2011 KIA Sorento Engine Problems
Owners have filed 284 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2011 KIA Sorento, 19% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 103,000 miles.
- 284engine complaints
- 103,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $4,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2011 KIA Sorento at $4,250, and half of them between $1,350 and $8,250.
Based on 14 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2016–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 189 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 284 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 36 a fire, 9 an injury.
KIA Sorento engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sorento | 1 | 17% | 7,000 |
| 2025 Sorento | 19 | 25% | 4,000 |
| 2024 Sorento | 5 | 12% | 31,000 |
| 2023 Sorento | 31 | 25% | 1,600 |
| 2022 Sorento | 52 | 27% | 50,000 |
| 2021 Sorento | 68 | 27% | 33,000 |
| 2020 Sorento | 66 | 48% | 61,500 |
| 2019 Sorento | 158 | 37% | 40,000 |
| 2018 Sorento | 107 | 42% | 72,000 |
| 2017 Sorento | 387 | 48% | 64,000 |
| 2016 Sorento | 695 | 55% | 83,500 |
| 2015 Sorento | 362 | 48% | 87,560 |
| 2014 Sorento | 388 | 39% | 100,000 |
| 2013 Sorento | 496 | 51% | 89,691 |
| 2012 Sorento | 461 | 52% | 99,612 |
| 2011 Sorento | 284 | 19% | 103,000 |
| 2010 Sorento | 1 | 33% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Sorento | 4 | 7% | 140,000 |
| 2008 Sorento | 35 | 16% | 75,000 |
| 2007 Sorento | 7 | 5% | 133,000 |
| 2006 Sorento | 67 | 28% | 92,700 |
| 2005 Sorento | 63 | 21% | 101,000 |
| 2004 Sorento | 46 | 21% | 112,000 |
| 2003 Sorento | 43 | 14% | 118,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Just bought this from a private seller last week and was driving to work. The engine suddenly caught fire and the car essentially exploded and melted.
Intake manifold. A previously repaired recall that is still causing issue. Rough idle and check engine light.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 KIA Sorentos have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 284 owner complaints about engine for the 2011 KIA Sorento (19% of the 1,519 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2011 KIA Sorento engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 103,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2011 KIA Sorento?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,250 (half paid between $1,350 and $8,250), from 14 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
Other 2011 KIA Sorento problems
See all 2011 KIA Sorento problems or engine problems across all Sorento years.