2011 Kia Sorento transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

• Recall 15V626000Oct 6, 2015377,062 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

  Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "Park" without the brakes being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

  Risk: Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.

  Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC124.

• Recall 11V258000Apr 25, 201112,690 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

  Kia is recalling certain model year 2011 sorento 2wd vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions and 2.4l engines manufactured from the start of production through may 22, 2010. The intermediate shaft may suffer from noise and excessive wear due to a misalignment of the intermediate shaft with the right side output gear. Continuing to drive the vehicle in this condition leads to the development of a whirring/whining noise and can eventually cause damage to the automatic transmission.

  Risk: Damage to the transmission may cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the right side output gear and intermediate shaft free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during may 2011. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 16, 2025MDEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   The vehicle is shifting weird out of first, knocking sound. A code of p1326 skds is showing on diagnostic. This was supposedly repaired by kia a few months ago from a recall. I am questioning if they corrected and inspected the recall appropriately, due to this being the issue. The car is now unable to be driven because I do not want to do more damage.

   NHTSA complaint #11693934 · source
2. Filed Jun 17, 2025MOFireElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   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 complaint #11667411 · source
3. Filed Feb 12, 2025165,000 miWITransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact research and was became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V626000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken back to the residence; the contact stated that an independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the…

   NHTSA complaint #11642301 · source
4. Filed Nov 29, 2024135,750 miKSEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked with the transmission slipping gear with an engine misfire. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone and a code for the knock sensor failure was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had replaced the spark plugs on the vehicle. While driving 65…

   NHTSA complaint #11627926 · source
5. Filed Sep 28, 2024GAAirbagsOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain

   1. Air bag light has been on for over a year. Was checked at dealership, and was told there is a recall on sensor. 2. Power Train, unknown of what's going on. Riding down the road all of a sudden it stalls for a minute. It's a hard jerk, like it's not getting gas, or the transmission is out of sinc. This started about two years ago. Took it to my local repairman, and he said it was a warning in the tire wheel letting me know something was wrong in the wheel. They repaired…

   NHTSA complaint #11616981 · source
6. Filed Mar 16, 2024FLElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   I’ve gotten approved to buy another car and was going to trade my 2011 Kia sorento but still has open recall and Kia dealership has no answers when they can fix. What do i do. Thank you for your help!

   NHTSA complaint #11577790 · source
7. Filed Mar 16, 2024FLElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   Family and i were driving home from soccer and car violently stuttered felt like we hit a deer. This has happened three times now and has caused solenoid a in transmission to fail which i fixed . My wife smells a burning smell also randomly.

   NHTSA complaint #11577776 · source
8. Filed Jan 11, 2024SCEngineLightingTransmission & Drivetrain

   The ABS, downhill assist, and engine light stay on constantly, even though the clock spring has been replaced and multiple car repair shops are unable to diagnose a “problem.” When driving, the vehicle seems like the engine is getting extremely hot and starts to sputter and even cuts off at times. There are currently recalls on 2011 Sorentos for fire risk while parked and fire risk while driving. However, my VIN is not included in the recall for fire risk while driving, but…

   NHTSA complaint #11564822 · source
9. Filed Dec 19, 2023WABrakesElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the front passenger's side and driver's side door handles; however, after the repair, the front passenger's side door handle fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the front passenger's side door handle was replaced at the contact's expense. Additionally, the contact stated that the front and rear passenger's side doors, and the rear driver's side door failed to open from the…

   NHTSA complaint #11560946 · source
10. Filed Aug 4, 2023NYAirbagsEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

    When I started out with the car it drove alright then I had to take it back and forth for the wiring smelling like it was burning 🔥 but have never caught on fire thank goodness had to get a tuneup spark plugs 🔌 and it still doesn’t work right

    NHTSA complaint #11536599 · source
11. Filed Jun 9, 2023NYTransmission & Drivetrain

    INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE I Have been having this issue with my car and its getting worse and i just bought this car and i need it to be recalled due to high risk of an accident

    NHTSA complaint #11526300 · source
12. Filed May 31, 2023181,000 miVATransmission & Drivetrain

    The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and attempting to accelerate into the HOV lane, the contact became aware that the vehicle failed to accelerate however, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the lane and restarted the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was first experienced on May 9th, 2023, and again on May 30th, 2023. The vehicle…

    NHTSA complaint #11524621 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology