2011 Kia Sorento Electrical System Problems
- 165
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 165 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 11 indicate fire
What owners report
- open outside · 13 records
- steering wheel · 13 records
- side door · 12 records
- passenger side · 11 records
- door open · 10 records
- drivers side · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 41 |
| 60–100k mi | 40 |
| 1–30k mi | 36 |
| 30–60k mi | 20 |
| 150–400k mi | 9 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Air Bags · Electrical System · Engine
I have been a kia customer for over 7 years and are on our third vehicle from them. Traded my kia forte for 2011 sorento in 2016. It has had a lot of issues with the electrical system and it cost $1,200 to fix it. Recently on jan 25th my timing chain broke and also ruined the engine. Now told that i need new engine for $5.100. I have learned of many recalls on sorento engine motor but starting for the year 2012.
ODI 11183281
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
First warning sign was the headlight, low beams, and all interior electronics would shut completely off for about 2 seconds randomly when the turn signal was used. Next the driver side headlight, low beam, went out when replacing the bulb the replacement bulb worked until the bulb was placed in the socket. After cleaning the sockets to create a better connection, still nothing worked. I switched bulbs from driver to…
ODI 11196096
Air Bags · Electrical System
The driver air bag light came on and will not go off when i turned on the vehicle one morning.. At the same time, all of my electronics on the steering wheel quit working ( cruise control, blue tooth, radio). I was told this is a clock spring issue and has happened to many 2011 kia sorento owners. Is this not a recall?
ODI 11243263
Electrical System
The volume control on steering wheel, and other electronics will randomly malfunction. Had where i would have crusie control on and turn the turn signal on and it would shut off the cruise control (only the left turn signal would cause this). The volume on steering wheel, you would go to turn it up and it would turn it down instead, lights on dash such as the steep decline light, brake light will randomly turn on…
ODI 11221431
Electrical System
Passenger side headlight bulb went out. Went to replace bulb and the connector was melted
ODI 11163165
Body · Electrical System
Passenger side rear door locked, unable to open from outside or inside manually or with remote. Previously door was repaired due to recall, door handle broke off also door locks malfunctioning. Vehicle stationary or in motion wont open. Please advise.
ODI 11206805
Body · Electrical System · Suspension
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.
ODI 11255466
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Low beam headlight socket keeps melting after replacing. Fire hazard
ODI 11161461
Air Bags · Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
Air bag light has come on and will not go off. All of the controls on the steering wheel have stopped working, and the fuel door button has also stopped working.
ODI 11265789
Air Bags · Electrical System
Steering wheel controls for radio/phone quit working and the airbag light came on. No accident etc, just quit working.
ODI 11173785
Body · Electrical System · Engine
Vehicles caught fire, had pulled in the parking lot at work and smoke began to come from under the hood on the vehicle. Within seconds flames had erupted and front end of car was completely engulfed by the time the fire department had arrived. Vehicle was a total loss.
Fire reported
ODI 11133458
Electrical System
The front drivers side door will not open from the outside, and then the passenger side door is trying to do the same at times. I babysit and this could be a safety hazard for people with small children. Also what if something major was wrong and i needed to immediately get into my car, from what i have read this is a common problem a f will probably result in the door eventually not being able to open at all. There…
ODI 11129641
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
All of a sudden all my interior dash lights and headlights started blinking while the car was running. I shut the car off and it continued, turned the car back on and it was still going. Then the flickering randomly stopped. The car was stationary in my driveway.
ODI 11122394
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. The contact stated that the rear driver's side door failed to lock manually or with the key fob. Also, there was an abnormal clicking noise when starting the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 110,000.
ODI 11120133
Air Bags · Electrical System
Takata recall - my 2011 kia sorrento air bag has stopped working and stays on red. I now have no air bags. Also the whole front panel keeps flashing on then off at night while driving on the highway. This is a safety hazard. I've search for a recall on my vehicle and none is showing up.
ODI 11112589
Body · Electrical System · Engine
After driving about 6 miles to a local store nearby and back home as i pulled my car into my parking spot black smoke started coming from the hood so i turned the car off waited until the smoke stopped and looked under the hood to see if i could tell what was smoking. Everything appeared fine and i made sure to check all of my fluid levels and oil which were all full. Later that day maybe 4 hours later i drove about…
Fire reported
ODI 11114289
Electrical System
We have replaced the alternator several times in the past year.
ODI 11100168
Air Bags · Electrical System
The electrical malfunction of the airbag has drained and caused the battery to go dead. Also has messed up the controls in the steering wheel.
ODI 11100674
Electrical System · Engine · Exterior Lighting
Headlight housing has become overheated and melted causing me to replace one headlight at $900. When it happened again i spliced the new housing yet the bulb keeps blowing needing replaced. There is knocking in the engine that gets worse when my speed increases and have been told that it sounds like the engine is not getting enough oil. The head gasket has been replaced and it still seems to be burning or losing…
ODI 11100660
Electrical System
Power door locks do not lock, by door button, by remote key fob or more importantly when the car is taken out of the park position. Doors do successfully unlock via remote, door button and when the car is put into the parked position. Doors can only be locked manually.
ODI 11094011
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Low beam assembly wiring on both low beams has melted. This has been reported in numerous car blogs as a known issue.
Fire reported
ODI 11089968
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System · Vehicle Speed Control
Throttle position sensor (part of throttle body) hazard! Random. The vehicle radio will shut off, all dashboard lights will illuminate (same lights illuminate when the vehicle is started), and then the throttle pedal loses the ability to accelerate even when pressed all the way to the floor. There is no acceleration/power what so ever! The vehicle will maintain a speed 20 mph. This has been confirmed as the vehicle…
ODI 11142542
Air Bags · Electrical System · Headlights
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. While driving 30 mph, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (jim ellis kia of kennesaw, [redacted] northwest, kennesaw, ga 30144) where it was diagnosed that the clockspring needed replacement. The contact stated that the clockspring was replaced, but was concerned that the air bag inflator was not also replaced. The contact was also…
ODI 11089055
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Both low headlight bulbs have gone out many times. Despite being replaced, they continue not to work. The wiring seems to have a short in it because when it is wiggled the light comes on but goes right back out. The socket is very hot to touch and smells hot. I'm afraid the wiring will cause a fire. This has happened to both front low beam lights. Most recently today to the passenger side light. I currently have two…
ODI 11083536
Electrical System · Steering
The past two weeks or so, the left side steering wheel controls have not been working properly. The volume up button is turning the volume down. I have researched and found out that many other people with all types of kia vehicles are having this problem. For most, it has turned out to be a defective or faulty clock-spring in the steering wheel. I contacted the dealership and they acted stunned. It can't be a secret…
ODI 11083467