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: exterior lighting
60 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2024
The low-beam headlights frequently burn out, approximately every 6 months. Upon inspection by multiple repair shops, the wiring harnesses have been found to be blowing the bulb yet each shop has replaced with a variety of parts. The suspicion is the wiring and power source are causing issues. Each side of the vehicle has had the wiring harness replaced with the right side being replaced twice and currently in need of a third replacement. The initial replacement was in 2018 and most recent replacement was 2023. The headlight will flicker on and off intermittently before the bulb or wiring harness blow. There is no predicting when this will occur which leaves the driver at risk of losing one or both headlights, needing immediate repair for safety and to avoid a potential ticket from the police.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Dec 29, 2023
I experienced a Malfunction of indicators lamp, ABS warning lights, burning/ melting smell and smoke from the engine compartment.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 3, 2023
My regular lights on pasenger side keeps going out. The harness keeps melting. And my sunroof rubber pieces keep coming undone hitting the glass of sunroof causing very loud noises while driving sounds like the glass is going to break.
Exterior lighting, Oct 11, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the front headlights had begun to flicker and then would turn off while driving at night. The contact stated that the failure had started as an intermittent failure, however, the low beam setting had failed and no longer worked. The contact only had high beams. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had opened the hood during daylight and saw that the headlight wiring harness and connectors had melted on the driver's side. The contact stated that she could touch the passenger side lamp harness and the light would work. However, if she attempted to tighten the harness connection the light would not work. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
Exterior lighting, Jul 4, 2022
My headlight are so dim at night I have to drive with my high beams on. I've cleaned and replaced bulbs and they are still very dim.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 23, 2022
Replaced the headlight bulbs in my wife's car around 80k miles when 2 of the 4 bulbs went out. I noticed the lenses were discolored from the inside slightly but didn't put much thought into it. The vehicle now has a little over 144k miles and I have replaced the high beam bulbs once again, and the low beam bulbs twice more, and the low beam bulbs I have had to replace the connector due to burning on both sides, and the driver side is burnt out again. This shouldn't happen and means there is too much power going to the bulb, which is a fire hazard as well as a safety hazard as I can't keep a bulb working in that slot.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 20, 2022
My passenger headlight went out again. I've taken to the dealer. They replaced the burnt out fog lights too. This is the 4th time in less than a year! I filed previous complaints. Had the headlights replaced repeatedly. Something keeps shorting out. There's an electrical problem. I can't keep replacing my headlights all the time. When the one side goes out, the other follows. This is becoming a real safety issue.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 26, 2021
The passenger low beam head light keeps burning out. I have had the wiring replaced twice because it keeps melting. The brake light blow at least every 2 months
Exterior lighting, Dec 23, 2021, fire
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact noticed that the driver’s side headlamp failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring had melted, and the headlamp socket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, a couple of months later the failure recurred on the passenger’s side. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic where it was diagnosed the wiring melted and the passenger’s side headlamp socket needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure twice. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000. Headlight has replaced once 02/22/2022.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 2, 2021
Passenger side low beam headlight keeps burning out. Had bulb replaced one month ago, burnt out again. Had it replaced several times. One time recently the mechanic had to also replace the wiring connections because it melted.
Exterior lighting, Nov 18, 2021
Both of my headlights went out as I was driving down the road. I did not have any type of warning light on my dash come on.
Exterior lighting, Nov 4, 2021
Low beam headlights on passenger side burn out at a rate of 1 to 2 per year. I am the original owner and the vehicle has never been in an accident. Dealer replaced headlight wiring and high beam switch on steering column under warranty because plug at headlamp melted and switch seemed faulty. This repair was approximately 4 years ago. Headlights burning out has been a problem since new. Seems to happen most often when High beams are used and going back to low beams. Inspect at any time. Living in rural Texas with little to no street lights it can be unnerving to have the low beam on one side unexpectant burn out. I write all of this because it burned out again last night and it's getting frustrating.
Exterior lighting, Sep 1, 2021, fire
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front headlight had stopped working. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the wiring harness in the headlight was melted. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer. The headlight assembly was replaced however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
Exterior lighting, Aug 20, 2021
Passenger side headlight went out while driving. Went to replace bulb and found connector melted. Quick internet search shows this is not uncommon and even a YouTube tutorial on how to replace the pigtail. Question remains what caused the overheating in the first place? While it's a major inconvenience at this point as we can't drive the vehicle without fear of getting a ticket or repair order until fixed, worst case scenario this happens to both at night?
Exterior lighting, Structure, Apr 5, 2021
MY DRIVER HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS KEEPS OVERHEATING AND MELTS THE HARNESS CASING. I HAVE FIXED THIS ISSUE NUMEROUS TIME. MY DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND.
Power train, Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 24, 2021
CAR STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING THEN I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART IT AND IT HAS A JERKING TO IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS
Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 17, 2021
MY ENGINE NEEDS WORKED ON AS OF 02/2021, THERE'S SOME TICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE EVEN THOUGH I KEEP THE OIL CHANGED LIKE THE CAR REQUIRES EVERY 3-5 MONTHS SINCE I HAVE HIGH MILEAGE.I MADE THIS REQUEST TO CHECK FOR RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE(MAKE MODEL & YEAR) I BOUGHT THE CAR FEBRUARY 2019. MY LEFT PARKING LIGHT STOPPED WORKING ALMOST A YEAR AGO SO I THINK IT COULD BE ELECTRICAL.
Exterior lighting, Engine, Jan 11, 2021
WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 KIA SORENTO ON THE FWY. THE ENGINE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON...I WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART. IT RAN FINE, BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THERE WAS NO APPARENT SOUNDS OF ENGINE TROUBLE ...SO I CONTINUED MY ROUTE. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED FINE, NO BAD NOISES, BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON...I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES UNTIL IT STALLED AGAIN WHILE ON FWY. WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT COMPRESSION WAS LOW ON ENGINE, SO I PULLED OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THE OIL WAS DOWN 4 QTS. AND HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. MY COMPLAINT IS THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAM ON. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS...I'M WONDERING IF YOU ARE DOING ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM?
Exterior lighting, Structure, Dec 6, 2020
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THE CLIP ON THE HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE HEADLIGHT WAS BROKEN. REPLACED IT. LIGHT STARTED WORKING THEN WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE WIRES IN THE HOUSING CAME LOOSE. LIGHT OUT AGAIN. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, IT'LL WORK WHEN IT WANTS TO. AS FOR THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE....PULLED INTO A CAR WASH TO SPRAY IT OFF. TURNED AROUND TO START AND NOTICED ON THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR A SPOT OF PAINT MISSING ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. DOWN TO THE PRIMER. THE PAINT IS DARK CHERRY PEARL. THERE IS NO SCRATCH, DENT, OR ANYTHING THAT CAUSED IT.
Exterior lighting, Dec 6, 2020
WENT TO CHECK MY HEADLIGHT BULB AS MY HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AFTER JUST REPLACING THE BULB A FEW WEEKS AGO. WHAT I FOUND IS THAT THE CONNECTOR TO THE BULB WAS COMPLETELY MELTED
Exterior lighting, Dec 6, 2020
MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT AND PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL KEEPS GOING OUT AND I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE AUTO SHOP TO BE FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES IT FIXES FOR A FEW DAYS AND OUT AGAIN BUT THE BUILD DOESN'T BURN OUT BECAUSE SOMETIME IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WILL COME BACK ON OR IF I GOT A BUMP IT WILL GO OUT.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 30, 2020
INTERMITTENT CONNECTION TO PASSENGERS SIDE HEADLAMP BULB, CAUSING OVERHEATED CONNECTOR AND WIRING.
Exterior lighting, Nov 17, 2020
LH LOW BEAM NOT WORKING. REPLACED BULB AND IT DIDN'T FIX. SWAPPED WITH RH BULB TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A BAD NEW BULB AND THAT DIDN'T FIX IT. HI BEAM AND PARK LAMP WORK FINE. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SEEN THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Nov 9, 2020
HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING OR DON'T WORK WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON AND THEN WILL RANDOMLY START WORKING AGAIN. IT IS USUALLY JUST ONE HEADLIGHT, BUT DID HAVE BOTH GO OUT ONE NIGHT.
Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2020
WHEN TURNING BLINKER ON HEADLIGHTS WILL FLASH A FEW TIMES THEN TURN OFF VERY COMPLETELY SO DANGEROUS