There are 32 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2011 Kia Sorentoin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
While driving, my car slowed down and wouldn't accelerate pass 35 or 40 mph. I had to turn into a parking lot and restart the car. It drove fine, upon restarting. My OBD reader indicated DTC P200A Intake Manifold Runner. AAA informed me of KIA's notice regarding the same issue. This has happened on 4 occasions over the past weekend.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact stated that she was able to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon depression of the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal became stuck, causing the vehicle to unintendedly accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
I have contacted the manufacturer Kia-ConsumerAssistanceCenter@kiausa.com. I notified them first on September 8,2021. I was given a generic response of to contact a dealership about lights being on that won’t cut off, the hatch falling on its own , the windows gets stuck and the door handle not working and more recently November 3, 2021 that the car will just stop accelerating when driving and then resumes by itself. I also followed their instructions and attempted to make and appointment with Kia of Orange Park 6373 Blanding Blvd Jacksonville, Florida 32244 (904) 771-6078 and was told each item to LOOK AT it was $159. I informed them of my warranty that would cover Cost and was denied that option but payment would be needed upfront and then they would bill my warranty and apply the cost. This was for a diagnostic check. Not repair at all. Which means fees needed to paid whether I got the work done or not. My car was there in June for a recall with the engine and that was covered by Kia due to a system update. I tried again in October just for the car acceleration and have not received a response back from [XXX] GENERAL SALES MANAGER [XXX] on the cost to look at the vehicle to see what it’s accelerating on its on. I sent a follow up request again today to Kia the manufacturer and the dealership. I want it documented that I am driving a car that will stall on its own and then accelerates again. I have two kids and if we are killed due to the vehicles stopping in traffic on its own. Or the other mechanical problems it’s now having they should be sued for our deaths. To just look at my vehicle [XXX] states I must pay because his guys need to get paid too. Not for any work just to look at the vehicle and tell me the cost of repairs. Also they will not submit rose cost to my warranty company who states they will cover the repairs unless they are given money upfront. Sounds illegal to me. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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
SUA July 3, 2020, driver was exiting a Kroger fuel station located at 7380 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 in the subject 2011 Kia Sorento SUV vehicle. Suddenly and without warning, the subject Kia vehicle began accelerating without throttle input from the driver. The Kia Sorento then struck the rear of a 2014 RAV 4, pushing it across the street and into a Waffle House parking lot. The 2011 Kia Sorento continued accelerating and gained significant speed before striking a nearby curb and fencing, colliding with an embankment of a retention pond, and ultimately coming to rest in the base of the retention pond. The injured driver was transported from the scene by ambulance, where they began receiving the first portion of many treatments for her injuries. Driver believes they are victim to a runaway throttle control malfunction that caused a sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA). Manufacturer notified. NHTSA has received 54 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), aka U.S. consumer complaints to DOT, regarding Vehicle Speed Control problems with the 2011 Kia Sorento; including NHTSA ID No. 10473983: On August 19, 2012, in Iowa/Missouri, state police footage showed Lauri Ulvestad’s, 47, of Ames, Iowa, 35-minute ride of terror after the accelerator of her Kia Sorento jammed, causing her to careen down a highway at speeds up to 120 miles per hour for 59 miles. The accelerator in this other 2011 Kia Sorento SUV became stuck. A dash-camera video captured by the Missouri State Highway Patrol officers who soon began following her shows the 35 minutes of terror that Ulvestad endured as her car traveled 59 miles at speeds as high as 115 mph. Apparently Kia "technicians were unable to duplicate the issue and this appears to be an isolated incident," per the South Korean company’s statement. "KMA will continue to investigate and analyze the facts of this situation." Source: ABC News. Petition for Defect Investigation. Special Crash Investigation.
FFELT LIKE TIRES SKIDDED THEN SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MILES AN HOUR AN 4WHEEL DRIVE ANI LOCK BRAKE SYMBOWL CAME ON WAS RUNNING ABOUT 50 HAD TO PULL OVER AN CUT OFF ENGINE THEN RESTART
RECALL!!!WHEN ACCELERATING MORE THAN 60-80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ECO SENSOR LIGHT POPS ON AND MY SUV JERKS BACK THEN PICKS UP SPEED CAUSING THE BACK OF MY HEAD TO HIT YOUR HEAD RESTRAINT. IT IS VERY SCARY!!!!
WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM OREGON TO IDAHO I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL GOING APPROXIMATELY 67MPH AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND NOTHING SO I DISABLED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO PRESS ON THE GAS AND IT CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER SO I PULLED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT HAD BEEN TO THE MECHANIC THAT WEEK TO BE CHECKED OUT AND WHEN IT WAS TOWED BACK THE MECHANIC REPORTED IT HAD BLOWN TWO CYLINDERS.
MY KIA WAS BEING DETAILS, THE PERSON DETAILING THE VEHICLE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE. HE PUSHED THE START BUTTON DIDN'T START THE VEHICLE. HE STARTED IT BY INSERTING THE FOB IN THE CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED AT HIGH RPMS, DRIVER HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PLACED THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR EXITED THE GARAGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DRIVER APPLIED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK HE TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE CREEK THE STEERING DID NOT WORK.. THE VEHICLE DID STOP AFTER IT CRASHED INTO THE CREEK THAT WAS NEAR THE BUSINESS. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY TO HIS HEAD WHEN HE TRIED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AFTER IT ENTERED THE CREEK. VEHICLE WAS PULLED FROM THE CREEK. DRIVER DID SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.
AFTER OUR PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CANCEL BUTTON WOULD GET STUCK AT THE TOP OF THE BUTTON. THEREFORE NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM COMPLETELY. WITHOUT THE BRAKE SWITCH IT COULD CAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO NOT DISENGAGE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
MY SON WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I-5 NEAR SALEM, OR WHEN HIS CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CAR HAD A 50,000 MILE AND $1000.00 SERVICE 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I DID ON LINE RESEARCH AND SAW SEVERAL INSTANCES OF KIA SORENTOS STOPPING SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY. KIA OFFERED $400.00 TO COMPENSATE OUR INCONVENIENCE BUT I THINK THE US CONSUMER SAFETY IS WORTH MUCH MORE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATION OF THIS INCIDENCE. THANK YOU, [XXX] THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE GOING 75MPH WHEN MY RPM'S SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY UP AND THEN DOWN, PAST 0. THE CAR MADE A HUGE JOLT BUT THEN KEPT DRIVING WITH NO TACHOMETER. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE LATER I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO GET OFF HIGHWAY AND THEN MERGE ONTO ANOTHER INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AND TOTALLY SHUT OFF. I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES W FIXING IT AT KIA. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR 2X AS WELL AS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. IT CONTINUES TO VIOLENTLY JERK DAILY, TYPICALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AROUND 40 MPH AND AGAIN STALLED WHILE IN DRIVE LAST WEEK. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THE CAR IS RUNNING AS DESIGNED BUT I JUST HAVE A STEADY FOOT AND THE ENGINE ISN'T SURE WHAT GEAR IT SHOULD BE I WHEN I'M GOING 40MPH. *TR
DURING EARLY MORNING STARTUP, VEHICLE ACCELERATED PAST 3000 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS. AFTER DECELERATION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO DRIVE, A LOUD THUMP WAS HEARD AND A FORWARD THRUST WAS FELT. NO FORWARD MOTION OCCURRED BECAUSE OF BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSION. *TR
STARTED VEHICLE 7AM. SHIFTED FROM P TO R. ENGINE REVVED ON ITS OWN. SHIFTED BACK TO P. OBSERVED CLUNK SOUND FROM TRANSMISSION. SHIFTED BACK TO R AND OBSERVED CLUNK SOUND. REVERSED TO STREET. SHIFTED TO D. VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT DEPRESSION ACCELERATOR TO 20 MPH. PULLED OVER. SHIFTED TO P. TURNED OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED VEHICLE. CLUNK SOUND OR SUDDEN ACCELERATION NOT OBSERVED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 AND SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN (SOUNDED AS IF SOMEONE HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL). I TAPPED THE BRAKE AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASH MULTIPLE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE LIT. AFTER TAPPING THE BRAKE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT WORK. I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER- AT THIS POINT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. TRIED TO RESTART AFTER FEW MINUTES AND IT WOULD NOT START. A FEW MINUTES LATER IT DID START BUT SOUNDED BAD. I CONTACTED KIA AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND A REGIONAL KIA REP WOULD INVESTIGATE MY VEHICLE (WHAT THAT MEANS, I DON'T KNOW QUITE YET). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AND REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO A BUSY STREET WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO VARIOUS PARTS OF HER BODY AND LATER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE FOR TREATMENT OF UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THEY WOULD PERFORM A WARRANTY CHECK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 25,000. UPDATED 12/21/12*LJ UPDATED 1/9/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING IN THE PARK POSITION BUT SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BE PUT INTO THE PARK POSITION AND THEN BECAME STUCK IN THAT POSITION. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OVER THE PHONE THAT HER BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WAS LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A MORE COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS AND THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 11/13/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLED AND STATED THIS FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON WHO TO CONTACT NEXT AND ANY ATTORNEY INFORMATION. UPDATED 11/20/2012 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE ACCELERATOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT SLOWED TO A STOP. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE ACCELERATOR RESPONDED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Showing 1–20 of 32 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026