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
880 reports, newest first.
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.
Other or unspecified, Dec 5, 2020
HAVE HAD THE TO REPLACE THE RIGHT CV AXLE TWICE IN THE PAST 40K MILES (ONCE AT ABOUT 118K AND AGAIN AT 150K) MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN KIAS
Engine, Dec 3, 2020
AT APPROXIMATELY 120K MILES, WE RANDOMLY CHECKED THE OIL PRIOR TO TAKING A ROAD TRIP AND NOTED THE DIP STICK WAS DRY. THE CAR WAS DOWN SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL. NO OIL LIGHT EVER CAME ON. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN EVALUATED BY MORE THAN ONE MECHANIC WITH NO LEAKS FOUND. THE CAR HAS HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AS RECOMMENDED SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT REQUIRES A QUART OF OIL ABOUT EVERY 500-700 MILES.
Engine, Dec 2, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING FROM ARIZONA TO UTAH, SUDDENLY I HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR STARTS LOSING POWER AND THEN COMPLETELY SEIZED UP, LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER. WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TRIED TO TURN IT ON AGAIN BUT IT WASN'T TURNING ON.
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.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 14, 2020
I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THE CAR STALLED. IT RESTARTED BUT HAD NO POWER. I TURNED AND TRIED TO GO A LITTLE FURTHER HAD NO POWER. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF ROAD AND INTO THE BYPASS LANE. CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I HAD TO CALL FOR TOW TRUCK.
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.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 2, 2020, fire
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, CAME TO A STOP AND STARTED TO SMOKE, A FIRE IGNITED AND CONSUMED THE FRONT END
Engine, Nov 2, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LEVEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO HER RESIDENCE AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH AN ENGINE ROD BEARING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.
Engine, Oct 7, 2020
ENGINE SEIZED WHILE ROLLING TO A RED LIGHT.
Engine, Oct 5, 2020
THE MOTOR SEIZED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. I WAS DRIVING WINDING MOUNTAIN ROADS AT A CONSISTENT 40-45 MPH AND WHEN I TOOK ONE OF THE CURVES, THE MOTOR SEIZED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO ALSO FAIL. WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AWAY FROM THE CLIFF ADJACENT TO THE ROAD. MY MECHANICS REPLACED MY MOTOR BUT SAID THE ORIGINAL MOTOR WAS COMPLETELY SEIZED TO THE POINT THAT HE COULDN'T WORK ON IT.
Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2020
WHEN TURNING BLINKER ON HEADLIGHTS WILL FLASH A FEW TIMES THEN TURN OFF VERY COMPLETELY SO DANGEROUS
Air bags, Sep 20, 2020
MY AIRBAG IS ON, WHEN I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED IT . I THOUGHT IT WOULD TURN OFF, BUT IT STILL ON AND THAT WAS 3 WEEKS AGO.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2020
WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE TACHOMETER DROPS TO ZERO AND THE POWER DECREASES, BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T STOP RUNNING. THEN IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING, AND I PULL OFF THE ROAD, TURN IT OFF, AND START IT AGAIN, THEN IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS ALREADY. ALSO, I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS AND HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND BLINKERS NUMEROUS TIMES. I'M AT THE POINT THAT I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO BURN UP. BTW, THE ENGINE TEMP LIGHT REMAINS NORMAL. ALSO, SOMETIMES, THE ENGINE WILL STOP WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR SIGN, BUT THEN IS NORMAL WHEN I START IT AGAIN.
Engine, Sep 10, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREENWAY KIA OF RIVERGATE, 1536 GALLATIN PIKE N, MADISON, TN 37115, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE DEALER ONLY COMPLETED AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A VERY BAD KNOCKING NOISE OCCURRED THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS JUST PURCHASED SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY FROM THE SAME DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Engine, Sep 8, 2020
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. REPLACED ENGINE 2-3 YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME REASON, TURNED INTO LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE SAYING ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO DO A FULL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY'RE ALSO REFUSING TO LET DEALERSHIP PERFORM A FULL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT MONROEVILLE KIA SINCE 06/12/2020 AND THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY POOR IN KEEPING US UPDATED OF PROGRESS OR NOT. KIA RECALL NUMBER SC147 NHTSA NUMBER 17V224000
Air bags, Sep 7, 2020
I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MADE RIGHT TURN AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND TURN OF AND CAME BACK ON AND STAY ON WANT GO OFF
Exterior lighting, Sep 4, 2020
MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BULB AND I CHANGED THE BULB BUT IT WAS STILL OUT. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY FIXED IT. WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 55MPH THE LIGHT WENT OUT. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY FIXED IT AGAIN. THE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A DAY, THEN WENT OUT WHILE I WAS AGAIN DRIVING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I TURNED THEM ON AGAIN IT CAME BACK ON SO I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED, THEN WHILE I WAS ON THAT SAME HIGHWAY IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND IT HASN'T COME BACK ON.
Air bags, Engine, Sep 2, 2020
WHEN ME AND MY HUSBAND PURCHASED THE SUV USED IN 2016 FROM A HUYNDAI DEALER THAT IS LOCAL, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SENSOR LIT THAT WE HAD NO CLUE WHAT IT WAS. WE WERE NEVER TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THEY TOLD US THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION THAT IT WAS INSPECTED AND EVERYTHING. WE TOOK THE SUV TO KIA IN 2019 TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED, AND HAD THEM CHECK THE MOTOR TO SEE IF THEY COULD EXPLAIN WHY WE WERE GOING THRU OIL WEEKLY. WHILE WE WERE THERE THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD US THAT THE OCS MAT DOES NOT FUNCTION THAT IT NEEDS REPLACED AND THAT IS WHAT THAT SENSOR IS FOR WHICH WE WOULD HAVE NOT KNOWN AND THE DEALER THAT SOLD IT TO US NEVER TOLD US ANYTHING. I FIGURED IT WAS A WEIGHT SENSOR FOR A CHILD AS I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON THE SAFETY OF VEHICLES.... ALSO, WE WERE TOLD THAT WHEN THE DEALER SOLD US THE VEHICLE AS IS THAT THEY NEVER HAD A SAFETY INSPECTION DONE PRIOR TO PUT IT ON THE LOT. THE LAST DOCUMENTED SAFETY INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE WAS DONE WHEN IT WAS SOLD BRAND NEW WHEN THE FIRST ORIGINAL OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM THE KIA LOT I BELIEVE IN ANOTHER STATE. KIA TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAFETY INSPECTION BEFORE SELLING IT ON THE LOT BECAUSE A NON KIA DEALER SOLD US THE VEHICLE. I DID CONTACT CALIFORNIA STATE ABOUT MY COMPLAINTS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO TO PROVE I DIDN'T CAUSE IT BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT IN THE SUV THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF..... I AM DRIVING DAILY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITHOUT WORKING AIRBAGS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE OCS MAT AND I BELIEVE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. ALSO, WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH OUR GASKET THAT WE HAD TO GET FIXED, WE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING THRU OIL AND WE ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND TOWN. WE ARE HAVING TO ADD OIL IN IT EVERY WEEK SO THE ENGINE DOES NOT BLOW. WE NOW HAVE A VACUUM LEAK IN THE GASKET.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Aug 15, 2020
I HAVE FAULTY AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE WHY IS THERE NO RECALL VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN WRECKED. AIRBAG WERE NEVER DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE WITHOUT AIRBAG REPAIR, AS LONG AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ON THE DASH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILS INSPECTION. IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAUSE DEATH IF I WAS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 11, 2020
AIRBAG ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE KIA NEEDS TO RECALL AIRBAGS MAY JUST SAVE A LIFE AND MINES IS AT STATE HERE... PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAGS DISABLED AND WILL NOT ALLOW OTHER AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I BECOME IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE I'M FEAR OF MY SAFETY
Air bags, Seats, Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2020
I PURCHASED A KIA SORENTO ON JULY 21 2020 AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT POPPED ON THE SALES MAN TOOK IT TO ONE OF THEIR ON SITE EMPLOYEES AND THEY HOOKED UP THE CODE DEVICE NO CODES APPEARED SO HE SUGGESTED ITS JUST A SENSOR PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT SHOULDN'T BE MUCH TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. I DID IN WHICH COULDN'T GET IN TO SEE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL TODAY IN WHICH I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ODS MAT WAS FAULTY. I TOLD THE SERVICE GUY THAT THE CAR LOT TOOK THE SEATS OUT TO CLEAN THE SUV FOR SALE AND HE TOLD ME THEY DAMAGED OR BROKE THE ODS MAT. I CONTACTED THE SELLER AND STRONGER EXPRESSED MY FEELING ABOUT MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE ONLY THING HE SAID TO ME IS MY PAYMENT DUE AUGUST 31 TODAY IS THE 10TH AND THIS REPLACEMENT WILL BE OVER 2300 THAT I CAN'T AFFORD AND THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER. I REALLY FEEL THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG AND JUST TRIED TO MAKE A SALE SAYING IT WAS A SENSOR ISSUE THAT KIA WILL HAVE TO RESET.