CarComplaints.com Notes: As long as catastrophic engine failure at under 60,000 miles is the top owner complaint, it'll be pretty hard to recommend the 2012 Sorento.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 40
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,616 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Kia Sorento engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 3 of 20)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #348

May 032021

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Miles on vehicle is at 130,000 miles and never missed an oil change however noticed at 125,000 miles that it has really started to burn oil. Took to the Kia dealership and they told me that I could be eligible for a free engine replacement and I needed to pay for a engine oil consumption test. Paid the amount and engine failed and I figured I'd go the the next necessary step for the replacement however they then told me it didn't cover oil consumption...Took vehicle to different shop and will cost me $4,400.

- Denmark, IA, USA

problem #347

Jun 022021

Sorento

  • miles
Hello, My engine began to make a knocking noise and high rev when started approx. 2 weeks from today. I took it to a local mechanic, Archers automotive, Whittier, Ca., and he advised that I needed a new engine. The mechanic advised me of numerous recalls on the 2012 Kia Sorento engine and recommended I take it to the dealer. I made an appointment with Kia Cerritos and about a week later I took it to Kia in Cerritos, Ca. on 06/02/21. On 6/4/21 I was advised by Service advisor "Ryan" i needed a new engine, I advised Ryan that I am the original owner who purchased this vehicle new and I advised him there are numerous recalls and safety issues with the 2012 Sorento but I was advised my engine for some reason is not recalled. I advised him It is obvious Kia has an engine issue with their 2012 Sorento based on the recalls and the numerous complaints on the web.There were no warning lights of an engine issue. The moment I noticed an issue with how the engine was sounding I took it to a mechanic and then to Kia Cerritos. It had been inspected by Kia Cerritos by a mechanic and on a diagnostic machine. When I initially asked for the reason why the engine needed replacing, On 6/4/21, I was advised the mechanic did not list any reasons. When I asked for the service codes I was advised the mechanic misplaced the diagnostic print out and he had to put it on the machine again, which leads me to believe they initially did not test it on the machine. I was told by Ryan at 10am I would get a call back that day, no call. On 6/5/21 Ryan at Kia Cerritos advised me the engine needs replacing and the cost would be $10,000, but they could not say why because the bearing test used on 4cyl recall engines would not work for 6cyl engines but he advised the "sound" it makes is similiar to the recall engines. My vehicle is available, anytime, within a reasonable distance from zip code 90604,  for inspection from NHTSA and anyone from Kia.I look forward to hearing from you. I have included all ppw

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #346

May 272021

Sorento

  • miles
Since purchase of the Vehicle there has been non stop issues with the engine and cooling system. I had the engine replaced after purchase which took 2 months and now the Vechicle started to smoke again and a smell of burning rubber. I took it to the dealership to have repaired and the entire cooling system was replaced, only weeks after the same issue occurred again to find out it was now the water pump that was not replaced. Researching to resolve the car has serveral recalls for the same exact issues that have been occurring. My concern is the safety of me and my children and the unknown of being repeatedly charged for a vehicle that was sold knowing that it was not in good standing with the State for Odometer Variance.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #345

Apr 222021

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2012 Kia Sorento, approx. 135,000 miles, driven by my daughter who is away at college. Vehicle is rapidly losing oil, but it is not leaking/dripping or smoking. At a recent regularly scheduled oil change (which was done sooner than recommended) the mechanic advised that no oil drained out. Over the next several days and 550 miles later, my daughter needed to add two quarts of oil just to get the dipstick level to "low". I have read numerous complaints from Sorento owners with the same issue, who have been told they need a new engine. Our vehicle is no longer under warranty, but that may be a moot point as I have also read that Kia is somehow not repairing the ones that are still under the original manufacturer warranty. I am concerned about the safety of my daughter driving a car that may experience sudden engine failure. For now, she is adding oil every week until we can get the car diagnosed.

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #344

May 192021

Sorento

  • miles
Driving on the highway the suv completely shutted off, we almost died with my 1 year old daughter. I was able to start it again, within 2-3 minutes the engine seemed very weak, stalled again. Never had any issues prior. The only sign was the oil light was on, (it was never on before) we checked the oil, it was fine, 3/4 full. The engine is dead, with only 40k miles. I'm lucky to be alive.

- Duryea, PA, USA

problem #343

Apr 292021

Sorento

  • 174,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine and oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the rod bearing was worn needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 174,000.

- Coral, MI, USA

problem #342

Feb 222021

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had taken my vehicle into Kia on 02/22/21 to have the engine looked at because it is knocking, and I am experiencing loss of power, burning smells, jerking, stalling, having to add oil in my SUV weekly. We already replaced the valve cover gasket twice, and also the high fuel rail sensor, spark plugs prior to taking it back to them. We had a certified mechanic do the repairs for us. My SUV was at Kia a total of 45 days though and I got maybe four phone calls, one they just told me I need a new engine and the issues are related to issues pertaining to the recall. The others were about the airbag recalls that needed to be done, and are not even fully complete. I was told by a gentleman named david to drive it when I get it back until it seizes or starts knocking, whatever comes first. I told them everything else that's been happening when I took it in so they know. I was told under Kia guidelines that Kia would not put a new engine in my vehicle under the recall even though my engine is part of the recall until something actually happens. That is not safe! I have children and I don't want to get hurt or my children to get hurt if it seizes while driving it, and then there is the fire risk with it also that I received a letter for. I am really concerned and frustrated. It wont even pass smog right now until it has a new engine and I cannot even get my tags and registration which I paid for until it passes smog. Here I am also paying a car payment monthly on this thing when clearly the engine is failing because it is a bad engine. All I did was drive it around town taking my kids to school and back and forth to work. I filed two complaints to Kia regarding these issues and have not gotten any responses, they have treated me like crap. When I picked up my SUV it was completely out of gas, it has no oil in it, it was dirty and my brand new battery was dead.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #341

Apr 092021

Sorento

  • 194,000 miles
On April 9,2021 I was driving home the engine started making a noise and smoking. I pulled over and called a tow. The mechanic told me on Monday 12th the engine needed replacement. I found out about the Kia engine recall last week. I never received a letter or heard from Kia before. I need to know how to handle this and what steps I can take.

- Guin, AL, USA

problem #340

Nov 252020

Sorento

  • 60,000 miles
The car engine caught fire while I was driving. Another driver notified me so I could pull over. The engine fire destroyed the car. I notified Kia 1 month later, but the car had already been inspected/destroyed by usaa. Kia refused accountability (even though Kia was fined by the govt for cars of this make/model with this issue).

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #339

Jan 222020

Sorento

  • 280,000 miles
Car stalls out while driving then I have to pull over and restart it and it has a jerking to it when this happens

- Springville, AL, USA

problem #338

Mar 232021

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My airbag light is just on, I have not been in any accidents or my vehicle has not been hit for the airbag light to be on. My check engine light is on as well. And back wind shield washer fluid is not coming out. When I noticed these issues my car was stationary.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #337

Feb 232021

Sorento

  • miles
My engine needs worked on as of 02/2021, there's some ticking noise coming from my engine even though I keep the oil changed like the car requires every 3-5 months since I have high mileage.I made this request to check for recalls on my vehicle(make model & year) I bought the car February 2019. My left parking light stopped working almost a year ago so I think it could be electrical.

- Altoona, IA, USA

problem #336

Mar 092021

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 94,093 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while his wife was driving 45 mph, when the vehicle stalled. The contact stated multiple warning lights were illuminated after the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who called the local dealer cma's colonial Kia (2300 walthall center dr, South chesterfield, va 23834, (804) 431-3838) regarding an unknown recall for the engine to be performed. The vehicle was towed to the same dealer where the repair was pending. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was associated with NHTSA campaign number: 15V626000 (power train). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 94,093.

- South Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #335

Mar 082021

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Please see attached email sent to NHTSA.. I was advised to file a complaint. I need help! this issue is getting worse. Please feel free to contact me anytime regarding documentation. If you do not reach me directly, feel free to speak with my wife [xxx]. she can also attest the issues we have. This is constant whether in park, driving, idling. Also recently we have notice the light to signal a malfunction in the air bags keeps coming on. It also flashes for a few minutes at a time. Please let me or my wife know what documents you need and we will get them to you immediately! thank you for your help with this matter. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Columbia, MD, USA

problem #334

Dec 012020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to jerry seiner Kia South jordan (10301 S jordan gateway, South jordan, ut 84095, (801) 506-6283) and was diagnosed with an oil leak. The dealer also confirmed that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- West Joroan, UT, USA

problem #333

Jan 132021

Sorento

  • 97,065 miles
I was driving and the check engine light just started to flash, and the car just died on me. I costed off to the emergency lane and was towed to my garage. I tried to start the car and loud banging and rattling started, it sounds like a crank shaft is being thrown round.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #332

Jan 282020

Sorento

  • 130,000 miles
On 1/28/2020 at 8 pm during a snow storm, I had been driving North on hwy 41 and had entered the city of marinette and was driving approximately 20 miles per hour. I made a right turn onto a city street and suddenly with no warning the engine just stopped. No check engine light no nothing. I managed to coast over to the side of the road and attempted without success to restart the vehicle. I contacted Kia and was told they would not consider assisting me with any repairs unless the vehicle was inspected by a dealer. I paid $200 to have the vehicle towed approximately 65 miles to dorsch Ford in green bay Wisconsin, the dealer where it was purchased. I was informed the engine had seized up and would have to be replaced at my expense for approximately $10,000 as the warranty had recently expired. I contacted Kia again to inquire about a safety recall (SC147) that I had learned about online where the 2012 Kia Sorento was experiencing catastrophic engine failure due to a machining issue with the engine during manufacturing that caused bearings to wear resulting in engine seizure. I was advised this recall was only for the 4 cylinder models not the 6 cylinder which is what I purchased. I could not afford to purchase a new engine for this vehicle. The dealer offered me $100 to junk it. I paid approximately $30,000 for the car and it was serviced diligently at the dealer. My local mechanic suggested replacing the engine with a used engine with more than 100,000 miles on it for $5000 from another vehicle but was advised I would only have a 90 day warranty and the same thing could happen. I did not think this was a very good idea so the vehicle is sitting in my garage.

- Marinette, WI, USA

problem #331

Dec 032020

Sorento

  • 106,406 miles
The engine stopped, I have to buy a used engine, which I have the documents to show.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #330

Dec 182020

Sorento

  • 124,515 miles
I had a burning oil smell coming into the cab of the car and smoke pouring out of the engine. I was driving home and noticed it when I got home from work. We took it to the Kia dealership the next day and it smelled bad, but didn't overheat. I took it in and it had multiple oil and fuel leaks. They replaced the valve cover gasket and fuel line and resealed the front cover and lower oil pan. This is very similar to another recall (recall #20V750000) they have on a different 2.4L engine. I called the customer relations at Kia and they said that no issues had been related, but I've had many other recalls on my engine already and have a warranty on it.

- Lindale, TX, USA

problem #329

May 022019

Sorento

  • 127,000 miles
Engin stopped in the highway didn't start after that. All the services done in the dealership. Nothing wrong except engine frozen. Dealer tried to start crank manually but didn't turn. I went through the dealer for nessasory help but failed. Still the car sitting in garage in my house since that. I got all the proofs of the services and the black and wite print outs of the defects which mentioned. Dealer didn't help me and I am still trying to find a lawyer to go against the company for the refusal for fixing my vehicle.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

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