2012 Kia Sorento Engine Problems
- 278
- 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 278 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 28 indicate fire
What owners report
- check engine · 18 records
- engine light · 13 records
- engine seized · 11 records
- side road · 11 records
- warning lights · 9 records
- without warning · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 91 |
| 100–150k mi | 90 |
| 1–30k mi | 37 |
| 30–60k mi | 26 |
| 150–400k mi | 13 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine · Service Brakes · Steering
Driving to work this past tuesday 12/24/2019, while driving my car did this jerk move and then all the electrical signs popped up i couldn't brake or steer my stirring wheel .its as if my car locked up on me. Luckily i was able to turn off a side road avoiding on coming traffic. And but the car in park. I was stuck for 2 hours. My check engine light was the only light that stayed on. I couldn't start the car at all.…
ODI 11291222
Engine
The vehicle died while driving and would not start. Vehicle towed to a local mechanic where it was discovered the engine had seized. Vehicle maintenance was up to date and the last oil change in the vehicle took place just 15 days before the engine seized. There were no warnings, no sounds, no dash board warning lights before the breakdown. Car simply died.
ODI 11306473
Engine
Complete engine failure of the kia sorento. Took the vehicle in for normal oil change and investigation of a noise coming from the front of the vehicle. When technician drove the car on a city street, the engine completely died on the road. Technician pulled off to side of the road and had it taken back to shop. When investigating, found that there was no oil in the engine. No low engine oil pressure or check engine…
ODI 11287771
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. While driving 65 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise and the vehicle began to decelerate on its own. The contact parked on the side of the road and turned off the ignition. When the vehicle was restarted, multiple unknown warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the bearing was fractured and the engine needed to be…
ODI 11282477
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
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. The contact stated that the engine stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and later towed to an independent mechanic. It was diagnosed that oil was in the engine, which caused it to seize. The mechanic stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The…
ODI 11278601
Engine
I brought my 2012 kia sorento to dorschel for the sc147 recall a couple month ago. They said my engine was not being replaced because kia is only replacing engines for this recall if they stop working. They did not tell me i had any other issue with my engine, although kia's recall tells them to inspect to the engine for issue. I was directed to keep driving it until the engine stops working. Now my engine has major…
ODI 11270941
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle seized in the middle of the road, and the low oil level, battery, and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact associated the failure with nhtsa campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was then towed to scott harvey kia (located at 1710 n olden ave,…
ODI 11269957
Engine
My 2012 kia sorento lx has 144,566 miles on it and has been maintained regularly since i purchased it in july 2018. In october 2019, my vehicle was in motion going roughly 40 mph when the vehicle suddenly lost power. The engine began knocking and the steering wheel locked up. Upon coasting the vehicle into a nearby parking lot and attempting to start it, the vehicle began making an intense knocking noise coming from…
ODI 11271262
Engine
I was driving down the highway at about 65mph when my 2012 kia sorento completely shut off, the instrument panel lights all came on and i fortunately was able to drift to a stop. The car would not start back up. Had it towed to the kia dealership where they told me that the crankshaft had seized due to mechanical debris in the engine. The dealership said that this is a very common problem with my make and model…
ODI 11268612
Engine
The engine stalled out without warning and would not restart while driving, in moderate traffic at about 30mph.
ODI 11258468
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
2012 kia serento 2/25/2017& kia had a "anti-corrosion"recall and we had it serviced at mike smith kia in paducah,ky-4/14/17,we will call this document1.then we we received major engine recall in september 20,2017 about 2012 kia serento's stalling,document 2.we took the vehicle to wyatt johnson kia of tn. October 7,2017 & we were told if it did not pass their tests they would replace the engine.ok,well they said it…
ODI 11256515
Engine
I was driving my 2012 kia sorento on the highway driving to work going about 60mph and i feel a "klunk". As i tried to accelerate, my rpms were rapidly dropping, then i felt the engine cut. I popped it into n and had to make my way across the 3 lane highway. Coasted to a stop on shoulder and observed smoke from the engine compartment. Upon popping the hood, there was a small engine fire which i was able to…
Fire reported
ODI 11254066
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Unknown Or Other
My car has been having strange intermittent engine troubles & symptoms. (the first symptoms appeared in september 2019) it started with the accelerater going out on the highway over about 50 mph once or twice randomly. About a month later it did it again. And then this time it also stalled at a stop sign. Other times it feels like the car engine hiccups. It will lose power and come back on within a half second. And…
ODI 11297289
Engine
Sometime when you start the car the rpm's will not move. The car will go for a little while then you give it gas and it will not go. You have to stop..turn the car off and restart. It has done this a number of time lately.
ODI 11278094
Engine
I was driving on the highway uphill then hit the brakes and all lights lit up on dash and car died. Had car towed and 2 mechanic's told me that motor had locked.
ODI 11254277
Engine
The engine on my 2012 kia sorento ran out of oil without any warning light or other indication of problem. Was driving at highway speed and accelerated to get around an 18 wheeler and the acceleration cut out, causing cars behind me to have to slow to avoid running into my rear. The sorento quickly became very sluggish and progressively slowed down. I changed lanes to the right when safe to do so and stopped the…
ODI 11246310
Engine
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…
ODI 11246097
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
Engine
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, [redacted]) 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…
ODI 11242833
Engine
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.
ODI 11241011
Engine
My kia sorento is burning excessive oil. I had it at a dealership 6/2019 for a recall to replace the engine. I was told it was ok at that time. Shortly after the recall evaluation was completed, the check engine light came on in 07/2019 due to loss of oil about 800 miles after an oil change at mineke. They topped it off and had me come back in after 1000 miles and told me i had an oil consumption issue and to take…
ODI 11255837
Engine · Steering
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…
Fire reported
ODI 11233839
Engine · Suspension
The ball bearings went out on the front end causing both my front tires to wear right down to the wires on the tire treads. Within a few weeks of fixing them the engine seized in my car for the second time. While my 16 year old was driving it on the highway she sudden lost power and the vehicle started to slow down. She pulled off the road and had her brother take over driving it. He could not get it to speed or to…
ODI 11246586
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