Home · 2011 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid · Complaints

What 1,516 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,516)Crash / fire / injury (107)Engine (284)Body & structure (268)Transmission & drivetrain (265)Electrical system (246)Airbags (182)Brakes (130)Lights (102)Speed control (63)Suspension (56)Steering (53)

182 of 1,516 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 2 of 8

Oct 2, 2020Airbags

DRIVE SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW STEERING CONTROLS ARE NOT WORKING. KIA DEALER STATED ITS THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE THAT IS FAULTY

NHTSA ODI 11362351

Sep 11, 2020Airbags

MY VEHICLE'S AIRBAG SENSOR COMES ON AND DOESN'T GO OFF .

NHTSA ODI 11354346

Jul 22, 2020Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ON ROUTE TO BALD HILL KIA LOCATED AT 1021 BALD HILL RD, WARWICK, RI 02886 TO HAVE AN UNSTATED RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11340851

Jul 15, 2020Airbags

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I DID TROUBLESHOOT ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH MY VEHICLE. THE LIGHT STILL DID NOT SHUT OFF. MY GUESS IS THAT IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED. LOOKING ON LINE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR KIA ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT CAME ON AS WELL AS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11339518

May 6, 2020Airbags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT DOES NOT GO AWAY WHEN TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THIS MEANS THAT+S THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASEBOOK OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH IS A HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323564

Apr 2, 2020Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT VEHICLE START-UP, THE AIR BAG WARING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERRA TRUSSVILLE KIA LOCATED AT (5009 BROOKE'S CROSSING BLVD, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35235) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT SENSOR AND READ DRIVER'S SIDE IMPACT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI 11320057

Feb 17, 2020AirbagsSeat belts

MY ABS, AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON BEFORE. AFTER REPLACING THE CLOCK SPRING THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON, AND ALSO BOTH MY BACK SEAT BELTS WILL NOT GO DOWN. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS

NHTSA ODI 11309718

Jan 29, 2020Transmission & drivetrainLightsAirbags

THERE WAS A REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSENGER CV AXLE. IT WAS AFTERMARKET AND NOT OEM. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT LOW BEAM WIRING HARNESS AND BULBS AT MY OWN COST TWICE. ONCE IN FLORIDA AND ANOTHER IN MY HOME STATE. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. THEY SENT ME THE RECALLS ON BOTH. THEN PROCEEDED TO SAY THAT THE RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS UNDER RECALL. ALSO IF I COULD NOT GET OR FIND MY RECEIPTS FROM THE MECHANIC SHOP. I WOULD NOT GET REIMBURSED. KIA HAS BEEN KNOWING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS! ON TOP OF THE CV AXLE THIS IS TOO MUCH. IT IS DAMAGING MY TRANSMISSION AS WE SPEAK. MY BRAKES ARE VERY SPONGEY.

NHTSA ODI 11302812

Jan 24, 2020AirbagsLatches & locks

AIRBAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER IS ON. ALSO THE BACK RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. DOOR NOT LOCKED AND CHILD LOCK IS OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11301586

Dec 28, 2019Airbags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. WHEN ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. THE LIGHT STAYED ON.

NHTSA ODI 11291733

Dec 14, 2019SteeringAirbagsSpeed control

ALL STEERING WHEEL FUNCTION HAVE STOP WORKING INCLUDING HORN. RADIO, CRUISE AND BLUE TOOTH CONTROLS. DURING A TRIP ON THE HIGH WAY

NHTSA ODI 11289017

Dec 5, 2019Airbags

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER WENT OUT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE THIS LIGHT IS LIT, MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA VEHICLES. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL!!

NHTSA ODI 11287379

Dec 3, 2019Airbags

MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON WITH CODE B1764. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME. THIS MEANS THAT I HAVE NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT LEAVING MY FAMILY IN DANGER OF INJURY OR DEATH IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11286765

Nov 27, 2019Airbags

OCS MAY DEFECTED. HAD IT SCANNED AND CODE B1764

NHTSA ODI 11282689

Nov 7, 2019Electrical systemLightsAirbags

CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTION CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON DASH. STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS DO NOT WORK. THIS IS A CONSTANT AND DAILY ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS PARKED. LOW BEAM SOCKET MELTED. SINCE BEEN REPLACED BY ME. BOTH ISSUES ARE UNDER A RECALL BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED. MY VEHICLES YEAR MAKE AND MODEL ARE LISTED IN A CURRENT RECALL BUT MY VIN DOES NOT FALL WITHIN IT.

NHTSA ODI 11278638

Oct 24, 2019Airbags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS FOR VOLUME AND BLUETOOTH DO NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11270867

Oct 2, 2019Electrical systemAirbags

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.

NHTSA ODI 11265789

Sep 17, 2019Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN UNDER NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10164382 (AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TAYLOR KIA OF TOLEDO (6300 CENTRAL AVE, TOLEDO, OH 43615, (419) 842-8811) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,100.

NHTSA ODI 11256224

Sep 10, 2019Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed controlCrash1 injury

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO KIA FOR SEVERAL RECALLS. ONE WAS THE DOOR LOCKS BEING FAULTY. I SAID I HAD NO PROBLEMS BUT THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THEM ANYWAY. NOW MY REAR DOOR LOCK IS BROKEN. THE OTHER ISSUE IS WHEN ACCELERATING THE ENGINE REVS. IT ONLY HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES AT FIRST, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE PEDAL IS GETTING STUCK. MY LAST ISSUE IS THE AIR BAG. I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY AND PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS BANGED UP AND THE AIRBAG NEVER OPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11254451

Sep 2, 2019Airbags

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT AIRBAG SENSOR MAT FAILED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT CAUSE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH KIA'S. MANY KIA'S HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THIS MODEL HAS BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI 11252756

Aug 14, 2019Electrical systemAirbagsSeatsCrash

AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. BEFORE ACCIDENT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS WERE WORKING (CRUISE, HORN, VOLUME ECT.) DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP.

NHTSA ODI 11243908

Aug 12, 2019Electrical systemAirbags

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?

NHTSA ODI 11243263

Aug 12, 2019AirbagsEngine

FIRST IT STARTED WITH DRIVERS DOOR NOT WORKING. I CAN'T GET IN THE DRIVER DOOR BECAUSE THE HANDLE DOESN'T WORK. SO I HAVE BEEN CRAWLING THRU THE PASSENGER DOOR TO GET IN THE CAR. BUT NOW I CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THE PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE EITHER. YOU PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE AND IT DOES NOTHING. WHAT IF THERE WERE A FIRE AND I WAS IN THE CAR AND SOMEONE RAN UP TO GET ME OUT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS. NEXT PROBLEM IS I HAVE AN EXTENSIVE OIL LEAK IN THE CAR. SO BAD IT KEEPS DRIPPING DOWN ON THE ALTERNATOR WHICHECK HAS FORCED ME TO REPLACE THAT TWICE NOW. I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN COVER. IT WOULD COST 2,000.00 TO FIX. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND IT SEEMS THE TIMING CHAIN COVER IS A MISDIAGNOSIS. APPARENTLY THE OIL SENSOR IS THE CULPRIT. IT MALFUNCTIONS BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION IN THE ENGINE. I DON'T HAVE 2000.00 JUST TO PLAY A GUESSING GAME. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS A RECALL. LASTLY, DUE TO THE ENGINE ISSUES THE OIL LEAKING THE CAR HAS NOW DECIDED IF I'M DRIVING 60 MPH IT WILL ALL OF THE SUDDEN SHIFT THE ENGINE ALMOST TO A DEAD STOP AND THEN YOU FEEL AS IF YOU WILL FLY THRU THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE NOW THE CAR WON'T GO OUT OF FOURTH GEAR MANUALLY OR AUTOMATIC. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11243348

Aug 6, 2019Airbags

WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR STAYS ON. IT DOES NOT TURN OFF, WHEN I'M STATIONARY OR MOVING, UNTIL I TURN THE CAR OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11241941

Aug 5, 2019Electrical systemAirbags

THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN STATIONARY (AS I STARTED THE CAR) AND REMAINED ON AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. MECHANIC INSPECTION YIELDED ISSUE WITH STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING. MECHANIC ORDERED PART FROM KIA DEALERSHIP BUT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE RETROFITTED TO FIT THE PART. AS OF 8/5/2019, THERE ARE NO UNREPAIRED RECALLS ON THIS CAR OR FOR THIS SPECIFIC SAFETY ISSUE, BUT YEARS OF DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLAINTS FOR IT, AND IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN ADDED AS A FORMAL RECALL? HAVE NOT CHECKED CRUISE CONTROL OR HORN, BUT VOLUME CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL STILL WORKING. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT SOMETIMES OFF WHEN PASSENGER IS ON SEAT, SOMETIMES ON WHEN NO ONE IS IN SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11241867

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid verdict →