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, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Apr 13, 2017
CAN NOT MOVE SHIFTER OUT OF PARK WHEN CAR IS STARTED. CAN NOT SHIFT CAR OUT OF SELECTED GEAR WHEN MOTOR IS RUNNING. ESC LITE IS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD AND BRAKE LITES DO NOT FUNCTION WHEN THESE DEFECTS OCCUR. SYMPTONS EXPERIENCED ARE THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 13V114000. KIA DEALER REPLACED BRAKE LITE SWITCH-SAYS SUV DOES NOT FALL WITHIN POPULATION OF VEHICLES IDENTIFIED UNDER KIA SC098 RECALL. I AM OF THE OPINION MY SUV SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THIS KIA RECALL AND I SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS. MY 2012 SUV SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 13V114000 / KIA SC098.
Exterior lighting, Feb 22, 2017
HAVE A 2012 SORENTO THAT CONSTANTLY NEEDS LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SHORT THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T FIGURE OUT. I HAVE FOUND THAT SHORTLY AFTER REPLACING ONE BULB THE OTHER BURNS OUT WITHIN A WEEK OR LESS. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY WILL ONLY LAST ONE MONTH BEFORE BURNING OUT. I HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS BURNING OUT AS WELL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA HAS SAID THAT REPLACEMENT WITH OEM BULBS SHOULD FIX IT. THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR ME, AS I HAVE TRIED OEM AND AFTERMARKET BOTH WITH SAME ISSUE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH VIA FORUMS ONLINE.
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.
Exterior lighting, Dec 23, 2015
PURCHASED NEW 2012 KIA SORENTO SX 3.5 IN MAY 2012. IT NOW HAS 54K MILES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT BULBS BOTH SIDES ON 3 OCCASIONS AND HIGH INTENSITY DRIVING LIGHTS (OEM) 2 TIMES EACH SIDE. THE LAST TIME 12/23/15 THE DEALER (LANGDALE KIA, VALDOSTA GA) STATED THAT THE SOCKET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DRIVING LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE BULB TO EXPLODE, AND THE INTENSE HEAT AND DEBRIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REFLECTOR AND INTERIOR OF THE LENS HOUSING, MAKING IT NOT REPAIRABLE. THE REPLACEMENT COST INCLUDING 1.5 HR. LABOR IS OVER $300, AND THE SERVICE WRITER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BE CAUSE OF AGE, MILEAGE, AND THE BULB THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY?? I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE INTERIOR COURTESY LIGHT BULBS AND ALSO TAG LIGHT BULBS. I HAVE SPENT APPROX. $200 SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE! THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A $38000 VEHICLE.
Exterior lighting, Dec 11, 2015
LOW BEAM DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN A SIX MONTH PERIOD WITH SYLVANIA BRAND BULBS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IS CURRENTLY OUT AGAIN I NOTICED WHEN I STARTED MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME FROM WORK. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME THE LIGHT WAS WORKING AND WENT OUT AGAIN THE NEXT EVENING. THIS IS A NEVER ENDING ISSUE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 27, 2015, fire
ON MONDAY, MARCH 23 AT 8 PM, I ARRIVED HOME AND PARKED MY CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE. I LOVED UP AND WENT INSIDE. AT 4:30 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING, MY SON CAME INTO OUR BEDROOM SAYING BE THOUGHT SUNSHINE WAS TRYING TO BREAK INTO MY CAR BECAUSE THE CAR ALARM WAS GOING OFF. I WENT TO THE WINDOW TO LOOK OUT, AND IMMEDIATELY SEE THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FLAMES APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT. WE CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE WHOLE BACK HALF OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS ROARING. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR ROLLED OUT ARSON. IT WAS THE CRAZIEST THING I HAVE EVER WITNESSED AND IT WAS TERRIFYINGLY CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE. THE FIRE WAS ALREADY IN OUR YARD WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. I SHUTTER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY SON HAD NOT WOOLEN UP WHEN HE HAD. THE FIRE WAS SO CLOSE TO THE GAS TANK, WE ARE LUCKY THERE WANT A FULL ON EXPLOSION. THE WEATHER WAS MILD AND DRY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THERE WAS NO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR. I SIMPLY CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. MY BEST GUESS IS THAT SOMETHING SET OF THE CAR ALARM WHICH ON TURN SHORTED AND SPARKED THE FIRE IN THE FLASHING REAR LIGHTS. IT WAS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE AND IN PERFECT CONDITION THAT I PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2014. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 25, 2015
I BOUGHT THIS USED 2012 KIA SORENTO MARCH 14TH 2015 AND 8 DAYS LATER THE LIGHTS IN THE CUP HOLDER AND FLOOR BOARD WOULDN'T TURN OFF. I TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD RUN A DIAGNOSTIC OR JUST UNPLUG. I WAS GOING TO COST ME MONEY EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAD THE SORENTO FOR 8 DAYS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE COLOR LIGHTING? *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seats, Oct 6, 2014
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ALL DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTATION, A/C AND HEADLIGHTS WERE LOST. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT A SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WIRING HARNESS HAD BLOWN THE FUSE FOR CONTROL MODULE #2 RESULTING IN THE AFOREMENTIONED INSTRUMENTATION AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 27, 2014
I HAVE A 2012 SORENTO THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A CONSTANT HEADACHE. JUST SOME MINOR ISSUES HAVE BEEN A HEADLIGHT THAT CONTINUOUSLY HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SHORT THAT THEY SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T GET TO THE BOTTOM OF. I MEDIUM ISSUE THAT IS BECOMING A HEALTH HAZARD IS THAT THE CAR IS LEAKING WATER INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND CAUSING MOLD TO GROW. AN EVEN BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT WHEN WITH SPEEDING UP FAST LIKE WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSTATE OR SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY STALL AND I HAVE TO MAKE MY WAY OFF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF AND MY KIDS. I LIVE IN A CITY AND I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE NOT HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT YET. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. I HAVE CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BEEN TOLD TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP. I GO TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY BASICALLY TELL ME I'M CRAZY AND NOTHING IS WRONG. I GUESS IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BY BEING IN A ACCIDENT BEFORE SOME ACTION IS TAKEN. HATE TO BE SO BLUNT BIT BEING NICE ABOUT THE ISSUE HAS YET TO WORK!!!! *TR
Power train, Exterior lighting, Structure, Jul 26, 2013, crash
MY 6 YEAR OLD CHILD GOT INTO THE VEHICLE TO GET A DRINK. SHE HIT THE GEAR SHIFT AND IT WENT FROM PARK TO GEAR AND ROLLED DOWN THE HILL UNTIL COMING TO A STOP BY HITTING A TREE. MY NEIGHBOR TRIED TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BUT HE COULD NOT GET THE DOOR OPEN BECAUSE IT LOCKED. MY CHILD WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. KIA SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK UNLESS THE KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION AND THE BRAKE IS PUSHED. *TR