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: other or unspecified
81 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 24, 2015
CAMERA MALFUNCTIONING. ORIGINALLY TOOK VEHICLE IN WITH CAMERA PROBLEMS IN 09/2013. SERVICE CHECK COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. HAVE HAD SAME ISSUES WITH CAMERA WORKING AND NOT WORKING OFF AND ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN FOR SAME ISSUE WITH CAMERA. TOLD AT FIRST BY SERVICE TECH. OUR WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED ON ITEM. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS 60,550. INFORMED THEM WE PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. HAD TO GO HOME AND BRING IN PROOF OF WARRANTY TO SERVICE DEPT. WHICH I DID THEN WAS TOLD I HAD TO TAKE IT TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. FOR REPLACEMENT PART. MATT CASTRUSSI IN DAYTON, OHIO (DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO WHERE I LIVE) WOULD NOT REPLACE PART. HAD TO TAKE IT TO KIA OF DAYTON, OHIO FOR REPLACEMENT PART.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 15, 2014
AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ABOUT 15 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN. AT THE TIME OF TURNING THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL THE CAR SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. LOSS OF CONTROL THEN OCCURRED OF THE STEERING WHEEL (TO STIFF TO TURN) ALONG WITH A DIFFICULT BREAKING PROCESS CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER OFF THE ROADWAY. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP BY PLACING AN EXTREME AND INCREASED FORCE ONTO THE BREAK PEDAL BEFORE A BRICK PILLAR WAS STRUCK HEAD ON. *TT
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 24, 2014
AT 5:40PM MST ON 03/20/2014, I WAS APPROACHING A 4-WAY INTERSECTION IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH INTENDING TO STOP AND THEN MAKE A RIGHT TURN. TRAFFIC GOING MY DIRECTION HAD STOP SIGNS AND CROSS TRAFFIC DID NOT. THERE WAS ONE OTHER CAR APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION FROM MY LEFT. WITHOUT WARNING, MY 2012 KIA SORENTO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF (ENGINE, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC).IT HAPPENED SILENTLY AND WITHOUT DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS OR ENGINE NOISE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FULLY STOP OR TURN AT THE INTERSECTION AS MY CAR HAD LOST POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING AND ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A REST, IT WAS AT A DIAGONAL, PARTIALLY BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION AND FACING THE WRONG WAY TOWARD ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO MY RIGHT (THERE WAS NONE AT THE TIME). THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND THE IGNITION WAS STILL IN THE FULLY-FORWARD ENGAGED POSITION, BUT THERE WERE NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE MOTOR WAS DEAD. THE OTHER CAR THAT HAD BEEN APPROACHING TO MY LEFT WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO AVOID MY CAR, AND HE DROVE AROUND ME AND CONTINUED ON. I PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. FOR THE FIRST 15 SECONDS OR SO, I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK. EVENTUALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE GEAR SHIFT TO MOVE TO PARK, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON DESPITE MY TURNING THE THE IGNITION OFF AND ON MULTIPLE TIMES. I WAS ABOUT TO GET OUT AND CALL A TOW TRUCK WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME BACK ON. AT THAT POINT, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART TO CAR AND DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. THE CAR DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF A PROBLEM IN THE TIME IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OR AFTER THIS INCIDENT. WE DROPPED OFF THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING 3/21/2014. AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM, NOR HAVE THEY FOUND ANY CODES ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THIS IS POTENTIALLY AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jan 24, 2013
THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE SNOW OR ON WET PAVEMENT. YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE - IT JUST GOES WHERE IT WANTS TO. THIS SITUATION IS GOING TO CAUSE CATASTROPHIC PROBLEMS AND LOSS OF LIVES. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM IS THE VERY LIGHT 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, PROBLEMATIC SUSPENSION, STEERING, OR TIRES, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WILL DEFINITELY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE TO MAKE THIS VEHICLE MUCH, MUCH SAFER TO DRIVE IN WET AND/OR SNOWY WEATHER. IT IS DIFFICULT NEGOTIATING A HILL IN EITHER DIRECTION, WHETHER GOING UP OR DOWN. I LITERALLY SLIDE INTO THE STREET FROM MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS BY NO MEANS A VERY STEEP DRIVE AND I CERTAINLY CANNOT MAKE IT UP THE DRIVE IN THE SNOW WITHOUT FIRST BACKING UP INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S DRIVE AND GETTING ENOUGH SPEED UP TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF MY DRIVE. WE BOUGHT AND UTILIZE THIS VEHICLE TO MAKE DELIVERIES AND PUT UP TO 500 MILES PER WEEK ON THE CAR AND OUR DRIVER NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE IMMINENT DANGER -- HE CALLS IT A DEATH TRAP! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2012
THE 2012 KIA SORENTO LX AWD WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH 233 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REGULARLY HESITATES TO UP-SHIFT DURING SMOOTH ACCELERATION WHILE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (FLAT ROADS, CRUISING SPEEDS), CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HANG IN THE 3500+ RPM RANGE. WHEN THE CAR HAS FINISHED ACCELERATING AND HAS REACHED CRUISING SPEED, MY FOOT BACKS OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT STILL DOES NOT UP-SHIFT OR EVEN COAST. INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY DECELERATES AS THE ENGINE RPMS DROP BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN THE SAME GEAR WHEN MY FOOT LEAVES THE ACCELERATOR, RATHER THAN UP-SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. I HAVE DRIVEN COUNTLESS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PHENOMENON PRIOR TO OWNING THIS VEHICLE. I DON?T NORMALLY MAKE USE OF THE "SPORTMATIC SHIFT" FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES "MANUALLY" UP-SHIFTING WITH THE SPORTMATIC SHIFT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO UP-SHIFT PROPERLY TO 5TH OR 6TH GEAR ONCE ACCELERATION IS COMPLETE AND CRUISING SPEED HAS BEEN REACHED. IT SEEMS AS IF EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE IS ILL-INFORMED OR JUST POORLY PROGRAMMED. ASIDE FROM THE SHEER ANNOYANCE OF THIS DEFECT FROM A DRIVER'S PERSPECTIVE, IT ALSO IS RUINING THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE VEHICLE. FOR A VEHICLE WITH AN EPA MILES-PER-GALLON RATING OF 21 CITY/28 HIGHWAY/23 COMBINED, I HAVE NEVER ONCE ACHIEVED TRUE CALCULATED FUEL ECONOMY OF OVER 20 MPG SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE. MY DRIVING PATTERNS ARE APPROXIMATELY 40% CITY AND 60% HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE CAR IS DRIVEN IN A FAIRLY RURAL AREA WITH HARDLY ANY STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS NOT CARRYING EXCESS WEIGHT AND ALL 4 TIRES ARE INFLATED TO THE MANUFACTURER?S SPECIFICATION. I'VE SEEN ONLINE THAT SEVERAL OTHER 2012 SORENTO DRIVERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2011
THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON SOMETIMES THE CAR THE LUNGES BACKWARDS WHILE THE CAR IS STILL IN PARK IT ONLY DOES THIS WHEN I AM STARTING THE CAR. IT ALSO MAKES AN AUDIBLE NOISE AT THE SAME TIME IT IS " BUCK JUMPING". I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AN ON THE FIRST VISIT THEY HEARD THE NOISE AND FIGURED IT WAS THE STARTER. THEY PUT IN A NEW STARTER AND I AM STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SEEMS TO SLIP DURING CITY DRIVING BUT IT IS VERY SUBTLE. NOW AFTER ABOUT THE FIFTH TIME BEING IN THE SHOP EVERY TIME THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE MY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM TO MAKE A DIAGNOSIS SO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE ALREADY HEARD THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY PUT IN A NEW STARTER AND TOLD ME IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS TO BRING IT BACK. ON ONE OF THE VISITS THEY REWIRED THE ELECTRICAL PARTS TO SEE IF IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT WAS NOT. I AM AFRAID THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS THE CAR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO MOVE OUT OF PARK AND HIT SOMETHING. EVERY TIME I PUSH THE START BUTTON I HOLD MY BREATH AND GO STIFF BECAUSE WHEN IT "ACTS" UP THE WHOLE CAR JUMPS BACKWARDS AS IF IT IS TRYING TO SHIFT ITSELF IN REVERSE AND THE NOISE WAS DESCRIBED AS THE STARTER IS HITTING THE FLYWHEEL OR SOME OTHER TERMINOLOGY I CAN'T RECALL. I ALWAYS PICK MY CAR UP FROM THEM WITHOUT IT BEING REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO SAY THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, BUT HOW IS IT THAT AS SOON AS THE SAME DAY OF PICKING MY CAR UP OR WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS MY CAR STARTS JUMPING WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON. THE DEALERSHIP HAS KEPT MY CAR A FULL WEEK ON MORE THAN ONE VISIT AND THE MECHANIC HAS PUT AS MANY AS 85 MILES ON IT STARTING IT FREQUENTLY AND YOU GUESSED IT - HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM!!!!! SOMEBODY IS NOT FORTHCOMING WITH THE TRUTH.