2011 Kia Sorento Power Train Problems
- 177
- 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 177 stored complaint records:
- 8 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- failure mileage · 15 records
- notified failure · 12 records
- power train · 11 records
- repaired notified · 11 records
- failure failure · 9 records
- diagnosed repaired · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 62 |
| 60–100k mi | 38 |
| 30–60k mi | 31 |
| 100–150k mi | 26 |
| 150–400k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train
Stability control and downhill assist light came on while driving. When vehicle was stopped, shifter would not go past neutral. In order to get past neutral, had to turn off engine and restart. *tr
ODI 10511023
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. The contact stated that while turning left, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration power. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the transmission fluid was low. The transmission was fluid was filled but the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where it was scheduled for unknown repairs. The manufacturer was…
ODI 10552715
Power Train
Driving at 65mph with cruise control set; when suddenly there was a violent jerk/hesitation, and an extremely loud bang, as though i had hit something. Stopped on side of the road, vehicle not making any different noise or running different, placed without a problem into park. Checked around vehicle nothing out of order, no fluids running under vehicle, tires ok, unable to locate a problem. It seemed like a miss or…
ODI 10508220
Power Train
We have previously had 2 transmissions put into our 2011 kia sorento. Today we were traveling home from san antonio and the dbc indicator and esc indicator lights came on while driving. I pulled over to see what it was and tried to put the car into park. The gear shift would not move. It did it several times during our trip. It also sometimes makes loud bang noises when putting it into gear. I feel that the…
ODI 10502257
Engine · Power Train
While driving anywhere above 35 mph upon slowing down and the car downshifting the car jolts a loud bang/pop is heard the car lunges you forward it's quite violent i've taken to the dealer over 10 times and they just say they notice the popping but nothing is wrong they also said they took it for a test drive to test the unbelievably hard down shift . I watched them their test drive was from the front of the parking…
ODI 10995654
Power Train · Service Brakes
Reversed car from my driveway. Felt as if i had crashed into something (heard loud grinding sound). Put the car into drive and came to stop. Upon pressing the brakes, felt as if the abs had engaged and gripped all four wheels. Heard loud grinding sound and car jolted (as brakes were pressed). I had my five year old and three old sons with me; they screamed from the jolt. I slowly released the breaks and applied the…
ODI 10503033
Power Train · Suspension
Single clunking noise whenever decelerating, which was verified by kia service advisor at ny kia dealership. *tr
ODI 10501058
Electrical System · Power Train
Kia sorento infrequent and unpredictable loss of power during moderate acceleration. During certain conditions, which have included moderate uphill climbs, highway driving and city under 50mph and at moderate acceleration, the vehicle will suddenly loose power, fail to upshift when needed, or show no signs of power, followed by erratic shifting and a loud clunk. At other times on highway driving, the car will, for…
ODI 10552636
Power Train
When pulling into a parking space today, the esc and dbc lights came on and i could not get the car out of drive or neutral. I tried to put it in reverse or park and it would not move into that position. Finally, i turned the car off and turned it back on, the lights went off, and i was able to get it into park. This is a huge problem. *tr
ODI 10488727
Power Train · Service Brakes
On several occasions, the vehicle does not want to go into/out of gear. When staring in the morning, i often have to pump brakes, or turn car off and re-start in order to get the car to move into reverse. On one occasion, it would not move out of drive and into park. While this hasn't caused any accidents/injuries, it could have on several occasions. Had my teenaged daughter been driving it at any of the times that…
ODI 10505554
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train · Service Brakes
Attempted to park car while waiting for a relative to get off work. Car would not shift to reverse or park- no further than neutral. Was able to put car in neutral and brake to stop car. After dropping relative off at home (had to stop car in same manner as above), had to stop in a near empty parking lot, as i still was unable to put the vehicle in reverse or park. Contacted kia dealership by phone and was told by…
ODI 10483901
Power Train · Suspension · Wheels
Wheel assembly appears to have completely given out. Vehicle traveling at ~35mph when it rose slightly then gave out. Vehicle hit side of parked car and flipped on to side and into retaining wall - full side curtain airbag deployment. Entire front passenger wheel well completely vacant. Everything laying on street including suspension springs. Witness to support events. Vehicle under 25k miles (2011 model, incident…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10484814
Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, all of the instrument panel lights illuminated as the vehicle stalled. The contact also stated that there was a sudden loss of engine power. There was a sudden increase in engine rpms and the vehicle failed to shift gears while the contact was traveling 15 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician…
ODI 10498227
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. The contact stated that the gear shift unintentionally switched gears independently without warning. In addition, the contact mentioned that the vehicle jerked forward. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v626000 (power train). The failure mileage was 30,000.
ODI 10783670
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. While driving 40 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle suddenly jerked forward without warning. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (archer kia, 11614 southwest fwy, houston, tx, 77031), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…
ODI 11030573
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train
At complete stop, car would not shift into reverse. 10 miles later, attempt to park . The vehicle would not shift past neutral. Dash light illuminated steer assist and downhill park. I finally drove around until it allowed me to shift into park and restarted and was able to engage into park. 5 miles down the road did the same thing. Made it to work and shut car off. *tr
ODI 10475147
Power Train
On 11 september 2012 i attempted to place the automatic transmission in park and it would not go into park. This is the 5th time this has happened with this vehicle. Kia motors will say there is no problem. *tr
ODI 10475111
Power Train
Incident #1 while traveling 45 mph car lurched, and gas pedal was non-responsive. Engine was running, but no response. Only forward motion was "idle" speed which was not enough power to make it up hill. Stopped car in median. Towed car back o dealer. Check engine light stayed on. Dealership replaced a recall brake switch, and said as there was no computer code they couldn't find anything else to fix. Reset the…
ODI 10474446
Power Train
On several occasion during the last two (2) weeks, i have had difficulty shifting gears (e.g. Into drive, into neutral, into reverse, etc); gear shift was stuck. Only after several minutes was i able to shift gears again. *tr
ODI 10474171
Power Train
After start up when shifting from park to reverse the transmission will shift violently and will produce the same reaction if you try to shift it back into park. This has occurred intermittently and otherwise the transmission shifts normally. If you attempt to drive the vehicle once this occurs it feels underpowered as if the transmission is locked in a higher gear and there is no eco indication or indication of…
ODI 10481442
Power Train
The other day,i was driving down the highway at about 60 mph in my 2011 kia sorento when i heard a horrible sound and felt a terrible jerk. It felt like i had hit something or had been hit, but there was nothing in the road. My rpms went up to about 4,000 and stayed there. I could hear an unusual sound but couldn't put my finger on where it was coming from. When i came to a stop, i put the car into park, then…
ODI 10474105
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train
Vehicle stuck in drive when i was pulling into a parking place. I was able to brake but engine kept running. After several tries, i managed to force it into neutral and the curb maintained my car stationary since i was unable to put it in park. Because i was unable to put my car in park, it idled in neutral until the tow truck arrived (20 min later) by which time it had begun to overheat. The incline light was on,…
ODI 10472936
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorrento. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, she depressed that brake pedal and the vehicle jerked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that they could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 45,000.
ODI 10545733
Power Train
When slowing down, the transmission would bang forward. This has been happening all the time the car's speed is reduced. We have complaint to dealer many times. The last time we brought the car in for servicing the mechanic said there was something wrong with the transmission, but could not find the problem. He said he adjusted it back to factory start, what ever that means. We are still having the problem to this…
ODI 10734501
Power Train
At complete stop, car would not shift into reverse. 1.4 miles later, attempt to park . The vehicle would not shift past neutral. Dash light illuminated steer assist and downhill park. Depressed emergency brake and turned vehicle off with gear shift in neutral. Restarted and was able to engage into park. *tr
ODI 10470324