2011 Kia Sorento: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Dec 19, 2023 · Brakes, Electrical · WA

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the front passenger's side and driver's side door handles; however, after the repair, the front passenger's side door handle fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the front passenger's side door handle was replaced at the contact's expense. Additionally, the contact stated that the front and rear passenger's side doors, and the rear driver's side door failed to open from the outside while pulling the doors handles. The contact stated that the steering control buttons, and the cruise control mode had become inoperable. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact also stated that while shifting into park (P), the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound and the gear shifter moved beyond the park (P) position. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The contact stated that the interior lights of the vehicle failed to turn off. The ABS, TPMS, traction control, check engine, air bag warning lights, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, 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 local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Jul 5, 2022 · Engine · 98,000 miles · CO · fire

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, an abnormal clunking sound had emitted from the vehicle. The contact then heard parts falling out of the engine as white smoke began to release from the vehicle's hood. The check engine warning light was also illuminated on the instrument panel as the contact pulled over. The contact lifted that hood and saw flames coming from undeath the vehicle. The contact immediately shut the hood as smoke continued to discharge from the vehicle. The fire department arrived at the scene; however, the fire had dissolved on its own. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic and was informed that a rod had blown in the engine resulting in engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer and was initially informed that her vehicle would be repaired under an extended warranty; however, the manufacturer later denied the warranty extension since she failed to have a manufacturer campaign performed on the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Filed Jul 5, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 117,000 miles · NE

First issue began when car started pulling to right when going around corners on highway. Took to shop; paid for new brakes including pads, rotors, front calipers plus front driver side ball joint replaced. Ball joint rusted out so bad it crumbled to pieces when tire was taken off. Not out of shop for even a full day when the car started pulling again. This time it was a hard pull to the right while going straight on highway and in town. This time the pull was so strong the car went off road. This time it felt like steering went out completely. So back to shop to find out that the front passenger side ball joint was also shot and needed replaced. Car been out of shop barely 2 wks; now front end is making a hard clunky noise when turning and going over just the slightest bumps. The car feels like you are driving over boulders and sounds like the whole front end is about to fall apart. So back to the shop for third time in less than one month. Read multiple complaints online regarding these same issues? Im pretty sure I'll be paying for struts, shocks and/or complete repair of front end suspension after already putting $800 in to it. How has this car not been recalled for such issues?

Filed Mar 28, 2019 · 65,000 miles · OH

My sorento makes a clunking sound when I hit a bump, pothole and when. Pulling out of my driveway. Or turning the wheel at school circle drop off. I took car to two different garages. The mechanic test drove and checked frontend of car he could not find anything. He found voluntary service campaign.sc 082a it say the intermediate shaft need replaced. It drive good but, it sounds like its gonna fall apart. The nosie is getting worse. My car was built june 4th 2010. The voluntary service is between oct23 2009-may22 2010. Could I please have my car added by extended the campaign service. Sc 082a. April 2011. I have a service appointment on april 4th to get three other recalls to get fixed.

Filed Aug 31, 2018 · Transmission · 105,789 miles · PA

My transmission isn't shifting properly I cant even reverse 1st 2nd and part of 3rd gears are rough shifting. Its also causing it to make a clunking sound in the rear axel also wont shift while turning.

Filed Apr 10, 2018 · Engine · 115,000 miles · NY

While driving about 40mph on a highway with a speed limit of 55 MPH, the engine sized without any warning. The car would not accelerate and went about 1 mile and started making a clunking sound. Car was pulled over immediately and the all the warning lights came on and the car was inoperable. Cooper kia (5056 commercial dr., yorkville ny) was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed. Referenced the federal safety agency campaign # 17v224000 (engine and cooling) as a possible solution. Advised that this engine was not in a recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure was about 115,000 miles.

Filed Mar 23, 2018 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · AL

I am having the same problems I have read about with the 2011 2.4 engine. Sudden loss of power when the pedal is depressed, stalling upon acceleration, jerking motion and a loud clanking noise when shifting from park, hard shifts from 1st and 2nd gear, and a constant whirring noise in the motor while driving, not while in park. I believe the same defect that affected the transmission on the 4 cylinder engines needs to be investigated on the v6 engines.

Filed Aug 13, 2017 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · IA

While I was driving on a city street and turning a corner the car made a loud clunking sound then stopped. The engine continued to run but the car wouldn't move forward. Tried to shift gears but engine just reved up but would go. Had to put the emergency brake on to keep it from rolling. Finally had to have it towed off the street. We took it to a mechanic and he thought it was the same issue as the federal safety agency campaign id 11v258000 and group service campaign number sc 082 [rev 5] so he called the local kia dealer to confirm. Despite my car fitting make/model/year/manufacture date they said this VIN was not part of the recall. He suggested that I do further research.

Filed Aug 8, 2017 · Transmission · 86,120 miles · KS

I was driving at 65 miles an hour on flat roads and the car went to shift to a higher gear and clunk the transmission feels as though it is going to break. This has happened numerous times. I have also had trouble with the clunking noise when I am going 40 and getting ready to speed up. Please help fix this problem for the saftey of others.

Filed Oct 15, 2015 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · CA

Vehicle falls out of gear when I'm slowly backing up in reverse gear or slowly starting to drive forward at just about 2 MPH. I try to accelerate but my vehicle doesn't move. Also, on a few occasions, the vehicle clunked/jerked backward or forward very aggressively (feeling like it hit another car when nothing is nearby) which has caused me to fear hitting something or someone. The car does not seem to recognize when it is in gear.

Filed Nov 17, 2013 · Electrical, Transmission · 95,035 miles · IN

Kia sorento infrequent and unpredictable loss of power during moderate acceleration. During certain conditions, which have included moderate uphill climbs, highway driving and city under 50mph and at moderate acceleration, the vehicle will suddenly loose power, fail to upshift when needed, or show no signs of power, followed by erratic shifting and a loud clunk. At other times on highway driving, the car will, for no apparent reason, downshift on flat sections when speeds are between 45-65mph. Multiple trips to the dealer: 1/8/13, 95,035 miles- dealer could not replicate, inhibitor switch bracket installed, did not resolve the issue 7/26/13, 106,574 miles-electronic stability and ABS light come on, similar to stop lamp switch, dealer could not replicate, did see error codes but did not provide them to customer, reset the computer. Not resolved. 10/3/13, 107,842-transmission still jerking, dealer tried replacing automatic transmission fluid, did not resolve the issue. Took to alternative dealer-road test with customer-advised the problem will need to become worse and more frequent to diagnose. This is leading to unsafe conditions due to unexpected loss of power.

Filed Oct 23, 2013 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · IL

I started the car, put it into reverse and as I was backing the car goes out of reverse and into neutral. The r indicator on the dash disappears and the car revs real high then slams into gear and lurches forward and makes a sound as if I have hit something. I bought the car in oct 2012 and the dealer didn't disclose this. I've had it in 2xs to another dealer and they cant duplicated he issue. As time goes on it happens more and more frequently.