2011 Kia Sorento Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 2011 Kia Sorento, and owners have filed 1,519 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 2011 Kia Sorento
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Engine
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2011 Sorento vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will install Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service…
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module Park outside
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which…
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk,…
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Automatic transmission (power train)
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…
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…
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Switch (exterior lighting)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year…
Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at…
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Driveshaft (power train)
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…
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.
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Caliper (service brakes)
KIA is recalling certain model year 2011 sorento vehicles manufactured from september 14, 2010, through october 4, 2010. Some of the rear brake calipers may not have been properly machined.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear calipers and replace it if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on december 10, 2010. Owners may contact KIA consumer assistance center at 1-800-333-4542.
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Electrical system: wiring
KIA is recalling certain model year 2010 soul and model year 2011 sorento vehicles manufactured from september 7, 2009 through july 30, 2010. A limited number of wiring harnesses supplied by jci and used for the lighting in the KIA soul vehicle's advanced lighting speakers, located in the front door trim panels, and the KIA sorento…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harnesses for the lights in the KIA soul vehicle's advanced lighting speakers, and the wiring harness for the KIA sorento vehicle's interior accent illumination. This service will be…
1,519 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2011 Kia Sorento have filed 1,519 complaints with NHTSA; 42 describe a crash and 63 describe a fire. Reports cite 50 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 80,707 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 203 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I parked my car in the driveway and about 10 min later my car just ignited into flames from underneath the vehicle by the gas tank and i have video from 3 different angles on my security cams that sho”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Unknown or other
“The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on the roof of a parking garage, the vehicle caught on fire unexpectedly. The emergency services were called t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 25, 2026 · Firerelated
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2011 Kia Sorento (Sorento 2WD, Sorento 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–21 / 24–28 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Kia Sorento model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sorento model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Kia Sorento | 1 | 305 |
| 2004 Kia Sorento | 0 | 220 |
| 2005 Kia Sorento | 0 | 307 |
| 2006 Kia Sorento | 1 | 242 |
| 2007 Kia Sorento | 4 | 154 |
| 2008 Kia Sorento | 3 | 217 |
| 2009 Kia Sorento | 2 | 55 |
| 2010 Kia Sorento | 1 | 3 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento | 7 | 1,519 |
| 2012 Kia Sorento | 5 | 880 |
| 2013 Kia Sorento | 5 | 981 |
| 2014 Kia Sorento | 6 | 988 |
| 2015 Kia Sorento | 3 | 751 |
| 2016 Kia Sorento | 8 | 1,254 |
| 2017 Kia Sorento | 4 | 804 |
| 2018 Kia Sorento | 3 | 255 |
| 2019 Kia Sorento | 2 | 428 |
| 2020 Kia Sorento | 1 | 136 |
| 2021 Kia Sorento | 4 | 250 |
| 2022 Kia Sorento | 6 | 190 |
| 2023 Kia Sorento | 3 | 122 |
| 2024 Kia Sorento | 2 | 42 |
| 2025 Kia Sorento | 3 | 75 |
| 2026 Kia Sorento | 2 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2011 Kia Sorento
How do I know if my 2011 Kia Sorento has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2011 Kia Sorento; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 10V388000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.