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

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

Was on my way back from picking up my child father from work. My 2 kids were also in the car [XXX] & [XXX] old. My car started smoking and another motorist pulled down his window to let me know that my car was on fire from underneath. I immediately got all of us out of the car and my child father went to go pop the hood and noticed that fire was coming near the engine !! Made an insurance claim and they deemed the car as a total loss. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11684524

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

Engine fire, extinguished by the fire dept. Car was parked at the time. Dealer informed us that the fire recall was completed on 10-29-2021 and now we are over the 150,000 mileage warranty so no repair can be done by Kia. I will submit 2 more claims for transmission and brakes for the same Kia.

NHTSA ODI 11633387

No oil after filling up with 4qts. Engine over built compression and blew hole through bottom of the block which caused a fire underneath

NHTSA ODI 11622694

I have a problem with my Kia Sorento since last year and I expensed a lot money with the eng8ne. The motor is broken down. Also, one shop gave me the receipt, 4 guys for $59 because I refuse any repair again. But, the other shop mechanic where I expensed a lot of money does not give me the receipt, inspire of my request they have not given me the receipt yet. I am so embarrassed, I expensed a lot $5500 for the repair. And, another shop too for $500. Thanks

NHTSA ODI 11589687

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

12-29-2023, the Kia Sorento started smoking on the way home. When I got home I opened the hood and saw fire. I put the fire out with a fire extinguisher. On 1-9-2024, I made an appointment with Archer Kia and had the car towed there for a diagnosis. After a month with no response, the service manager at Kia advised me to contact Kia Corporation. I spoke to a representative and was assigned a case number. The representative stated that I should have gotten a software update but could not produce any information that I received a recall notice for the software update. All recall notices that I received were addressed and oil changes were regularly done at a major retail store. I was told that an investigation would be done and that I would be contacted. I didn’t receive a response for two months. I called Kia Corporation and was told that they sent information to an address that belonged to my mother which was calling her number instead of calling me. It was never determined why the information was sent to my mother. The car had been registered to my address for over 10 years. Once we established the correct information, I was asked to send service records. I was sent a letter before the representative received the service records stating that the cause of the fire was normal wear and tear. I went to the Archer Kia dealership to talk about the next step. The service manager stated that Kia didn’t send him anything so I waited. This was May 2023. January 2024, I contacted Archia Kia for information. They had received a decline notice to replace the motor. I called Kia Corporation again. I discovered that the original representative no longer worked there. The new representative wanted to call the dealership on a three way call. The service manager was not available and the representative told me he would call me back. In February 2024, I received a recall notice concerning the software issue and a notice stating that the car could catch on fire. In March 2024, I rec

NHTSA ODI 11584614

Exhaust system flex pipe was repaired and the next day the exhaust muffler/ resonator failed at the seam, causing hot gases to escape into the undercarriage and melt the lower bumper cover assembly on the right passenger side. See photos attached.

NHTSA ODI 11572849

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

i was driving home from work on 12/22/23 when all of my dashboard lights came on and my engine died. I was in motion when this happened. I put the hazards on and put the car in park and tried to restart it. As I was doing that I was hit from behind by another vehicle. I suffered a concussion that lasted almost 2 weeks. My car being totaled not due to the damage from the accident but the diagnosis that the engine "blew". My insurance company had it towed from a body shop to a salvage yard. I have kept the maintenance completely up to date and put close to $4000 into it last year for normal use items. There was an oil leak that ruined my starter - that was repaired. I am now without a vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11565459

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while reversing out of the garage, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was out of the garage. The contact stated that the turned off the vehicle and opened the hood. The contact stated that there was a significant amount of black smoke coming out of the engine compartment. The contact stated that he attempted to disconnect the positive battery thermal but was unable to do so. The contact stated that he applied a fire extinguisher to the engine compartment; however the smoke persisted and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated that the fire then extended to the entire vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact stated that the vehicle had burned to the ground and remained at the residence. The vehicle was totaled. A fire department report was filed. No police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11563493

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle caught on fire without any warning. The contact's husband was able to pull over safely and the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A report was filed with both the police and the fire department. No one was injured. The vehicle was towed to Doug Auto Motor for diagnosis and they stated the rod broke through the engine and caused the oil to leak into the engine. The vehicle was not repairable. The dealer was contacted, and they stated that they were aware of the failure but there was no recall. The manufacturer was contacted, and they also confirmed that there was no recall for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11476208

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, an abnormal clunking sound had emitted from the vehicle. The contact then heard parts falling out of the engine as white smoke began to release from the vehicle's hood. The check engine warning light was also illuminated on the instrument panel as the contact pulled over. The contact lifted that hood and saw flames coming from undeath the vehicle. The contact immediately shut the hood as smoke continued to discharge from the vehicle. The fire department arrived at the scene; however, the fire had dissolved on its own. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic and was informed that a rod had blown in the engine resulting in engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer and was initially informed that her vehicle would be repaired under an extended warranty; however, the manufacturer later denied the warranty extension since she failed to have a manufacturer campaign performed on the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11472402

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while pulling into the parking lot at work at approximately 3 MPH, there was what seemed to be steam coming from the engine. The contact stated there was actually smoke and ash which was on the driver's side of the hood. There were no warning lights. The contact exited the vehicle safely. Immediately after exiting the vehicle it was engulfed in flame and was destroyed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The police department was on the scene and conducted a report. The vehicle was towed to the wrecking yard. The contact fell at the time of the explosion. There were smoke ventilation and cuts on the right arm along with bruises from the contact. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000

NHTSA ODI 11466038

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

Engine has a loud knocking noise also had flames coming from under the hood. No check engine light came on. I was so terrified for my life. Kia has a recall on 2012 - 2019 engine and not 2011 Kia Sorento engines and it’s causing the same issue.. this is not Safe for anyone.. so can you’ll look into this matter and make Kia accountable for the repairs.. total of 187 complaints on the 2011 Kia Sorento engine and nothing is being done… Please help us

NHTSA ODI 11424208

A few days before we were to go on vacation we received a campaign letter from Kia about reprogramming the ecm because of the knock sensors. In this letter it stated that after the repairs were done the would warrant the engine for 10 years or 150000 miles from first in service date. My Kia has 144417 miles on it. Because it was so close to our vacation time I didn't have time to take it to the dealer and get the campaign done on it, I was going to do it when I returned from vacation. When we were returning on I-75 outside Chattanooga Tn I heard a loud noise, check eng light started flashing, it jerked me into the right lane which I barely avoided a crash with a vehicle in that lane, smoke was coming up behind me after getting the vehicle to the shoulder of the road some lady pulled up in front of us and said the car was on fire i raised the hood and it was burning at the firewall and underneath it. I instructed my son to get my wife and 3 yr old grandson out of the car, they were in the back seat. I happened to have a case of water in the ack so I started getting out bottles of water out and pouring them on the flames when a dot truck pulled up with a fire extinguisher and finished putting out the flames. There were no warning lights or noises on before this happened. I have been a mechanic all my life and upon inspection I saw that it had slung a rod out the side of the block and that the oil hitting the hot exhaust had set fire to the vehicle. I had to pay 350.00 to get it towed back to my house. I called Kia on Monday and he took all this information down and then he told me they wouldn't do anything about it because I didn't have the campaign done before it happened. I think that Kia ought to put me an engine in this vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11422246

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SPARKS AND FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE HOOD AND A FIRE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SUSTAINED AN EYE INJURY DUE TO THE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF A POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN (5306 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745) AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING UNDER A RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11414131

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

2011 KIA SORENTO EX 3.5 ENGINE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE HAS RANDOMLY CHANGED IN THE WAY ITS FEELS SAFE WITH ROUGH INSTABILITY IN MY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS.MY BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A RANDOM BASIS AS WELL AS WHEN CAR IS PARKED WILL RANDOMLY CLICK IN MY GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM AND WILL FAIL TO LOCK WHEN CAR IS PARKED AND SHUT OFF IT WILL CLICK WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED.MY FRONT LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT CONSISTENTLY AS WELL AS MY STEERING WHEEL HAS FAILED WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS RANDOMLY.CAR HORN IS INOPERABLE AND MY CRUISE CONTROL STOP FUNCTIONING. MY ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT ON ME AND MY CAR HAS HISTORIAL PROOF OF CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE WITH CAR FAX REPORT IN HAND .MY GAS MILAGE HAS SINCE DECREASED. MY SUSPENSION FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND REALLY BAD ON BUMPS AND AVERAGE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE ALSO VERY UNPLEASANT SO I HAVE PARKED IT UNTIL IT'S FIXED FOR ACTIVE RECALLS AND OTHER POTENTIAL MANUFACTURER DEFECTS

NHTSA ODI 11395866

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE DRIVER WAS FLAGGED DOWN BY ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO ALERTED HER THAT FLAMES AND SMOKE WERE VISIBLE UNDER THE VEHICLE NEAR THE TAILPIPE. THE CONTACT IMMINENTLY PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS, THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AAA CAR INSURANCE BACK TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11229272

DRIVING DOWN HWY. O IN ORRICK MO WITH TWO OTHER PASSENGERS MY DAUGHTER 15 AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER 5. AROUND 5PM SATURDAY HUNE 2ND A SMELL OF SMOKE CAME THROUGH FRONT VENTS. AS I STARTED TO PULL OVER A SWOOSH SOUND CAME FROM THE CAR AND FLAMES SHOT OUT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THEN FROM UNDER THE DASH INSIDE. THROUGH THE CAR IN PARK AND OPEN THE DOOR. RAN TO GET MY GRANDDAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT AND A THIRD PASSENGER MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT OF THE BACKSEAT AS WELL. WITH IN MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY IN FLAMES.*DT VIN UNKNOWN. CONSUMER STATED SHE SUFFERED 2ND DEGREE BURNS. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11217527