What 1,515 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Sorento

My 2011 Kia Sorrento caught fire while parked in my garage. Kia is saying it's not due to any recall they have and that it was an electrical fire store behind the steering wheel and they're refusing to take any responsibility financially for it or otherwise due to it being through previous owners and an older vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11716993

I was driving my car, while at a stop light I noticed some smoke coming from under my hood. I thought it might have been the cold I turned off the main road onto my street and noticed the smoke increasing, I pulled over turned off my car opened the hood and a fire started at the back of my engine.

NHTSA ODI 11713565

I was driving and my Kia started over heating and smoking and smelled like plastic burning I got it towed to the Hendricks of Kia and it sat there for 2weeks and I contacted them about giving me a lender until they fix my engine problem and they told me that my engine is not under warranty but is a recall I didn’t blow my engine I recently bought it about 6 months ago

NHTSA ODI 11690083

My KIA Sorrento spontaneously engulfed in flames approximately 200 yards from my home. This is not a vehicle crash the car had flames coming from the vents and floor boards. I was the driver my daughter was the passenger and my granddaughter was in the rear car seat we barely escaped with our lives before it exploded and we were steps away as car debre was flying past us.

NHTSA ODI 11667411

After my daughter pulled into her school parking lot on Friday morning, 4/19/24 she reported smelling a very bad smelling smoke. She immediately got out of the car because she then saw flames from under the hood. The car lit on fire, and was completely totaled. I have since been made aware of the recall that causes engine fires.

NHTSA ODI 11584458

While driving on the freeway, the car began to lose power. As I struggled to maneuver to the right lane to pull over, something under the hood caught on fire and black smoke came billowing out. We were able to get out of the car before a young man traveling in he opposite direction saw us and turned around to help. With his help we were able to get my grand kids out and into his car. Thank God that he was not criminally minded. I then called AAA who towed the car back to our home. This happened in July 2023. In October, I received a safety recall notice warning of a possible fire happening. I contacted the local Kia dealership and was told that there was nothing they could except wait and that it could take up to a year or receive the part to remedy the problem. I then contacted Kia Headquarters and was told the same thing. It is now January 2024, and still no remedy and no operable vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11568390

Mechanical failure in the wiring harness, caused smoke to come out of vents (melted wires). No evidence of rodent damage. Safety was put at risk, immediately dialed 911. As a result several electrical features do not work. Air/AC/heater, power windows nor headlights. Two mechanics & insurance claims representive deemed it "mechanical" failure despite the vehicle being inspected two months prior. Only symptoms that occurred prior were a fused being tripped; interior lights and radio didn't work when this happened.

NHTSA ODI 11522542

My 2011 Kia Sorento caught fire while parked outside in parking lot overnight while I slept the police an fire department said my vin had two active recalls on it it started fire on its own without even being driven now I’m out of a car

NHTSA ODI 11500967

On 06/05/2019 my Kia Sorrento 2011 vin [XXX] EX V6 2WD engulfed in flames yards from my home as my family barley escaped as it exploded. My husband in shock across the street video taped and took pictures of this horrific event. This is not a accident incident no other vehicle or object involved. Kia complaint filed #[XXX] accident millage: 99,000 Police report filed w Missouri Hwy Patrol Corporal Kline #[XXX] Vehicle was "inspected" post fire by a Kia inspector reported due to fire undetermined cause?! Vehicle purchased at World Kia in Joliet 2525 W. Jefferson Joliet, IL 60435 on 10/01/2015 registered Certified Manufactured warranty purchase Vehicle # [XXX] administration address: 175 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60604 Extended Warranty purchased at the time of sale. Warranty extension program letter dated 11/07/2016 received to me purchaser: [XXX] current address: [XXX] [XXX] Please contact me with any additional documents, pictures, or statements My insurance didn't cover the full financed balance... I appreciate any information you have, Thank you, [XXX] Kia did not honor any warranty's INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11464255

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while her granddaughter was driving at 35 MPH, the a white smoke began to emit from the vehicle the oil and battery warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. A fellow motorist then alerted her that her vehicle was on fire and urged to to pull over and exit the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle, the vehicle became engulfed in flames. Her granddaughter called the authorities as the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed; no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was a case was filed. The fire department determined that the cause of the fire was electrical. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 11E041000 (Equipment) which she linked to her failure. The failure mileage was a approximately 192,000.

NHTSA ODI 11458644

Passenger low beam kept burning out. I kept replacing. This morning, on my way home from work (I work nights on an ambulance) I could smell burning, and saw that the light was out once again. Got home, and the entire connector/wiring to the bulb was completely melted and sizzling, with a small flame at the base of the plastic connector. This is outrageous. There were recalls for this EXACT issue for other Sorentos, but mine was not included. This could have started a major vehicle fire, and I cannot afford a vehicle electrician. Kia should be replacing this.

NHTSA ODI 11436094

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

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

'TAMARA RECALL' I WAS TRAVELING UP THE INTERSTATE SLIGHTLY UPHILL AT 55 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I BEGIN TO LOSE POWER\SPEED AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE SHOULDER IT LOST ALL POWER TO GATHER AND SMOKE STARTED COMING IN THE AC VENT WHEN I GOT IT STOPPED AND OPEN THE HOOD IT WAS BURNING AT THE BACK RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE MOTOR ON SOME WIRING HARNESS I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT I LATER WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD THROWN A ROD AND WAS MOST LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE

NHTSA ODI 11205122

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE SLIGHTLY UPHILL. AT ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN MY SORENTO BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER/SPEED. BEFORE I COULD PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER SMOKE BEGAN COMING IN THROUGH THE A.C VENTS. WHEN I REACHED THE SHOULDER AND OPENED THE HOOD THE BACK RIGHT END OF THE MOTOR WAS ON FIRE FROM THE WIRING HARNESSES. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. UPIN A MECHANIC LOOKING AT IT I WAS TOLD IT HAD THROWN A ROD AND MOST LIKELY THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11205127

VEHICLES CAUGHT FIRE, HAD PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS FLAMES HAD ERUPTED AND FRONT END OF CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ARRIVED. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11133458

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 6 MILES TO A LOCAL STORE NEARBY AND BACK HOME AS I PULLED MY CAR INTO MY PARKING SPOT BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE HOOD SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF WAITED UNTIL THE SMOKE STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF I COULD TELL WHAT WAS SMOKING. EVERYTHING APPEARED FINE AND I MADE SURE TO CHECK ALL OF MY FLUID LEVELS AND OIL WHICH WERE ALL FULL. LATER THAT DAY MAYBE 4 HOURS LATER I DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES TO MY SISTERS HOUSE AND AGAIN AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED AGAIN FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED. LESS THAN 5 MINUTES LATER THE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND BY THE TIME I RAN OUTSIDE TO SEE THE ENTIRE FRONT PART OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES HOWEVER THE WINDOWS WERE UP SO THE FLAMES WERE CONTAINED INSIDE THE CAR AND UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME MINUTES LATER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED DUE TO THE FRONT TIRES MELTING FROM THE FIRE. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I'D PURCHASED IT ONLY 5 MONTHS BEFORE AND LET THEM AND FINANCING COMPANY KNOW. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN WHY MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED LIKE A BOMB WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF. I'M REPORTING THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES SHOULD DEFINITELY BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 11114289

OUR INTERIOR LIGHTS QUIT WORKING SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE SO WE HAD IT REPAIRED. 2 WEEKS LATER WE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND DAMAGE TO WIREING THE MECHANIC DIDN'T REPLACE. $5,000 LATER, NOW THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHILE DRIVING IF YOU USE THE TURNING SIGNAL. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!!!! ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE CAR OUT OF THE BLUE JERKS QUICK AND HARD. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE.

NHTSA ODI 11111480

VEHICLE WAS STATIOMARY AND NOT ON. STARTED SMOKING FROM DASH AND SMOKE COMING OUT DOOR, CAUGHT ON FIRE WENT UP TO THE ROOF AND ACROSS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. WHEN FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME THEY HAD TO CUT OPEN THE HOOD, CAR RANDOMLY STARTED WHILE ON FIRE TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11101961

LOW BEAM ASSEMBLY WIRING ON BOTH LOW BEAMS HAS MELTED. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN NUMEROUS CAR BLOGS AS A KNOWN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11089968

AFTER DRIVING 8 MILES TO MY DESTINATION I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT, CALLED 911, AND BEGAN TO SEE FLAMES. THE POLICE ARRIVED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES BUT BY THEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND BY THE TIME THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NEVER A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TO INDICATE ANYTHING WAS WRONG. WE ALWAYS TAKE IT IN FOR ALL ITS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND CHECKUPS WITH THE KIA DEALER. IT WAS JUST INTO THE DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO.

NHTSA ODI 10991332

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE BY A CAR ALARM THAT SOUNDED FROM THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLASHING LIGHTS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE UPON ENTERING THE GARAGE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,243.

NHTSA ODI 10824280

ORIGINAL OWNER '11 SORENTO 4CYL, AWD W/TOW PACKAGE & APPROX 88K MILES. PROBLEM 1ST NOTICED ABOUT 2 MOS AGO WHEN SEAT BELT LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING WITH AUDIBLE CLICKING COMING FROM RELAY BEHIND DASH. IT WAS DAYTIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED 1ST FEW TIMES & I COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE SEEMED TO HAPPEN AFTER STARTING CAR & WOULD GO AWAY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OF DRIVING. RELEASING & RE-CONNECTING SEAT BELT HAD NO EFFECT. THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED @ NIGHT I REALIZED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS & DASH LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON & OFF ALSO. STILL COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, BUT BEING A MECHANIC I WATCHED FOR IT TO HAPPEN AND TRIED DIFFERENT THINGS TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY EFFECT ON THE ISSUE. ALWAYS WOULD BEGIN AFTER INITIALLY STARTING CAR, BUT NOT DO IT MOST TIMES. THEN 3 EVENINGS AGO, I FOUND IT HAPPENING EVERY TIME I WOULD START THE CAR & WOULD EVEN DO IT AFTERWARDS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS 70 MILES FROM HOME & TRIED TO GET BACK. IT DIDN'T MATTER WHETHER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS ON, OFF OR AUTO, IT WOULD STILL FLASH ALL LIGHTS & SEATBELT LIGHT W/CLICKING FROM RELAY. ON THE WAY HOME, WHILE DRIVING A RURAL ROAD, THE LIGHTS AGAIN STARTED BLINKING ON & OFF CAUSING ME TO HIT A METAL POLE A DRAINAGE DITCH THRU FARMER'S FENCE INTO HIS FIELD. ACCIDENT PUSHED METAL BUMPER (BEHIND BUMPER COVER) BACK ABOUT 12", TORE THE ENTIRE FRONT END &LIGHTS FROM CAR & BENT HOOD BACK 1 1/2 FEET AND BUCKLED IT UPWARD - ALL OF THIS WITHOUT EVER DEPLOYING THE AIRBAG.THESE PROBLEMS ARE PREVALENT IN THIS CAR AS I HAVE READ, BUT I NOW HAVE A VEHICLE WHICH DESPITE IT'S DAMAGE WILL NOW DUPLICATE THE LIGHTS GOING ON & OFF EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON. HAVE CONTACTED KIA CORP IN HOPES THAT THEY WILL WANT TO USE MY CAR TO GET TO THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE & FINALLY CORRECT IT. AS A MECHANIC I VERY WELL UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM TO FIND CAUSE ..... KIA NOW HAS NO EXCUSE.

NHTSA ODI 10811503

2011 KIA SORENTO AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON OUT THE BLUE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WAS ADVISED EITHER DEFECTIVE PASSANGER AIRBAG OR THE SENSOR FOR PASSENGER SEAT. WOULD HAVE TO PAY $$$ TO PUT ON DIAGNOSTIC. CAR JERKS FORWARD WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. ALSO, CAR JUST ACCELERATED BY ITSELF.. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT JERKS FORWARD. ITS JERKS SO HARD I COULD GET WHIPLASH.LIKE THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO STOP.SCARRIEST THING EVER. I AM REALLY CONCERNED HOW SOMETIMES I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO PUT IN GEAR. LAST, WENT TO CHANGE HEADLIGHT, RIGHTSIDE EXTREMELY JOT AND COULD HEAR BOILING LIKE SOMETHING COOKING.

NHTSA ODI 10785899

HEATED SEAT ELEMENT ON DRIVERS SIDE STARTED ON FIRE. CAUSED DRIVER TO BE BURNT. HEATED SEAT HAD BEEN TURNED ON FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. CAR WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 10783067