Vehicle Data Hub

2012 Kia Sorento electrical system problems

Owners reported electrical system problems in 127 complaints for the 2012 Kia Sorento, 10% of the complaints on file. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
127 11% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
71,000 miles 75 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
1 and 20
Injuries and deaths
6 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When electrical system problems show up

Electrical system complaints by mileage, 2012 Kia Sorento Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 71,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 13 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 9 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 12 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 6 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 11 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 9 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 5 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 6 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 3 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 71,000 miles
Based on 75 complaints that include mileage. 45% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles13
20k to 40k miles9
40k to 60k miles12
60k to 80k miles6
80k to 100k miles11
100k to 120k miles9
120k to 140k miles5
140k to 160k miles6
160k to 180k miles3
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 75 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 71,000 miles, and 45% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 crash, 20 fires, 6 injuries.

What owners wrote

I was driving a 2012 kia sorento with three other passengers and our family dog. I see smoke coming from back of my car thought it was the car passing me since my car was in mint condition with a new engine and new transmission. I look again there is no car going the opposite way and now I see a lot more smoke. Cars coming the opposite way are flashing me and waving so I figured I'm probably over heating.

Reported at 65,000 miles, June 2018 FireInjury

While attempting to start the vehicle it would not start. The 2012 sorento has a push button start. The issue started the day we purchased the vehicle and it seems like it is a repeated issue. The kia dealer in omaha nebraska replaced the switch twice and the dealer in fairview hts, il has replaced the same part at least three times. I'm thinking lemon. It is currently at the dealer in fairview hts, il for the same issue again.

Reported at 10,321 miles, October 2012

Other problems reported for the 2012 Kia Sorento

Electrical system problems in other years

Electrical system problems across all Kia models