2011 Kia Sorento Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 1,516 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Kia Sorento overview page.
What owners report
“AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS ON SHOW UPSHIFTS, INTERMITTENTLY. BEGAN @ 3500 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CODE INITIALLY READ AS "TRANSMISSION TEMP LIGHT FLUID". DEALER…”NHTSA complaint 10418833 — filed 08/08/2011
“WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, CAR SUDDENLY JOLTED LIKE I HIT SOMETHING. IT JERKED VERY HARD AND DECELARATED. THE RPMS ALSO WENT UP…”NHTSA complaint 10415961 — filed 07/26/2011
“DRIVING APPROX 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND NOISE THEN THE CAR STARTED GRINDING AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. NO GEARS, CAR LOCKED UP…”NHTSA complaint 10397767 — filed 04/22/2011
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2011 Kia Sorento have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Kia Sorento: 222 of 1,516 complaints on file (14.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2011 Kia Sorento have in total?
1,516 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 42 involved a crash, 61 involved a fire, 50 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
