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

1-The front air bag sensor will nor register if a person is sitting in the sear, no matter the weight. 2-The modem keeps direction the vehicle to steer right. No matter how many alignments and parts are replaced, the ECM will not correct itself 3-KIA dealers will only repair the problem if the customer pays $$$$$$$$

NHTSA ODI 11600242

3/11/24 The first thing I noticed was that my cruise control shut off with a couple of jerks to my vehicle. Then a few minutes later, I lost all steering, put in it park. There was smoke coming from under the hood, but not fire. It is sitting at my house still. A couple of months or so ago, when I received the letter of the recall, I called the dealership I bought my vehicle from and inquired about it. I was told that the part was not available but when it does, I will receive another letter. Also wanted to note, that right before I made that call, my engine light came on the day before that. Today, I called the same dealership to let them know what happened yesterday and they told me there was a cost for a tow truck to come get my vehicle. I was given a phone number to Kia, to which I called and started some kind of process. But it stopped when she told me it was going to be over $200 for a tow truck to come get my vehicle. I am not able to pay that nor feel as if I should due to Kia knowing about the recall and danger of same. Right when I lost steering and a red lamp popped up. I immediately parked it.

NHTSA ODI 11576975

Brakes feel softer, rear brake burnt smell, replaced brakes one month ago. Headlight and taillight bulbs replaced several times in last 3 months due to blinking blowing replaced and starts over again. Screen will not turn on until car has run for 45 minutes. Cannot use back until screen turns on. Leaving car parked until I can get brake system fixed. Noticed brake light on dash and car with swerve light on dash. Too scared to drive until at least brakes are fixed. Reached out to dealership. No part available for recall which most likely is failing my brakes

NHTSA ODI 11574995

I was driving my car to work when my check engine light came on and starting flashing. I made it to work just unable to go over 30MPH because it felt like it was in fail safe mode. That afternoon I spoke with KIA Affairs and the lady advise me to go to autozone and get it diagnosed after work. Well after work I went to go to autozone and barely made it half a mile before it felt like it was going to die. so i turned to go back to turn around to back to work in the parking lot next door. When I turned it felt like i had no control over where my car was going like i had no traction control even though i did not hit any patches of ice.

NHTSA ODI 11566603

While driving, the front end of the car made a thud sound and vibrated, the lights on the panel came on, the engine light, battery light, key light, and the steering wheel locked up. This happened 3 times in a week. If we had been going faster it could have caused an accident because of car suddenly slowing down and loss of steering. After turning off and then back on it worked again but never know when it could happen again. Yes my car is available upon request. No codes come up when our mechanic diagnosed it, hasn't been to a Kia dealership yet, can't get in until Nov. 6. Refer to article "2011 Kia Sorrento's problems with sudden surging and engine stalls led to 7 investigations, 6 recalls." My mechanic referred us to this article as he thinks our car has a related problem. This problem happened without any warning.

NHTSA ODI 11550583

Same issue with the whining and pulling as the recall. Kia will not help. Two dealerships and the manufacturer will not recheck the repaired recall.

NHTSA ODI 11507648

VIBRATING SOUND IN FRONT END

NHTSA ODI 11402788

ON DECEMBER 2, 2020 MY KIA SORENTO STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE. NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WENT TO GO HEAD HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE AND I HEARD A CLANK WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY BRAKES LOCKED IN TRAFFIC THEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH CAME ON AND MY ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AND I HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY GEICO TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME. VERY SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS. IT STILL DOESN'T NOT TURN ON WHATSO EVER. I HAVE VIDEOS BUT NOT IN THE RIGHT FORMAT TO OPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11386540

HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUSPENSION ISSUES RELATED TO ALIGNMENT, TYE RODS, BEARINGS - LOTS OF LOUD NOISES WITH EVERY BUMP. I HAVE GOTTEN SOME ISSUES FIXED ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITHIN ABOUT TWO MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11316232

MY VEHICLE IS GIVING ME RANDOM PROBLEMS WITH MY SUSPENSION AND BRAKE SYSTEM IT RANDOMLY FEELS LIKE IT IS FINE AND THEN RANDOMLY DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE DUE.TO BRAKE CLICKING NOISE THAT YOU CAN HEAR WHERE SHIFT KNOB IS AND WHEN I PRESS BRAKES MY TIRES LOCK OR.SOMETIMES FEELS AS IF THERE IS AIR AND.IT WILL NOT BRAKE.UNLESS I PUMP BRAKES A COUPLE TIMES..MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOP OPENING FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE BUT WORKS FINE FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE OPENING

NHTSA ODI 11316193

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

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

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

VEHICLES INTERIOR LIGHTS, INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER PANEL LIGHTS CLICK AND FLICKER OFF AND ON DURING VARIOUS PERIODS OF TIME. THE HEADLIGHTS STAY OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND REPETITIVELY AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS HAS OCCURRED BOTH EARLY IN THE MORNING, IN THE EVENINGS, IT ALSO HAPPENS JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY TO THE DASH LIGHTS AND WITH THE CLICKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN WINTER AS WELL AS SUMMER. ORIGINALLY IT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS RAINING, NOW IT OCCURS DAILY. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, ON BACK ROADS, ALSO AT STOP LIGHTS OR A STOP SIGN. THE CLICKING HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OFF, IT WILL START MAKING CLICKING NOISES COMING FROM THE DASH AREA, THE SAME NOISE AS IT MAKES WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR AND DASH LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN IT IS ON. ALSO AFTER HAVING A RECALL REPAIRED I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE START STOP NOT STARTING, AS WELL AS THE DOORS NOT UNLOCKING WITH THE KIA REMOTE OR BY PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE EXTERIOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO LOST STEERING CONTROL DURING EXCESSIVE RAIN. THIS OCCURRED ON A SIDE STREET WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF OF A MAIN ROAD ONTO A SIDE ROAD THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. IT PROCEEDED TO GO AT A DIAGONAL, ONLY PARTIALLY TURNING INTO A FRONT LAWN DURING THE TURN. IT WAS RAINING WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ISSUES WITH THE PHANTOM HEADLIGHTS IN OTHER KIA MODELS. AND THEY ARE NOT FIXING THE ISSUE, THEY ARE SAYING IT IS NOT OCCURRING. ALSO THEY ARE SAYING THEY NEED TO REPLACE A PART THAT COST $400 BUT IT MAY NOT FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE LEFT THE MANAGER A MESSAGE AT THE KIA IN MYRTLE BEACH AND HAVE ASKED FOR A GOOD FAITH REPAIR AND I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11278287

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH LEE JOHNSON KIA (425-827-0521, LOCATED AT 11845 NE 85TH ST, KIRKLAND, WA 98033). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,000.

NHTSA ODI 11232785

FIRST ISSUE BEGAN WHEN CAR STARTED PULLING TO RIGHT WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS ON HIGHWAY. TOOK TO SHOP; PAID FOR NEW BRAKES INCLUDING PADS, ROTORS, FRONT CALIPERS PLUS FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT REPLACED. BALL JOINT RUSTED OUT SO BAD IT CRUMBLED TO PIECES WHEN TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF. NOT OUT OF SHOP FOR EVEN A FULL DAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED PULLING AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS A HARD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAY AND IN TOWN. THIS TIME THE PULL WAS SO STRONG THE CAR WENT OFF ROAD. THIS TIME IT FELT LIKE STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. SO BACK TO SHOP TO FIND OUT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT WAS ALSO SHOT AND NEEDED REPLACED. CAR BEEN OUT OF SHOP BARELY 2 WKS; NOW FRONT END IS MAKING A HARD CLUNKY NOISE WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER JUST THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS. THE CAR FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING OVER BOULDERS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END IS ABOUT TO FALL APART. SO BACK TO THE SHOP FOR THIRD TIME IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH. READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THESE SAME ISSUES? IM PRETTY SURE I'LL BE PAYING FOR STRUTS, SHOCKS AND/OR COMPLETE REPAIR OF FRONT END SUSPENSION AFTER ALREADY PUTTING $800 IN TO IT. HOW HAS THIS CAR NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR SUCH ISSUES?

NHTSA ODI 11229624

MY CAR JUST IMMEDIATELY STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT LET ME BRAKE. I ALMOST WRECKED MY CAR. ALSO MY CAMERA JUST STOPPED WORKING AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11185742

THE WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY PUDDLES. I CAN NOT BAKE ANY TURNS DURING THIS LOCKING AND HAVE TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF THE LOCK POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 11153310

ALL ACCESSORIES ON STEERING WHEEL HAVE GONE OUT: RADIO CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, BLUETOOTH CAPABILITY(ANSWERING/ENDING PHONE CALLS) NO LONGER WORKS, AND NOW THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. HAVING A WORKING HORN IS PART OF THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON A VEHICLE. ONE DAY WHILE PARKED, I HONKED THE HORN TO GET MY SONS ATTENTION AND IT DID NOT WORK.THE HORN JUST STOPPED WORKING. ANOTHER TIME I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND SOME IDIOT NOT PAYING ATTENTION ALMOST DID NOT STOP, AS I WAS TURNING I HONKED THE HORN(FORGETTING IT HAD NOT BEEN WORKING PREVIOUSLY) AND IT WORKED JUST THAT ONE TIME. IT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE! HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? ALSO, THE HEAD REST ON FRONT SEATS ARE POORLY DESIGNED, BOTH HAVE COME OFF COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI 11129971

VERY ROUGH START IN THE MORNING OR AFTER SITTING OFF FOR OVER 2 HOURS. AFTER 30 SECONDS ENGINE NOISE REDUCED DRAMATICALLY. STEERING CONTROL MALFUNCTION SOMETIMES. MAKING UP DOW BUTTON ACT ERRATICALY ALONG CRUISE CONTROL AND RADIO CONTROL. BLUETOOTH CONNECTION SOUND QUALITY VERY POOR.

NHTSA ODI 11123962

THE PAST TWO WEEKS OR SO, THE LEFT SIDE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. THE VOLUME UP BUTTON IS TURNING THE VOLUME DOWN. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH ALL TYPES OF KIA VEHICLES ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FOR MOST, IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE OR FAULTY CLOCK-SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ACTED STUNNED. IT CAN'T BE A SECRET BECAUSE SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ARE OUT THERE ONLINE. IT SAYS I HAVE ZERO ACTIVE RECALLS AT THIS MOMENT, WHEN I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL IN THE MAIL THIS WEEK FOR THE DOOR LATCHES IN MY 2011 KIA SORENTO. THAT MAKES ME BELIEVE THERE IS A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM SOMEWHERE. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR A RECALL, THE CENTER CONSOLE PANEL DIDN'T GET PUT BACK TOGETHER PROPERLY AND IT DOESN'T FIT DOWN OVER MY CUPHOLDERS PROPERLY. IT LEFT A GAP UNDER THE RADIO PANEL BECAUSE OF IT. I WILL BRING THIS TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION AGAIN WHEN I TAKE IT IN FOR MY MOST RECENT RECALL LETTER. HOWEVER, THIS STEERING CONTROL PROBLEM IS HAPPENING FAR MORE THAN IT SHOULD, SO THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE OWNERS. IF THE CLOCK-SPRING IS DEFECTIVE AND SOMEONE IS IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TURNING THEIR STEERING WHEEL, THEN THE AIR BAG IS NOT GOING TO DEPLOY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF LIFE. THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND IT SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR KIA MOTORS TO ISSUE THE RECALL!!! IT HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I AM IN MOTION AND ALSO WHILE I AM PARKED.

NHTSA ODI 11083467

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO VALLEY HI KIA (14644 VALLEY CENTER DR, VICTORVILLE, CA 92395, (760) 955-0046). THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSIS WAS NOT KNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER IN THE CONTACT'S POSSESSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11078290

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SHOTTENKIRK KIA OF WEST BURLINGTON IN WEST BURLINGTON, IA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON DECEMBER 20, 2017. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,563.

NHTSA ODI 11058000

MY CAR STARTED SCREECHING AND STEERING WHEEL MADE A KNOCKING SOUND AFTER LEAVING CHURCH ON 08/27/2017. I THOUGHT IT COULD NOT BE MY POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. THE NEXT DAY MY DAY CHECKED THE LEVEL. IT WAS BELOW THE HALF MARK ON THE RESERVOIR. MY DAD FILLED IT NOSIE STOPPED AND THE KNOCKING TWO DAYS LATER IT STARTED AGAIN. I REFILLED THE RESERVOIR NOSIE STOPPED EXCEPT THIS TIME GRINDING CONTINUED. THE VERY NEXT DAY LOW AGAIN GRINDING KNOCKING AND HARD TO STEER. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I ASKED ABOUT A RECALL. AS USUAL I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THERE ISN'T ONE. I FILLED THE RESERVOIR AND THE FLUID POURS OUT FROM THE RACK AND PINION. YET THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I'M GOING TO CALL THE KIA HEAD QUARTERS TO CHECK ON A RECALL SC147

NHTSA ODI 11022477

IN THE LAST WEEK, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING 70MPH - THE CAR SHUT OFF AND DROPPED TO 50MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED BUT IT STARTED BACK UP. TWENTY MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING 25MPH ON A SIDE ROAD, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AND THEN AGAIN WHILE IN A DRIVE THRU LINE. THIS HAS SINCE HAPPENED TWICE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE DOES START BACK UP AGAIN BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2011-2013 MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED KIA AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BUT TO BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2016 TO HAVE SEVERAL OTHER RECALL ITEMS CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10935874