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
Engine, Aug 6, 2016
THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING THEN ACCELERATE TO SPEED. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKE FROM THE TAIL PIPE. I HAVE RETURNED TO THE YONKERS KIA DEALERSHIP ON CENTRAL PARK AVENUE IN YONKERS NY ON AUGUST 5TH, 2016 TO LOOK INTO A PROBLEM. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS RUINED DO TO SLUG BUILD UP. I WAS TOLD THAT A REPLACEMENT WOULD COAST ABOUT $10,000. ODD FOR ME BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NO INDICATION OF ENGINE ISSUES DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTER SPEAKING TO A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HE STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SUPPORT PROOF OF MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR WHICH WOULD ALLOW MY REPAIRS DONE UNDER OUR WARRANTY. I BECAME EXTREMELY DISILLUSIONED AFTER BRINGING THE CAR INTO KIA DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE TIED TO THE MANUFACTURER. WE WERE DENIED SERVICE UNDER THE WARRANTY WHICH WE ARE STILL UNDER. OUR CAR IS FAIRLY NEW WITH LESS THAN 25K MILES. WE CARRIED OUT ALL OF THE STEPS THUS FAR INCLUDING TAKING CARE OF OUR INVESTMENT, PROVING OUR CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OFF INCLUDING KEEPING METICULOUS ANNOTATIONS (KEPT IN THE LOG PROVIDED BY KIA) AND RECEIPTS TO DATE. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BIG COMPANIES LOOKING FOR LOOPHOLES AND USING TACTICS TO SWINDLE PEOPLE OF THEIR HARD EARNED PAYCHECKS. HOWEVER, KIA DOES NOT WANT TO HONOR US. OUR PAPERWORK/LOG/RECEIPTS ARE BEING TAKEN APART WITH PREJUDICE IN ORDER TO NOT PROVIDE SERVICES AND RECTIFY THIS ISSUE THAT IS PROVEN TO BE A DEFECT. WE ARE CONCLUDING THAT BASED ON THE POOR HANDLING OF OUR CASE AND MANY OTHERS LIKE OURS, KIA AND ITS AFFILIATES /DEALERS AND CORPORATE, ARE NOT ABOUT SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. ALL WE ASK IS THAT KIA HONORS ITS WARRANTY RATHER THAN FINAGLE USE ON THE FABRICATED NOTION THAT WE ARE AT FAULT RATHER THAN POOR ENGINEERING.
Engine, Jul 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE FRACTURED AND FRAGMENTS ENTERED INTO OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 09/23/16*LJ *TR
Engine, Jul 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE RODS WERE TWISTING AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Engine, Jul 28, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
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.
Engine, Jul 17, 2016
DRIVING 80MPH ON HIGHWAY, HEARD PINGING NOISE FROM ENGINE, CAR SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 60MPH. CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS SUDDEN STALL EVENT. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.
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.
Engine, Jun 16, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine, May 13, 2016
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVETIME IN LAUREL MD ON 5/9/16. ON 5/10/16 I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING WILE RADDLING. ON 5/10/16 & 5/11/16 I MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE KIA HAVING ENGINE ISSUES. ON 5/13/2016 THE CAR STARTED DRAGGING AND WOULDN'T GO ABOVE 60MPH. THEN THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF 95N GOING TOWARDS EX 43. THIS WAS VERY SCARY, THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR LOST POWER SO I ENDED UP DRIFTING OUT OF CONTROL TO THE RIGHTS SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC... I'M SO LUCKY TO BE ALIVE TODAY...THIS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY... IT SAD TO KNOW THAT MARYLAND INSPECTED AND PASSED THAT DEATH TRAP
Engine, Mar 19, 2016, fire
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH DOWN 269 HIGHWAY WHEN ALL AT ONCE I HEARD A LOUD POP LIKE SOUND AND THEN SMOKE STARTED GOING OUT THE TAIL PIPE AND THEN UNDER THE HOOD THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STOPPED. I GOT OUT AND RASISED THE HOOD AND IT WAS ON FIRE . LUCKELY SOMEONE ONE WAS BEHIND ME AND HAD A FIRE EXSTINQUER AND PUT IT OUT. CALLED POLICE THEY WOULD NOT COME OUT CALLED INSURANCE AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2011 AND ALWAYS KELPT IT SERVICED, THEY TOOK IT TO THE KIA LOT WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND SAID IT WAS A FIRE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD COST $10,000 TO FIX IT WE WERE STILL PAYING ON IT. SO THE INSURANCE CALLED IT A LOSS. NOW WE ARE OUT CAR AND NO MONEY TO BOOT. I HAD JUST TOOK MY GRANDBABY HOME IT COULD OF BEEN REALLY BAD. I GOT ON THE ENTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER 2012 KIA SORENTOS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS.
Engine, Feb 2, 2016
I FIRST BOUGHT MY VEHICLE FROM A USED LOT STILL VERY WELL CONDITION ALL SERVICE RECORDS CAR FAX, ETC A FEW MONTHS LATER I HAD ISSUES WITH THE SYSTEM TURNING LIGHTS ON AN A WEIRD ENGINE NOISE, I BROUGHT IT INTO A KIA DELARESHIP ONLY TO BE LAUGHED AT BY THE SERVICE TEAM OVER THE PHONE BECAUSE THEY HADN'T REALIZED I HAD PICKED UP THE LINE, THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS ALL NORMAL FIXED THE "PROBLEMS", AND SENT ME ON MY WAY OUT. I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT TO TELL THEM I DIDN'T THINK THE ENGINE NOISE WAS CORRECT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, A FEW MONTHS LATER MY ENTIRE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE ON AN EXPRESSWAY WITH MY SELF PREGNANT AND MY 2 YEAR OLD SON. IT IS NOW AT THE SHOP AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR EXTENSIVE INFORMATION AND SERVICE RECORDS WHICH I HAVE AND ARE BEING VERY ODD ABOUT MY VEHICLE AND WHEN THEY WILL KNOW THE PROBLEM. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN BUYING FROM KIA, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED WITH MY CHILDREN. TRADING IN ONCE THE ISSUE OR ENGINE IF IT EVEN GETS FIXED. SCARED TO DEATH.
Air bags, Engine, Feb 1, 2016
WE WERE TOLD WE HAD A 10 YR, 100000 MILE WARRANTY BUMPER TO BUMPER IN JAN 2012 WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. LAST WEEK THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER CHECK ENGINE OR AIRBAG PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WOULD BE COVERED IF THE UNIT WAS UNDER 5 YEARS OLD. THEY WANT $1000+ TO FIX THE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND $1400 TO FIX THE AIRBAG PROBLEM. BOTH UNITS SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAD A SPARE TIRE PROBLEM A MONTH AFTER GETTING THE CAR. THE SPARE TIRE WAS BAD AND THEY WANTED US TO BUY A NEW TIRE. NOTHING WE HAVE IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IT SEEMS. WE WERE TOLD THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON THE CAR WOULD NOT OPERATE UNLESS WE PAID THE $1400 TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.
Engine, Jan 24, 2016
@ 66,000 MILES, THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, IS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKED ALL THE OIL OUT OF THE ENGINE. YOU CANNOT REPLACE THE SWITCH/SENSOR WITHOUT DISASSEMBLING THE ENGINE. KIA WILL ONLY COVER THIS REPAIR UP TO 60,000 MILES. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, ITS THE SAME SWITCH THAT IS COVERED UNDER A RECALL ON THE 2011 KIA SORENTO. KIA CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAID I SHOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET YET IT WAS THE INTERNET I USED TO MAKE MY DECISION TO PURCHASE THEIR PRODUCT. THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH SHOULD BE ON THE SAME RECALL AS THE 2011 RECALL. SAME PROBLEM SAME SWITCH. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE SWITCH AND WHAT IS REQUIRED TO ACCESS IT, THE COVERAGE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS AN INTERIOR ENGINE PART 10 YEARS, 100,000 MILES. THE OIL DRAINED WHILE DRIVING/RUNNING, AND SPILLED WHILE SITTING STATIONARY DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE. THE OIL POOLS ON WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A "VALLEY PAN" THEN DUMPS WHEN PARKED.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 11, 2016
WE OWN 2012 KIA SORENTO SX, PURCHASED NEW. THE CAR HAS 79643 MILES. OUR FAMILY WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 FROM BOSTON TO CONNECTICUT. THE CAR WAS DRIVING AT 60~65 MPH. SUDDENLY, THE CAR TPM (TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING) CAME ON AND WITHIN 5~10 SECOND ALL LIGHTS ( TRACTION CONTROL/ BATTERY/ ALL WHEEL DRIVE) STARTED FLASHING. IT WAS RAINING AND WIPER STOPPED IN MIDDLE. ALL OF THESE EVENTS OCCURRED WITHIN 10~15 SECONDS. I PULLED OVER FROM LEFT LANE TO CENTER LANE. I FELT CAR IS LOSING POWER WITH NO WIPERS RUNNING. I THAN PULLED OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE ' THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND ENGINE TUNED OFF. THE BREAKS WERE HARD TO PRESS. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF - I CANNOT EVEN MOVE THE SHIFTER FROM DRIVE MODE TO PARKING. WE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AND TOWED THE CAR TO KIA OF EAST HARTFORD ( KIA'S DEALER IN CT) I WAS LUCKY TO PULL OVER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT OR TRAGIC. THIS KIND OF SUDDEN DEATH OF CAR WITHOUT WARNING IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM TO REPORT THIS INCIDENCE AND THEY WERE NOT EVEN CONCERNED. I REVIEWED THE COMMENT/ COMPLAIN FROM OTHER CUSTOMER ABOUT THE SIMILAR INCIDENCE THEY EXPERIENCED AS WELL. I REQUEST WANT NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER.
Engine, Dec 17, 2015
I BOUGHT MY KIA NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT CURRENTLY HAS 83000MI ON IT. WHEN I START IT, IT IS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT ONLY LAST A FEW SECONDS. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THERE ARE SHARDS OF METAL IN THE OIL PAN. THE COST TO REPLACE IS $6000. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON AT ANY POINT WHILE OWNING THE SUV, NOR HAS ANY OTHER LIGHT. WE HAVE MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES AT EVERY 4000MI OR LESS BUT WE COMPLETED ALL OIL CHANGES AND FILTER CHANGES OUR SELF. THE MASTER MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE LOOKED TO BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS NOT WANTING TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO DO.
Engine, Oct 28, 2015, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND LIFTING UP THE HOOD, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SMOKE, OIL AND A SMALL FLAME COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FLAME SELF EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 02/02/16*LJ *JS
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.
Engine, Sep 25, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 10,000 MILES OF BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Engine, Sep 9, 2015
WHILE DRIVING ON I95 WE BEGAN HEARING A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. IT WAS FAINT AT FIRST, JUST A PINGING THAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN WE PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR DOWN. WE JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT 94,000 MILES SO KNEW OUR OIL LEVEL WAS GOOD. THE FAINT NOISE GREW STEADILY LOUDER OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES AND WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A SERVICE/GAS STATION. THE MECHANICS CAME OUT WHEN THEY HEARD US PULL UP. THEY KNEW ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND WOULD NEED MAJOR REPAIRS IF NOT A REBUILD. THE KIA DEALER IS GOING TO CONFIRM TODAY, BUT I BEILEVE THAT IT IS AN ENGINE CONNECTION PIN THAT BROKE. WE WERE TOLD WE WERE LUCKY IT DID NOT BREAK AND PUNCTURE THE ENGINE BLOCK WHILE WE WERE DRIVING.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 17, 2015
UPON ARRIVAL AT MY DESTINATION THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I HAD TO PRESS THE IGNITION OFF BUTTON SEVERAL TIME BEFORE THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. THERE WERE TIMES WOULD HAVE TO SIT IN THE CAR ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF.
Engine, Jul 7, 2015
MY 2012 KIA SORENTO WAS RUNNING FINE, NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A FLUTTER NOISE THAT TURNED INTO A KNOCKING SOUND. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY 60 FT TO A PARKING SPOT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER I HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED TIGHT (WHICH WAS NOT TRUE AT ALL) DUE TO NEGLECT. I HAVE PROVIDED KIA CORP. AND THE DEALER WITH ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS AS WELL AS THE OIL PURCHASE RECEIPTS, OIL FILTER RECEIPTS AND OIL CHANGE RECORDS. OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED TO WHAT KIA'S MANUAL SUGGESTS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS KIA OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I HAD. THEIR COMPLAINTS ARE ALMOST EXACTLY WORD FOR WORD WHAT HAPPENED TO MY KIA. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS...MOST KIA OWNERS HAD THIS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN THEIR TEENAGERS WERE DRIVING. KIA HAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST THEM FOR THIS VERY REASON. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. I WAS VERY LUCKY THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IF THERE WERE TRAFFIC AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY.. IT COULD GAVE RESULTED IN MUCH WORSE. PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE CAME ACROSS SO MANY PEOPLE IN STORES, RESTAURANTS, AND DEALERS WHILE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER CAR TO BE ABLE TO GET MY CHILD TO AND FROM SCHOOL, FOOTBALL, ETC. I STILL HAVE A LOAN ON MY KIA AND NOW HAVE ANOTHER LOAN BECAUSE THIS ISSUE. KIA HAS BASED MY WARRANTY REPAIR ON PICTURES THE DEALER TOOK. THEY ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO LISTEN TO ME NOR HELP ME. I BEGGED AND PLEADED WITH THEM TO LOOK FURTHER INTO IT AND THEY WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THEN I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO AND I NEEDED TO GET MY CAR OFF OF THEIR LOT.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 24, 2015
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE 2012 KIA SORENTO HAS SURGED ON ITS OWN WHEN STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL RUN AWAY. *TR
Engine, Apr 23, 2015
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 55 MILES PER HOUR WITH A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND ME. MY KIA SORENTO JUST SHUT OFF. I JUST PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IN TIME SO I WOULDN'T GET HIT BY THE SEMI. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 6 HOURS TO GET MY CAR HOME. I WAS OUT IN WHERE THERE WASN'T A GARAGE OR NOTHING AROUND. AFTER GETTING IT HOME AND JUMP START THE BATTERY IT STARTED. THEN ON 4/22/15 I WAS TAKING MY WIFE TO A APPOINTMENT AND IT DID THE SAME THING AND THE ENGINE IS KNOCKING BEFORE IT SHUT OFF GOING DONE HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS KIA USED WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT IN JULY 2014. HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 6 MONTHS OR 36000. WELL 6 MONTHS IS PASSED AND NOW I AM STRUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM. CALLED DEALER WHERE I GOT IT. THEY WONT HELP. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS THING THAT THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. I AM PAYING FOR A CAR THAT IS FAULTY AND THEY MISLEAD YOU ON THE MILEAGE TO. ONLY GET 20-23 AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. NOT NOW 30 OR SO LIKE THEY SAY. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. I STILL HAVE TO GET MY CAR YET. IT IS GETTING PRICEY TO KEEP A CAR THAT SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD CAR. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Engine, Apr 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Engine, Apr 10, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE ENGINE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR UNKNOWN REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,381.