2011 Kia Sorento recalls (8)

Every 2011 Kia Sorento recall

Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.

• Engine · NHTSA 23V877000

  Dec 21, 2023Engine

  Problem

  Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2011 Sorento vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

  Risk

  A fire increases the risk of injury.

  Fix

  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 at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC291.

  Full recall details for 23V877000 →

• Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA 23V652000

  Sep 25, 2023Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/ModulePark outside

  Problem

  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 can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

  Risk

  An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

  Fix

  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, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

  Full recall details for 23V652000 →

• Power Train · NHTSA 15V626000

  Jun 10, 2015Power Train:Automatic Transmission

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 15V626000 →

• Exterior Lighting · NHTSA 13V114000

  Jan 4, 2013Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch

  Problem

  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 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

  Risk

  Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

  Full recall details for 13V114000 →

• Equipment · NHTSA 11E041000

  Jun 10, 2011Equipment

  Problem

  CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 56024, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ AND KIA SORENTO VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.

  Risk

  WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

  Fix

  CURT MANUFACTURING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESS. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MANUFACTURING AT 1-715 831-8713.

  Full recall details for 11E041000 →

• Power Train · NHTSA 11V258000

  Apr 25, 2011Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 11V258000 →

• Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA 10V599000

  Nov 24, 2010Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper

  Problem

  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.

  Risk

  AS A RESULT, BRAKE FLUID WILL LEAK, FOLLOWED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW AND SHOULD BE CHECKED, THEN A SOFT OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL FEEL, AND IF NOT SERVICED, REDUCED BRAKING POWER WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 10V599000 →

• Electrical System · NHTSA 10V388000

  Aug 31, 2010Electrical System:Wiring

  Problem

  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 VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION, LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR TRIM PANELS, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SOLDERED.

  Risk

  WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY OCCUR THAT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

  Fix

  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 PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

  Full recall details for 10V388000 →

2011 Kia Sorento complaints and service bulletins

Owners filed 1,519 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Sorento, reporting 42 crashes, 63 fires, 50 injuries. Kia has issued at least 202 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.

Most-reported components

• Engine284
• Structure269
• Power Train266
• Electrical System247
• Unknown Or Other214
• Air Bags183

Service bulletins by component

• Equipment (65)
• Electrical System (55)
• Engine and Engine Cooling (21)
• Engine (20)
• Power Train (19)
• Air Bags (18)

Read Kia Sorento owner complaints and bulletins, every year

NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2011 Kia Sorento

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 10 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.

• Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
  AQ23002Opened Nov 17, 2023Open
• Loss of Motive Power
  DP22003Opened Sep 12, 2022Closed Dec 12, 2023
• Engine Fires
  EA21003Opened Dec 22, 2021Closed Feb 5, 2024
• Throttle control system vulnerabilities
  DP21003Opened Nov 12, 2021Closed Jun 20, 2023
• Headlight Failure
  PE20008Opened Jun 1, 2020Closed Jan 25, 2022
• Non-crash Vehicle Fires
  PE19004Opened Mar 29, 2019Closed Dec 22, 2021
• Non-crash Vehicle Fires
  DP18003Opened Aug 21, 2018Closed May 10, 2019
• Panoramic Glass Sunroof Breakage
  EA14002Opened May 12, 2014Closed Jan 15, 2021
• Panoramic Sunroof Breakage
  PE13035Opened Oct 21, 2013Closed May 21, 2014
• Transmission Intermediate Driveshaft
  PE11010Opened Apr 7, 2011Closed May 10, 2011

Other Kia Sorento model years

← 2010 Kia Sorento · 2012 Kia Sorento →

• 2026 (2)
• 2025 (4)
• 2024 (2)
• 2023 (4)
• 2022 (9)
• 2021 (5)
• 2020 (1)
• 2019 (2)
• 2018 (3)
• 2017 (4)
• 2016 (8)
• 2015 (3)
• 2014 (6)
• 2013 (5)
• 2012 (5)
• 2011 (8)
• 2010 (2)
• 2009 (3)
• 2008 (2)
• 2007 (2)

All Kia Sorento recalls, every model year