NHTSA Complaint #10955668 — 2011 KIA SORENTO

DRIVERS SIDE,REAR SEAT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. THE DOOR LOCKS ARE ELECTRICALLY OPENED VIA KEY FOB OPENER. I HAD THIS DIFFICULTY BEFORE BUT HAD BEEN ABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE. I AM FEARFUL THAT THE CHILD LOCK ON THE JAMB OF THE DOOR MAY HAVE BEEN FLIPPED TO THE LOCKED POSITION. IN ANY EVENT THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN AUG OF 2015 WITH 46K ON ODOMETER. THE UNLOCKING ISSUES WERE NOTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AS THE DOOR LOCKS ORIGINALLY ENGAGED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. THE LOCKING PROBLEM WAS LIKELY FIRST NOTED IN EARLY FALL OF 2016. BY NOVEMBER OF 2016 THE DOOR WOULD NEITHER OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB BUTTON, ELECTRICAL SWITCHES ON THE MASTER DOOR CONTROL ON THE DRIVERS AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER INTERIOR ARM RESTS, OR THE THE INTERIOR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE. THE REMAINDER OF THE LOCKS HAVE NOT FAILED TO OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB, ELECTRIC SWITCHES OR WITH THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. THIS SITUATION PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN PARTICULARLY TO DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER AS EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DOOR IS NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT. THE SITUATION HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED.