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 / 47
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,884 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 21 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #34

Jun 042014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 34,853 miles

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

I was in traffic and the engine stopped running. I noticed that engine stopped with all the indicators on including the check engine light on but my car was not running anymore and will not drive even when I pressed the gas pedal. I put it on park and turned it off and restarted. It started. This happened twice within 10 minutes of each other.

- Santee, CA, USA

problem #33

Jul 102013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
We have had two incidents where the engine just stops. The first time was last summer, and the second this past weekend. It stalled while my wife was making a right turn onto a street. She is thankful that the traffic was light. The thought of stalling while making a left turn in front of traffic or while on the freeway could cause a serious accident.

- Ridgecrest, CA, USA

problem #32

May 272014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 59,000 miles
For the third time in a 2 month span, my 2012 Kia Sorento has completely shut down as we have been driving it. We are at the 60K miles mark. This is very dangerous. Two of the three times we have been doing around 40 mph on very busy streets and thank god, we did not hit another car or get hit. The vehicle with zero warning, will just die and we will lose all power steering, we can't shift gears, and the brakes do not work like they normally do. The first time I thought it was just a battery, so I replaced it. But since then we have had it at the dealership twice and they do not know what is wrong with it. They will get it running again and then a couple of weeks later, it will die again. I have two babies that ride in this vehicle and I am looking at my options to getting rid of it. This vehicle is very dangerous!!

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #31

May 252014

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 38,000 miles

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

Wife driving from NY to conn, vehicle losing power, extreme shaking, grinding/rattle noise, engine light came on, stayed on, then blinking on and off, vehicle really running bad at this time. Following day, engine light still on, need to pump gas peddle to get started. Idle very rough. 2012 Kia Sorento with 38;000 miles. Very concerned that vehicle will shut off completely, as is common per numerous complaints, at speed on the highway. Will bring to dealership tomorrow, however, have been researching Kia Sorento engine problems this afternoon and it does not look good. 1) dealership techs unable to duplicate problems. (common) 2) recall to replace ECM but customers not notified as deemed not a safety issue by Kia. Really"??" 3) throttle actuator failure part of problem but not widely known by consumers.(common) important for 2012-to 2014 owners. New York has lemon laws. If your vehicle is less than 2 years old or has less than 18,000 miles and you have had to take it back for repairs several times, there are attorneys who live for this type of thing. I am in this group and sent E-mail today to just those type of sharks. Be pro-active, not re-active. I plan on having plan B in place if I find myself going down the path of "we don, T know what is wrong, the computer says your car is fine, just because you need to rent a room at the dealership because you are there so much does not mean we don, T care". what we really mean is we really don, T care!! reality check.. fyi check this out...........ps in NY don, T forget class action law-suit that is currently going on, does not cost anything to add your name to the list of plaintiffs.

- Miller Place, NY, USA

problem #30

Mar 122014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
A few months ago I was driving my daughter to her volleyball practice and upon leaving the parking lot and driving into the street I lost all power and control of my car including my power steering etc. I almost crashed the car into the side of a house but lucky I was able to press the brakes hard enough to finally get the car to stop. I then pushed the power button and all of the lights came on the display but no power to the car. I pressed the power again and the car started. Then three days ago I was in the car pick up line picking up another daughter from school. I had the power of the car off and when I went to start the car it would not start. I pushed the power button and again all of the light on the display came on. Then I pushed it again and it started. I believe this is a very serious issue. If myself or my husband are driving any of our 4 children on the freeway at 65-70 miles and hour and the car decides to power itself off it could become a catastrophe one of which I am not willing to risk. I have done my research and found several other complaints about these exact issues however nothing is ever done about. It's the same old story you take it into your dealer and they run the diagnostic and it doesn't show anything wrong. Which is what happened to me both times I took my Kia in. This automobile has a defect, which is terribly dangerous to drivers and passengers, and which the automobile manufacturer appears to be ignoring, much in the manner that GM ignored serious, dangerous, and sometimes fatal defects in one or more of its models. I truly don't understand how this same exact problem can keep happening and Kia is choosing not to ignore it rather than issue a recall on the car.

- Moorpark, CA, USA

problem #29

Mar 252014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
On 3/25/14, my 2012 Sorento just shut off while driving. The car was put in park and it started fine. Took it to the dealer and it spent 2 days at the dealer. The problem could not be recreated, no fix, no issue they kept stating & there was nothing to fix. Now we're in May 2014 and the car shut off again. I was at a light and the car just shut off. I put the car in park and it started again. The is a huge safety issue and Kia is taking no action for this and there seems to be alot of complaints about this on your website. I think an investigation should be opened and something should be done for Kia Sorento owners. We are paying for cars with a huge safety issue and obviously need the cars we are paying for.

- West New York, NJ, USA

problem #28

Apr 172014

Sorento

  • 31,000 miles

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

While driving on the freeway, through traffic, my vehicle seized up on me. I was going about 30-35mph and the vehicle wouldn't accelerate. The music was playing, but when I looked down at the dashboard all the dashboard lights where on, I lost control of my powersteering and brakes. I had to put the vehicle in park and press the start button again. This is the 3rd time on the freeway it has done it, in additional to the 4-7 times in the neighborhood. All while going about 35mph and under. I have taken it to the dealership repetitively and they have been unsuccessful in locating the problem. The 2nd time I took it to the dealership, they replaced the full throttle body, but exactly one week of having it back in my possession the vehicle lost power while driving again. I have been told there is nothing wrong with the vehicle, several times, but from the look of this website, I am not the only one with that problem.

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #27

Apr 152014

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
At the time of the incident the vehicle was being driven about 15 mph making a right turn. At the time of turning the vehicle's steering wheel the car shut off unexpectedly shutting the engine off. Loss of control then occurred of the steering wheel (to stiff to turn) along with a difficult breaking process causing the car to veer off the roadway. Fortunately, the vehicle was brought to a stop by placing an extreme and increased force onto the break pedal before a brick pillar was struck head on.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #26

Mar 142014

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
On March 14, 2014 while driving approximately 60 mph on a highway I heard a noise in my engine. I was attempting to maneuver off the highway so I could have my vehicle towed to the local Kia dealership. I was in the middle lane of a three lane highway during rush hour when my engine shot one of the engine rods through the bottom of my engine block. This caused a larger than a silver dollar sized hole in the bottom of the engine block and separated the engine from where it is secured to the vehicle. Kia and the dealership have yet to be able to fix my vehicle which is completely covered under the manufactures warranty as I have had all of my routine maintenance and service performed at a local Kia dealership. They replaced a remanufactured short block assembly in my vehicle on 3/28/14 I was told to pick up my vehicle later that afternoon. I received a call back that the mechanic was on the phone with one of Kia's engineers because of a noise coming from my engine. They are now re-replacing a remanufactured short block assembly in my vehicle which is unacceptable to me because of all of the issues Kia is having with their engines. I still do not have an eta as of 4/9/14 of when I will have my vehicle repaired as I am unsure they have even diagnosed the problem correctly because of all of the force behind the engine failure and they are unsure when another remanufactored engine will be available.

- Stoughton, WI, USA

problem #25

Feb 132013

Sorento

  • 13,000 miles
I have a 2012 Sorento that has been nothing but a constant headache. Just some minor issues have been a headlight that continuously has to be replaced because of a short that they service department can't get to the bottom of. I medium issue that is becoming a health hazard is that the car is leaking water into the floorboard and causing mold to grow. An even bigger issue is that when with speeding up fast like when entering an interstate or slowing down the vehicle will completely stall and I have to make my way off the road to restart the vehicle. This is extremely dangerous for myself and my kids. I live in a city and I have been lucky to have not have been in a serious accident yet. I have had several close calls. I have contacted Consumer Affairs and been told to go to a dealership. I go to a dealership and they basically tell me I'm crazy and nothing is wrong. I guess it will take someone getting killed by being in a accident before some action is taken. Hate to be so blunt bit being nice about the issue has yet to work!!!!

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #24

Mar 252014

Sorento

  • 41,500 miles

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

My 2012 Kia Sorento completely stalled in a parking lot. I had just gotten off the highway(speeds of 55-60) pulled into my jobs parking lot and all the lights electronics stayed on but the brakes locked up, the steering wheel locked up and the car would not drive. Put the car in park after a few minutes and it turned on fine. Now its at the dealer and they can not duplicate the problem and the car is driving fine. They claim no codes on diagnostics and see nothing wrong with the car after test driving it. There were no repairs done on the car because nothing could be found. This is a major issue and a worrisome one. Lets get on Kia about this to solve the issue.

- West New York, NJ, USA

problem #23

Apr 202013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 9,000 miles
This has happened four times! while coming to a stop sign, engine dies, power steering out, power brakes out. After shifting into park or neutral, car will immediately restart, and function without this problem for weeks. Kia dealership finds nothing wrong and no "codes" to indicate the car has had problems.

- Hermosa Beach, CA, USA

problem #22

Oct 012013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 24,000 miles
The first time I was driving at 35-45 mph and slowed to turn and my engine spontaneously stalled and steering wheel locked up. Luckily, no one was around me so I braked, and restarted the engine and car seemed to reboot fine. Today, it happened again except I was driving at a much slower speed, 15 mph. I was ready to take a turn and the wheel locked up in the turned position (but not fully turned) and the engine stalled. I braked the car again and restarted the engine in the middle of an intersection. This is completely dangerous for all passengers of the car and everyone who's driving around me!

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #21

Dec 012013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 23,000 miles
My 2012 Kia Sorento at low speed, stalled and completely shut off, no power steering. I had to put my car into park and then restart. So glad I was not hit from behind as my car just shut off so suddenly. My car is only two years old and low mileage. It has happened twice since then. Thank god no accidents, yet. But im worried to drive it anticipating for it to happen again. It has been in the Kia service shop twice and they are claiming to fix it. Also two weeks ago the right shock needed to be replaced. I drive to work and the store on a weekly basis, no reason a two year old, bought brand new vehicle in 2012 should already need a shock replacement. I feel like I was sold a lemon.

- Laguna Beach, CA, USA

problem #20

Dec 252013

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 11,600 miles
On 12-25-2013, noticed that the side market lights remained on for several hours after the engine was shut off. Couple of days later, car wouldn't start after pushing on the key-less entry push button start. Car finally started after several push button attempts. Next day the car wouldn't stop after pushing on the key-less entry stop button. Engine finally turned off after several attempts by playing with the gear shift knob and driving around the neighborhood. "unable to stop the engine by pushing on the key-less entry push button stop" problem continued, so it was taken to the dealership. The dealership couldn't duplicate the problem, so the car was returned to us w/O a fix. Tomorrow I will be contacting Kia main offices regarding this problem.

- Upland, CA, USA

problem #19

Apr 192013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000. Updated 03/12/14

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #18

Dec 062013

Sorento

  • 44,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway, there was a lot of traffic so we weren't driving very fast, and the car just shut off, the engine light went on and the steering wheel locked. I was able to put on my hazard lights and then I turned the car off and tried restarting it. The car started without any problems and drove normal after that.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #17

Dec 132013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
While driving home from work traffic was heavy and for no reason my car just stalled I managed to coast to the shoulder put it in park and restart it.

- Glendale, NY, USA

problem #16

Apr 152012

Sorento

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure was recurring when traveling at low speeds. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the battery would need to be replaced. The battery was replaced however, the failure continued but the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #15

Sep 152013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 12,000 miles
Kia Sorento stalled when approaching a stop sign at low speeds of 10-15 miles per hr. There was no sound or damage. Dealer not able to recreate situation so no repairs. This has happened couple of times in last two years. Symptoms are yellow engine light turns on and car engine stalls. After putting car in parking and pressing ignition button on would re-start the engine. Please follow up as this is a safety hazard as car can stalls in moving traffic.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

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