 13, 2018 TO DO A MORE IN-DEPTH DIAGNOSTIC. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE IS NON-REPAIRABLE. FROM THERE, HE HAD IT TOWED TO ADVANCED AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS FOR A SECOND OPINION. IT WAS DETERMINED THERE ALSO THAT THE ENGINE IS NON-REPAIRABLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I GOT MY SERVICING IN REASONABLE TIME-SPANS. I AM AT A LOST. I AM STILL PAYING ON A VEHICLE AND CARRYING INSURANCE ON A VEHICLE THAT I CANNOT DRIVE RIGHT NOW. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I SAW WHERE THE 2012 AND A FEW OTHER YEAR SORENTO'S HAD A ENGINE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2011 KIA SORENTO SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUSIVE IN THAT RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2018
Feb 2018

MY ENGINE GAVE OUT AND MY CAR WILL NOT START. I'VE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND THEY TOLD ME I NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT BUT THE COMPLETE ENGINE IS NO LONGER WORKING.THE CAR DOES NOT START AND WHEN IT DID IT WOULD STILL JOLT FROM TIME TO TIME. I'VE SEEN A RECALL ONLINE FOR MY CAR ONLINE BUT KIA SAID IT'S NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS OFF BY A COUPLE MONTHS. ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE IS THE SAME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2018
Feb 2018

CAR STALLS IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. RPMS DIMINISH AND POWER IS LOST. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF ENGINE, WAIT FOR A SHORT TIME, AND RESTART IT. THERE ARE TWO LIGHTS THAT COME ON IN THE PANEL. ONE IS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE OTHER IS LIT UP NEXT TO THE 4WD INDICATOR. IN REQUESTING SERVICE FROM ONE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T MAKE THE CAR ACT IN THIS WAY. FINALLY, AFTER SEVERAL RETURNS TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THE COMPUTER (PCM) WAS BAD AND IT WOULD BE $1500 TO REPLACE IT THEY TOLD US SOME DAY THE ENGINE WOULD STOP IN THIS MANNER AND WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART IT. AFTER CALLING KIA CORPORATE ABOUT RECALLS, WE WERE TOLD THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DID NOT INCLUDE OUR MANUFACTURING DATE. THIS DEFECT RECALL BEGAN WITH CARS MANUFACTURED STARTING JULY, 2010, OURS WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY, 2010. IT WAS SUGGESTED WE REQUEST A SECOND OPINION FROM THE OTHER DEALERSHIP IN TOWN. AND WERE TOLD THAT ANY PROBLEM WOULD SHOW UP WITH A CODE ON THE COMPUTER, THEY DID DIAGNOSTICS AND REPORTED THERE WAS NO CODE ON THE COMPUTER THAT WOULD INDICATE THIS PROBLEM. WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE RPMS AND DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR TO TAKE IT OUT OF TOWN. THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 8-10 TIMES, FORTUNATELY NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2017
Jan 2018

JANUARY 26, 2018 I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE MADE A THUD SOUND, AND IT FELT LIKE A DOWNWARD THRUST AS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND DROVE HOME. WE TOOK IT TO OUR KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT THIS MORNING AND ASKED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN SAID SINCE THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON, THE TEST WOULDN'T SHOW ANYTHING UNLESS WE HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS LACK OF CONCERN. ESPECIALLY AFTER I RESEARCHED SORENTO ENGINE FAILURES AND IT IS HUGE FOR SO MANY MODELS. THE 2011 WAS ABOUT THE ONLY ONE NOT ON THE RECALLS.. MY MODEL WAS THE FIRST MADE IN THE US AT THE GEORGIA PLANT. MY PRODUCTION DATE IS 12/19/09. WE BOUGHT OUR 2011 IN FEBRUARY 2010. WE WERE TOLD SINCE THE BODY WAS BEING CHANGED THEY MADE NO 2010 SORENTO'S AT THE GEORGIA PLANT. SINCE I SAW THE STALL PROBLEMS ON THESE 2009 MODELS WOULDN'T THAT MEAN IT WOULD APPLY TO MY ENGINE? VERY CONFUSING. I HOPE YOU CAN CHECK THIS OUT FOR ME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2018
Jan 2018

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON VEHICLE ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHILE IN MOTION. DRIVER PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TOWED TO AUTO SHOP. AUTO SHOP SAID THE ENGINE SEIZED BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY CAUSE OF SEIZURE. SHOP SAID OIL WAS FULL AND RECENTLY CHANGED. OWNER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA DEALER WHO ALSO CITED ENGINE SEIZURE. KIA DEALER SAID OWNER WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE EXACT CAUSE. ENGINE SEIZURE MATCHED ENGINE SEIZURE ISSUE IN RECALLED 2012-2014 SORENTO VEHICLES. OWNER ASKED DEALER ABOUT REPAIRS UNDER SIMILAR RECALL/ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING DEALER COULD DO.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2018
Jan 2018

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE, NO NOISES, NO UNUSUAL ISSUES. WENT TO START IN THE MORNING AND RAN FINE. WENT TO MY DESTINATION. WHEN I CAME OUT 2-HOURS LATER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 108,000 MILES

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2017
Dec 2017

THE ENGINE BEGAN TO BE HARD TO START LEAVING WORK FOR HOME. THEN THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS HARD TO START AND WOULD ALMOST STALL AT IDLE. AFTER PARKING AT WORK I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AND DRIVE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS, IT WOULD NOT KEEP RUNNING MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. THE ENGINE HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BEARINGS FAILED, OR POSSIBLY THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2017
Oct 2017

I HAVE A 2011 KIA SORRENTO AND HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH IT STALLING WHEN I STOP AT RED LIGHTS . I START TO TAKE OFF AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO I PUSH ON THE GAS AND IT JUMPS AND FINALLY GOES. *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2017
Oct 2017 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS LOW ON OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARING WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE MOTOR, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPIAGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2017
Aug 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF ALLIANCE (LOCATED AT 2010 W STATE ST ALLIANCE, OH 44601), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: K3452308. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2016
Jun 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,045.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2017
May 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A METAL BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED CASE NUMBER: K3454763. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2017
Apr 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,752. CONSUMER STATED NEW ENGINE INSTALLED 4/18/17, ALSO , THE AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 9/27/18*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2017
Mar 2017

ON FEBRUARY 27, 2017, MY 2011 KIA SORENTO'S ENGINE DIED. I HAD ONLY ONE WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND THAT WAS A LACK OF POWER. I WAS GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL AND I HAD TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN 20MPH UP IT. I WENT OUT AT 830PM THAT NIGHT TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND MY SORENTO WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED TO GORRING AUTOMOTIVE AT 1030PM. ON MARCH 1, 2017, MR. GORRING CALLED AND TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. I CONTACTED CENTURY 3 KIA AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER DAN. HE STATED THAT I NEEDED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I ALSO CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER NUMBER AND SPOKE TO ERIC. ERIC TOLD ME THE SAME INFORMATION AND I STATED I DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AGAIN. I HAD MY SORENTO TOWED TO CENTURY 3 KIA ON MARCH 1, 2017. DAN STATED THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LIST. ON MARCH 3, 2017, DAN FROM CENTURY 3 KIA CALLED ME AND SAID THAT I DID NEED A NEW ENGINE. CHARLES FROM KIA'S CONSUMER NUMBER AND DAN FROM CENTURY 3 KIA BOTH STATED THAT IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE AT NO COST TO ME BUT SINCE I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE SORENTO, IT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. I INQUIRED AT THE COST OF LABOR AND WAS TOLD 15 HOURS AT $108 AN HOUR. I HAVE LOOKED AROUND AND FOUND THAT MOST ENGINES WITH ROUGHLY THE SAME MILEAGE AS MINE ARE AROUND $2,500. THE TOTAL COST WILL ROUGHLY BE BETWEEN $4,500 AND $6,500 TOTAL WITH ALL THE FLUIDS AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO RETURN MY SORENTO TO A FUNCTIONAL STATE. I PURCHASED THE SORENTO WITH 53,857 MILES ON IT AND HAD IT FOR ONE YEAR. I PUT 12,000 MILE ON IT ROUGHLY. MY SORENTO HAD ROUGHLY 65,500 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4L ENGINES. IF THIS IS TRUE, WHY HAS KIA NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2017
Feb 2017

BEGINNING MARCH OF 2016, LOUD BANGING AND CLANKING WHEN STARTING ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH BEARING PROBLEM WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY SO NO COVERAGE FOR AN ESTIMATED 6,000.00 REPAIR. WHEN MENTION OF RECALL CAME OUT I WAS RELIEVED AS I AM STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERS 2012 OR NEWER MODELS. THE 2011'S HAVE MAJOR ENGINE ISSUES AS WELL AND NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2016
Feb 2017

THE CAR WAS NOT ALWAYS RESPONDING TO ME WHEN I WANTED TO ACCELERATE, I WOULD HEAR THE RPMS GOING UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FASTER, THEN A PUFF OF WHITE SMOKE WOULD COME OUT THE TAIL PIPE. THEN ONE DAY, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STARTED MAKING A CLANKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD PUSH THE GAS PEDAL. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE NOISE A ROLLER COASTER MAKES WHEN YOU ARE CLANKING UP THE HILL AT THE BEGINNING. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOOK THE ENGINE APART TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS AN ENGINE DEFECT THAT WAS DIAGNOSED BY A KIA DEALER AS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. NOW THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND KIA IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THESE ENGINES. THEY ARE BUILT BY HYUNDAI AND THEY RECALLED THEIR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2016
Sep 2016

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO A ISSUE WITH OIL CONTROL VALVES AND CVVT CONTINUOUS VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. SEEMS LIKE A KNOWN ISSUE OF KIA, I WOULD THINK KIA WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY OR OFFER SOME SORT OF CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FOR THE $4800 REPAIR PEORIA KIA QUOTED FOR THE JOB. 3 KIA OWNER..NOT ANY MORE!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2016
Aug 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE RPM'S WENT TO ZERO. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2016
Jul 2016

ENGINE WAS MAKING A CYCLICAL CLICKING/KNOCKING NOISE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE CAR BROKE DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE, WE WERE INFORMED THE ENGINE HAD A CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THE HYUNDAI SONATA HAS WITH THE EXACT SAME THETA 2.4 LITER ENGINE. HYUNDAI HAS ISSUES A RECALL BUT KIA FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2016
Jun 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2016
Oct 2015 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT A CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY MOVED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEFT KNEE THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,614. UPDATED 1/15/16 *CN; UPDATED 04/20/18*JB *CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2015
Jul 2015

ON 06/15/2015, DROVE MY CAR TO THE BARN, THEN IT WILL NOT START. I THOUGHT IT'S BATTERY PROBLEM. BATTERY IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. SO I CHARGED THE BATTERY. DIDN'T WORK. SO I JUMPED IT, IT HAD A HARD TIME STARTING. IT FINALLY STARTED AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. I GOT A NEW BATTERY FOR IT. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER, GOT IT STARTED AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS.TOOK IT TO KIA SERVICE. THEY SAID OIL RING HAS SLOW LEAK. DEALER CHANGED O RING, AND THEN SEVERAL DAYS, IT HAD ISSUES STARTING. THE DEALER KEPT MY CAR FOR TWO DAYS TO LISTEN AND FIX THE KNOCKING NOISE. FINALLY ON FRIDAY 06/27/15, IT WON'T START AT ALL. IT HAS THIS GRINDING, HARD START. I CALLED THE # 800-333-4542. SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY HAD MY CAR TOWED FOR FREE, AND DEALER GAVE ME A LOANER CAR. I CALLED KIA AT # 678-385-8540 AND ASK WHAT'S GOING ON AS THE DEALER SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR KIA SUPPORT TEAM APPROVAL TO TEST THE ENGINE. AFTER TWO WEEKS, KIA CALLED AND TOLD DEALER TO TEST ENGINE. IT HAS ISSUES WITH LOW COMPRESSION ON 2 CHAMBERS AND FINALLY THE DECISION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. ON 7/11/2015, DEALER SUBMITTED AN ORDER TO HAVE KIA SHIP ENGINE. I WAS TOLD, NEXT WEEK, I SHOULD HEAR FROM THEM. NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED THE 678 # AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD BY MS. KUSHELL THAT SHE'S CONTACTING THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO GIVE PRIORITIES TO MY CASE.THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BETWEEN 7/20 TO 7/25. THIS MORNING, 7/17/15, I GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER THAT THE ETA FOR ENGINE ARRIVAL WILL BE 7/31/2015, AS THERE ARE NO ENGINES ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. TO DATE (7/17/2015), THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE KIA DEALER SERVICE FOR ALMOST A MONTH NOW. I HAVE PENDING TRIPS THAT I KEPT POSTPONING TO ACCOMMODATE THE ISSUES. BUT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND, AS I AM GETTING THE ROUND AROUND TALKS. MS. KUSHELL SAID, THEY CAN SHIP MY CAR TO THE PLACE I'M GOING, BUT WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO, WALK THE 1500MILES?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2015
Jul 2015

ON 06/15/2015, DROVE MY CAR TO THE BARN, THEN IT WILL NOT START. I THOUGHT IT'S BATTERY PROBLEM. BATTERY IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. SO I CHARGED THE BATTERY. DIDN'T WORK. SO I JUMPED IT, IT HAD A HARD TIME STARTING. IT FINALLY STARTED AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. I GOT A NEW BATTERY FOR IT. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER, GOT IT STARTED AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS.TOOK IT TO KIA SERVICE. THEY SAID OIL RING HAS SLOW LEAK. DEALER CHANGED O RING, AND THEN SEVERAL DAYS, IT HAD ISSUES STARTING. THE DEALER KEPT MY CAR FOR TWO DAYS TO LISTEN AND FIX THE KNOCKING NOISE. FINALLY ON FRIDAY 06/27/15, IT WON'T START AT ALL. IT HAS THIS GRINDING, HARD START. I CALLED THE # 800-333-4542. SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY HAD MY CAR TOWED FOR FREE, AND DEALER GAVE ME A LOANER CAR. I CALLED KIA AT # 678-385-8540 AND ASK WHAT'S GOING ON AS THE DEALER SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR KIA SUPPORT TEAM APPROVAL TO TEST THE ENGINE. AFTER TWO WEEKS, KIA CALLED AND TOLD DEALER TO TEST ENGINE. IT HAS ISSUES WITH LOW COMPRESSION ON 2 CHAMBERS AND FINALLY THE DECISION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. ON 7/11/2015, DEALER SUBMITTED AN ORDER TO HAVE KIA SHIP ENGINE. I WAS TOLD, NEXT WEEK, I SHOULD HEAR FROM THEM. NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED THE 678 # AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD BY MS. KUSHELL THAT SHE'S CONTACTING THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO GIVE PRIORITIES TO MY CASE.THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BETWEEN 7/20 TO 7/25. THIS MORNING, 7/17/15, I GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER THAT THE ETA FOR ENGINE ARRIVAL WILL BE 7/31/2015, AS THERE ARE NO ENGINES ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. TO DATE (7/17/2015), THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE KIA DEALER SERVICE FOR ALMOST A MONTH NOW. I HAVE PENDING TRIPS THAT I KEPT POSTPONING TO ACCOMMODATE THE ISSUES. BUT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND, AS I AM GETTING THE ROUND AROUND TALKS. MS. KUSHELL SAID, THEY CAN SHIP MY CAR TO THE PLACE I'M GOING, BUT WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO, WALK THE 1500MILES?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2015
Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2015
Mar 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE THE DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2015

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Kia Sorento has 171 Engine complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.