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.
Power Train
Placing the car in reverse resulted in a loud "clunk" felt in the transmission area. However, the vehicle drove normally for a short period of time (about 4 minutes). After entering a highway and beginning to accelerate to merge with traffic, there was a much larger "clunk" form the transmission area, followed by a metallic whining/whirring noise form the same area, and loss of speed. The engine remained running,…
ODI 10426510
Power Train
The transmission will not shift from drive to reverse/park at intermittent times. The vehicle must be put into neutral, turned off, and restarted in order to shift into park/reverse. This has occurred on three separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the nearest kia dealer. The service team stated that they could not recreate the problem and did nothing to correct the error. *tr
ODI 10434397
Electrical System · Power Train · Suspension
This is my wife's vehicle, but given the issue she is afraid to drive it..... Driving up hill with my foot on the gas pedal at 50 mph. My vehicle lost power ( as if i slammed on the brake ) my body went forward and was stopped by the seatbelt. My head whipped downward. Then the vehicle surged forward. My head and body slapped back into the seat. It was so abrupt and violently. It will scare you to death. This has…
ODI 10483167
Power Train
While driving on highway approximately 75 mph, car suddenly jolted like i hit something. It jerked very hard and decelarated. The rpms also went up much higher like it shifted to a lower gear. Pulled onto shoulder of road and turned car off. Same thing happened 2 days prior while cruise control was set at 71 mph. First time, was able to restart car and continue the [redacted] to work. Today, car would not restart…
ODI 10415961
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
The date above is the first date there was a indication of a problem. The actual speed of travel has varied. The issue is random and has affected most systems at one time or the other. It has normally been a headache more than safety always going away after shutting the car down and restarting. To me it became a safety issue when about two months ago i heard a loud bang like i hit something and then my rpms…
ODI 10468079
Power Train
Automatic transmission slips on show upshifts, intermittently. Began @ 3500 miles. Check engine light came on. Code initially read as "transmission temp light fluid". Dealer reset code, could not duplicate problem. Check engine light recurred with same code for "transmission fluid temperature sensor". Continued intermittent problems with sluggish upstarts at low speeds and hard shifts into gear. Intermittent…
ODI 10418833
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
My 2011 kia sorento downshifts while at a high rate of speed. It also gets stuck and while the rpms are racing, it will not shift up. The bluetooth does not work properly and am only able to make a call 30% of the time. Backup cameras and sensors are intermittent. Window will not work. Back drivers side door fell off hinges while i was driving with my child in the backseat. My passenger side seat overheated and…
ODI 10452862
Electrical System · Power Train
While coming to a stop, the vehicle down-shifted hard and the engine started to sputter like it was going to cut off. Took to dealer and they found p0748- pressure control solenoid "a" electrical fault. They performed a reprogram of tsm per tsb# tra038. Drove off lot and it shifted hard three times on way home. Dealer said it would take 100 miles for the computer to re-learn my driving for best fuel mileage. Drove…
ODI 10406469
Power Train
Vehicle suddenly down shifts usually at approx. 65 mph. Tires squeal sending me lurching forward. Whiplash! Rpm shoots up to 6000 and stays there until i exit the highway and slow down below 40mph. This has happened 5 times in the 4 months i've owned the vehicle. Once i was pulling into traffic and the car would not move! I had rush hour traffic coming at me from both directions. Dealer keeps saying they can't…
ODI 10423970
Power Train
Bought my kia approximately 1 year ago on 05/31/2010 it is a 2011 4cyl. While driving (speed doesn't matter) (this has happened several times)the vehicle will loose power and all gauges will go unfunctional, pushing on the accelerator will not provide response, vehicle will not drive but engine is running. Took to dealership on 05/12/2011 and dealership said they fixed it. Had vehicle home for less than 1 week when…
ODI 10402333
Power Train
I started the car, put it into reverse and as i was backing the car goes out of reverse and into neutral. The r indicator on the dash disappears and the car revs real high then slams into gear and lurches forward and makes a sound as if i have hit something. I bought the car in oct 2012 and the dealer didn't disclose this. I've had it in 2xs to another dealer and they cant duplicated he issue. As time goes on it…
ODI 10549257
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
Ever since bought new (sorento sx 6cyl.) in april 2011, there has been a intermittant issue with no engine response from stop for 2-3 seconds. Rpm's stay at idle speed, then it suddenly takes hold and runs fine. Only happens from stop, and only about once or twice every 2-3 days. Dealer cannot duplicate problem, no codes. Dangerous situation when pulling out into traffic from a stop. I cannot duplicate it under any…
ODI 10425970
Power Train
Driving approx 35 mph, there was a loud pop and noise then the car started grinding and transmission locked up. No gears, car locked up and came to a halt. Could not go backward or forward when put into gear, just had a loud grinding sound. Sound was so loud i thought the transmission had fallen out. Before this happened i noticed that when the car had been turned off for a while then started and put into reverse…
ODI 10397767
Engine · Power Train · Seat Belts
From point of purchase (november 2010) the vehicle always had a hard start, the seat belt was incorrectly installed and the gas lid fails to open without manual prodding. In april 2012 the engine failed to start, and then this continued to happen multiple times thereafter. The dealership changed the battery and service the vehicle. In the following months a series of issues continued, windshield washer pump stopped…
ODI 10542432
Electrical System · Power Train
02/23/2011 vehicle would not start; dealer replaced brake switch. 10/14/2011 vehicle would not start; dealer replaced battery. 11/14/2011 vehicle would not start; dealer replaced transmission shifter. 01/05/2012 vehicle would not start; dealer could not find problem, started after battery jump. 01/29/2012 vehicle would not start; called for tow; vehicle started after 40 minutes of numerous attempts. 02/07/2012…
ODI 10447250
Power Train · Suspension
While traveling down the road the axle and transmission suddenly went out. This caused vehicle to come to a sudden abrupt stop. This could have caused a fatal accident if traveling at a higher rate of speed or on an interstate. When the problem occurred, you had no power to the vehicle and it could not even coast to the side of the road. Dealer stated it was due to a manufacturers defect caused by a bolt from the…
ODI 10388108
Power Train
I have a 2011 kia sorento purchased new. On saturday, february 19, 2011 with 20,000 miles on the vehicle, the car completely shut down. The dealership still has the vehicle and is replacing the entire transmission. I am concerned as this is a new vehicle and they cannot give me the actual reason why a transmission in a new vehicle could fail. I had with me my 3 year old child and am concerned regarding the overall…
ODI 10384312
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · Power Train
1st problem: i bought the car, drove it off the lot, dealership did not get it inspected so i had to take it at 10 miles to get an inspection sticker on it! 2nd problem: immediately after buying the car, i noticed all the windows and doors rattled. Took it to kia in kingwood 5 times and they could never hear the sound and/or fixed other things on the car that did not need to be fixed. Problem still exists. 3rd…
ODI 10452035
Accelerator Pedal · Electrical · Engine · Interior Lighting · Power Train · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Suspension
2011 kia sorento. Consumer writes regarding problems with vehicle within the first 2 months of purchase *tgw the consumer stated the stalled while driving on the highway. It would down shift unexpectedly and then jerk and jolt. There were times when the consumer applied the accelerator and the vehicle would not respond for a short period before the vehicle revved up and accelerated. The vehicle also pulled to the…
ODI 10380656
Power Train
After completeing the second nhtsa complaint #10377110 last evening on our 2011 kia sorento, my spouse came home from driving the 2011 kia sorento (with two previous transmission complaints) and informed myself the vehicle now accelerates on its own!!! My spouse stated "the engine started reving all by itself" so i hit the brakes. She stated the vehicle's brakes did in fact stop the vehicle and she was able to drive…
ODI 10377163
Power Train · Steering · Suspension
Front strut failure at 3k miles. Car randomly has a loud metallic clunk sound when starting, sometimes the car will surge/jump forward when starting (while the car is in park, parking brake on and foot on brake). The transmission shifter gets stuck in park and does not release, with great effort releasing from park(car made loud metallic clank sound and surged/jumped in reverse). I'm afraid to park too close to…
ODI 10376110
Power Train
Delay in acceleration after applying brakes. This happens from a dead start and also while moving. Especially bad when trying to back up a grade. (ex.) while backing up a grade such as a driveway to the garage i back up and then hit my brake to stop. I then realize i need to back up a little farther. I take my foot off of the brake and push the accelerator. Instead of going backwards i drift forward. In my mind i am…
ODI 10424669
Electrical System · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. The contact stated that she attempted to reverse however, the shifter could not be moved for over 30 minutes. In addition, the radio would sporadically power on independently and drain the battery. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was unavailable. The approximate…
ODI 10542607
Power Train · Steering
Bought a 2011 sorento lx v6. Wife drove it home that night. I did not drive till two day's later with only 105 miles on it, and immediately felt the call pulling right at all times, even the steering wheels is off center. Also like other owners; the car has the constant noisy front/right wheel, and the transmission thud/jerk about every 5 starts. I called the dealership and asked to speak to the sales mgr. And…
ODI 10351062
Power Train · Steering
I bought a brand new kia sorento 2011 in february this year. I have 20 000 miles on it and 2 days ago while i tried to drive off from intersection i heard a noise like something broke coming from driver's front side of the vehicle and right after that starts to make a sound like is keep braking metal. The vehicle went completely undrivable. I called road help assistance and they tow the car to the dealership. Next…
ODI 10350175