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)

268 of 1,516 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters · page 3 of 11

Oct 28, 2019Body & structure

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON MY 2011 KIA SORENTO LX WILL NOT OPEN. IF THE KEY FOB IS PRESSED AND ALL THE OTHER DOORS OPEN, THAT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I CHECKED THE CHILD PROOF LOCK TO SEE IF IT WAS ENGAGED OH, IT WAS NOT. A MERE COUPLE OF DAYS, PERHAPS A WEEK PRIOR TO FINDING THIS PROBLEM OH, I HAD THE RECALL FIXED ON PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THE LOU FUSZ KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN ST LOUIS AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS KIA THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS WITH REAR DOOR LOCKS.

NHTSA ODI 11271523

Oct 11, 2019Electrical systemBody & structure

I WENT TO THE STORE AND TRIED TO OPEN THE BACK PASSENGER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I THOUGHT THAT THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WERE ON SO I WENT INSIDE FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND OPENED THE DOOR. STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHY I CAN'T OPEN MY DOOR THEN TODAY THE OTHER SIDE WILL NOT OPEN NOW. BOTH BACK DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT GOD FORBID OR A FIRE AND I HAD MY CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILD IN MY VEHICLE AND COULD NOT GET THEM OUT! KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS IMMEDIATELY. LOOKING BACK I CAN SEE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11268001

Oct 11, 2019Body & structure

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I MUST EITHER ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM ANOTHER DOOR & CRAWL INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT, REACH IN THROUGH THE WINDOW IF IT'S DOWN (WINTER IS APPROACHING...IT WONT BE DOWN) OR REACH IN FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR & OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED (OBVIOUSLY). DOOR WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY SLAMMED SHUT PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING.

NHTSA ODI 11268013

Sep 26, 2019Body & structure

DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE

NHTSA ODI 11258445

Sep 24, 2019Body & structure

MAJOR PAINT DEFECT ON HOOD & ABOVE WINDSHIELD. KIA REFUSES TO ISSUE RECALL AND COVER THEIR DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11257788

Sep 14, 2019SuspensionElectrical systemBody & structure

MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I'M AFRAID TO PUT CHILD LOCK ON BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT MAKES FOR A VERY DANGEROUS MAYBE DEATHLY SITUATION. HORN DOESN'T WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11255466

Sep 13, 2019Body & structure

KIA SORENTO 2011 DOOR HANDLES KEEP COMING APART IN OUR HANDS WHEN JUST OPENING DOORS 'NORMALLY' (I.E.- NO JERKING FORCES USED, JUST NORMAL OPENING FORCE !!!) KIA MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE ABSURD 90% PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES ! THIS IS THE 3RD TIME - WE ARE NOT GOING TO KEEP PAYING KIA DEALER TO FIX HANDLES ! US GOV'T MUST GET INVOLVED IN THIS!WHAT KIND OF BOGUS DESIGN USES PLASTIC HANDLES? PLEASE MAKE THIS ISSUE KNOWN TO PROPER GOV'T AGENCIES & KIA 🧐THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11255341

Aug 15, 2019Body & structureBrakes

DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ON THE DRIVER REAR SIDE. ALSO I AM STARTING TO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY GEAR SHIFT. I CAN'T PUT MY VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. IF I DO GET IT OUT OF PARK, 2 OF MY DASHBOARDS LIGHTS COME ONE. I ALSO NOTICE WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON MY BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT SHOW ON THE REAR SIDE. THIS IS AM HAZARD AND MY TRUCK SLIPS FROM TIME TO TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11244236

Aug 13, 2019Body & structure

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT DOORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE DOORS ARE INOPERABLE AND DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR AND REACH INSIDE HANDLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DOORS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I WORRY THAT EVENTUALLY ALL OF THE DOORS WILL STOP WORKING. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A PLASTIC MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME THAT FAILS AT SOME POINT. MY WIFE CONTACTED KIA CONCERNING THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED OVER $300 TO REPAIR ONE DOOR. THIS SHOULD NOT COST THE CONSUMER AS THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11243534

Jul 20, 2019AirbagsBody & structureSeats

MY CAR DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY AND DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. THE DRIVER SEAT LOWER BACK ADJUSTING CUSHION DOES NOT FUNCTION ANYMORE. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT UMLOCK DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE TO DIAGNOSE OR INSPECT AND ORDER THE DOOR HANDLE BASE MECHANISM PART, THEN CHARGE FOR THAT AND INSTALLATION.

NHTSA ODI 11233583

Jul 18, 2019Body & structure

5XYKT3A15BG[XXX], DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WANT OPEN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI 11233201

Jul 17, 2019AirbagsBody & structure

SRS/AIRBAG LIGHTS RANDOMLY CAME ON AMD SHUT OFF ALSO DOOR STOPPED OPENING

NHTSA ODI 11232735

Jun 25, 2019LightsBody & structureEngine

ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, KEEPS STALLING OUT AT A STOP OR WHEN TURNING, SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING BURNING, NOW MAKING A ROUGH GRINDING NOISE FROM MOTOR. KEEPS GOING THROUGH OIL, PUTTING TWO QUARTS OF OIL IN EVERY OTHER DAY. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IN BACK WONT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS BLOWING OUT, THE TIRES ON THE FRONT END KEEP GOING BOLD.

NHTSA ODI 11222411

May 17, 2019Body & structure

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE BROKEN DOOR HANDLE RENDERS THAT DOOR USELESS, AND IN AN EMERGENCY, THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY/ PARKED WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH THE KIA SORRENTO. THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, WHEN ASKED, STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN, BUT THERE IS NOT YET A RECALL. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE DOOR "LATCH", WHICH DID NOT COVER THE HANDLE ITSELF. A RECALL OF A DOOR "LATCH" SHOULD INCLUDE THE HANDLE, IF BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI 11208276

May 10, 2019Electrical systemBody & structure

PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCKED, UNABLE TO OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE MANUALLY OR WITH REMOTE. PREVIOUSLY DOOR WAS REPAIRED DUE TO RECALL, DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF ALSO DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING. VEHICLE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION WONT OPEN. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI 11206805

May 3, 2019Body & structure

MY BACK PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I PUT MY TWO GRANDSONS IN THE VEHICLE ONE ON EACH SIDE PUT THE SAFETY LOCKS ON THE NEXT DAY THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE

NHTSA ODI 11205506

Apr 27, 2019Body & structure

DOOR LATCH PROBLEM, WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE, AND THEN WON'T OPEN ON OUTSIDE. IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS KIA, FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUES. YOU UNLOCK THE DOOR AND DOOR LATCH WON'T UNLOCK THE DOOR . IT WILL NOT OPEN. SO YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE TO OPEN . THE SECOND SIMILAR PROBLEM. DOOR UNLOCKED, BUT YOU CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR, THIS SAME ISSUES HAPPENED ON DRIVER'S SIDE!

NHTSA ODI 11204132

Apr 24, 2019Body & structure

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. YOU CAN REACH ACROSS THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND OPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11203490

Apr 22, 2019Body & structure

THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER THE OUTSIDE NOR THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN ISSUE WAS NOTICED.

NHTSA ODI 11202845

Apr 18, 2019Body & structure

DOORS ARE NOT OPENING FROM THE INSIDE NOR OUTSIDE. DOOR HANDLE BROKE ON ONE DOOR WHEN OPENING.

NHTSA ODI 11197148

Apr 4, 2019Body & structure

CAN NOT OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE LAST YEAR WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 11193767

Mar 24, 2019Body & structure

DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. CHILD LOCK IS ON AND NOW I CANNOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE EITHER.

NHTSA ODI 11191208

Mar 22, 2019Body & structure

FRONT INSIDE DOOR HANDLES CHROME PEAL OFF CAUSING CUTS ON HANDS.

NHTSA ODI 11190997

Feb 17, 2019Body & structure

MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NO LONGER OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO REACH ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE AND PULL THE INTERIOR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN IT.

NHTSA ODI 11180592

Feb 3, 2019Body & structure

IN 2017 MY DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR REAR DOOR HANDLE WAS BEING OPENED BY MY 98 LBS DAUGHTER AND THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. CAR WAS IN PARK THEN IN 1018. THE PASSENGER EXTERIOR REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF BY THE SAME 98 LB DAUGHTER. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES. IF I WAS IN A CAR WRECK AND PASSED OUT. YOU WOULDNT BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE BACK SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11173747

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Working with the data? Download all 1,516 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

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 →