2012 Kia Sorento Electrical System Problems
- 71
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 71 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 11 indicate fire
What owners report
- caught fire · 6 records
- stop sign · 5 records
- same issue · 5 records
- steering wheel · 5 records
- wiring harness · 4 records
- lost power · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 17 |
| 60–100k mi | 16 |
| 30–60k mi | 15 |
| 100–150k mi | 10 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Since i purchased this vehicle brand new in december 2011 i have had to replace the headlight wiring 4 times and have to change the headlight bulb at least once every 2-3 months. Each time i have had the wiring harness replaced after the third light bulb change the wiring harness begins to melt and then loses connection with the bulb therefor my headlights are intermittent.
ODI 11287945
Electrical System · Engine
I drive kia sorrento 2012, its at 117,000 miles. For the last 6000 miles my car has started burning through abnormally high amounts of oil. It doesn't give any warning signs and the low oil warning light never comes on. For my last 3 services which were in june, august and november, all well before i was due for oil change, i was told that there was next to none oil left in my car. On nov 16th, while i was driving…
ODI 11281889
Electrical System
On a busy highway rt.70 vehicle decals got to flashing on the dash broad all of them. Than lost all power.couldn't use flashers or anything. And got over to the shoulder .wait a few minutes nothing had to get it tow back to my sons. Try a jump after 3 minutes the vehicle shut back down .battery show good .
ODI 11278254
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
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…
ODI 11242679
Electrical System · Engine · Service Brakes
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.
ODI 11229368
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
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.
Fire reported
ODI 11228637
Electrical System · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
While my vehicle was in motion on the highway going over 70mph my engine shut off, my speedometer dropped from 70 to 40 causing the vehicle behind me to have to pull into on coming traffic (two lane road going down mountain) to avoid slamming into my vehicle. Prior to this oil, check engine, and four wheel drive lights all began to flash. Pulled over, shut off vehicle and vehicle started after some struggle. Drove…
ODI 11206916
Electrical System
I have replaced the passenger side low beam light multiple times because of it burning out prematurely. I bought another bulb to have it replaced and the old bulb was still good. The new bulb was put in to verify that wasn't the issue. The auto parts store checked the fuses and all are ok.
ODI 11171892
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
While driving all warning lights on dashboard turned on and my car started shaking and i hear the engine turn off while in the middle of driving. I was in a residential area going down hill and speed limit was 25 mph so i was able to pull to the side of the road. The lights would stay on and would not turn off. The gears were stuck as well, it would not let me park the car. I waited a few minutes to turn car off and…
ODI 11150042
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Upon exiting the freeway on an out of town trip, my elderly father, 9 year old son and i began to smell a strong gasoline smell. There were no previous symptoms or signs of an issue and we just travelled about 250 miles. I typically drive alot in the city as well. In this case, i pulled into the hotel parking lot (right off the freeway) and there was a large amount of smoke coming from under the hood of the car.…
ODI 11143497
Electrical System · Engine
Takata recall: i purchased my call feb. 11, 2017 and starting may i started having all kind of electrical problems. Fused kept blowing open every other day. Now fast forward to 2018 i go in for an oil change and find that my engine is leaking oil. The mechanic tells me that i need to replace the engine asap. My car has been parked for the passed two weeks.
ODI 11141783
Electrical System · Service Brakes
Front headlight failed, upon inspection the harness wire to headlight burned and melted and brake lights don't work when the head light wire burned. This is major safety issue without brake lights. Went to computer and this problem is all over the internet, exact same issue happening to kia owners of numerous models. Apparently kia installed a odd system that controls headlights and burns out wiring . Very dangerous…
ODI 11132878
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
This kia sorento caught fire while being driven. The driver reported that the steering locked up and she could see smoke and a flame coming from the engine. She left the vehicle unharmed however the experience was frightening. The front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames and the car is now a total loss. The car was purchased from dallas auto auction by mas motors in dallas tx. The original owner was kia of…
Fire reported
ODI 11132280
Electrical System
My headlight pigtail caught on fire...i had it replaced ...replaced the headlights in it and not even 2 weeks later the pig tail caught on fire again...they said it must ne a shortage in the wiring somewhere and it will start at 200$ to look at it to fix....mu car isnt that old to have this issue.
Fire reported
ODI 11128852
Air Bags · Electrical System · Engine
I was driving the truck when i heard a loud noise like a fire gun than i saw smoke coming out from the engine, i pulled over and saw that the engine was already on fire, i got my two daughters out of the truck and five minutes later the whole truck exploted
Fire reported
ODI 11154607
Electrical System
Drivers side front turning signal keeps going out. I've replaced the bulb numerous times and it'll work for a few days and then it will stop working again.
ODI 11143415
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Unknown Or Other
The break lights stopped working and the electronic stability control esc and downhill breaking control dhc lights came on. I was alerted to the break light issue when i was stopped by a fort worth police officer. I tried to fix the problem by checking the break light bulbs (they were good), the fuses were all good. I replaced the break switch with on bought from o'reilly auto parts. It did not fix the problem. I…
ODI 11114220
Electrical System · Engine · Service Brakes
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. I steer to…
Fire reported · 5 injuries
ODI 11112496
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Car repaired by recall due to noises in the motor. Motor changed. Noises continued. Car broke down in the highway. Lost power and it was in fumes and smoke. Lives in danger. Car towed to kia service in libertyville , il. Staff indicated that pistons blew up.. Whole motor changed again. After three weeks car did not work at and.. Broke in the night while my wife was going to take care of an emergency call to a…
ODI 11119874
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My front "low beam" head lamps go out frequently. It has happened at night on a dark road, with my children in the car. Extremely dangerous! I have just continued to buy new lights, replace & do over & over. Finally it no longer worked. I had it checked out & the connector and some wiring was melted. I paid to have this fixed, only to have it happen again 2 - 3 weeks later. I just had it fixed again, but am scared…
ODI 11098911
Body · Electrical System · Engine
Existed the freeway, stopped at 2 stop lights with other cars with no indication of trouble. Started forward from light 100+ yards and maybe 20 mph when fire erupted from under the engine compartment with large flames. I pulled to side of the road and fire burned from motor compartment into dash and ceiling of passenger area. Vehicle is totaled! The engine had been replaced by kia on a recall just 5 months ago. Only…
Fire reported
ODI 11093994
Electrical System · Engine
Vehicle stalls while in motion and when stopped. When it stalls in motion, there is no steering or brakes. Awd kicks in for no reason and will not go off. I had the vehicle checked and both the map sensor and vcma actuator were both replaced as recommended by the diagnostic computer. I did have a tune up on the vehicle one day prior so i had hoped the spark plugs were the problem. Problem resumed one day after…
ODI 11096957
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Engine
My mechanic said my engine seized on me. I was driving on a highway which turns into a city street and the car stopped on me and when i turned the steering wheel right to get off of the busy street it was difficult to turn. I then tried to start the engine, all the lights came on but there was no noise when i turned the key. Smoke started coming out of the engine on the passenger side. I had to get the car towed and…
ODI 11092557
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 kia sorento. While driving 45 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the engine and the temperature gauge increased to high. Minutes later, the top of the hood near the windshield caught on fire and the entire hood erupted into flames. The fire department extinguished the fire and a police report was filed. The fire department stated that the battery appeared to be the…
Fire reported
ODI 11124571
Electrical System
My car will intermittently stall when turning the steering wheel to either the left or right lock position. This occurs when going extremely slowly like when going in or out of a parking space.
ODI 11082639