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: engine
475 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Engine, Dec 29, 2018, fire
ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
Engine, Dec 27, 2018
VEHICLE HAS STARTED CONSUMING HIGH AMOUNTS OF OIL AS IT PASSED 90,000 MILES. RECEIVED AN OIL LOW LIGHT AND NEEDED TO ADD 3.5 QUARTS OF OIL. TOOK TO A KI DEALERSHIP WHO NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS, BUT PLUGS WERE BURNING WHITE. KIA CORPORATE FORCES THE DEALER TO INSTALL KNOCK DETECTION SENSOR UPDATE WHICH VOIDS ALL PREVIOUS ENGINE RECALLS. IN THE PAST, HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION WAS ENOUGH TO LEAD TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT BY PREVIOUS RECALL INFORMATION. NOW HOWEVER KI CLAIMS THAT ONCE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS UPDATED ALL PREVIOUS ENGINE RECALLS ARE VOID AND EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IS NO LONGER A VALID REASON EVEN WHEN COMBINED WITH ENGINE WEAR. A USER MUST NOW HAVE MULTIPLE SENSOR FAILURES OR ENGINE FAILURE, AND EXPECT TO MONITOR OIL EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THEIR HANDS ARE TIED DUE TO REQUESTS BY KIA CORPORATION.
Engine, Dec 19, 2018
RESTRICT OIL FLOW TO THE BEARINGS CAUSING BEARING WEAR. A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING WILL PRODUCE A CYCLIC KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND DRIVING IN A CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY
Engine, Dec 19, 2018
ENGINE HAS ROD KNOCK
Service brakes, Engine, Dec 14, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE BLEW OUT AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. ALSO, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE ENGINE SPRAYED OIL ALL OVER THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARKSIDE KIA (9929 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (844) 755-6461). THE DEALER WANTED THE CONTACT TO PAY OVER $2,000 TO DETERMINE WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAULTY ENGINES THAT WERE SHIPPED FROM KOREA; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,337.
Engine, Dec 6, 2018
WHILE ACCELERATING AFTER A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO TURN ONLY LANE HEADED FOR HIGHWAY, MY CAR JUST SEIZED UP AND STALLED OUT. I GLIDED TO STOP AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, TURNED IT BACK ON. I ACCELERATED ONTO ON RAMP OF HIGHWAY AND IT SEIZED UP AGAIN COMPLETELY STALLING. WHEN CHECKING OIL LEVELS THERE WAS HAD NONE, MY HUSBAND BROUGHT ME 4 QUARTS OF OIL (ALWAYS FOLLOWED DEALERSHIP PROTOCOL ON OIL CHANGES), TRIED ENGINE AGAIN NOTHING. TOWED IT TO DEALER, THEY REMOVED AND DISSEMBLED THE ENGINE TO FIND POINT OF FAILURE. FOUND #1 AND #4 CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS TO HAVE SPUN AND WELDED THEM SELF TO THE CRANK SHAFT, ALSO FOUND #2 AND #3 TO BE WORN DOWN/CHEWED UP, FOUND BEARING DEBRIS IN THE OIL PAN AND THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE, NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND ALL NEEDED SEALS AND GASKETS.
Engine, Dec 5, 2018, fire
THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, EVENTUALLY ENGULFING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
Engine, Nov 28, 2018
FIRST TIME IN 2017 STARTED CAR AND IT STARTED KNOCKING, AS I DROVE IT GOT LOUDER, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DROVE IT TO KIA DEALER AND MOTOR HAD THROWN A ROD, KIA HONORED THEIR RECALL AND SUPPOSED NEW MOTOR WAS INSTALLED WITH 60 DAYS. NO PROBLEMS UNTIL YESTERDAY, 15,000 MILES ON NEW MOTOR, AS I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70MPH, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I PULLED OVER WITHIN A MINUTE AND CALLED TOW TRUCK AND TOWED TO KIA DEALER. THEY WERE HOPING IT WAS JUST A COIL, BUT TODAY THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE MOTOR AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAID KIA SAID I MUST HAVE DROVE IT A LOT AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANOTHER MOTOR ??? I HAD BOUGHT THE EXTRA 20,000 MILE GUARANTEE, SO EVEN THOUGH THIS SUPPOSED NEW MOTOR ONLY HAS 16,000 MILES RUNNING TIME ON IT, MY MILEAGE IS AT 111,000 SINCE THE FIRST ONE BLEW AT 95,000. SO I SHOULD STILL BE GETTING ANOTHER MOTOR, BUT, AFTER READING ALL OF THESE ACCOUNTS, LOOKS LIKE I WAS SO LUCKY FOR IT NOT TO HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE, EVEN IF I GET IT BACK, I DON'T THINK I CAN PUT MY GRANDKIDS IN IT AGAIN, AND ITS ALMOST PAID OFF, LOVE MY CAR, BUT SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, SOON.
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Nov 28, 2018, fire
I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE A FIRE GUN THAN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE, I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE WAS ALREADY ON FIRE, I GOT MY TWO DAUGHTERS OUT OF THE TRUCK AND FIVE MINUTES LATER THE WHOLE TRUCK EXPLOTED
Engine, Nov 27, 2018
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 11-26-18, ABOUT A MILE OUT OF TOWN WHEN MY CAR MADE A REALLY HIGH PITCH SQUEAL SOUND FOLLOWED BY A TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND, PULLED IN TO THE CLOSEST BUSINESS TO IT KNOCKING AND IT HAD STALLED RIGHT WHERE IT WAS PARKED, HAVE I NOT PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT IT WOULD HAVE STALLED ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. HAD IT TOWED IN TO A DEALERSHIP ON THE MORNING OF 11-27-18, THEY SAID IT IS ENGINE FAILURE. THE 2012 KIA SORENTO DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 90,000 MILES ON IT YET AND GETS REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES SO THERE REALLY IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED. IT WAS A PERFECT RUNNING VEHICLE WITHOUT EVER HAVING ANY ISSUE WITH IT WHAT SO EVER, NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING GOING OUT EITHER, NOT EVEN A DASH INDICATOR LIGHT! HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THERE'S A RECALL OUT FOR THIS TYPE OF THING BUT MY CAR ISN'T IN THE BATCH THAT WAS RECALLED???!!! I THINK THIS IS ABSURD!
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Nov 26, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT TOOK AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO A LACK OF ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. MURRAY KIA (LOCATED AT 1402 WEST RIDGE PIKE, CONSHOHOCKEN, PA 19428, (610) 279-3020) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Engine, Nov 16, 2018
ENGINE IS USING EXCESSIVE OIL - A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MI. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY NEAREST KIA DEALER WHO ON THE FIRST VISIT A MONTH AGO TOLD ME I NEEDED A TUNE-UP (NEW PLUGS, PCV VALVE, ETC. I JUST HAD A TUNE-UP AT MY REGULAR SVC RPR SHOP IN MAY. KIA DLR TOLD ME THEY DID NOT USE OEM ARTS, SO I OK'ED THE TUNE-UP AND SUGGESTED WORK TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP. PER THEIR ADVICE, I BROUGHT IT BSCK THIS WK AFTER PUTTING ON 1000 MI. AND IT WAS AGAIN A QT. LOW. THEY HAD A TECH LINE CASE OPEN WITH KIA FACTORY ON FIRT VISIT AND WORKED WITH THEM AGAIN THIS WK. KIA'S ANSWER IS THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE UNTIL TI THROWS A ROD. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED FOR MY WIFE AND I SAFETY. WE LIVE IN A HIGH TRAFFICE CITY (ATLANTA) AND WHEN THE ENGINE BLOWS, WE COULD BE INJURED BADLY OR EVEN KILLED. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION. NOTE: ENGINE RECALL WAS DONE LAST YEAR OR SO, SO I AM TOLD THE ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED FOR LIFE ANY TIME IT FAILS STILL UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE THREAT OF INJURY OR DEATH.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 8, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TURNED ON AND MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I HEAR THE ENGINE TURN OFF WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA GOING DOWN HILL AND SPEED LIMIT WAS 25 MPH SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE GEARS WERE STUCK AS WELL, IT WOULD NOT LET ME PARK THE CAR. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES TO TURN CAR OFF AND IT WORKED. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO KEEP CAR FROM ROLLING. I THEN WAITED A FEW MINUTES TO TURN CAR ON LIGHTS ON AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICE ROUTINELY AND NO WARNING OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN.
Engine, Nov 6, 2018
ENGINE BEARING FAILURE VERY SIMILAR TO ENGINE RECALL FOR THE OTHER TYPES OF KIA 2.4 SORENTO ENGINES. THIS ENGINE IS A 2.4L DOHC CVVT 4-CYL. CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE NEEDS NEW ENGINE.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 28, 2018
UPON EXITING THE FREEWAY ON AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP, MY ELDERLY FATHER, 9 YEAR OLD SON AND I BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS OF AN ISSUE AND WE JUST TRAVELLED ABOUT 250 MILES. I TYPICALLY DRIVE ALOT IN THE CITY AS WELL. IN THIS CASE, I PULLED INTO THE HOTEL PARKING LOT (RIGHT OFF THE FREEWAY) AND THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. BECAUSE THIS OCCURRED ON SATURDAY EVENING AND WE WERE COMING INTO TOWN FOR AN EVENT, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO CONTACT WARRANTY FOREVER UNTIL MONDAY. FEARFUL, BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF THE MANY SPONTANEOUS FIRES THAT HAVE OCCURRED ON MY VEHICLE TYPE, WE HAVE TO WAIT TO HAVE IT TOWED AND INSPECTED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACE IN MY VEHICLE, UNDER RECALL, JUST LAST YEAR. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE, VERY SCARY. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO UPLOAD ANY NEEDED DOCUMENTATION AFTER AN INSPECTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Oct 27, 2018
I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS DEPLOYED FROM 2013-2015 AND DIDN'T HAVE A PHYSICAL ADDRESS AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED.
Engine, Oct 23, 2018
THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS PREVIOUS TO THE STALL. ON THE HIGHWAYS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN MANY WARNING LIGHTS ALL APPEARED AT THE SAME TIME OF THE STALL. UPON TOWING THE CAR TO A NEARBY SHOP WE WERE INITIAL INFORMED IT APPEARS THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED.
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 22, 2018
TAKATA RECALL: I PURCHASED MY CALL FEB. 11, 2017 AND STARTING MAY I STARTED HAVING ALL KIND OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FUSED KEPT BLOWING OPEN EVERY OTHER DAY. NOW FAST FORWARD TO 2018 I GO IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND FIND THAT MY ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ASAP. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR THE PASSED TWO WEEKS.
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 14, 2018
'TAKATA RECALL' I CONTINUE TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL UNDER MY HOOD BUT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND IT. IT COME AND GOES I HAD IT CHECKED WAS TOLD ALL FLUIDS ARE FINE AND NO LEAKS. I PRAY IT NEVER CATCHES FIRE AS I HAVE A GRANDSON WHO RIDES WITH ME OFTEN. ALSO MY REAR BREAK LIGHT GO OUT EVER TWO MONTHS NOT SURE WHY IT IS NOT JUST ONE SIDE THEY TAKE TURNS EACH SIDE. PRESSURE IN TIRES TEND TO GO LOW VERY OFTEN FOR NO REASON PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHAT IS REALLY WRONG BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS 🙏🙏 THE BURNING SMELL SCAMMERS THE MOST BUT I SMELL WHILE IN MOTION.
Engine, Oct 9, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, IT STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, IT MADE A TICKING SOUND, BUT DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE OIL WAS CHANGED RECENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED REGARDING AN OIL SHORTAGE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO ENGINE LEAKS; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE SHOP THAT PERFORMED THE RECENT OIL CHANGE, BUT THEY HAD INCOMPLETE RECORDS OF THE OIL CHANGE, EVEN WITH THE CONTACT HAVING A RECEIPT. THE DEALER (GRIECO KIA OF DELRAY BEACH, 2255 S FEDERAL HWY, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33483, (866) 858-7513) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN ENGINE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
Engine, Oct 5, 2018
OUR 80,000 MILE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE OUT OF THE BLUE, NO WARNING. WE HAD TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT PART OF THE GDI ENGINE RECALL, WE HAVE A DUAL OVERHEAD CAM (DOHC) ENGINE. THE DEALER SHIP REFUSED ASSISTANCE AS IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, THOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED.
Engine, Oct 4, 2018, fire
VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY TURNING ONTO AN INTERSECTION AT NIGHT , BURST INTO FLAMES, POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND ELECTRICAL WENT OUT AS WELL , VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES INSTANTLY AND WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.
Engine, Oct 2, 2018
THE KIA WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY IN JUNE OF 2018 WHEN THE ENGINE JUST FROZE UP AND STOPPED WORKING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE CAR WAS FULL OF OIL AND BEING PROPERTY MAINTAINED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN KILLEEN. INITIALLY, THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE SAID THE KIA ENGINE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I CALLED KIA CORPORATE AND ONCE THEY WERE INVOLVED, I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A SHORT BLOCK AND IT COULD BE REAPAIRED. KIA CORPORATE HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR JUST OVER HALF THE REAPAIR (AROUND $3500) IF I PAY THE OTHER PART (AROUND $2500). THEY KEEP PUSHING OUT THE DATE THE NEW SHORT BLOCK WILL BE DELIVERED. AFTER RESEARCHING KIA SORRENTO RECALL ONLINE, I FIRMLY BELIEVE MY KIA SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE OTHER 2012 KIA SORRENTOS.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 29, 2018, fire
THIS KIA SORENTO CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE DRIVER REPORTED THAT THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND SHE COULD SEE SMOKE AND A FLAME COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE LEFT THE VEHICLE UNHARMED HOWEVER THE EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE CAR IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM DALLAS AUTO AUCTION BY MAS MOTORS IN DALLAS TX. THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS KIA OF ARLINGTON.
Engine, Sep 20, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER A JUMPSTART. THE ENGINE MADE CLICKING NOISES BUT WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START BUT EVENTUALLY STALLED AGAIN AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE STARTED CLICKING BUT WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME AT 10 MPH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (VIVA KIA BASSETT PLACE, 5800 MONTANA AVE, EL PASO, TX 79925 (915) 834-2300) WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,500.