2011 Kia Sorento Engine Problems
- 142
- 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 142 stored complaint records:
- 5 indicate a crash
- 5 indicate injury
- 14 indicate fire
What owners report
- engine light · 18 records
- check engine · 14 records
- failure mileage · 12 records
- lost power · 9 records
- side road · 9 records
- notified failure · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 42 |
| 60–100k mi | 32 |
| 30–60k mi | 27 |
| 1–30k mi | 16 |
| 150–400k mi | 9 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
A cam sensor melted, there were pieces of plastic on the spark plugs, and all mechanics we talked to have never seen anything like this. They initially thought that it was the exhaust vvt solenoids, but as they inspected further they realized something else was majorly wrong. We were on a road trip when this happened and have been stranded for 4 days because they haven't been able to fix the problem. The only…
ODI 11180900
Engine
My car went into limp mode after check engine light came on for transmission and electrical system failure in solenoid a of transmission. Car struggled to shift between gears and would would jerk me driving. Driving yesterday and pedal went straight to the floor causing total motor loss and hole in motor.
ODI 11176495
Engine
Vehicle has 75,000 miles on it and has started to stall at low idle times. Mostly upon start up but has increased to stalling occasionally at stop lights. Engine light will come on car will restart and sometimes engine light goes off other times it will stay on. Has been happening about 3 months now. Had it in the dealership for faulty door handle which is a known problem but was not covered under warranty. Had…
ODI 11196614
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
Engine
The engine has a clicking sound all the time sounds luke its grinding metal
ODI 11219120
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Vehicle Speed Control
Recall!!!when accelerating more than 60-80 mph on the interstate, the eco sensor light pops on and my suv jerks back then picks up speed causing the back of my head to hit your head restraint. It is very scary!!!!
1 injury
ODI 11157246
Engine
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.
ODI 11144881
Engine
Approximately 6 weeks ago my vehicle began acting funny, like it wanted to die out while driving and would cut out at red lights. When the engine light came on i took it to a kia dealer and was told the issue was exhaust cam shaft and it was broken off /melted in cylinder head. To replace head had to be removed. When head was removed cracks were found on coils 3 & 4 in housings and noticed metal shavings in motor.…
ODI 11142672
Engine
My kia has been in and out of the dealership repair facility since july 1st 28. I have had to have it towed there twice. My original id complaint # with nhtsa is nhtsa id number: 11142672. I still have an open complaint with kia that has been ongoing. Due to melted parts connected to the engine that had to be replaced a couple weeks prior to the vehicle going in this time. Now i am being told the engine mating…
ODI 11152542
Engine
2011 kia, just over 100,000 miles. Started knocking from the engine, pulled over had it towed to my mechanic. Stated that lower engine block broke the engine blown. Dealership would not do anything.
ODI 11183496
Accelerator Pedal · Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. While driving 50 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph; however, the accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to turner kia ([redacted], harrisburg, pa 17111, [redacted]) where the cause of the failure was not determined; however, the contact was informed that the engine might be faulty. The vehicle…
ODI 11141434
Body · Engine · Unknown Or Other
Motor mounts are broke. I need to replace 3 of them. This isn't normal at all. The car has never been wrecked. The paint keeps peeling off. I repainted 1 x on an area, kia is aware. I took to them and they said kia wasn't responsible (but , i disagree). I paid over 30,000 for this kia.. , body shop couldn't guarantee due to the paint job kia did on my automobile. Now the paint is peeling on other spots.
ODI 11141840
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
Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact was informed that the lower radiator hose fractured and also needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
ODI 11130064
Body · Engine
My wife was driving down the street when the car suddenly locked up(stopped) and the engine shut off. She noticed smoke coming from under the hood and then within minutes the engine was in complete flames. Prior to this there where never any signs of the car running or driving like there where going to be problems. I've never had any mechanical issues at all aside from this incident. This has come completely out of…
Fire reported
ODI 11128568
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Since i bought the 2011 kia sorento the transmission or engine tends to stall in the middle of driving like not changing gears, gets locked, jerks back and forth till it unlocks or changes gears while at the same time slowing or stopping car in it's tracks. Twice i have hit my head on the steering wheel, have had seat belts lock tight against me and my passengers when it locks while trying to change gears. It…
ODI 11128829
Engine · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
Very rough start in the morning or after sitting off for over 2 hours. After 30 seconds engine noise reduced dramatically. Steering control malfunction sometimes. Making up dow button act erraticaly along cruise control and radio control. Bluetooth connection sound quality very poor.
ODI 11123962
Engine · Power Train
My 2011 kia sorento has been trouble from day one. A week after i bought it, the wiring harness had to be replaced which took over a month to get the part from kia. Then at 90,000 miles the transmission started failing and it took me forever to get kia to replace that. Then the replacement transmission went bad less than a year later and they replaced that. Now, at 120,000 miles (out of warranty) the motor has died.…
ODI 11118578
Engine
2011 kia sorento was parked in the attached garage at 7:30 pm. It had a nearly full tank of gas. No problems were noted. My son went cycling the next morning at 5:30 am and returned at 7:30 am. He went into the garage to turn on sprinkler system. Nothing out of the ordinary was noticed. At approximately 7:45 am he started taking a shower. A few minutes later he heard a loud pop. Then a few minutes later another loud…
Fire reported
ODI 11173061
Engine
I am having issues with engine stall or wont start then oil is going somewhere and no clue where. I thought i had a great vehicle when i bought it didnt know there was any issues with it. But i am afraid to even drive it that something would happen while i am out with the grandbaby an family.
ODI 11170613
Engine
I was driving down the highway when all of a sudden my car completely stopped accelerating. I got it pulled over to the side of the road and the engine was seized up. I had it towed to a mechanic shop where he told me that everything else in my car looked great (i get my oil changed on a regular basis and take very good car of my car). He said he was clueless and had no idea why the engine would just seize out of no…
ODI 11112355
Engine
Car loses power when applying gas, then stalls out. I stop and wait for few minutes, then start the car and drive off like nothing happened. It otherwise drives perfect until the random stalling
ODI 11129229
Engine
I was driving in my in my neighborhood when i came to a stop sign. I went to accelerate and my vehicle had turned off. I couldn't get it to turn over. I waited a couple of minutes and then tried to start it again and i was able to get it started so i drove it home. The antifreeze was completely empty so i put more in it. The vehicle continued to over heat so i took it to a mechanic and i have a blown head gasket,…
ODI 11110095
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
Engine
Car engine seized while operating. Had to be towed. Been in kia dealership service since june 2018 it is now october 13. Still no engiene.
ODI 11140160