2012 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 880 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 21 involved a crash and 77 involved a fire. 36 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineDec 2, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Campaign 20V750000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 6, 2015
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."
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.
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.
Campaign 15V626000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
81 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Sep 14, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a service center, where it was diagnosed and DTC: V1481 was retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Aug 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the air bag warning light was also illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the recall repair was performed. The failure reoccurred six months later. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was informed that the failure was caused by wiring issues with the front passenger's seat. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The vehicle was towed to an alternate dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 227,079.
Steering, Air bags, Engine, Apr 27, 2026
The clock spring needs fixed no features including the horn is working in my airbag light is staying on. Also I now have a loud knock in my motor I understand this should fall under the extended 15 yr 150k warranty; 2012 Kia vehicles (specifically the Sorento) with V6 engines are covered under major safety recalls for engine failure and fire risks. The primary issue involves metal debris from manufacturing that can cause premature engine bearing wear, stalling, and fire. You should check your VIN on the NHTSA site or Kia's recall page to confirm, as these recalls are still active.
Air bags, Feb 10, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was permanently illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
Air bags, Structure, Engine, Sep 18, 2025, crash
Hey I’ve Recently Wrecked My Vehicle Due To Malfunctions This Year Just A Few Months Ago & I Reported It To The Dealer Before I Crashed It. That Something Was Wrong With The Engine And Also Sent The Dealership I Purchased It From Videos Before Hand But Nobody Would Listen To Me. Now My Car Is Sitting In A lot Engine Blowed And I Can’t Afford Another One. I Have Proof , Names And Also Couldn’t Get My Car Fixed Because I Only Had Liability Insurance Only. No Report Was Filed Because Me And The Other Vehicle Was Transported To Uab Hospital.
Air bags, Oct 13, 2023, crash
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 42 MPH, another vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign, and she collided with the other vehicle head-on. As a result, her vehicle careened off the roadway and into a ditch, colliding with an unoccupied parked vehicle before coming to a complete stop. The air bags did not deploy. A police report and injuries were reported. The driver and her passengers were transported to an area hospital by EMS and treated for various injuries. The driver was treated for injuries to her neck, right shoulder, both wrists, lower back, and left knee; her husband was treated for a two-inch laceration to his neck; and her son was treated for an injury to his right knee. The driver of the other vehicle was treated at an area hospital for unknown injuries. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it remained as the contact had yet to hear from her insurance provider. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Air bags, May 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Air bags, Sep 1, 2022
Airbag light is on, indicating a malfunction with the SRS. This is a common issue with this make and model from this year, with several thousand complaints online. Repairs are often over a couple of thousand dollars Since this is such a common issue and complaint, I believe a recall should be issued due to faulty equipment, and the financial burden should not fall on the consumer. The issue began a few months ago, and has been checked by a mechanic. The mechanic has confirmed that there is an issue with the SRS, and the airbag could potentially not deploy when expected, or could deploy without cause, which could cause an accident resulting in injury or death.
Air bags, Mar 9, 2022
Airbag light is on, indicating a malfunction with the SRS. This is a common issue with this make and model from this year, with several thousand complaints online. Repairs are often over $3,000. Since this is such a common issue and complaint, I believe a recall should be issued due to faulty equipment, and the financial burden should not fall on the consumer. The issue began a few months ago, and has been checked by a mechanic. The mechanic has confirmed that there is an issue with the SRS, and the airbag could potentially not deploy when expected, or could deploy without cause, which could cause an accident resulting in injury or death.
Air bags, Jan 11, 2022
For a year now the Air Bag Warning light has been on in my dashboard. I have taken it to two service centers and they both said I had to take it to a dealer for repair. It is a safety issue because it WILL NOT PASS inspection. The first available appointment was 2 weeks after my last inspection. The dealer had to order the part and will not be able to install and inspect until Feb 2022. I have had to pay for 3 diagnostic tests. And I do not know if the airbags will even deploy. This should be recalled.
Air bags, Jan 6, 2022
Airbag light is on and will not cut off
Air bags, Oct 23, 2021
SRS light is on.
Air bags, Aug 17, 2021
The air bag light on the driver side dashboard will not turn off and the concern is that the airbags will not deploy if in an accident, or may randomly deploy. The vehicle has been in no type of collision affecting the front of the vehicle. At this time, the vehicle has not been taken to the dealership or a mechanic, but it seems that the dealer should repair at no cost given the issue is related to a safety concern.
Air bags, Aug 1, 2021
The airbag light came on for no reason. It will not go off. The concern is the airbags won’t deploy if there is a collision.
Electrical system, Air bags, Jun 22, 2021
In 2012 my sister bought new 2012 Kia Sorento from Caribbean Auto Mart in St Thomas VI. About a year ago, the horn stopped working and the air bag light has been on for some time now clearly indicating a possible problem with the clock spring assembly in the steering column mentioned in the recall notice attached. On contacting the dealer, Caribbean Auto Mart, she was told that they were no longer a Kia dealer and that it was not their responsibility to fix the problem. The local Jiffy Lube apparently is doing warranty work for Kia here now but they refuse to fix it without authorization from Kia. On contacting Kia, they refuse to even acknowledge the existence of this vehicle. They say they have no matching VIN. We asked if they would just send the part and I would install it. They refused this as well. I’m concerned that my sister is still driving this vehicle with defective safety equipment with no apparent way to resolve the situation. Any help you could provide in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Air bags, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Mar 24, 2021
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS JUST ON, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN HIT FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO BE ON. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL. AND BACK WIND SHIELD WASHER FLUID IS NOT COMING OUT. WHEN I NOTICED THESE ISSUES MY CAR WAS STATIONARY.
Air bags, Dec 15, 2020
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STEADY. MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG HAS A PROBLEM AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I SEE THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THESE COMPLAINTS NOT RESULTED IN A RECALL?
Air bags, Sep 20, 2020
MY AIRBAG IS ON, WHEN I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED IT . I THOUGHT IT WOULD TURN OFF, BUT IT STILL ON AND THAT WAS 3 WEEKS AGO.
Air bags, Sep 7, 2020
I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MADE RIGHT TURN AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND TURN OF AND CAME BACK ON AND STAY ON WANT GO OFF
Air bags, Engine, Sep 2, 2020
WHEN ME AND MY HUSBAND PURCHASED THE SUV USED IN 2016 FROM A HUYNDAI DEALER THAT IS LOCAL, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SENSOR LIT THAT WE HAD NO CLUE WHAT IT WAS. WE WERE NEVER TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THEY TOLD US THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION THAT IT WAS INSPECTED AND EVERYTHING. WE TOOK THE SUV TO KIA IN 2019 TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED, AND HAD THEM CHECK THE MOTOR TO SEE IF THEY COULD EXPLAIN WHY WE WERE GOING THRU OIL WEEKLY. WHILE WE WERE THERE THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD US THAT THE OCS MAT DOES NOT FUNCTION THAT IT NEEDS REPLACED AND THAT IS WHAT THAT SENSOR IS FOR WHICH WE WOULD HAVE NOT KNOWN AND THE DEALER THAT SOLD IT TO US NEVER TOLD US ANYTHING. I FIGURED IT WAS A WEIGHT SENSOR FOR A CHILD AS I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON THE SAFETY OF VEHICLES.... ALSO, WE WERE TOLD THAT WHEN THE DEALER SOLD US THE VEHICLE AS IS THAT THEY NEVER HAD A SAFETY INSPECTION DONE PRIOR TO PUT IT ON THE LOT. THE LAST DOCUMENTED SAFETY INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE WAS DONE WHEN IT WAS SOLD BRAND NEW WHEN THE FIRST ORIGINAL OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM THE KIA LOT I BELIEVE IN ANOTHER STATE. KIA TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAFETY INSPECTION BEFORE SELLING IT ON THE LOT BECAUSE A NON KIA DEALER SOLD US THE VEHICLE. I DID CONTACT CALIFORNIA STATE ABOUT MY COMPLAINTS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO TO PROVE I DIDN'T CAUSE IT BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT IN THE SUV THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF..... I AM DRIVING DAILY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITHOUT WORKING AIRBAGS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE OCS MAT AND I BELIEVE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. ALSO, WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH OUR GASKET THAT WE HAD TO GET FIXED, WE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING THRU OIL AND WE ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND TOWN. WE ARE HAVING TO ADD OIL IN IT EVERY WEEK SO THE ENGINE DOES NOT BLOW. WE NOW HAVE A VACUUM LEAK IN THE GASKET.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Aug 15, 2020
I HAVE FAULTY AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE WHY IS THERE NO RECALL VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN WRECKED. AIRBAG WERE NEVER DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE WITHOUT AIRBAG REPAIR, AS LONG AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ON THE DASH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILS INSPECTION. IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAUSE DEATH IF I WAS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 11, 2020
AIRBAG ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE KIA NEEDS TO RECALL AIRBAGS MAY JUST SAVE A LIFE AND MINES IS AT STATE HERE... PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAGS DISABLED AND WILL NOT ALLOW OTHER AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I BECOME IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE I'M FEAR OF MY SAFETY
Air bags, Seats, Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2020
I PURCHASED A KIA SORENTO ON JULY 21 2020 AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT POPPED ON THE SALES MAN TOOK IT TO ONE OF THEIR ON SITE EMPLOYEES AND THEY HOOKED UP THE CODE DEVICE NO CODES APPEARED SO HE SUGGESTED ITS JUST A SENSOR PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT SHOULDN'T BE MUCH TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. I DID IN WHICH COULDN'T GET IN TO SEE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL TODAY IN WHICH I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ODS MAT WAS FAULTY. I TOLD THE SERVICE GUY THAT THE CAR LOT TOOK THE SEATS OUT TO CLEAN THE SUV FOR SALE AND HE TOLD ME THEY DAMAGED OR BROKE THE ODS MAT. I CONTACTED THE SELLER AND STRONGER EXPRESSED MY FEELING ABOUT MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE ONLY THING HE SAID TO ME IS MY PAYMENT DUE AUGUST 31 TODAY IS THE 10TH AND THIS REPLACEMENT WILL BE OVER 2300 THAT I CAN'T AFFORD AND THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER. I REALLY FEEL THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG AND JUST TRIED TO MAKE A SALE SAYING IT WAS A SENSOR ISSUE THAT KIA WILL HAVE TO RESET.
Air bags, Jul 20, 2020
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DUTCH MILLER KIA IN CHARLOTTE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I WOULD NEED AN OCS MAT REPLACEMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE LIGHT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
Air bags, May 31, 2020
MY AIR BAG LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME WHEN I START UP MY ENGINE AND MY VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I WAS WONDERING IS THAT NORMAL? I'VE HAVE GOTTEN MY INSPECTION AND EVERYTHING PASSED.