Vehicle Data Hub

2012 Kia Sorento engine problems

476 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2012 Kia Sorento, which is 39% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
476 39% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
100,000 miles 358 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 55
Injuries and deaths
9 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2012 Kia Sorento Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 100,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 35 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 18 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 20 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 46 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 61 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 78 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 36 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 35 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 17 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 4 complaints 200k+ miles: 8 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 100,000 miles
Based on 358 complaints that include mileage. 20% 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 miles35
20k to 40k miles18
40k to 60k miles20
60k to 80k miles46
80k to 100k miles61
100k to 120k miles78
120k to 140k miles36
140k to 160k miles35
160k to 180k miles17
180k to 200k miles4
200k+ miles8

What the data shows

Of the 358 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 100,000 miles, and 20% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 55 fires, 9 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

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced, but the failure recurred after 10,000 miles of being driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was informed that the engine needed to be replaced for a second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.

Reported at 60,000 miles, August 2015

Other problems reported for the 2012 Kia Sorento

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Kia models