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2011 Kia Sorento: jerking or lurching

66 of the 1,520 complaints about the 2011 Kia Sorento describe jerking or lurching.

owner complaints
66
of this car's complaints
4%
typical mileage
44,217
recalls
2
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls and 18 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Jerking or lurching by model year

What owners say

Filed Aug 26, 2025 · Engine · 205,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. There was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally stalled and was restarted after pulling over to the side of the road. Whenever the vehicle failed to restart immediately, the contact would disconnect the battery and wait approximately 5-10 minutes before reconnecting the battery and restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally stalls while driving uphill. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle had several pending recall repairs. The dealer informed the contact that since the vehicle made the knocking sound, the knock sensors and O2 sensors needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the mileage was above the approved mileage for the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure progressively worsened. The contact recently received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V877000 (ENGINE). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 205,000.

Filed Nov 29, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · 135,750 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked with the transmission slipping gear with an engine misfire. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone and a code for the knock sensor failure was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had replaced the spark plugs on the vehicle. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the knock sensor had failed. The dealer related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer cleared the code, but the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a different certified mechanic who confirmed the diagnostic result and cleared the code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,750.

Filed Sep 28, 2024 · Airbags, Transmission · GA

1. Air bag light has been on for over a year. Was checked at dealership, and was told there is a recall on sensor. 2. Power Train, unknown of what's going on. Riding down the road all of a sudden it stalls for a minute. It's a hard jerk, like it's not getting gas, or the transmission is out of sinc. This started about two years ago. Took it to my local repairman, and he said it was a warning in the tire wheel letting me know something was wrong in the wheel. They repaired it, and I had no more problems until recently. It is doing it again. A hard jerk when I'm driving. 3. Other, passenger front and rear and drivers side rear doors locked up and I could not open them. This happen about two years ago. Took car to a certified electrical repairman and it cost me a fortune to get repaired. The clips that lock and unlock doors had to be replace. The repair was very costly.

Filed Jul 23, 2024 · Transmission · WV

When I place my vehicle in park it lurches forward several times

Filed Jul 2, 2024 · Engine · NJ

Was driving on the [XXX] with my children and puppy on a truck/car route and my engine made a noise and the car slowed down and jerked. I pulled over, turned my car off to check for smoke, leaked, and my tires but nothing seemed wrong. When I tried to start the car the engine light came on blinking and then the battery and oil light came on. The safety of my family and I was freshly put at risk with hundreds of trucks passing by and my car almost swerving into and oncoming truck in the lane to my right. My car has been towed the the dealership where I purchased it to be checked today on 7/3/2024. The used vehicle was purchased at Brick City Motors at 346 Broadway Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104. I purchased this vehicle from this dealership on [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 21, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · 285,658 miles · ID

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed, there was a jerking and grinding noise detected when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle was slow to stop. The engine, traction, ABS, and Hill Assist warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed and towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 285,658. The VIN was 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 Jul 14, 2022 · Transmission · MO

While driving engine will die unexpectedly & jerk the car, sometimes it will immediately start up on it’s own, sometimes don’t. Has done this several times in the last few months that I’m afraid to drive it. So it’s sitting, while I’m still making payments.

Filed Jul 9, 2022 · Engine · NY

My car is going to kill me. It stalls while driving or sitting at lights. Sometimes while I’m driving it surges and bucks and jerks. I’m really concerned with the stalling issues almost got rear ended 2 days ago. I drive on the northway and can’t afford this car stalling while driving I’ll be killed.

Filed Jun 25, 2021 · Engine · AL · fire

A few days before we were to go on vacation we received a campaign letter from Kia about reprogramming the ecm because of the knock sensors. In this letter it stated that after the repairs were done the would warrant the engine for 10 years or 150000 miles from first in service date. My Kia has 144417 miles on it. Because it was so close to our vacation time I didn't have time to take it to the dealer and get the campaign done on it, I was going to do it when I returned from vacation. When we were returning on I-75 outside Chattanooga Tn I heard a loud noise, check eng light started flashing, it jerked me into the right lane which I barely avoided a crash with a vehicle in that lane, smoke was coming up behind me after getting the vehicle to the shoulder of the road some lady pulled up in front of us and said the car was on fire i raised the hood and it was burning at the firewall and underneath it. I instructed my son to get my wife and 3 yr old grandson out of the car, they were in the back seat. I happened to have a case of water in the ack so I started getting out bottles of water out and pouring them on the flames when a dot truck pulled up with a fire extinguisher and finished putting out the flames. There were no warning lights or noises on before this happened. I have been a mechanic all my life and upon inspection I saw that it had slung a rod out the side of the block and that the oil hitting the hot exhaust had set fire to the vehicle. I had to pay 350.00 to get it towed back to my house. I called Kia on Monday and he took all this information down and then he told me they wouldn't do anything about it because I didn't have the campaign done before it happened. I think that Kia ought to put me an engine in this vehicle

Filed Feb 27, 2021 · Driver assistance, Transmission · AL

The engine light came on and all of a sudden, I couldnt accelerate any longer. It occasionally goes off but anytime it comes on, I cant accelerate and the car jerks when changing gear

Filed Oct 26, 2020 · Acceleration · 4 miles · CA

The transmission or engine tends to stall in the middle of driving like not changing gears, gets locked, jerks back and forth till it unlocks or changes gears while at the same time slowing or stopping car in it's tracks. Rpm go to 0. Feel like a transmission slippage . Sounds like trying to change gears. It happens at least 2-4 time a year since I have had the car. These past two years the gears locking is getting worse and the car slows down instantly from driving on the frwy 60 MPH down to 35 MPH instantly almost having cars hit me from behind. Same for driving on the street going 20-40 MPH dropping

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmissionReported October 6, 2015 · 377,062 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 15V626000 · Recall details

Power train: driveline: driveshaftReported April 25, 2011 · 12,690 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 11V258000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2011 Kia Sorento jerking

Is jerking or lurching a common problem on the 2011 Kia Sorento?

66 of 1,520 owner complaints about the 2011 Kia Sorento (4%) mention jerking or lurching. The model year with the most reports is 2011.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2011 Kia Sorento?

There are 2 recalls and 18 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2011 Kia Sorento

Door locks 233Airbag light 135Check engine light 102Stalling 100Headlights 98Fire or smoke 73Engine failure 57Loss of power 49Knocking 46Won't shift 43ABS 40Won't start 35Transmission failure 32Adaptive cruise 31Harsh shifting 31Key fob 27Grinding brakes 26Hesitation 26Pulling 26Sunroof shattered 24Warning lights 18Sudden acceleration 16No deployment 15Whining noise 15Slipping 12Power steering loss 10Backup camera 9Ball joint 9Brake failure 8Oil consumption 8Overheating 8Seat belt 7Coil spring 6

All model years of the Kia Sorento

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