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 8 of 20)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #248

May 042019

Sorento

  • 151,000 miles

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

My car was driving perfectly and then all of a sudden started chugging, driving extremely roughly, and my check engine light came on. I thought it might have to do with the recall on engines like mine so I took it to a Kia dealership to have it checked out and explained my concern and the the recall in question had been cleared because it hadn't done anything at the time but now I was concerned that was the issue. They ran my check engine light and told me it was the ignition coils and the fuel injector and that it would cost me about $800 but they wouldn't acknowledge my questions about the recall or show me what the codes were. I took it to autozone to have them run the codes so I could see what they were and it was just the ignition coil and cylinder 4 misfiring and not the fuel injector at all. I got the ignition coils and spark plugs replaced but it's still running rough and cylinder 4 is still misfiring and my car even stalled out on the interstate while I was in the left lane. My car is only 6 years old with 151,000 miles on it. It drove like a dream when I got it and I've taken care of it really well ever since. I'm afraid this issue is out of my hand and has something to do with the current recall or possibly another issue that needs to be recalled.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #247

Jul 012017

Sorento

  • 75,000 miles
My car is having premature bearing wear and causing noises within the engine at all times. I was told my VIN # was not included in the recall SC147 but it should be.

- Enid, OK, USA

problem #246

Jul 032019

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
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.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #245

Jun 302019

Sorento

  • miles

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

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.

- Margate, FL, USA

problem #244

Jun 152019

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was excessive smoke coming from the rear tail pipe. There was also reduced engine power when needing to drive more than 40 mph. Century 3 Kia (2483 lebanon church rd, West mifflin, pa 15122, (412) 466-1466) was notified of the failures and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the failures were related to the recall campaign. In addition, the vehicle was not included in NHTSA action number: PE19004 (exterior lighting, electrical system, engine and engine cooling, unknown or other, engine, service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #243

Dec 312017

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. While driving 15 mph, the contact was alerted by another motorist that the front passenger side low beam headlight was out. A week later, the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to team Kia of el cajon (located at 541 N johnson ave, el cajon, ca 92020, (619) 444-7200) where it was diagnosed with needing a new engine and low beam headlight bulb. The vehicle was repaired, but the headlight failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Spring Valley, CA, USA

problem #242

Jun 012019

Sorento

  • 103,000 miles

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

Our 2012 Kia Sorento experienced a major bearing failure that knocked a hole in the cast block allowing the oil to dump out over the cars exhaust. The car had been service routinely utilizing full synthetic at 6000 mile intervals. The oil level and cooling systems were all full and there were no warning lights prior to the failure. The car had 103000 miles and had just been serviced. Contacted Kia and explained the situation and received no explanation as to what may have caused this significant failure. The premature bearing failure issue identified on other models and involved in the significant recall definitely appears to have occurred on our car as well.

- Underwood, MN, USA

problem #241

Jun 182019

Sorento

  • 110,000 miles
My burgundy 2012 Kia ex I purchased in 2017 has been giving me no problems I love the SUV until 6/18/2019 when I started up the SUV an there was a rattling noise in the engine which never happened before when the noise quieted down I proceeded on route 51 an gassing the vehicle the noise comes back an it sometimes feel like I'm going to break down an I dont want to have a accident I saw there are some recalls on this SUV that a clearly wasnt aware of an I just want to get this resolved

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #240

Jun 042019

Sorento

  • 134,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. While driving 20 mph, the contact approached a red light and the engine made an abnormal rattling sound. When the contact placed the vehicle into park and back into drive, the noise stopped and the check engine oil indicator illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 134,000.

- Waxhaw, NC, USA

problem #239

Jun 052019

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle seized and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact veered to the should of the road. When the vehicle was turned off and restarted, it resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to destination Kia (760 central ave, albany, NY 12206, (518) 478-8036) to be diagnosed, but no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #238

Jun 102019

Sorento

  • miles

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

Engine seized, came to a red light car died had it towed and was told the motor is locked up due to bearing wear!!!

- Springfield, OH, USA

problem #237

May 242019

Sorento

  • 77,000 miles
While driving, the vehicle became very sluggish and the engine was chugging. The vehicle would not go over 25 mph. The vehicle was towed to the dealership & I was informed the engine needed to be replaced, but Kia will not cover this. Upon picking the car up with a trailer, my son-in-law discovered there was absolutely no oil in the engine. After adding 5+ quarts, it still was not full (the car is not due for an oil change for another few hundred miles). There is such bad knocking in the engine when it is running that it cannot be driven.

- Johnson Creek, WI, USA

problem #236

Jun 062019

Sorento

  • 104,000 miles
While driving at approximately 45 mph the car turned off with the brakes and steering wheel locking. Luckily I was able to coast down the small hill to the side of the road. This incident took place on a two-lane city road. I had two passengers in my car at the time. The vehicle was towed to a local dealership with the diagnosis of engine failure (seizing). The vehicle was just picked from service the day before and there was no indication or warning that I would experience any safety issues.

- Bonsall, CA, USA

problem #235

Dec 252018

Sorento

  • 106,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 65 mph, an abnormal noise was coming from the engine that caused the vehicle to stall without warning. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

- Belle Rive, IL, USA

problem #234

Dec 252018

Sorento

  • 106,000 miles
While driving down a very busy interstate the motor started making a lot of noise and then it seized up leaving my family stranded during a very cold winter night. We had to sit on the interstate and wait on a tow truck while hoping we didn't get hit by a truck. Kia has told us that the our motor is not covered by any recal that they have for the other Kia Sorentos, but the recall is for the exact same thing that they have a recall for. I am including pictures of the motor.

- Belle Rive, IL, USA

problem #233

Mar 152017

Sorento

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited no safety related issues or failures until manufacturer recall campaign: SC147 and an oil consumption test were performed. Jim shorkey uniontown Kia (1050 pittsburgh rd, uniontown, pa 15401, 724-415-3210) serviced the recall campaign an indicated that the rod bearing, O ring, and engine were wearing down. The dealer stated that the manufacturer had no remedy for the failures. Smail Kia (5094 us-30, greensburg, pa 15601, 724-837-7000) was notified of the engine failure and that there was excessive oil affecting the crank case and piston rings. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

- Jeannette, PA, USA

problem #232

May 242019

Sorento

  • 27,000 miles
Prior to the date oof 05/24/2019, I contacted the dealership in which I bought the vehicle to ask to set up an appointment because my car was burning oil. This was in June 2018 and at that time I was informed that nothing was wrong with my vehicle and that there was a recall out on the engine I had in my vehicle. Prior to this appointment I had one of my good friends call down and explain to the mechanic what he experienced with my vehicle, as he was a mechanic himself. I ended up paying a bill that day for some minor things. In the beginning of 2019 I got an oul changed and by March we had to add bout 3 quarts. In April 2019 I noticed over the course of about 6 weeks I put 2 quarts in my car. I made an appointment and informed the secretary on the phone about it burning oil. My father ended up taking it to the dealership that day while I was meeting him there with his vehicle. By the time I arrived my vehicle was already done being serviced. However I still managed to speak with the mechanic in which he informed me my engine was on recall and could only be replaced free of charge if the car made a klinking sound or I drove my car to the point my engine seized. I was told this is the only way the engine would be free of charge. To me and my father this didnt seem save as I travel several miles throughout a couple of month span. There are times in which I reach areas that there is no service. I also often times have my daughter with me in which worries me. Similar situation happened in April 2012, 14 months after I bought the Kia Sorento. I was driving 4 hours to go back home when my vehicle started blowing cold air. Then all of a sudden all my cars lights went on and my vehicle froze up. My car started to smoke. Looking under the hood my oil cap was gone. I ended up getting another one hoping my vehicle would run. It was towed and I ended up buying a new engine.

- Watford City, ND, USA

problem #231

May 242019

Sorento

  • 137,000 miles
I had the motor replaced in Jan 2018 for engine failure rod knocking metal shavings on the dip stick, it just shut off going down the interstate and now its the same issue again, going down the interstate started knocking and the car just shut off. No oil on the dip stick again with metal shavings

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #230

Oct 012018

Sorento

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and the contact noticed that the oil was low. The contact added a quart of oil every five hundred miles. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to quirk Kia of manchester (1300 S porter St, manchester, nh 03103, (603) 836-7600) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced and an oil consumption test was completed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 13113751. The contact was referred to the local dealer. The failure mileage was 109,000.

- Rochester, NH, USA

problem #229

Dec 052018

Sorento 4WD 4-cyl

  • 99,612 miles
Engine oil use every 1.000 miles give or take car is using 1 to 1 1/2 quarts of oil. I have taking my car to the selling dealer they have done a oil consumption test and have verified that car is using oil.I had to take it back 3 time for them to check oil level and for them to say yep its using oil.and wenton to tell me that Kia Corp will not replace the engine.so every 1.000 miles I have to put oil in it till it blows up.thie is so sad I paid good money for this car and Kia will not stand by repairs.im a diesel truck service manager at a navastar dealer.and we would not treat are cust this way.we have replaced $300 motors cause of oil use.can you please help thanks for your time joel B [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Topton, PA, USA

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