2011 Kia Sorento: loss of power steering

Filed May 3, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · 225,000 miles · IA

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the "Theft Prevention" warning light was illuminated, and several other warning lights were blinking on and off. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering and braking functionality. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that after several attempts a relative jumpstarted the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence and parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the battery became drained. The contact stated that when the vehicle was jumpstarted, the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact no longer drove the vehicle. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 225,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Mar 12, 2024 · Driver assistance, Steering · LA

3/11/24 The first thing I noticed was that my cruise control shut off with a couple of jerks to my vehicle. Then a few minutes later, I lost all steering, put in it park. There was smoke coming from under the hood, but not fire. It is sitting at my house still. A couple of months or so ago, when I received the letter of the recall, I called the dealership I bought my vehicle from and inquired about it. I was told that the part was not available but when it does, I will receive another letter. Also wanted to note, that right before I made that call, my engine light came on the day before that. Today, I called the same dealership to let them know what happened yesterday and they told me there was a cost for a tow truck to come get my vehicle. I was given a phone number to Kia, to which I called and started some kind of process. But it stopped when she told me it was going to be over $200 for a tow truck to come get my vehicle. I am not able to pay that nor feel as if I should due to Kia knowing about the recall and danger of same. Right when I lost steering and a red lamp popped up. I immediately parked it.

Filed Oct 18, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · VT

While driving, the front end of the car made a thud sound and vibrated, the lights on the panel came on, the engine light, battery light, key light, and the steering wheel locked up. This happened 3 times in a week. If we had been going faster it could have caused an accident because of car suddenly slowing down and loss of steering. After turning off and then back on it worked again but never know when it could happen again. Yes my car is available upon request. No codes come up when our mechanic diagnosed it, hasn't been to a Kia dealership yet, can't get in until Nov. 6. Refer to article "2011 Kia Sorrento's problems with sudden surging and engine stalls led to 7 investigations, 6 recalls." My mechanic referred us to this article as he thinks our car has a related problem. This problem happened without any warning.

Filed Jul 18, 2022 · Engine · MI

Driving the vehicle on a two lane road at approximately 50 mph (steady cruise state), the vehicle experienced bump or jump in the powertrain (shutter). I immediately lost power to continue at the desired speed (engine missing or lack of power). I slowly tipped into the throttle, but the vehicle was not responding as expected. I put the vehicle in neutral and slightly revved the engine to see if the engine would run normal without load, and it would increase in RPM, but not smoothly. I let the engine return to idle and the engine stalled. I lost my power steering and power brakes and had to muscle the vehicle into a parking lot where I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop and put it into Park. While this event took place the engine or vehicle warning lamp was on the instrument cluster. I got out of the vehicle and looked under hood to see if I could see any obvious signs of an issue and found nothing. I then restarted the vehicle after having the key in the off position. It started and seems to rev up normal. I put the vehicle in drive and cautiously drove the vehicle to my home (about 3 miles). There is no sign of the issue and no lights on the dash. This is not a condition I would want my wife or daughters to encounter, as it produced no warning leading up to the event. The loss of power steering and brakes makes the vehicle difficult to maneuver in a safe manner. It's difficult to trust this vehicle now. The mileage is 92K.

Filed Nov 5, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · SC

Vehicles interior lights, interior dash lights, headlights and other panel lights click and flicker off and on during various periods of time. The headlights stay off for a few seconds and repetitively at random times. This has occurred both early in the morning, in the evenings, it also happens just in the middle of the day to the dash lights and with the clicking. This has occurred in winter as well as summer. Originally it only occurred when it was raining, now it occurs daily. This has occurred when the vehicle has been in park and while driving on highways, on back roads, also at stop lights or a stop sign. The clicking has also occurred when the vehicle has been off, it will start making clicking noises coming from the dash area, the same noise as it makes when the headlights and interior and dash lights flicker when it is on. Also after having a recall repaired I am still having problems with the engine start stop not starting, as well as the doors not unlocking with the kia remote or by pushing the button on the exterior handle. The vehicle has also lost steering control during excessive rain. This occurred on a side street while I was attempting to turn off of a main road onto a side road the vehicle would not turn. It proceeded to go at a diagonal, only partially turning into a front lawn during the turn. It was raining when this occurred. I know there have been other issues with the phantom headlights in other kia models. And they are not fixing the issue, they are saying it is not occurring. Also they are saying they need to replace a part that cost $400 but it may not fix the issue. I have left the manager a message at the kia in myrtle beach and have asked for a good faith repair and I have not heard back.

Filed Jan 20, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · IL

When driving car jerks and engine cuts out losing all power and mobility. Usually comes back on within seconds. This happens when driving at any rate of speed. A few times I had to pull over to the side of the road with no power and restart the car. When losing all power I have been on the highway driving 55-60mph. All power is lost and with no power steering I have had to get the car off the road out of the way of traffic. This has happened about 6 times. Often smell something burning or melting. Smoke from dash a few times. No fires yet... Also passenger side head lamp continues to go out because of the wires and harness melting.

Filed Mar 9, 2018 · Engine, Steering · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sorento. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering ability and stalled. The vehicle was not able to restart after numerous attempts. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to valley hi kia (14644 valley center dr, victorville, ca 92395, (760) 955-0046). The vehicle was diagnosed, but not repaired. The results of the diagnosis was not known. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was no longer in the contact's possession. The failure mileage was unknown. *tt

Filed Jun 17, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 29,000 miles · NY

Found this on another web site: www.topclassactions.com (see below for description) very interesting: apparently this defect has been going on since 2002!! Well it's still happening I have the 2011 6 cyl awd and found out it's still a defect in the 2012 and 2013. Nothing more to say but 'shame on kia motors' your lack of taking ownership for this defect is just discusting. The federal safety agency please help us.....lives need to be saved; I am bleary eyed reading all the powertrain defects for the 2011 kia sorento. The kia sorento is prone to catastrophic engine failure, according to a class action lawsuit filed in new jersey. Plaintiffs allege in the kia sorento class action lawsuit that kia motors knowingly concealed that its 2002-2009 sorento crossovers were manufactured with a defective engine part called the crank sprocket. This alleged engine defect leads to a catastrophic chain of events that starts with severe heat buildup, the release of debris, and then leads to loss of steering control, engine failure and the potential for a hazardous accident, according to the class action lawsuit.

Filed Jun 15, 2013 · Engine, Steering · 29,350 miles · NY

While driving my 2011 kia sorento it just lost power, it would not go forward but the engine was still running and all the dashboard idiot lights lit up. I was in a parking lot with no one behind me otherwise I would have been rear-ended if this happened driving on the road or highway. The car would not go and there was no steering response. I turned off the key to kill the engine and then restarted the car. The car started and I was able to get to my destination and park. I checked this problem online by searching kia sorento stalling and found a dozen or more video's from people experiencing the same issue that I just experienced. Some of the drivers found that if you use the car in the manual shift mode the stalling did not seem to happen. This is a real potential disaster. You loose power and have no way of moving the car to get out of the way when you are in traffic on a highway...like riding in a 'death wish car'. The video's also stating that they experienced the stalling many times and once it started it got worse. They also stated that kia dealerships were of little help since they need to reproduce the stalling and since it's just random that is not easy. The videos were taped when the issue was actually taking place and showed the tach at about 15 RPM's all the engine lights lit but no steering response or power to move the car. I am hoping this can become a recall and kia will fix this stalling problem and keep the people in these kia sorento's safe! If this is a computer problem then there should be an error log to show when the car lost power for no reason. Kia needs to take ownership of this defect and fix this potential deadly problem.

Filed Oct 11, 2011 · Engine · 8,700 miles · IL · fire

While driving down the expressway, without warning, there was a catastrophic engine failure causing one or two of the connecting rods to blow through the oil pan and start a fire from the front of the vehicle to the back underneath the carriage. The flames came up the sides and back of the car. Needless to say it was extremely frightening. Looking at the damage of the car I never expected them to attempt to repair this car yet they did. The car was down for almost two months, the second engine and power steering failed before we even drove the repaired car off the lot. Kia still did not want to do anything but repair the car again. They said, "these things happen thats why you have a warranty". These things have never happened to me or anyone I know in the 30 years I have been driving. You buy a new car to avoid such problems. The car has now been returned to me and it is still not right. I just took it in for them to blow out the vents and filters. There was still remnants of the fire extinguisher coming out when you turned on the air. This car is defective and should have a salvaged title. I was forced to put in a law suit.