2011 Kia Sorento problems and complaints
Owners have filed 1520 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Sorento. The most-reported areas: Engine (284), Structure (268), Power Train (265).
Key takeaways
- 1520 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 42 involve a crash, 63 a fire, 50 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 284 | 19% |
| Structure | 268 | 18% |
| Power Train | 265 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 246 | 16% |
| Unknown Or Other | 214 | 14% |
| Air Bags | 183 | 12% |
| Service Brakes | 132 | 9% |
| Exterior Lighting | 102 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 63 | 4% |
| Hydraulic | 59 | 4% |
| Suspension | 56 | 4% |
| Steering | 53 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Kia Sorento SUV 4WD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Seats - filed 2026-10-15
left side of driver's seat isn't locking in place. A 2016 model year was recalled for a seat weld break, but appears 2011 is a problem as well.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-10-05
I parked my car in the driveway and about 10 min later my car just ignited into flames from underneath the vehicle by the gas tank and i have video from 3 different angles on my security cams that show when i parked the vehicle there was no fire or flames or smoke and about 8 min later you can see a single flame just i...
Firerelated - filed 2026-09-25
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on the roof of a parking garage, the vehicle caught on fire unexpectedly. The emergency services were called to the scene, and the fire department extinguished the fire. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an indep...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2011 Kia Sorento
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.