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

I have had a oil temperature sensor P0711 go out twice on my vehicle. The first time back in 2018 and had it replaced. And now again just this month. This has got to be something wrong to keep this not working and keeping the transaxle oil temperature normal on long rides. I would greatly appreciate if this could be fixed this time at no cost to me. This needs to be a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11424635

WHEN IN IDLE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE OR IN PARK, STOP LIGHT, INTERSECTION (TRYING MAKE A TURN ACCROSS MAJOR EXPRESSWAY, STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. BOTH CITY AND HWY. INTERNET SHOWS REF. SERVICE CAMPAIGN #SC106. KIA CORP SAYS NO RECALL. DEALERSHIP SAYS NO RECALL. STARTED JAN 2021.

NHTSA ODI 11405822

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR AND SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 10 MPH. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WAITING FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF JAMESTOWN (1700 WASHINGTON ST, JAMESTOWN, NY 14701, 716-664-1222) WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND THE FILTER WAS CHANGED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,499.

NHTSA ODI 11400231

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I COULDNT ACCELERATE ANY LONGER. IT OCCASIONALLY GOES OFF BUT ANYTIME IT COMES ON, I CANT ACCELERATE AND THE CAR JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEAR

NHTSA ODI 11398152

RANDOM AND INTERMITTENT DRIVETRAIN SHUTTERING AND VIBRATION - SINCE AUG2019 THE 2011 KIA SORENTO EX AWD HAS EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT AND SUDDEN SEVERE SHUTTERING AND VIBRATION FROM THE DRIVETRAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP ON 3 OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED NOR DIAGNOSED. YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS. THE ISSUES HAS RANDOMLY OCCURRED A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES STARTING IN AUG2019 AND MORE RECENTLY IN JAN2020. THE FREQUENCY OF THE SHUTTERING / VIBRATION IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SPEED OF TRAVEL (VIBRATION FREQUENCY SLOWS AS THE VEHICLE SLOWS). ON EACH OCCASION, I HAD TO PULL OVER TO A COMPLETE STOP SINCE THE VIBRATION WAS SO SEVERE. HOWEVER, FOLLOWING A COMPLETE STOP THE VIBRATION AND SHUTTERING WOULD DISAPPEAR WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN DRIVE AND PROCEEDING TO DRIVE AGAIN. THIS ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED, AND I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONAL INFO IN THE ATTACHMENT

NHTSA ODI 11390887

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11377719

THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON WITH OUR ANY REASON. CAR WON'T ACELERATE, STOP AND GET SPEED IN UNSAFE WAIT ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11376263

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-50 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD THUD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND WAS GUIDED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN 5 MPH TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 20 MPH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V258000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ODI 11375998

I WAS HEADED TO WORK A 10 MIN ROUTE FOR ME ABOUT 3 MILES IN TRAVELING AT APPROX 55 MPH ENGINE STALLED OUT HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR.THIS HAPPEN TWICE IN A WEEK SPAN.

NHTSA ODI 11364458

CAR HAS BUCKED OR STALLED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS FOR THE LAST 60,000 MILES (CAR NOW AT 110K) , TO THE DEGREE THAT I WOULDN'T LET MY KIDS USE THE VEHICLE. AS WITH OTHER ISSUES DEALERSHIP CLAIMED 'UNABLE TO RECREATE' LEAVING ME WITH NO FIX FOR A POTENTIALLY FATAL SAFETY ISSUE. CAR HAD SHUT DOWN ON I-84 IN HARTFORD CT, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DO A RESTART QUICKLY. SORENTO MODEL YEAR 2011 HAS VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR COMPUTER ISSUE THAT SOUNDS SIMILAR BUT WAS TOLD ONLY CERTAIN VINS WERE APPLICABLE, WHICH SHOULD BE EXPLAINED AS TO WHY THAT WOULD BE. SEE ATTACHED PDF. BUCKING ON HIGHWAY CAN BE SEVERE, ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS BUT LEAVES NO CODE. DANGEROUS AND MANY INSTANCES ON INTERNET!

NHTSA ODI 11364559

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WILL LOSE POWER AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, ON REGULAR STREETS, AND WHEN GOING UP HILLS.. I AM NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT HOPE THAT NO ONE HITS ME AND I CAN GET IT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND HOPE IT WILL START AGAIN. NOW THE CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE AND HAS COMPLETELY DIED AND HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. EVERYTHING IS GOOD BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, RELAYS/FUSES.

NHTSA ODI 11342054

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OCCASIONALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER WITH THE ABS AND EMERGENCY AUTOMATIC BRAKING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ODI 11340324

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED WITH THE MECHANIC FOR TWO DAYS AFTER WHICH THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. A DAY LATER WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER BUT RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11330782

I STARTED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY,SHIFTED INTO REVERSE , LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE ,THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND A LOUD BAM(LIKE I HIT SOMETHING IN THE DRIVEWAY). I GOT OUT TO CHECK AND THERE WAS NOTHING. I PULLED FORWARD AND STOPPED FOR A SECOND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DROVE AWAY AND EVERYTHING WORKED NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY WIFE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHEN AFTER STARTING THE CAR I COULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. IT JUST WOULDN'T MOVE. THE SHIFTER WAS JUST STUCK THERE. TURNED THE CAR OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND IT FINALLY LET ME SHIFT INTO REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 11322409

WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND SOMETIMES NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO PARK. I HAVE 2 LIGHTS ON THAT SHOWED UP WHEN THIS STARTED. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE DOWN HILNOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK OR BACK INTO PARK DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME WHEN IT DOES WE HAVE TO PUSH A KEY INTO THE LITTLE HOLE BUY THE SHIFTER TO OVERRIDE IT

NHTSA ODI 11319638

TWO DAYS LATER AFTER BUYING THE CAR WE WERE DRIVING IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE RPMS ON THE TRUCK WERE GOING TO HIGH AT 70 MPH THE RPM WOULD BE BETWEEN 6 AND 7 SO I DECIDE WHILE DRIVING TO SHIFT IT TO STANDARD SHIFT AND IN THIS PARTICULAR TRUCK THE ODOMETER SHOWS WHAT GEAR I AM IN AND I COULD ALSO SHIFT IT MANUALLY BUT THE TRUCK IS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR AND AT A COMPLETE STOP THE START DOESNT SEEM TO WANT TO GO AT ALL AND NOW IT WANT GO FORWARDS OR REVERSE. IF I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT SIGNALS THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OFF. WHEN I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION THE PASSBY PERSON SAW THAT IT WAS A LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11315381

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

WE WERE DRIVING ON A ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM THE REAR END ALMOST SOUNDED AS IF A TIRE HEAD BLOWN UPON BRINGING IT BACK AND DOING TESTS AND CHECKS WE FOUND AT THE REAR TRANSFER CASE OR DIFFERENTIAL WAS TO BLAME. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OR TRANSFER CASE OCCURRING ON MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES

NHTSA ODI 11302145

EN ESTE AO A PARTIR DE JULIO MI CARRO KIA SORENTO 2011 A PRESENTADO PROBLEMA EN LA DIRECION, POWER TREN, DE ACUERDO A LO QUE INDICA QUE TIENE UN DESPERFECTO DE FABRICA, EN DOS OCACIONES HE TENIDO PROBLEMA MUY FUERTE, SE BLOQUEO EL CARRO MANEJANDO Y LO FRENOS NO FUNCIONARON Y EL CARRO SIGUIO RODANDO Y PUDE HABER TENIDO UN ACCIDENTE... LA OTRA EN LA CARRETERA EL CARRO COMIENZA A SONAR LAS RUEDAS Y CUANDO SE FRENA TAMBALEA... LO LLEVE PARA LA INSPECCION Y PASO CORRECTAMENTE PERO ME ENTREGARON UNA HOJA QUE EL CARRO TIENE DESPERFECTO DE FABRICA ,,, LO LLEVE A LA KIA PARA LA REVISION DE LAS PARTES,,,LA CUAL REALIZARON EL PEDIDO DE LAS MISMAS... PERO YO COMO USUARIO NO ME SIENTO CONFORME YA QUE ESE CAMBIO NO ME DA SEGURIDA POR QUE CORRE PELIGRO MI VIDAD Y LA DE LA FAMILIA,,, NO NECESITO UN CARRO REPARADO LO QUE NECESITO UN CARRO QUE ME DE SEGURIDA PARA TODA LA FAMILIA,,, UNA VEZ QUE CAMBIEN LAS PARTE Y SE ME FALLA EN LA CARRETERA QUIEN RESPONDE POR MI VIDA Y LA DE LA FAMILIA Y LA DE OTRAS PERSONAS, NECESITO QUE POR FAVOR ME AYUDEN CON UNA INVESTIGACION, YA QUE TAMBIEN TIENE OTROS DESPERFECTO.. LO LLEVE ALINEAR Y ME DICE QUE LE FALTA UN PIEZA EN LAS RUEDAS QUE NO VIENE DE FABRICA Y ES UN DESPERFECTO,,, YA A MI EL CARRO NO ME DA CONFIANZA AL MANEJAR Y NO ES CONFIABLE... ESPERO QUE DURANTE LOS DOS AOS QUE FALTA DE GARANTIA YA QUE DAN 10 AOS NO ME PASE NADA A MI Y A MI FAMILIA.. YA QUE ESE PROBLEMA QUE TIENE Y NO SE REALIZA BIEN PUEDE PASAR UN GRAN ACCIDENTE...EL PUNTO ES QUE NECESITO UN CARRO QUE ME DE CONFIANZA YA QUE EN ESTE MANEJO CON TEMOR . ADJUNTO FOTOS

NHTSA ODI 11280210

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTED, IT SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FUCCILLO KIA OF CLAY (3885 NY-31, LIVERPOOL, NY 13090) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED PER THE RECALL. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11278050

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V626000 (POWER TRAIN). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE STARTER INHIBITOR TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10050640 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT CALLED MIKE KELLY KIA (LOCATED AT 254 PITTSBURGH RD, SUITE A, BUTLER, PA 16002, 724-431-2145 ) AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER THE RECALL, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANOTHER REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11269333

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE FOURTH WHEEL WARNING INDICATOR FLICKERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO VISIT A KIA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MATTHEWS AUTO GROUP (3721 VESTAL RD D, VESTAL, NY 13850, (607) 584-5354) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000. *BF

NHTSA ODI 11269107

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ABS, DBC, ESC, AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THEN TURNED OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE FAILURES WENT AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB BELL NISSAN (7900 EASTERN AVE, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 288-2500) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,156.

NHTSA ODI 11267403

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND AS SOON AS I HIT 60,000 MILES IT BECAME ALMOST UN DRIVABLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WHILE IN DRIVE AND UPWARDS OF 50 MPH THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER AND THE GAS PEDAL BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. CAN NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BEFORE IT WILL ACCELERATE AGAIN. IT HAS ALMOST GOT ME INTO MANY CRASHES, MORE THAN I CAN COUNT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO KIA, THEY WILL NOT DIAGNOSE. HOWEVER A RECALL WITH AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM TOOK PLACE FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR BUT MINE WAS MANUFACTURED 2 MONTHS OUT OF THEIR RECALL DATES SO I'M S OUT OF LUCK? MANY PEOPLE REPORT THE SAME MALFUNCTION. KIA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT EVEN DIAGNOSE THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM SO I CAN GET IT FIXED. THE DEALER TRIED TALKING ME INTO TRADING IT IN FOR A NEW ONE AND THEY WOULD FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I TOLD HIM I WILL NEVER OWN A KIA AGAIN. IT IS A DANGER TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11253261

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE NOT GETTING INTO GEAR OR JERKING WHEN SHIFTING AND ENGINE SEEM TO LOOSE POWER OR NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALSO THERE IS A NOISE THE A/C MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATING .

NHTSA ODI 11252733