2012 Kia Sorento problems
The 2012 Kia Sorento has 1,212 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (39%) concerns engine. After that come electrical system (10%) and brakes (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,212 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 39% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 32 and 118
- Injuries and deaths
- 59 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 88,000 miles 814 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 123 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 60 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 67 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 111 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 125 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 135 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 74 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 64 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 28 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 9 |
| 200k+ miles | 18 |
What the data shows
Among the 814 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 88,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 100,000 miles (358 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 32 complaints mention a crash; 118 complaints mention a fire; 59 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 22 model years of the Kia Sorento with enough data (430 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. The contact stated that on several occasions while at a stop light, the vehicle had suddenly stalled and also while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly loose power causing the speed to decelerate. The vehicle was taken to roseville kia in roseville, california to be diagnosed but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000.