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: electrical system
127 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Sep 5, 2018, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HIGH. MINUTES LATER, THE TOP OF THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE ENTIRE HOOD ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 14, 2018
CAR REPAIRED BY RECALL DUE TO NOISES IN THE MOTOR. MOTOR CHANGED. NOISES CONTINUED. CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE HIGHWAY. LOST POWER AND IT WAS IN FUMES AND SMOKE. LIVES IN DANGER. CAR TOWED TO KIA SERVICE IN LIBERTYVILLE , IL. STAFF INDICATED THAT PISTONS BLEW UP.. WHOLE MOTOR CHANGED AGAIN. AFTER THREE WEEKS CAR DID NOT WORK AT AND.. BROKE IN THE NIGHT WHILE MY WIFE WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF AN EMERGENCY CALL TO A HOSPITAL. KIA TOWED AGAIN. MOTOR CHANGED THIRD TIME. AT SERVICE SINCE JULY 19, 2018. IT HAS BEEN PROMISED TO BE DELIVERED TO ME AGAIN TOMORROW WEDNESDAY 8/14/208. FAMILY AND MYSELF AFRAID TO RIDE THE KIA SORENTO AGAIN. CAR WITH NOISES SINCE 2016. THEY HAVE BEEN USING REBUILT PART TO CHANGE THE MOTOR. CURRENT MILES 82,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 27, 2018
THE BREAK LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ESC AND DOWNHILL BREAKING CONTROL DHC LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ALERTED TO THE BREAK LIGHT ISSUE WHEN I WAS STOPPED BY A FORT WORTH POLICE OFFICER. I TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY CHECKING THE BREAK LIGHT BULBS (THEY WERE GOOD), THE FUSES WERE ALL GOOD. I REPLACED THE BREAK SWITCH WITH ON BOUGHT FROM O'REILLY AUTO PARTS. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THE SWITCH WAS BAD, SO I RETURNED THAT SWITCH AND CHANGED IT AGAIN BUT STILL THE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. I TOOK IT TO SOUTHWEST KIA IN MESQUITE AND WAS CHARGE $312.95 TO FIX A $19.41 PART: ANOTHER BREAK SWITCH. I FOUND THIS PREPOSTEROUS. AS I WAS WAITING IN THE WAITING ROOM I LOOKED UP KIA RECALLS AND I FOUND THAT PREVIOUS YEAR MODEL VEHICLES HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE AND THAT 2012 AND OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL...
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 19, 2018, fire
I WAS DRIVING A 2012 KIA SORENTO WITH THREE OTHER PASSENGERS AND OUR FAMILY DOG. I SEE SMOKE COMING FROM BACK OF MY CAR THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR PASSING ME SINCE MY CAR WAS IN MINT CONDITION WITH A NEW ENGINE AND NEW TRANSMISSION. I LOOK AGAIN THERE IS NO CAR GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY AND NOW I SEE A LOT MORE SMOKE. CARS COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY ARE FLASHING ME AND WAVING SO I FIGURED I'M PROBABLY OVER HEATING. I STEER TO THE RIGHT ON A STEEP HILL THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESN'T WORK I QUICKLY THROW IT INTO PARK THE GEARS ARE GONE SO NO PARK. AT THAT POINT WE SEE FLAMES SHOOTING AT US. MY DAUGHTER AND I OPEN OUR DOORS THE CAR IS SLOWLY ROLLING DOWN THE HILL, THE DOOR HITS HER SHE GOES FLYING THE CAR ALMOST RUNS HER OVER. I TAKE THE CAR AND I'M HOLDING THE 4,000 POUND CAR BACK FROM ROLLING DOWN THE HILL SO THE KIDS AND DOG IN THE BACK SEAT CAN GET OUT. THEY FINALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS, GRABBED THE DOG BY THE COLLAR. I LET GO OF THE CAR IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND STARTED TO EXPLODE. WHAT A HORRIFYINGLY EXPERIENCE.
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 15, 2018
I HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, ONE OF THEM IS THAT MY CAR MADE A BIG RATTLE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45MPH IN THE STREET, I CALL KIA MADE AN APPOINTMENT TOOK THE CAR AND WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO ME THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE NEED IT TO BE REPLACE ($500) THEN THE STARTED ($600) I HAVE REPLACE THIS 2 TIMES ALREADY, THEN THE DRIVE BELT IDLER PULLEY AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF VERY OFTEN, AND SO ON. MAKE STORY SHORT MY CAR WAS IN THE SAFETY RECALL, MY CAR AS SHOWED ALL THE SIGNS, RATTLE NOISE, THE OIL LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF THE DASHBOARD I HAVE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY IN THIS CAR BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I RECEIVED A SECOND SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 17V224 ON OCTOBER 17, 2017. AND THEN ANOTHER NOTICE FROM KIA SAYING THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON MY CAR TO 120,000 MILES. ON MY POINT OF VIEW THAT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 31, 2018
MY FRONT "LOW BEAM" HEAD LAMPS GO OUT FREQUENTLY. IT HAS HAPPENED AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROAD, WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! I HAVE JUST CONTINUED TO BUY NEW LIGHTS, REPLACE & DO OVER & OVER. FINALLY IT NO LONGER WORKED. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT & THE CONNECTOR AND SOME WIRING WAS MELTED. I PAID TO HAVE THIS FIXED, ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN 2 - 3 WEEKS LATER. I JUST HAD IT FIXED AGAIN, BUT AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR! 1ST ENGINE FAILED WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD @ 45 MPH... IT COULD HAVE ENDED FAR WORSE. THAT HAS BEEN FIXED, BUT MY WIRING/HEADLAMPS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM & CONCERN. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKE LIGHTS MORE TIMES IN THE PAST 5 YEARS THAN I HAVE IN 20 YEARS I'VE OWNED MY 1998 CAMRY. THIS HAS TO FALL UNDER A RECALL TO BE FIXED BY KIA. IT'S DEFECTIVE PARTS & ASSEMBLY AND COULD BE FATAL! THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO SLAM INTO A DEER. I HAVE EVEN RENTED A CAR WHEN DRIVING ON VACATION FOR FEAR OF MY CAR HAVING THIS MALFUNCTION OR WORSE. PLEASE HELP ME. MY FAMILY IS SURVIVING ON BASICALLY 1 INCOME & THIS NEWEST HURDLE IS THAT " PROVERBIAL STRAW"... DATE LISTED BELOW IS TODAY'S DATE OF THE MOST RECENT REPAIR. I CAN GET THE DATE ABOUT 3 WEEK'S AGO IF YOU NEED IT. I HAVE ALSO BOUGHT ALL OF THE HEADLAMPS AND BRAKE LIGHTS THAT I HAVE REPLACED FROM THE SAME AUTO SUPPLY STORE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. SO I CAN GET THOSE RECORDS AS WELL IF NEEDED.
Electrical system, Engine, May 20, 2018
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN MOTION AND WHEN STOPPED. WHEN IT STALLS IN MOTION, THERE IS NO STEERING OR BRAKES. AWD KICKS IN FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AND BOTH THE MAP SENSOR AND VCMA ACTUATOR WERE BOTH REPLACED AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. I DID HAVE A TUNE UP ON THE VEHICLE ONE DAY PRIOR SO I HAD HOPED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM RESUMED ONE DAY AFTER BRINGING HOME FROM SHOP. I CALLED KIA AFTER SEEING THERE WAS A RECALL IN MAY OF 2017 THAT COVERED CERTAIN SORENTO MODELS THAT WERE STALLING, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD MINE WAS NOT A PART OF THIS RECALL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW OTHER THAN TO TAKE IT TO KIA AND SPEND ENORMOUS AMOUNTS IN REPAIRS.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, May 15, 2018, fire
EXISTED THE FREEWAY, STOPPED AT 2 STOP LIGHTS WITH OTHER CARS WITH NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE. STARTED FORWARD FROM LIGHT 100+ YARDS AND MAYBE 20 MPH WHEN FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH LARGE FLAMES. I PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FIRE BURNED FROM MOTOR COMPARTMENT INTO DASH AND CEILING OF PASSENGER AREA. VEHICLE IS TOTALED! THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED BY KIA ON A RECALL JUST 5 MONTHS AGO. ONLY ABOUT 9000 MILES ON THE NEW ENGINE!
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, May 8, 2018
MY MECHANIC SAID MY ENGINE SEIZED ON ME. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHICH TURNS INTO A CITY STREET AND THE CAR STOPPED ON ME AND WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT TO GET OFF OF THE BUSY STREET IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. I THEN TRIED TO START THE ENGINE, ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THERE WAS NO NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE SEIZED ON ME. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. I CALLED KIA BUT THEY SAID MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A GDI MODEL, EVEN THOUGH IT FALLS INTO THE SAME YEAR FOR THE ENGINE RECALL. I CALLED KIA TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO GET THE ENGINE REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THEY DISCONTINUED MY ENGINE MODEL. SO THEY TOLD ME MY BEST BET WOULD BE TO SEARCH FOR A USED ENGINE IN A JUNK YARD.
Electrical system, Apr 3, 2018
MY CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT LOCK POSITION. THIS OCCURS WHEN GOING EXTREMELY SLOWLY LIKE WHEN GOING IN OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE.
Electrical system, Structure, Feb 27, 2018, fire
DRIVERS ROCKER COVER LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED AND SHORTED OUT STARTING A FIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR WE WERE JUST PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT OUR HOME. THEN THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE.
Electrical system, Oct 5, 2017
PURCHASED CAR IN APRIL 2016 USED. A WALMART BATTERY WAS IN CAR. I MENTIONED TO SALES PERSON THAT IT HAD A WALMART BATTERY, HE SAYS "O YEAH, THEY HAVE GOOD BATTERIES". SO, CAR IS AT LEAST ON SECOND BATTERY. THAT BATTERY DIED IN APRIL 2017. NEW BATTERY FROM O'RIELLY'S. THAT BATTERY IS NOW LOSING IT'S CHARGE WITHIN 5 DAYS OF NOT DRIVING. NOT NORMAL. ALTERNATOR IS THROWING 14.1 TO BATTERY. NOTHING IN CAR IS EVER LEFT ON.
Electrical system, Oct 1, 2017
BATTERY IS GOOD. HAVE TO JUMP START EVERY TIME.
Electrical system, Aug 31, 2017
NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE IS FROZEN AT THE STARTUP SCREEN. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS ONLY 3 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE NAV DISPLAY UNIT. IN MY CASE THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 10, 2017
WHILE DRIVING THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND DOWN HILL BREAK ASSIST LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING. WOULD STOP AND RESTART THE CAR THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF, AFTER A FEW DRIVING MILES THE LIGJTS CAME BACK ON AND STAYED. NOW THE BREAK WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE SOMETIMES. I OWNER VEHICLE 52,000 THOUSANDS ON VEHICLE. ALL SERVICE UP TO DATE AND PERFORMED BY KIA DEALERSHIP.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 18, 2017
ENGINE FAILURE ENGINE STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 55 MPH STRAIGHT HIGHWAYPUT FAMILY IN DANGER 2016 JUNE OIL LEAKING ALL OVER GROUND AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE PUSHED CAR TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY .140000 MILE PAST WARRANTY KIA REFUSE TO FIX.
Electrical system, Oct 23, 2016
I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 KIA SORENTO AND WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE 10 YR / 100,000 MILES WARRANTY ( A BIG PART IN THE DECISION ) TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE. IN SEPTEMBER 2016 THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO START , THE MECHANIC STATED THE STARTER WAS THE PROBLEM. I CALLED KIA AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A KIA DEALER FOR EVALUATION, AND FURTHER MORE THE STARTER WAS NOT COVERED, EVEN. THOUGH THERE IS A LIST OF ITEMS NOT COVERED AND THE STARTER IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 26, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SWITCH TO THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO GET HOME. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED THREE OTHER TIMES ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER UTILIZED THE WRONG SIZE WIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE THIS MONTH AND THE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,500.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 22, 2016
THE VEHICLE GROSSLY LOST POWER AND CAME TO A NEAR STOP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED COLLISION WITH VEHICLES TRAVELING AT SPEED LIMIT BEHIND ME. WHILE TRAVELING NORMALLY AT THE POSTED 55 MPH SPEED THE VEHICLE SLOWED IMMEDIATELY TO NEARLY MOVING. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHICH I REPORTED TO THE KIA DEALER EACH TIME. THE DEALER DID NOT CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE THIRD REPORT.
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2016
THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD RANDOMLY CHANGE TO INCLUDE THE MPG GOING UP AND DOWN LIKE A ROLLER COASTER. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. I'VE INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT IT MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY STATE THEY DO NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 7, 2016
I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL ON A CITY STREET AND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BEGAN FLASHING AND THE CAR JUST SHUT-OFF. I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT. THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE AND THE DEALERSHIP JUST TELLS ME TO KEEP BRINGING IT IN. THEY CAN NEVER FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
Electrical system, May 23, 2016
KIA OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO START USING THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION BUTTON.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 29, 2016
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH MY CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD (CITY.) NO WARNING WHATSOEVER, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO CHECK OIL LIGHT...NOTHING. I COULD NOT STEER IT NOR RESTART IT. MY LIGHTS ALL DIMMED. HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE AND THEY SAID THEY'VE HAD 3 OF THE SAME CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THEIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO OIL IN IT , BUT NO LEAK. THEY PUT OIL IN IT AND JUMPED IT, THEN TOOK IT FOR A TEST RUN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE OIL BECAME THICK AND DIRTY, WITH METAL IN IT AS WELL. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AT MIDNIGHT AND THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE A 150 MILE DRIVE IN A FEW WEEKS. CALLED KIA AND THEY TOLD ME I NEED DOCUMENTATION OF ALL OIL CHANGES...FINE, I CAN GET THAT. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THOUGH I DON'T FEEL KIA WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS, FROM WHAT I'VE READ, PLAGUED MANY OWNERS. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN 2011. IT HASN'T EVEN HIT THE 5 YEAR MARK YET, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A TRACTOR-TRAILER BEHIND ME? TOO SCARY. CONSIDERING ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE...WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL?
Electrical system, Oct 23, 2015
AFTER SITTING FOR TWO DAYS, THE UNIT WOULDN'T RESPOND TO SMART KEY. INITIALLY THOUGHT SMART KEY BATTERY WAS DEAD. I REPLACED BATTERY IN SMART KEY, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULDN'T RESPOND. I HAD TO USE MECHANICAL KEY TO UNLOCK AND ENTER UNIT WHEN I NOTICED THAT NEITHER THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE WORKING NOR WOULD THE 'START' BUTTON ACTIVATE ENGINE OR ANY AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS. BOOSTED UNIT AND TOOK TO A NEARBY SHOP. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS, AND IT DID RESTART; BUT LEFT WITH SHOP TO SEE IF BATTERY HAD A BAD CELL (THE REASON IT WOULDN'T START). THE SHOP INDICATED THAT BOTH THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDING REPLACING. THE SHOP SUPERVISOR STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WASN'T PROPERLY CHARGING THE BATTERY. I MENTIONED THAT THE ALTERNATOR/CHARGE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON WITH ME; BUT HE STATED THAT IT WILL NOT ALWAYS COME ON UNLESS THE ALTERNATOR HAS REALLY GOTTEN BAD. REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR COST $500 (EXCLUDING LABOR) FOR A UNIT THAT IS ONLY JUST OVER 4.25 YEARS OLD, AND WITH ONLY 83,700 MILES.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Sep 26, 2015
FRIDAY 9/18/15 10:40 AM, BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT SLOWLY INTO A ROAD. ENGINE SUDDENLY FAILED, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND PARK IT AGAIN, BUT BRAKES STILL FAILED AND HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CURB AND TREE AT CURB TO STOP VEHICLE. TOWED TO ED VOYLES KIA ON PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD IN ATLANTA WHO FOUND NO RECORD OF THE INCIDENT IN COMPUTER AND THAT ALL DIAGNOSTICS WERE NORMAL AND THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I SENT THEM THIS LINK WITH OTHERS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES AND TOLD REP ABOUT OTHERS' EXPERIENCES:HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/SORENTO/2012/ENGINE/ENGINE.SHTML. THEN HAD IT TOWED TO COBB COUNTY KIA IN KENNESSAW, GA. THEY MAINTAINED NEGLECT ON OUR PART B/C OIL LEVEL WAS AT 0 (PREVIOUS DEALERSHIP SAW NO PROBLEM HERE), ENGINE HAD MAJOR SLUDGE AND PARTICLES OF METAL IN IT, NEEDED FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR $6500 DIDN'T MAKE SENSE WITH OUR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND DIDN'T EXPLAIN THE BRAKE FAILURE, THOUGH REP SAID IT DID. HAD IT TOWED TO AAA CAR CARE PLUS IN MARIETTA. COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE AND SAID THE CAR, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, WAS IN GREAT SHAPE, WAS FULL OF ALL FLUIDS. MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT THERE WERE 0 RECORDS ON COMPUTER AND THAT ONE OF DEALERSHIPS LIKELY WIPED IT COMPLETELY CLEAN. HAVE RENTED A CAR IN MEANTIME BECAUSE MY, MY HUSBAND'S, MY TWO KIDS' AND OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS SAFETY WOULD BE COMPROMISED. OTHER COMMENTS ONLINE MENTION PROBLEM MORE THAN ONCE, SOME ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO REMEMBERED THAT MY HUSBAND HAD HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK, WITH NO LIGHTS COMING ON AT ALL. HE GOT THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT, AND HE WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. WE RELAYED THIS TO THE MECHANICS TOO, BUT THEY SEEMED NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INFO. WE CANNNOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT'S RESOLVED.