Page 9 of 18 · complaints 401–450 of 880

2012 Kia Sorento complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →

Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2019101,000 milesWA

I WAS TURNING ONTO THE HWY. WHEN WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY DASH LIGHT WARNINGS MY ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE IT FELL APART AND I LOST POWER PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CALLED KIA THEY HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. 2 DAYS LATER DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE ENGINE SPUN A BEARING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME REASON ON THIS BUT THEY SAID ITS NOT ON MY VIN. # AND IT WILL COST $9,500.00 TO GET AND INSTALL A USED 78,000 MILE ENGINE IN IT, WHY WOULD I PUT A SIMILAR USED ENGINE IN IT TO HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN. MY ENGINE IS 1000 MILES OVER ITS WARRANTY. VERY FRUSTRATING.....I LOOKED ON THIS SITE AND I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M GLAD I WAS JUST ENTERING THE HWY WHEN IT HAPPENED NOT DOING THE 70MPH SPEED CAUSE IT MAY OF HAD A MUCH WORSE OUTCOME. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS THANKS FOR READING MY REPORT.

Engine
Filed Aug 15, 2019115,000 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S NEPHEW WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Visibility/Wiper1 injured
Filed Aug 12, 201942,000 milesNJ

PANORAMIC SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED / SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. *DT CUTS TO HAND ON STEERING WHEEL FROM FALLING GLASS. *JB

Air Bags
Filed Aug 12, 2019159,387 milesSC

MY SUV HAS NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY INCIDENTS THAT INVOLVE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. YESTERDAY WHILE LEAVING WORK THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT STILL HAS NOT TURNED OFF. LOOKING AT RECENT COMPLAINTS IT APPEARS THAT KIA HAS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED NATIONWIDE.

Engine
Filed Aug 9, 2019118,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HART KIA (1361 E MAIN ST, SALEM, VA 24153, 540-444-4444) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 8, 2019121,000 milesWI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 8, 2019122,000 milesNJ

LAST JULY MY HUSBAND HAD CHANGED MY BRAKES AND THEN WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY. WELL, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. CALLED KIA AND HAD IT TOWED THERE(UNREIMBURSED) REPLACED ENGINE TOLD THEM THAT SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. KIA SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW, A YEAR LATER STILL TRANS PROBLEM. TOOK TO MASTER MECHANIC THAT HAS A TRANS SHOP AND THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS. HE SAID IT NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM KIA FOR A HARD TRANSMISSIKN SHIFT. CALLED KIA THEY SAID THEY HAD TO "RESEARCH PROBLEM", BUT HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. ALSO, MY CAR SHUTS OFF IF I HAVE TO DO A HARD BRAKE EVEN AFTER MY ENGINE BEING REPLACED. ALSO, MY GAS LID WONT OPEN, MY MIRRORS HAD STOPPED MOVING AND MY WINDOWS ALL STOPPED WORKING. HAVING MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH FUSE BOX. APPARENTLY SOMETHING IS NOT GROUNDED CORRECTLY KIA AND IS SHORTING OUT ALL MY FUSES. BUT I HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY TO HAVE A CAR THAT IS BARELY THAT OLD HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. IF I COULD SUE THEM FOR DAMAGES UNDER LEMON LAW I WOULD. VERY UPSET AND SCARED TO DRIVE CAR AND I HAVE A TEN YEAR THAT IS ALWAYS IN THE CAR WITH ME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE

Electrical System
Filed Aug 5, 2019165,000 milesGA

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR IN TOWN, I LOSE ALL POWER WITH NO WARNING OTHER THAN A JERK THAT FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE REAR. THEN IT GOES DEAD. I CRANK IT BACK UP AND IT RUNS FOR A WHILE THEN REPEATS. I TOOK TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT TODAY, BUT THEY ARE SAYING IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL, AFTER KIA CORP. TOLD MY FATHER LAST WEEK THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. IT IS THERE NOW TO BE CHECKED 1ST THING IN THE MORNING.

EngineFire
Filed Aug 2, 201969,900 milesMN

JULY 2016, WHILE HWY DRIVING MY 2012 KIA SORENTO (V6) (@69,000 MILEAGE) THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED & SMOLDERED (POLICE CALLED FIRE DEPT). CAR WAS INOPERABLE, TOWED TO SHOP & THEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THAT RADIATOR CAP MELTED & THEY FOUND "METAL IN COOLANT & THE ENGINE" (AS NOTED ON THE KIA DEALERHSHIP DOCUMENTATION). HE SAID HE NEVER SAW SUCH A THING. DEALER SAID ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF THE METAL FOUND IN ENGINE & METAL LIKELY CAUSED OVERHEATING WHICH MELTED RAD CAP. KIA DEALER INSTALLED NEW RADIATOR & A USED ENGINE (W/43K MILEAGE), COSTING ME $14,000. THE CAR HAS CONTINUED TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE AND RECENTLY 7/2019, @122K MILES AGAIN SMOLDERED & LOST POWER. RADIATOR CAP AGAIN "MELTED" REQUIRING A 3RD RADIATOR REPLACEMENT. GAUGES/DASH SHOWED NO INDICATION OF CAR OVERHEATING. I FEAR PROBLEM IS RECURRING WITH 2ND ENGINE (SAME DEFECT). LEARNED OF 2012 SORENTO RECALLS FOR EXACT ISSUES (METAL IN ENGINE, OVERHEATING/FIRE, KNOCKING & POWER LOSS). KIA DEALER (8/2019) INFORMED ME ONLY 4 CYL UNITS WERE RECALLED FOR METAL IN ENGINE & MY 6 CYL UNIT WITH THE SAME ENGINE-METAL ISSUES WAS NOT COVERED BY KIA RECALL. I ASKED IF ANYTHING RELATED TO CAR USE OR MAINTENANCE WOULD HAVE CAUSED METAL TO CONTAMINATE AN ENGINE; DEALER SAID NO, PROBLEM IS UNRELATED TO CAR USE OR MAINTENANCE AND A MFG PROBLEM WAS THE ONLY WAY THE METAL WOULD SHOW UP IT. BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE 6 CYL MODELS REPAIR COSTS WERE MINE. THEY REFUSED TO CONTACT KIA. MY VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT

Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2019162,000 milesIL

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, CAR SUDDENLY GOES DEAD, NO WARNING NO ENGINE LIGHT. NO POWER, NO BRAKES NO POWER STEERING. DID GLIDE TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH A NEAR MISS, CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. HAD IT TOWED TO KIA DEALER.

Power Train
Filed Jul 29, 2019102,653 milesAL

FOLLOWING AN OIL CHANGE AND MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CUSTOMER ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE KIA TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE ON MY KIA 2012 SORENTO IS LEAKING AND LOOSING GREASE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM TENDED TO OCCUR AFTER A NUMBER OF MILES HAD BEEN INCURRED ON KIA SORENTOS.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 26, 2019112,000 milesCA

AIR BAG LIGHT ON. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING TO SET IT OFF. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND THIS IS THE ICING ON THE CAKE. SO UNSAFE!!!

EngineFire
Filed Jul 22, 2019110,000 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A LOCAL ROAD AT 35 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISES, SMOKING, CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SEIZED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AND NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE. MY 2012 KIA SORENTO WAS PART ON MANUFACTURING DEFECT RECALL RELATED TO THE ENGINE AND IT WAS CHECKED BY A KIA SERVICE SHOP FOR THIS OVER A YEAR AGO. AT THAT TIME I ASKED IF THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION COULD OCCUR AT A LATER DATE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FINE NOW. THEY SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT COULD STILL OCCUR AT A LATER DATE BUT WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE COULD FAIL/LOCK-UP, CATCH ON FIRE WITH NO WARNING AT ALL.

Engine
Filed Jul 19, 201990,000 milesWA

VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY KIA SORENTO. AT 90000 MILES IT STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEARINGS WEAR AND WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT THE ENGINE I HAVE IS NOT RECALLED. HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS GET MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT A CAR NEEDS A NEW $6000 ENGINE AT 90,000 MILES. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT I WAS RECOMMENDING KIA TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND NOW SINCE THIS HAPPENED I WOULD NEVER AGAIN BUY OR RECOMMEND A KIA CAR EVER.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jul 18, 201969,000 milesPA

2ND COMPLAIN FOR KIA ENGINE. DEC. 2017 MY ENGINE SEIZED. I SPENT ON 5GRAND FOR A REBUILT ENGINE. ORIGINAL COMPLAINT WAS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DID NOT GIVE ME ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY OIL OR ENGINE. DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET WHERE MY CAR SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED YOU CAN HEAR LOUD CLICKING FROM THE ENGINE. FAST FORWARD TO A YEAR AND 4 MONTHS LATER. REBUILT ENGINE ON FEB 2018.. CAR DIED AGAIN ON 7/16/19. ONCE AGAIN NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. NO OIL LIGHT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP ON ACCELERATING. I DECIDED AFTER WORK I PUT SOME OIL INTO MY ENGINE. SCHEDULE AN APPT WITH MY MECHANIC TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGED. THE NEXT DAY MY CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD MY MECHANIC TOW MY CAR AND LATER TELLS ME THAT IT WAS MY ENGINE AGAIN. STATED HE COULD FIND AN ENGINE FOR OVER 3GRAND FOR ME. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY. I AM NOW OUT OF A CAR AGAIN WITH A NEWBORN AND TRYING TO FIND RIDES TO AND FROM WORK. I JUST RECENTLY MOVED AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS. MY VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALLS AND IT SHOULD BE. KIA HAS FAULTY ENGINES AND IT IS NOT JUST THE ONE ENGINE. LAST ENGINE FAILURE WAS AT 65000 MILES. THIS TIME IT IS AT 69000 MILES. WHY ARE MY OIL LIGHTS NOT COMING ON WHEN THERE IS LOW OIL? WHY WAS THIS PROBLEM NOT FIXED TO BEGIN WITH??? OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR IS MY HANDLE IN THE BACK SEAT PULLED OFF (I AM NOT THAT STRONG) ELECTRICAL

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 18, 201975,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ABS AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE ABS ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA OF WEST CHESTER (LOCATED AT 326 WESTTOWN RD, WEST CHESTER, PA 19382, (610) 429-3500) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Engine
Filed Jul 17, 2019112,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILD-UP IN THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT DROVE TO KIRBY KIA OF VENTURA (6424 AUTO CENTER DR, VENTURA, CA 93003, (805) 256-7021) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD NO WAY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONTACT REFUSED THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT REQUESTED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND WAS DENIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 17, 2019NY

I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SOCKET KEEP BURNING OUT, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MANY TECHNICIAN AND THEY CHANGE THE SOCKET AND AFTER A MONTH OR 2 IT BURNS THE SOCKET AGAIN, THE TECH SAID IT SEEMS LIKE A FACTORY PROBLEM.

Engine
Filed Jul 14, 201980,000 milesIL

LOSING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. STARTED AT 80,000 MILES. TAKEN TO DEALER. WE ARE DOING OIL LOSS TEST. SAID THIS IS NORMAL. NO WAY THIS IS NORMAL. STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX. ON TEC SAID JUST DRIVE TO ENGINE LOCKS UP IS ONLY WAY KIA WILL FIX. THAT WOULD BE NICE GOING DONE THE ROAD AT 70 MPH.I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT SAME THING. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THESE ENGINES. NO SMOKE OR DRIPPING ON GROUND. ALL THE PEOPLE ONLINE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 11, 2019101,000 milesTX

MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING YESTERDAY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CAME ON AND STAYED ON ALL THROUGH MY TRIP. IT WILL NOT GO OFF. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SEEN THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT BY SO MANY OTHER USERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS LIKELY FAULTY AND MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.

Engine
Filed Jul 8, 201975,000 milesOK

MY CAR IS HAVING PREMATURE BEARING WEAR AND CAUSING NOISES WITHIN THE ENGINE AT ALL TIMES. I WAS TOLD MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SC147 BUT IT SHOULD BE.

Engine
Filed Jul 8, 2019151,000 milesOK

MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED CHUGGING, DRIVING EXTREMELY ROUGHLY, AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE TO DO WITH THE RECALL ON ENGINES LIKE MINE SO I TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND EXPLAINED MY CONCERN AND THE THE RECALL IN QUESTION HAD BEEN CLEARED BECAUSE IT HADN'T DONE ANYTHING AT THE TIME BUT NOW I WAS CONCERNED THAT WAS THE ISSUE. THEY RAN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS AND THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $800 BUT THEY WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RECALL OR SHOW ME WHAT THE CODES WERE. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM RUN THE CODES SO I COULD SEE WHAT THEY WERE AND IT WAS JUST THE IGNITION COIL AND CYLINDER 4 MISFIRING AND NOT THE FUEL INJECTOR AT ALL. I GOT THE IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED BUT IT'S STILL RUNNING ROUGH AND CYLINDER 4 IS STILL MISFIRING AND MY CAR EVEN STALLED OUT ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE. MY CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD WITH 151,000 MILES ON IT. IT DROVE LIKE A DREAM WHEN I GOT IT AND I'VE TAKEN CARE OF IT REALLY WELL EVER SINCE. I'M AFRAID THIS ISSUE IS OUT OF MY HAND AND HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT RECALL OR POSSIBLY ANOTHER ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 3, 201990,000 milesGA

2012 KIA SORENTO, WHEN DRIVING AT 30MPH AVERAGE, STRAIGHT OR TURNING, SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP SIGN, OR DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS, AT THE MOMENT OF PRESSING THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE CUTS OFF.

Suspension
Filed Jul 2, 2019136,000 milesFL

I RECENTLY HAD STRUTS REPLACED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH A FRACTURE IN THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE. I WAS FURTHER TOLD IT MAY BE A RECALL. WELL AFTER RESEARCH I WAS TOLD IT WAA FOR 2014 BUT IT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS ADVISED TO SUBMIT THIS FOR REVIEW TO SEE IF THIS RECALL OF THE 2014 FRONT AXLE SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MORE YEARS AS MY ISSUE IS THE EXACT SAME THING. IT DOES MAKE LOUD NOISE AT MILD TURNS. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AS THE FRACTURE PROGRESSES. I HAVE TO GET THIS FIXED AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOUR DECISION IF ANY IS BUT MAYBE THIS WILL HELP OTHERS.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jul 1, 2019FL

AS I WAS DRIVING, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD AND WHEN I PULLED OVER TO CHECK, MY CAR BLEW UP IN FLAMES.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 1, 201988,611 milesOH

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 65-70 MPH AND THE REAR FIXED PANORAMIC SUNROOF JUST SHUTTERED IN HER VEHICLE. I READ ABOUT OTHERS HAD SAME ISSUE. I HAD MY 5 YEAR OLD SITTING ON THE BACK SEAT. SHE GOT SCARED BUT LUCKILY DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. WE HAVE DASH CAM VIDEO AND WE HAVE RECORDED THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE CAR.

Power Train
Filed Jun 30, 201910,000 milesNJ

STEERING WHEEL SHAKING WHEN DRIVING ALSO THE BOOT IS CRACKED AND AFFECTING THE BALL JOINTS ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE

Air Bags
Filed Jun 27, 2019MI

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG NOT ALLOWING IT TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT (AT ALL TIMES), WILL COST $2,000 TO REPAIR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jun 25, 201990,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. A WEEK LATER, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TEAM KIA OF EL CAJON (LOCATED AT 541 N JOHNSON AVE, EL CAJON, CA 92020, (619) 444-7200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A NEW ENGINE AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2019110,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR TAIL PIPE. THERE WAS ALSO REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHEN NEEDING TO DRIVE MORE THAN 40 MPH. CENTURY 3 KIA (2483 LEBANON CHURCH RD, WEST MIFFLIN, PA 15122, (412) 466-1466) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE19004 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 24, 2019103,000 milesMN

OUR 2012 KIA SORENTO EXPERIENCED A MAJOR BEARING FAILURE THAT KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE CAST BLOCK ALLOWING THE OIL TO DUMP OUT OVER THE CARS EXHAUST. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICE ROUTINELY UTILIZING FULL SYNTHETIC AT 6000 MILE INTERVALS. THE OIL LEVEL AND COOLING SYSTEMS WERE ALL FULL AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CAR HAD 103000 MILES AND HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED. CONTACTED KIA AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND RECEIVED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS SIGNIFICANT FAILURE. THE PREMATURE BEARING FAILURE ISSUE IDENTIFIED ON OTHER MODELS AND INVOLVED IN THE SIGNIFICANT RECALL DEFINITELY APPEARS TO HAVE OCCURRED ON OUR CAR AS WELL.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 24, 2019CA

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT CONTINUALLY BURNS OUT. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE WIRING IN THE HEAD LAMP IS BURNT OUT AND THE ENTIRE HEAD LAMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.

Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2019110,000 milesPA

MY BURGUNDY 2012 KIA EX I PURCHASED IN 2017 HAS BEEN GIVING ME NO PROBLEMS I LOVE THE SUV UNTIL 6/18/2019 WHEN I STARTED UP THE SUV AN THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE WHICH NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN THE NOISE QUIETED DOWN I PROCEEDED ON ROUTE 51 AN GASSING THE VEHICLE THE NOISE COMES BACK AN IT SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO BREAK DOWN AN I DONT WANT TO HAVE A ACCIDENT I SAW THERE ARE SOME RECALLS ON THIS SUV THAT A CLEARLY WASNT AWARE OF AN I JUST WANT TO GET THIS RESOLVED

Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2019134,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL RATTLING SOUND. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE, THE NOISE STOPPED AND THE CHECK ENGINE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 18, 2019OH

ENGINE SEIZED, CAME TO A RED LIGHT CAR DIED HAD IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE MOTOR IS LOCKED UP DUE TO BEARING WEAR!!!

Engine
Filed Jun 18, 201990,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULD OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DESTINATION KIA (760 CENTRAL AVE, ALBANY, NY 12206, (518) 478-8036) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 11, 201977,000 milesWI

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY SLUGGISH AND THE ENGINE WAS CHUGGING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP & I WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT KIA WILL NOT COVER THIS. UPON PICKING THE CAR UP WITH A TRAILER, MY SON-IN-LAW DISCOVERED THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. AFTER ADDING 5+ QUARTS, IT STILL WAS NOT FULL (THE CAR IS NOT DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE FOR ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED MILES). THERE IS SUCH BAD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS RUNNING THAT IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 8, 2019101,138 milesVA

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. I TURNED MY CAR ON LIKE NORMALLY AND THE AIRBAG LIKE CONTINUED TO STAY ON INSTEAD OF TURNING OFF ONCE YOU ARE BUCKLED AND STARTED DRIVING.

Engine
Filed Jun 6, 2019104,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CAR TURNED OFF WITH THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST DOWN THE SMALL HILL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON A TWO-LANE CITY ROAD. I HAD TWO PASSENGERS IN MY CAR AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF ENGINE FAILURE (SEIZING). THE VEHICLE WAS JUST PICKED FROM SERVICE THE DAY BEFORE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR WARNING THAT I WOULD EXPERIENCE ANY SAFETY ISSUES.

Engine
Filed Jun 5, 2019106,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2019106,000 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE THE MOTOR STARTED MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND THEN IT SEIZED UP LEAVING MY FAMILY STRANDED DURING A VERY COLD WINTER NIGHT. WE HAD TO SIT ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAIT ON A TOW TRUCK WHILE HOPING WE DIDN'T GET HIT BY A TRUCK. KIA HAS TOLD US THAT THE OUR MOTOR IS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECAL THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE OTHER KIA SORENTOS, BUT THE RECALL IS FOR THE EXACT SAME THING THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR. I AM INCLUDING PICTURES OF THE MOTOR.

Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2019118,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NO SAFETY RELATED ISSUES OR FAILURES UNTIL MANUFACTURER RECALL CAMPAIGN: SC147 AND AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WERE PERFORMED. JIM SHORKEY UNIONTOWN KIA (1050 PITTSBURGH RD, UNIONTOWN, PA 15401, 724-415-3210) SERVICED THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AN INDICATED THAT THE ROD BEARING, O RING, AND ENGINE WERE WEARING DOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURES. SMAIL KIA (5094 US-30, GREENSBURG, PA 15601, 724-837-7000) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ENGINE FAILURE AND THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL AFFECTING THE CRANK CASE AND PISTON RINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

Engine
Filed Jun 1, 201927,000 milesND

PRIOR TO THE DATE OOF 05/24/2019, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE TO ASK TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS BURNING OIL. THIS WAS IN JUNE 2018 AND AT THAT TIME I WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OUT ON THE ENGINE I HAD IN MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS APPOINTMENT I HAD ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS CALL DOWN AND EXPLAIN TO THE MECHANIC WHAT HE EXPERIENCED WITH MY VEHICLE, AS HE WAS A MECHANIC HIMSELF. I ENDED UP PAYING A BILL THAT DAY FOR SOME MINOR THINGS. IN THE BEGINNING OF 2019 I GOT AN OUL CHANGED AND BY MARCH WE HAD TO ADD BOUT 3 QUARTS. IN APRIL 2019 I NOTICED OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 6 WEEKS I PUT 2 QUARTS IN MY CAR. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND INFORMED THE SECRETARY ON THE PHONE ABOUT IT BURNING OIL. MY FATHER ENDED UP TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY WHILE I WAS MEETING HIM THERE WITH HIS VEHICLE. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY DONE BEING SERVICED. HOWEVER I STILL MANAGED TO SPEAK WITH THE MECHANIC IN WHICH HE INFORMED ME MY ENGINE WAS ON RECALL AND COULD ONLY BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE IF THE CAR MADE A KLINKING SOUND OR I DROVE MY CAR TO THE POINT MY ENGINE SEIZED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE ENGINE WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE. TO ME AND MY FATHER THIS DIDNT SEEM SAVE AS I TRAVEL SEVERAL MILES THROUGHOUT A COUPLE OF MONTH SPAN. THERE ARE TIMES IN WHICH I REACH AREAS THAT THERE IS NO SERVICE. I ALSO OFTEN TIMES HAVE MY DAUGHTER WITH ME IN WHICH WORRIES ME. SIMILAR SITUATION HA

Engine
Filed May 30, 2019109,000 milesNH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT ADDED A QUART OF OIL EVERY FIVE HUNDRED MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO QUIRK KIA OF MANCHESTER (1300 S PORTER ST, MANCHESTER, NH 03103, (603) 836-7600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13113751. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

Engine
Filed May 30, 2019137,000 milesTN

I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED IN JAN 2018 FOR ENGINE FAILURE ROD KNOCKING METAL SHAVINGS ON THE DIP STICK, IT JUST SHUT OFF GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND NOW ITS THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN, GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE STARTED KNOCKING AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK AGAIN WITH METAL SHAVINGS

Air Bags
Filed May 30, 201977,200 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH DARCARS KIA OF FREDERICK (5826 URBANA PIKE, FREDERICK, MD 21704, (301) 696-1200) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,200.

Engine
Filed May 28, 201999,612 milesPA

ENGINE OIL USE EVERY 1.000 MILES GIVE OR TAKE CAR IS USING 1 TO 1 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL. I HAVE TAKING MY CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER THEY HAVE DONE A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND HAVE VERIFIED THAT CAR IS USING OIL.I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK 3 TIME FOR THEM TO CHECK OIL LEVEL AND FOR THEM TO SAY YEP ITS USING OIL .AND WENTON TO TELL ME THAT KIA CORP WILL NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE.SO EVERY 1.000 MILES I HAVE TO PUT OIL IN IT TILL IT BLOWS UP.THIE IS SO SAD I PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND KIA WILL NOT STAND BY REPAIRS.IM A DIESEL TRUCK SERVICE MANAGER AT A NAVASTAR DEALER.AND WE WOULD NOT TREAT ARE CUST THIS WAY.WE HAVE REPLACED $30.000 MOTORS CAUSE OF OIL USE.CAN YOU PLEASE HELP THANKS FOR YOUR TIME JOEL B [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

Engine
Filed May 24, 2019100,000 milesWA

MY 2012 SORENTO HAS BEEN BURNING/LOSING OIL SINCE IT WAS TESTED FOR THE PREMATURE BEARING WEAR RECALL AT 100K MILES. IT BURNS APPROX. 1 QT OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 114K MILES. I HAVE TO ADD 5 QTS OF OIL BETWEEN EVERY 5K MILE OIL CHANGE. DROPPING A MICROPHONE INTO MY OIL PAN DID SOMETHING TO MY ENGINE. KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED FOR AN ENGINE WITH THIS MANY MILES.

Suspension
Filed May 21, 201990,000 milesNC

WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, MY CAR SOUNDED LIKE A TIN CAN PARTICULARLY WHEN COLD OUTSIDE. THOUGHT IT COULD BE SHOCK ABSORBERS. A LOCAL CAR REPAIR PLACE REPLACED STRUT MOUNTS, BRAKE PADS AND NEW SHOCKS AT A COST OVER $3000. AFTER PAYING FOR THIS, MY CAR MADE THE SAME SOUND WHICH I CAPTURED ON VIDEO. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL KIA SORENTO. I PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION TO REPAIR SHOP AND RETURNED FOR PROPER FIX. THEY DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS CAR #SA178. THEY MADE THIS CORRECTION AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT KIA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. KIA REFUSED SAYING THAT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT REPAIRED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP THEY COULD NO HELP ME. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SORENTOS, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I AM OUT OF POCKET OVER $3K. NOT HAPPY.

Engine
Filed May 11, 2019117,000 milesCT

ENGINE SIEZED WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. IT WASN'T LEAKING OIL OR BURNING ANY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC, HE AGREED THEIR WAS NO LEAK BUT THE OIL WAS LIVE SLUDGE AND IT CAUSED THE CAR TO SEIZE. IT HAD BEEN LESS THAN 4000 MILES SINCE I'LL HAD BEEN CHANGED.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2012 Kia Sorento → · Every Sorento year → · How the figures are calculated →