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.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,806.
Visibility, Aug 18, 2014
WHILE DRIVING OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO OBJECT THAT HIT IT. IT JUST SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME BUT THE SUNROOF SLIDING SHADE WAS OPEN...UPDATED 08-26-14 *BF UPDATED 8/29/2014 *JS
Visibility, Aug 6, 2014
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH. SUNROOF EXPLODED, OR SHATTERED, I SHOULD SAY. NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. NOTHING ABOVE ME. IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS HIT BY ANY DEBRIS OR OBJECT. SIMPLY, OUT OF THE BLUE, SHATTERED.. UPDATED 08-20-14 *BF
Power train, Engine, Aug 4, 2014
WHILE IN REGULAR TRAFFIC WHEN GAS IS APPLIED, CAR WILL START TO MOVE FORWARD THEN ACT AS THOUGH THE MOTOR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. IF YOU ADD MORE PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENS, THAN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AS IF YOU HAD PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THIS CONDITION HAS HAPPENED AS LEAST 40 OR MORE TIMES IN 14K MILES. THIS CONDITION HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES WHILE ON VACATION IN NV. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HAVE A HEAD-ON COLLUSION WITH ANOTHER DRIVER. I REPORTED THIS CONDITION TO KIA WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED DURING SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE LAST TIME I REPORTED IT WHEN CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE, KIA, KEPT MY CAR. THAT WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TWO CALLS FROM THE KIA FACTORY, TELLING ME THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I WAS TO GIVE THEM A CALL. THE PHONE NUMBER I WAS GIVEN WAS 1-800-333-4542 EXT. [XXX] AND MY CASE # IS [XXX]. AS TODAY AUG 4, 2014, KIA STILL HAS MY SORENTO AND I'M DRIVING THEIR LOANER CAR. " ALSO" MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE OUR CAR UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTED IN FEAR IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO HER. SHE WAS A PASSENGER IN A BAD ROLLOVER ACCIDENT AND HAS BECOME FEARFUL OF ANY CONDITION THAT'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITH A CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Jul 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE EXITING, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL AWAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
Power train, Wheels, Jul 2, 2014
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS A NOTICEABLE CLUNK IN REAR AXLE. OBVIOUS AT INITIAL START AND UPON DECELERATION FROM SPEEDS ABOVE 30. WHEN DECELERATING RIGHT AT 30MPH A CLICK AND CLUNK OCCUR. TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA, SUNSET KIA. THEY KEPT VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL AND HAD ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN BUT WAS CONCERNED SINCE A MECHANIC FRIEND THOUGHT IT INVOLVED REAR AXLE. I INFORMED THE KIA SERVICE REP THAT A LONG TRIP THROUGH DANGEROUS WESTERN US MOUNTAINS WAS TO BEGIN SOON AND IT MUST BE SAFE. THAT DAY THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY DID TEST DRIVE COMPARING IT WITH ANOTHER CAR TEST DRIVEN AND BOTH DID SAME THING. THEY CONCLUDED THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED." THE NEXT DAY WHEN I PICKED IT UP AND STRESSED THIS WAS NOT "AS DESIGNED" BECAUSE IT JUST BEGAN TO ACT UP I WAS TOLD THAT THE TECH FOUND "SUBTLE MOVEMENT OF EITHER TRANS MOUNTS OR DRIVE AXLES." THIS WAS ALSO NOTED ON MY RECEIPT FROM KIA. MY GOD THEY ADMITTED THE PROBLEM THEN WOULD NOT REPAIR IT! WHEN PRESSED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS CONDITION I WAS INFORMED BY DUSTIN HOFFMAN "WELL THE AXLE COULD FREEZE UP BUT JUST PULL OVER." I PRESSED "HOW CAN YOU DO THAT SAFELY ON A HIGHWAY DOING 70?" UNBELIEVABLE!!! WHEN PRESSED ABOUT HOW THEY COULD LET ME, GIVEN MY STATED PLANS, LEAVE IN A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN THE REPLY WAS SIMPLY "THE TECH FOUND IT TO BE OPERATING AS DESIGNED." I NOTED MY OBJECTIONS ON THEIR BILL AND MY COPY. I ALSO NOTED THE TECH ONLY DROVE THE VEHICLE .02 TENTHS OF A MILE ACCORDING TO THE TRIP ODO. THE ONLY THING THEY FINALLY SAID WAS "THE TECH STARTED A SERVICE LINE." WHATEVER THAT IS. *TR
Suspension, Tires, Jun 30, 2014
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM AN E-MAIL SENT TO BIG O TIRE CUSTOMER SERVICE (TBC CORP) ON JUNE 26/2014 WE OWN A SET OF 4 DEFECTIVE COOPER 107H DISCOVERER LSX PLUS TIRES PURCHASED FOR OUR 2012 KIA SORENTO EX SUV ON NOV. 29, 2013 FROM BIG O TIRES STORE #6171 IN CONIFER, CO. THEY BALANCED AND MOUNTED THE TIRES. THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT, SO FIRESTONE IN EVERGREEN, CO (11/29/14) ALIGNED THE VEHICLE. IN LATE APRIL, 2014 WE NOTICED A LOUD RUMBLING ROAD NOISE. WE HAD ANOTHER ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEAK KIA IN LITTLETON, CO WHO DETERMINED THAT ALL ALIGNMENTS WERE WITHIN KIA SPECS, FOUND NO NOISE WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE RACK AND ADVISED US THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO BIG O TIRES IN CONIFER. THEY ADVISED US TO HAVE THE CAMBER ADJUSTED MORE AND IF IT COULDN'T, TO INSTALL A NON-KIA AFTER MARKET PART WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE FURTHER CAMBER ADJUSTMENT. WE HAD THE ALIGNMENT ADJUSTED AGAIN. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. KIA REINSPECTED THE TIRES, TOOK IT FOR ANOTHER ROAD TEST AND REVIEWED THE ALIGNMENT RECORDS AND AGAIN THE KIA SERVICE MANAGER CONCLUDED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO BIG O TIRES IN CONIFER TO SEEK RESOLUTION. THE MANAGER STATED THAT OUR SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE BAD AND HIS LEAD MECHANIC STATED THAT WE NEEDED THIS AFTER MARKET PART TO ALLOW THE CAMBER TO BE FURTHER ADJUSTED. AT THAT POINT WE ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A REGIONAL OR DISTRICT MANAGER WHO COULD ASSIST US. WE WERE REFERRED TO COOPER TIRE. COOPER TIRE, TOLD US THAT THESE ARE PRIVATE LABEL TIRES MANUFACTURED BY COOPER FOR TBC AND TO SPEAK WITH TBC AS THEY HANDLE ALL WARRANTY CLAIMS. TBC THEN TRANSFERRED OUR CALL TO BIG O CUSTOMER SERVICE. AS I MENTIONED TO [XXX], MY WIFE AND I ARE REALTORS AND WE PLACE CLIENTS IN THIS VEHICLE EVERYDAY. THIS CREATES ADDITIONAL LIABILITY FOR US, BIG O TIRE AND COOPER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Equipment adaptive/mobility, Engine, Jun 24, 2014
CAR WOULD DROP ITS SPEED TO ABOUT 1 MILE AN HOUR , BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER, TOLD NEEDED SOFTWARE RE-SET, OCCURRED AGAIN IN ABOUT JULY 2012, TOLD AGAIN A SOFTWARE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT TELL ME WHY OR THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. REAR CAMERA AND ENTIRE RADIO-COUNCIL GOES OUT ON OCCASION. SUN ROOF JAMS AND WON'T CLOSE. IN SHOP TO REPAIR SUN ROOF OVER ONE WEEK. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 21, 2014
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN A PARKING GARAGE AND WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, NO LIGHTS, NO ENGINE, NO POWER STEERING, STIFF BRAKES. I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. SOMEONE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO HELP PUSH MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE AND EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY FOUND NOTHING AND WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A REAL DANGER ON THE ROAD AND NOW MY TRUST IN THE CAR IS SHAKEN! SCARY TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Engine, Jun 19, 2014
IT HAS BEEN 3TIMES ON THE ROAD. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN I DROVE IN HIGHWAY ABOUT 35 MPH (HAD TRAFFIC) MY ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF SO I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I TO DO SO I PUT MY GEAR TO PARK AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS TURNED ON. AND COUPLE WEEKS LATER I WAS DROVE IN ROCAL ROAD IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO I CALLED KIA DEALER THEY ASKED ME TO BRING MY CAR TO DEALER AND I LEFT IN THE MORNING AND PICKED IT UP AT AFTERNOON AND THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE OK. THEN WAS BEEN OK BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN JUNE 2ND AND I BROUGHT TO KIA DEALER AGAIN THEY SAID "WE CAN NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RECALL" I WAS SO MAD IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER DRIVE THIS CAR AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHILE IN DRIVING IT CAN MAKE BIG ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD OR ON HIGHWAY.PLEASE CAN YOU FIND OUT WHAT'S THE PROBLEM IS IN THIS CAR AND MAKE KIA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 17, 2014
I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 KIA SORENTO ON A FLAT RESIDENTIAL ROAD IN FAIR WEATHER AND CAME TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. AFTER GOING FORWARD ABOUT 20FT AFTER THE STOP SIGN MY CAR JUST DIED. IT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF, ALL ELECTRICAL, THE ENGINE, EVERYTHING AND I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, 1 TIME ON A HILL, 1 TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND ME, AND AGAIN ON MY WAY HOME IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM AND NO ERROR CODES CAME UP. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I AM SCARED FOR MY LIFE DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR
Visibility, Jun 11, 2014
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,127.
Engine, Jun 5, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Power train, Engine, Jun 5, 2014
MY KIA SORENTO STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD WHILE CROSSING A STOP SIGN. THE ENGINE SHUTOFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL LIGHTED ON. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED THREE TIMES. LAST TWO TIMES WE WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THERE ARE NOT ERROR CODES SAVED IN KIA SO THEY DON'T HAVE A PROOF THAT THIS CONDITION HAPPENED. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS WITH NO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BACK BY PUTTING IT IN PARKING BRAKE AND PRESSING THE START BUTTON AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER POSTS WITH THE SIMILAR PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS IS THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AS DEALERSHIP IS NOT READY TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR TRY TO EVEN RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 4, 2014
I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I NOTICED THAT ENGINE STOPPED WITH ALL THE INDICATORS ON INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT MY CAR WAS NOT RUNNING ANYMORE AND WILL NOT DRIVE EVEN WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. I PUT IT ON PARK AND TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED. IT STARTED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF EACH OTHER. *TR
Engine, Jun 1, 2014
WE HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE ENGINE JUST STOPS. THE FIRST TIME WAS LAST SUMMER, AND THE SECOND THIS PAST WEEKEND. IT STALLED WHILE MY WIFE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A STREET. SHE IS THANKFUL THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. THE THOUGHT OF STALLING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC OR WHILE ON THE FREEWAY COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, May 29, 2014
FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A 2 MONTH SPAN, MY 2012 KIA SORENTO HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AS WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT. WE ARE AT THE 60K MILES MARK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. TWO OF THE THREE TIMES WE HAVE BEEN DOING AROUND 40 MPH ON VERY BUSY STREETS AND THANK GOD, WE DID NOT HIT ANOTHER CAR OR GET HIT. THE VEHICLE WITH ZERO WARNING, WILL JUST DIE AND WE WILL LOSE ALL POWER STEERING, WE CAN'T SHIFT GEARS, AND THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK LIKE THEY NORMALLY DO. THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BATTERY, SO I REPLACED IT. BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY WILL GET IT RUNNING AGAIN AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, IT WILL DIE AGAIN. I HAVE TWO BABIES THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I AM LOOKING AT MY OPTIONS TO GETTING RID OF IT. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS!! *TR
Engine, May 26, 2014
WIFE DRIVING FROM NY TO CONN, VEHICLE LOSING POWER, EXTREME SHAKING, GRINDING/RATTLE NOISE, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STAYED ON, THEN BLINKING ON AND OFF, VEHICLE REALLY RUNNING BAD AT THIS TIME. FOLLOWING DAY, ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON, NEED TO PUMP GAS PEDDLE TO GET STARTED. IDLE VERY ROUGH. 2012 KIA SORENTO WITH 38;000 MILES. VERY CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, AS IS COMMON PER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. WILL BRING TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW, HOWEVER, HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING KIA SORENTO ENGINE PROBLEMS THIS AFTERNOON AND IT DOES NOT LOOK GOOD. 1) DEALERSHIP TECHS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEMS. (COMMON) 2) RECALL TO REPLACE ECM BUT CUSTOMERS NOT NOTIFIED AS DEEMED NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BY KIA. REALLY???? 3) THROTTLE ACTUATOR FAILURE PART OF PROBLEM BUT NOT WIDELY KNOWN BY CONSUMERS.(COMMON) IMPORTANT FOR 2012-TO 2014 OWNERS. NEW YORK HAS LEMON LAWS. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD OR HAS LESS THAN 18,000 MILES AND YOU HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK FOR REPAIRS SEVERAL TIMES, THERE ARE ATTORNEYS WHO LIVE FOR THIS TYPE OF THING. I AM IN THIS GROUP AND SENT E-MAIL TODAY TO JUST THOSE TYPE OF SHARKS. BE PRO-ACTIVE, NOT RE-ACTIVE. I PLAN ON HAVING PLAN B IN PLACE IF I FIND MYSELF GOING DOWN THE PATH OF "WE DON,T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, THE COMPUTER SAYS YOUR CAR IS FINE, JUST BECAUSE YOU NEED TO RENT A ROOM AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE YOU ARE THERE SO MUCH DOES NOT MEAN WE DON,T CARE". WHAT WE REALLY MEAN IS WE REALLY DON,T CARE!! REALITY CHECK.. FYI CHECK THIS OUT...........HTTP://ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2013/KIA/SORENTO/ENGINE/PROBLEM.ASPX PS IN NY DON,T FORGET CLASS ACTION LAW-SUIT THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING ON, DOES NOT COST ANYTHING TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST OF PLAINTIFFS. *TR
Steering, May 24, 2014
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A KIA SORENTO WITH 38K MILES. WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A DISTINCT PULL IN THE STEERING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT IN EITHER DIRECTION. SINCE THE VEHICLE STILL HAS 20K LEFT ON THE KIA WARRANTY I WENT AHEAD WITH THE PURCHASE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM TO WHICH THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TIRES WERE UNEVENLY WORN AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED. I REPLACED THE TIRES AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WHERE THEY PERFORMED A TSB TO ADDRESS THE DRIFT/PULL ISSUE AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY NOTICED THE VEHICLE PULLING AND RECOMMENDED THAT I GET ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. I STATED THAT I HAD JUST HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE. SINCE IT WAS MY THIRD TIME TAKING IT IN I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A KIA CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. SHE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DISMISSIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT AGREED TO SEND OUT A TECH TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A WHOLE FORUM DEDICATED TO THE STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2012 V6 KIA SORENTO AND YET KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WILL PROMPT A CORRECTIVE ACTION FROM KIA. *TR
Engine, May 22, 2014
A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO HER VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE AND UPON LEAVING THE PARKING LOT AND DRIVING INTO THE STREET I LOST ALL POWER AND CONTROL OF MY CAR INCLUDING MY POWER STEERING ETC. I ALMOST CRASHED THE CAR INTO THE SIDE OF A HOUSE BUT LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO PRESS THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO FINALLY GET THE CAR TO STOP. I THEN PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DISPLAY BUT NO POWER TO THE CAR. I PRESSED THE POWER AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED. THEN THREE DAYS AGO I WAS IN THE CAR PICK UP LINE PICKING UP ANOTHER DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. I HAD THE POWER OF THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. I PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON AND AGAIN ALL OF THE LIGHT ON THE DISPLAY CAME ON. THEN I PUSHED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. IF MYSELF OR MY HUSBAND ARE DRIVING ANY OF OUR 4 CHILDREN ON THE FREEWAY AT 65-70 MILES AND HOUR AND THE CAR DECIDES TO POWER ITSELF OFF IT COULD BECOME A CATASTROPHE ONE OF WHICH I AM NOT WILLING TO RISK. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE EXACT ISSUES HOWEVER NOTHING IS EVER DONE ABOUT. IT'S THE SAME OLD STORY YOU TAKE IT INTO YOUR DEALER AND THEY RUN THE DIAGNOSTIC AND IT DOESN'T SHOW ANYTHING WRONG. WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME BOTH TIMES I TOOK MY KIA IN. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS A DEFECT, WHICH IS TERRIBLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS, AND WHICH THE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER APPEARS TO BE IGNORING, MUCH IN THE MANNER THAT GM IGNORED SERIOUS, DANGEROUS, AND SOMETIMES FATAL DEFECTS IN ONE OR MORE OF ITS MODELS. I TRULY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM CAN KEEP HAPPENING AND KIA IS CHOOSING NOT TO IGNORE IT RATHER THAN ISSUE A RECALL ON THE CAR. *TR
Engine, May 21, 2014
ON 3/25/14, MY 2012 SORENTO JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK AND IT STARTED FINE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND IT SPENT 2 DAYS AT THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RECREATED , NO FIX, NO ISSUE THEY KEPT STATING & THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. NOW WE'RE IN MAY 2014 AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN. I WAS AT A LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT STARTED AGAIN. THE IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA IS TAKING NO ACTION FOR THIS AND THERE SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON YOUR WEBSITE. I THINK AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OPENED AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE FOR KIA SORENTO OWNERS. WE ARE PAYING FOR CARS WITH A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND OBVIOUSLY NEED THE CARS WE ARE PAYING FOR. *TR
Electrical system, May 15, 2014
INCIDENT #1: I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE EAST BOUND ON A ST IN THE DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO AREA, APPROACHING FRONT STREET (EXACT STREET INTERSECTION UNKNOWN). I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE CAR, WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF IMMINENT FAILURE (NOT EVEN AN ODD NOISE OR ELECTRICAL GLITCH BEFOREHAND) JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND STOPPED ABRUPTLY. I HAD NO WAY TO EVEN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TRY TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURNED ON MY WARNING LIGHTS, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TRIED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE. IT RESTARTED WITHOUT ANY COMPLICATION AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. INCIDENT #2: ON 05/13/2014, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS OR 550 MILES OF USE (MY PERSONAL ESTIMATE), THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, I WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON CEDAR STREET IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH (DECREASING SPEED TO STOP AT A LIGHT) WHEN AT THE CORNER OF 5TH STREET AND CEDAR ST., THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY PRIOR INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE. I WAS ABLE TO VEER THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE A BIT BECAUSE OF THE MOMENTUM AND ANGLE OF THE STREET BUT COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL MUCH. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED ON MY WARNING SIGNALS, AND TURNED OF THE IGNITION. I THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL THEN BACK TO PARK, AND THEN TRIED TO TURN ON THE CAR AGAIN AND IT DID WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY TOLD ME THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND WERE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONCERN. THEIR ONLY RECOMMENDATION WAS TO TAKE THE CAR IN IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR
Steering, May 15, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. RK
Engine, May 15, 2014
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THROUGH TRAFFIC, MY VEHICLE SEIZED UP ON ME. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30-35MPH AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE MUSIC WAS PLAYING, BUT WHEN I LOOKED DOWN AT THE DASHBOARD ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHERE ON, I LOST CONTROL OF MY POWERSTEERING AND BRAKES. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND PRESS THE START BUTTON AGAIN. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME ON THE FREEWAY IT HAS DONE IT, IN ADDITIONAL TO THE 4-7 TIMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL WHILE GOING ABOUT 35MPH AND UNDER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP REPETITIVELY AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE PROBLEM. THE 2ND TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE FULL THROTTLE BODY, BUT EXACTLY ONE WEEK OF HAVING IT BACK IN MY POSSESSION THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, SEVERAL TIMES, BUT FROM THE LOOK OF THIS WEBSITE, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THAT PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, May 6, 2014
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS EITHER STALLED WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING, BRAKES AND ACCELERATION OR WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING, BRAKES AND ACCELERATION. *TR