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
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. While operating the vehicle, a grinding noise was present coming from the engine and the oil consumption was approximately one quart per every 600 miles. The vehicle was taken to kia of laurel ([redacted], laurel, maryland), but no failure was located. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per nhtsa campaign number:…
ODI 11164758
Engine
The vehicle was being driven down the highway and it began knocking. It was pulled over almost immediately (within a mile). Oil was checked and although it had regular service, it registered low. After about a half a quart of oil was added, the oil registered at proper level. When trying to re-start the engine it failed to start. The vehicle was towed to dealership where it was determined that the vehicle had…
ODI 11182285
Engine
My car is starting to rattle on cold starts only. It now has 142000 and still has the issue. I took my car to summit place kia and they said my car doesn't fall under technical bulletin 140 even though it falls under the engine type and manufacture date. I do routine maintenance with records and they said i missed the replacement window because i bought the car used. After reading multiple other complaints they have…
ODI 11291669
Body · Engine · Unknown Or Other
While driving on highway 50 about 20 miles from south lake tahoe my car just stalled out while traveling at the speed of about 55 mph. Steam/smoke from coming from the front end. As i pulled over to the side of the road other motorist traveling west bound started honking and pointing to the vehicle. After stopping is when we realized the engine area was on fire. After opening the driver side door the flames shot out…
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 11119735
Engine
I started experiencing stalling issues in april 2018, had the dealership that i bought it from inspect it and i was advised to change the crankshaft position sensor and the battery. I changed both and the the motor ran fine for around 3000 miles. I was drivong down the highway at 60mph when the vehicle shut off with no warning, oil lamp or check engine light. The vehicle wouldn't start up after stalling. Towed the…
ODI 11112263
Engine
2012 kia sorento -similar to others, oil pressure light and check engine light came on. Rattling noise heard during acceleration. My mechanic informed me main rear seal blown. Called kia and learned my engine is not included in the current recall. After reading other reports, seems like kia may need to expand the recall to include other engines in the same time frame.
ODI 11105305
Engine
Our 2012 kia sorento started having the exact same problems as all the other motors that were on recall for bad bearings. I never got a check engine light. It would die randomly on me. Once died on me on the freeway with me and my 5yr old. Luckily i was not around anyone or it could have been very tragic. I loved that car, and now it's just sitting at kia dealership collecting dust and not being used with less than…
ODI 11203073
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
Engine
The kia was being driven on a highway in june of 2018 when the engine just froze up and stopped working. The check engine light came on after the engine stopped. The car was full of oil and being property maintained. The car was towed to the kia dealership in killeen. Initially, the dealership employee said the kia engine could not be repaired, they said the engine was blown. I called kia corporate and once they…
ODI 11133011
Engine
June 23 driving on the freeway popping noisecoming from what sounded like under the car red engine symbol comes on in the lower left hand corner of dash immediately begin getting over second popping occurs within 10-15 seconds red oil lamp light comes on right hand side of dashboard smoking from vehicle happens immediately get to side of freeway attempt to turn off car restarts attempt again turns off immediately…
Fire reported
ODI 11111708
Engine
I have a 2012 sorento and the engine died in it at 123k miles. I dont know what happened but i kept up and maintain the maintenance on it. I done tune up ,oil changes flushes that needed to be done. My sorento has become a member of my family and the kids call her miss kia!!😂. I look for recall and didn't see any for my sorento. Its gonna cost about 5k to fix out of pocket😱😱😓. Which…
ODI 11115756
Engine
We were driving on the 10 east from california heading home to phoenix, az on june 14th. At approx. 12:30pm pst at a cruising speed of 75 mph we approached the long step hill and half way up the hill the engine ceased. We were driving in the left lane and the right lane had many semi- trailer trucks passing us. Luckily we were able to drift the sorento with no engine power to the right side of the safety shoulder-…
ODI 11111455
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. While driving approximately 35 mph, a ticking sound was heard from the engine compartment when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (bob sight independence kia, 1700 s noland road, independence, mo 64055) where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed replacement. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was…
ODI 11112594
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
Engine
Engine is consuming a large amount of oil this has occurred around the engine going over 90,000 miles. In speaking with the kia dealership, they state it is common for an engine of this age to burn oil. The engine burns about a quart every 500-600 miles. This seems excessive.
ODI 11204769
Engine
My car stalled out in the middle of the road while driving on a city street. I took it to the kia dealership certain it had to be the engine safety recall. They said it was not, blamed the issue on something else and charged me over $1,000 to fix it. I took the car home again. The next morning, it stalled again while driving in the middle of a main city road. I heard a knocking sound from the engine and then it…
ODI 11096654
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
Engine
116,000 miles. I have been changing the oil every 2k miles since i found out about an engine problem with my make/model. No matter how many engine flushes and engine cleaners i use it burns oil like crazy. Yesterday i drove 1 block from my house before realizing the car was not accelerating beyond 20 miles per hour. No matter how hard you step on the gas it won't reach more than 2 on the rpm dial.
ODI 11093502
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
Engine
At about 80,000 miles during routine oil change, they told me it was 4 quarts low. I did oil changes regularly before this (every 6 months / 5,000 miles). The engine consumed (burned?) 1 quart every 1000 miles. Now at 93,000 miles on the odometer, the engine is burning 1 quart every 500 miles.
ODI 11258869
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
Engine
My son was driving our 2012 kia sorento and as he exited the freeway to the service road and approached the intersection which was on an uphill grade, the engine suddenly stalled. He lost braking and steering control on the car. The car rolled backwards into the car behind him and collided with the car resulting in $1,820 damage to the other car. The engine had seized and threw a rod into the vehicle starter.
Crash reported
ODI 11099910
Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. The contact stated that there was an extremely loud and abnormal noise coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the brake and engine indicators illuminated, and the vehicle drove roughly. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign numbers: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling) and…
ODI 11084913
Engine
The car was in motion (~30 mph) when the engine stalled and smoke came out of the drivers side hood. I put the car in park, exited vehicle and it erupted into flames. The car was completely burned within minutes. The engine was replaced by kia under warranty january 2018; less than 2 weeks later the starter was replaced because the car failed to start when parked and off. The catalytic converter was replaced march…
Fire reported
ODI 11121844
Engine
After just having a faulty starter replaced on this car (which they charged us over $800 to do, and they refuse to pay for it, even though it is their issue), we started to notice the oil light would go on and off while stopping. We then noticed oil leaking, contacted kia, after we looked up the issue we see this was a known issue with the oil pressure sensor leaking, which a recall was issued for canada but not…
ODI 11081717