Problems · by component

2011 Kia Sorento engine problems

284 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Sorento cite engine, 19% of all 1,520 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
284
19% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
36
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineFire reportedODI 11713565
“The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a rattling sound coming from the vehicle with smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was unable to restart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine block had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 189,711.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2026EngineODI 11709211
“The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine). The contact stated that the engine had seized while driving approximately 40-45 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had owned the vehicle for a year. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who declined to service the vehicle due to the contact not having the oil change records. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2025EngineODI 11697949
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2025Power train, EngineODI 11693934
“the car has been running fine with no problem. I noticed as I was driving the engine light came on. i made it to my destination and as I was processing to head some where else i heard an unusual sound and the smell of burning smoke. Then all of a sudden there's a lot of smoke coming from the car and the car was stalling as if it was cutting off. I manage to get the car to a staff place since it seems as though the car was running hot. the car had to get towed to a mechanic shop and he thought maybe it was the radiator but it was a blown head gasket in the engine.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2025EngineODI 11691809
“I was driving and my Kia started over heating and smoking and smelled like plastic burning I got it towed to the Hendricks of Kia and it sat there for 2weeks and I contacted them about giving me a lender until they fix my engine problem and they told me that my engine is not under warranty but is a recall I didn’t blow my engine I recently bought it about 6 months ago”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineFire reportedODI 11690083

Showing 6 of 284 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine

Free remedy

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

EngineReported Dec 21, 2023NHTSA 23V877000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.