2011 Kia Sorento: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2069 complaints
2069
Total Complaints
80,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
65
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

36,242 25th Percentile
80,000 Median Mileage
118,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
283
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
241
STRUCTURE:BODY
232
POWER TRAIN
222
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
213
AIR BAGS
181
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
96
SERVICE BRAKES
71
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
60
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
59

Severity Assessment

65
Crashes
106
Fires
75
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TOOK POSSESSION OF 2011 KIA SORRENTO ON 2-18-2010. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 14 INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR HESITATED ALMOST DYING OUT AND THEN SURGING FORWARD. AT ONE TIME IT DIED COMPLETELY OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE BEING IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TWICE IT HESITATED AND SURGED ..."
"TOOK POSSESSION OF 2011 KIA SORRENTO ON 2-18-2010. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 14 INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR HESITATED ALMOST DYING OUT AND THEN SURGING FORWARD. AT ONE TIME IT DIED COMPLETELY OUT AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE BEING IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TWICE IT HESITATED AND SURGED ..."
"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH BUTTON START/SMART KEY. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER SHIFTED INTO PARK BUT DUE TO THE PUSH BUTTON/SMART KEYS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28