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

Both front and rear passenger side doors do not open from the outside. Both failed within days of each other. There have been no incidents that would have caused this. This appears to be a widespread issue with Sorentos that has been going on for years.

NHTSA ODI 11446296

Hello I would like to report that my 2011 Kia Sorento driver side door wont open from the outside and has been this way for almost a year it will cost me almost 400.00 to get this fixed myself that's a lot of money when I didn't break this ; however I looked online and this is a nationwide issue with this vehicle. This isn't safe and I just want Kia to do a recall to fix this issue I have to climb over seats to unlock from outside and I just wish they would recognize that this is definitely a world wide issue and not to overlook it. Thank you for taking the time to listen and or read what I've wrote.

NHTSA ODI 11443775

Hood opened twice on me while I was driving.

NHTSA ODI 11432697

One of the 2011 KIA SORENTO door can't open from outside or inside. This is really frustrating, as I couldn't open a door where my chiled seat. I have 5 year old and I have to sneak one of them into the other door. I am really frightened if what will happen if the child door is locked and child is in the car seat and I am not able to go inside my car. This is a potential hazard for my child. I heard from people is very common problem with Kia, Kia has to really step forward and replace this faulty mechanism. The cost my kia dealer estimates is $1200, I urge the Kia company to really fix this asap before someone gets hurt and/or result into fatality.

NHTSA ODI 11431226

Paint is chipping really bad. Rust spots

NHTSA ODI 11427946

Purchased the vehicle new and never sustained any damage to the affected areas of pearl white paint peeling.

NHTSA ODI 11427267

I have a 2011 KIA SORENTO and the rear back door handle has stopped working on 7/7/2021. This is safety issue as I can open the door from inside but not from outside. I have a small child and another on the way and not being able to open the door to let her out of the car is unacceptable. I am really frightened if what will happen if my child is inside and I am not able to get inside my car. This is a potential hazard for my child and my future infant child. Kia has to really step forward and replace this faulty mechanism. I urge the Kia company to recall and fix this asap before someone gets hurt and/or it results in a fatality.

NHTSA ODI 11423904

I have paint delaminating from many areas of my car. It is a Snow White Pearl 2011Kia Sorento.

NHTSA ODI 11417430

THE PAINT (PEARL WHITE) ON THE VEHICLE ON THE SURFACE ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD IS DELAMINATING/PEELING. TWO DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11406212

I DROVE MY 2011 KIA SORENTO ABOUT 9:15 AT NIGHT. BY 12:45 AM A PASSERBY HAD CALLED 911 DUE TO MY CAR BEING IN FLAMES. I WAS WOKEN UP TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVING AT MY HOUSE AND MY CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES. AFTER THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED, THEY CHECKED IT OVER AND DETERMINED THAT IT HAD STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2017 AND IT CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 120,750 MILES ON IT. THEY INVESTIGATED IT AND DETERMINED IT HAD STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO WAKE UP TO THAT AT ALMOST 1:00AM. KIA NEEDS TO GET IT TOGETHER AND TAKE CARE OF MY EXPENSES.*DT

NHTSA ODI 11403794

MY PEARL WHITE PAINT IS PEELING IN SHEETS ON THE REAR QUARTER PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND IS COMING OFF ALL ALONG EACH SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IN SPOTS ALL ALONG THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11397502

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE KIA CARS. I AM AFRAID THAT ALL THE DOOR MIGHT DO THIS AND I WOULD NOT BE ABOUT TO GET MY GRANDKIDS OUT OR IF I HAD TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY I COULD NOT EXIT. NOW I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND REACH OUTSIDE THE DOOR TO ACTIVATE THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. MY FEAR IS THIS WILL STOP WORKING AND I WILL BE STUCK IN THE CAR. I AM AN OLDER PERSON SO CRAWLING OVER THE CONSOLE WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I BELIEVE IT IS A BROKEN DOOR LATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR

NHTSA ODI 11375880

MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED THAT PAINT WAS COMING OFF THE ROOF OF MY KIA SORENTO 2011 MODEL AFTER THE CAR WASH. THIS WAS AROUND MID 2017. ON NOV 7, 2017, I TOOK MY CAR TO A BODY SHOP TO INQUIRE ABOUT FIXING THE PAINT DAMAGE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY KIAS SORENTOS COME IN WITH THE PEARL WHITE COLOR HAVE DELAMINATION. THEY INFORMED ME TO CHECK WITH A KIA BODYSHOP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THIS. THEY SAID THAT IT IS A FACTORY ISSUE. SO I WENT TO THE KIA BODY SHOP AND TALKED WITH THE MANAGER AND AFTER A FEW DAYS HE GOT BACK TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT KIA WOULD COVER HALF THE COST TO FIX IT. WELL I NEVER GOT IT DONE BECAUSE IF IT IS A FACTORY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE THAT KIA SHOULD COVER ALL OF IT. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY WHAT KIA WANTED TO CHARGE FOR THE PAINT JOB AND MAKE MY CAR PAYMENT AT THAT TIME. SO I WAITED AND NOW THE ROOF AND HOOD PAINT ARE CONTINUING TO COME OFF AND EVEN WORSE RUST. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE MY CAR AT THIS MOMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY CAR, BUT NOT ONLY IS IT EMBARRASSING, I WORRY ABOUT THE RUST EFFECTING AREAS AT THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD. I SEE MANY WHITE KIA SORENTOS WITH THIS ISSUE IN MY AREA AND THINK WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED AND COVERED BY KIA NATIONALLY. I FEEL KIA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS ISSUE FOR THE US CONSUMERS WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY ON THEIR PRODUCT. I DON'T FEEL THAT I AS A CONSUMER AM BEING TREATED FAIRLY BY THIS COMPANY. I FEEL THE PRODUCT AND QUALITY IS SUBPAR AND THAT CORNERS WERE CUT TO CREATE A BETTER BOTTOM LINE FOR THE CORPORATION. KIA NEEDS TO DO BETTER. YOU NEED TO DO A NATIONAL RECALL ON ALL WHITE KIA SORENTOS WITH THIS PAINT DELAMINATION ISSUE AND REPAINT THE WHOLE VEHICLE CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11374101

THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF FORUMS ON THE INTERNET WHERE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHAT IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN TO ALL 4 DOORS WITH A KID IN THE CAR?

NHTSA ODI 11365874

PAINT DELAMINATING CAUSING RUST ON HOOD AND ROOF OF VEHICLE, GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11361682

DOORS ON RECENTLY BOUGH SORENTO WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND YET KIA HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL AND THAT LEAVES CONSUMERS STUCK WITH REPAIR COSTS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTIES.

NHTSA ODI 11361304

I WAS LEAVING MY MOM HOUSE AROUND TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. AS I WAS FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM MY APARTMENTS MY CAR MADE A LOUD SOUND AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. I STOP MY CAR AND PUT IT UN PARK AND I SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOOD. I GET OUT THE CAR AND GRAB MY SON AND , I KNOCK ON SOMEONE'S DOOR FOR HELP AND AFTER THAT FIRE STARTS. I CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME IN ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES AND THEY FORCED MY HOOD OPEN DUE TO MY HOOD LATCH MISSING . AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT I FOUND PIECES OF METAL ON THE GROUND FROM MY KIA.

NHTSA ODI 11351493

THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAS LOCKED IT'S SELF SHUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT IT'S A SENSER THAT'S GOING TO COST $300.00 TO GET IT OPEN

NHTSA ODI 11351367

PLEASE BE ADVISED THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE FUEL TANK CORROSION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS EATEN UP WITH RUST. IT IS AFFECTING THE UNIT BODY AS WELL AS SEVERAL STRUCTURAL MEMBERS OF THE VEHICLE. HAVE SPOKEN WITH KIA AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS IT IS AFFECTING THE ENTIRE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11350917

DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN THROUGH OUTSIDE HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH PASSENGER DOOR.THIS COULD BE DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY WELL BEING AS I COULD BE PULLED FROM CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER..I AM ALMOST 60 AND THIS IS VERY HARD ON ME TO CLIMB FROM PASSENGER SIDE TO DRIVERS SIDE ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN OR DARK PARKING LOT WITH ALL THE CRIME GOING ON THESE DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327122

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 11311077

I WAS DRIVING 35MPH ON A 40MPH STRAIGHT ROAD FROM MY GROCERY STORE TO MY HOME. HALFWAY INTO MY DRIVE, THE HOOD OF MY CAR UNLATCHED AND SMACKED INTO MY WINDSHIELD. IT DID NOT FALL BACK DOWN IT STAYED COVERING THE WINDSHIELD AND I WAS UNABLE TO SEE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A BUSINESS BY LOOKING THROUGH THE BOTTOM WHERE THE HOOD CURVES. AFTER PULLING OVER I PUSHED THE HOOD DOWN TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT USING A BUNGEE TO SECURE THE HOOD. I THEN DROVE HOME GOING ROUGHLY 15MPH BEHIND A FRIEND DRIVING IN FRONT OF ME. I AM UNSURE OF THE LAST TIME MY HOOD WAS MANUALLY OPENED. ROUGHLY 3-4 WEEKS AGO I TOOK MY KIA INTO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO A LETTER I RECEIVED TO FIX AN AIRBAG RECALL/WARRANTY. I AM ASSUMING THEY OPENED THE HOOD DURING THIS FIX BUT NOT CERTAIN. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AND CURRENTLY HAVE MY KIA AT A COLLISION BODY SHOP THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. ATTACHED IS THE ESTIMATE IS GIVEN BY THE INSURANCE BASED ON THE PHOTOS I GAVE THEM. THE BODY SHOP ASSESSED DAMAGE TO MY ROOF AS WELL BUT I DO NOT HAVE THEIR ESTIMATE.

NHTSA ODI 11309786

REAR PASSAGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN

NHTSA ODI 11307583

CLEAR COAT PEELING ALL OVER ROOF AND SIDES OF RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER DOORS AND SOME ON FENDER AND ON HOOD

NHTSA ODI 11296825

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,400.

NHTSA ODI 11287972