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:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,159 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 1 of 2)

problem #29

Mar 012023

Sorento

  • miles

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

It won't catch up speed it slips on the freeway. Once I pass 60 miles per hour it excelerates very high and rpm get stuck after I hit 50 miles per hour. There's a knocking noise coming from the engine and burns oil fast.

- South El Monte, CA, USA

problem #28

Jan 112024

Sorento

  • miles
(January 11,2024) my wife had an accident while driving a 2012 Kia Sorento vehicle. She was waiting to enter a parking space at the Laurel Mall that someone was backing out of, when the space was clear to enter, she took her foot off the brake and proceeded to enter the space. It seems that the Sorento went full throttle on it's own and proceeded to smash into 3 other parked cars. I read that Kia has a problem with faulty acceleration on 2009 thru 2015 with the Sorentos. I reported this incindent to my insurance and they recommended that I contact Kia Motors Direct. I have reported this to Kia Motors Customer Care, (January 12, 2024) I am waiting for their reply to this situation. There were no warning lights nor any warning of a failure with the vehicle. To date, the Sorento has not been repaired nor checked by a mechanic.

- Hazleton, PA, USA

problem #27

Sep 262023

Sorento

  • miles
The abs brake light, traction control, and downhill assist lights all came on at the same time. This is being caused by a faulty speed sensor. This item was recalled on the two wheel drive kias, but not the all wheel drive models... hiwever.. looking for answers in the forums show that there is a systemic problem in the kia system, just Google search it and watch all the other car owners stories pop up.

- Gorham, ME, USA

problem #26

Jun 152023

Sorento

  • miles

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

The vehicle slows unexpectedly while driving and will not go above 2 RPM causing me to slow to below 40 mph on the highway without any warning. I took the vehicle to Kia for an airbag recall and suddenly I started to have these engine problems. They never informed me there was a recall on my vehicle or that this issue could occur. I am not the original owner and acquired the vehicle from my dad, which he purchased from someone else. I had the vehicle checked out by AAA and the knock sensor was replaced, yet the issue continued to happen. I took the vehicle back to Kia because AAA could not figure out why the car continues to have this engine issue. Kia cannot seem to figure out the issue as well but stated the engine needs to be replaced. We asked them about the recall because I suddenly received notice about the class action lawsuit, but the vehicle has 185,472 miles on it and they refused to correct the issue and said the new engine will cost $7200. The issue has almost placed me in several accidents because the vehicle abruptly slows down and I have to pull to the side of the road use a code reader to clear the code in order to drive again but it continues to happen multiple times while driving and I need to get to work. The problem has been confirmed by Kia, but they won't replace it. We were encouraged to file a complaint and see if Kia will take responsibility for their engine since it has been recalled for this issue and a lawsuit ensued. The engine light appears when the car fails to drive properly.

- Casa Grande, AZ, USA

problem #25

Mar 182023

Sorento

  • miles
I was driving my car on the highway and entered a ramp to another highway and as I began to accelerate again it was like my engine shut down and there was no response to the gas pedal for throttle. I pulled my car over to the side, sat for a moment, and then turned the car back on. I was able to accelerate, but if I accelerate too fast the engine would shut back down. I contacted Kia and they said all recalls have been processed for my vehicle, but now out of nowhere it's hardly driveable. I am still forced to use this car for short distances under a couple miles for work, but the vehicle's engine will try to shut off over 2k rpms. I have maintenance records for every year with this vehicle and I don't get how this just happens. My mechanic says a Knock Sensor is telling the engine to turn off and my local kia store said there wouldn't be anything to do without a recall.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #24

Feb 242023

Sorento

  • miles
I have owned my 2012 KIA Sorento since 2014 and thoroughly enjoy my car. After 9 years of satisfactory ownership which include dealer servicing, my car scared me and now I question my safety. On Friday 24th, 2023, I pulled into my driveway and the car suddenly accelerated out of control. The brakes did nothing to slow its acceleration. By the time I reached the key and turned the car off it had accelerated thru 130 feet of a very muddy back yard. (The all-wheel drive is very effective) Fortunately, I just missed a huge 100-year-old pecan tree and stopped just short of the tree line in the back. This ripped the tire off one of my rims and I had a mechanic change the spare so we could retrieve the car. I am taking the car to the KIA dealer on Monday morning 27th. to find out what happened!!

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #23

Jun 022022

Sorento

  • miles

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

was driving and no warning lights came on and then the engine seized up after buying it 3 months ago. then took towed to kia vw billings mt and they now have had the car for almost two weeks and none of my rights are being met and no communication back to me wont respond to several of my calls. i will be filing a lawsuit against either auto resource in billings mt for selling me a faulty vehicle or going after kia vw of billings mt for lost wages as i drive for a living and im disabled and have been treated very very poorly.

- Billings, MT, USA

problem #22

May 252021

Sorento

  • miles
Engine suddenly lost power while on 125 mile road trip. Tachometer flat lined at 60 mph and speed and engine power rapidly decreased ( as if in creeper mode) and I was not able to accelerate above the 20 mph, enough to get to the shoulder. I was towed to the Kia dealership and after a day the couldn't replicate the problem as the vehicle returned to it's proper operational mode. This happened again 3 weeks later at 80mph in the center lane under cruise control with the same issues, sudden loss of power, inability to accelerate and no tachometer reading yet still running at idle. This time I pulled into a gas station and took the battery cable off for 5 minutes then replaced it. The vehicle became fully operational and I drove another 125 miles home. I bare was able to get over as I couldn't accelerate the vehicle and had to creep up the exit ramp. This being extra hazardous as it was nightfall and both times I had my 2 year old grandson with me. If I was in the left lane I would not have been able to make it across the highway and possibly would have caused a major back up putting myself, grandson and the other drivers on the road at risk of a collision...There are many blogs in line with Kia owners reporting this same problem and with no resolution if the dealerships can't replicate the problem while they have the vehicle.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #21

Mar 222021

Sorento

  • miles
On 03/22/21, at 8.00am was a regular visit for oil change, finally around 1pm my car was showing on the dashboard the "engine light", never happen before, I claimed verbally why, that happen now. I am driving because they told me is safe and I believe, and waiting the appointment for( recall 20V750) thanks to all.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #20

Jan 082021

Sorento

  • 55 miles
I was driving on a busy street and my Kia started making a rattling noise when I pressed on the gasand then my check engine light came on check battery life and the oil light and then it diedwhile I was driving

- Colorado Spring, CO, USA

problem #19

May 012020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 100 miles

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

Driving on the thru-way going 65 mph when my vehicle jerked forward suddenly. I was able to pull over, vehicle lost control of steering and brakes and completely just 'shut off' on me with no fore-warning. Called aaa, tech. Could visibly see a belt which had ripped out of engine and was dangling under vehicle. I then had vehicle repaired- a new belt was installed, a brand new alternator, new brakes, oil change. 3 weeks after this event, I was again driving on the thru- way in almost the same exact location and this happened again.. my vehicle just went dead, this time slowing down and dying. Called aaa, they serviced me off the thru-way (thru-way division) and upon having vehicle looked at my choice shop.. I was told that my vehicle had completely seized (was now totally dead) and was non- repairable without a new engine. Also told that my vehicle had little oil even though I had only 3 weeks prior gotten an oil change and car repairman could not report any physical issues with oil connections, ie. Gasket leak, drain plug, seal issues. Due to the amount of monies I have spent from day 1 on this vehicle, my experiences and the lemon the vehicle has proven to be, I find this incredibly unsettling and know that there were issues going on with this vehicle prior to it going onto the road that should have been repaired and were not due to no fault of my own. Aside from these issues, in past there were several other problems related to the locks and windows locking on there own while vehicle in motion and fuses related to this as well as the vehicle shocking me when opening drivers side door handle which is incredibly unsafe! I request that someone please look into the recall withholding which has come to light with Kia and my vehicle qualifying for these recalls as Kia has told me that they are unwilling to assist me financially as well as West herr.

- Orchard Park, NY, USA

problem #18

Sep 022013

Sorento

  • 6,000 miles
I use speed control often. Sometimes it takes several attempts to get it to set. I never reported it because I knew it would cost a fortune for the dealer to diagnose. I believe it is actually part of an electronic issue. The driver's side heated seat no longer works. I went to adjust the volume of phone call from steering wheel and the it disconnected the call. Went to turn volume up for the radio from the steering wheel and the volume went down.

- Felton, DE, USA

problem #17

May 062019

Sorento

  • 98,000 miles
While my vehicle was in motion on the highway going over 70mph my engine shut off, my speedometer dropped from 70 to 40 causing the vehicle behind me to have to pull into on coming traffic (two lane road going down mountain) to avoid slamming into my vehicle. Prior to this oil, check engine, and four wheel drive lights all began to flash. Pulled over, shut off vehicle and vehicle started after some struggle. Drove with hazards all the way home. Before this my vehicle would lose power while driving. My rpms would drop and hitting the gas did nothing. Every time vehicle starts making knocking sound before rattling and stalling out. Vehicle has been in motion every single time it loses power, or the engine stalls out. Immediately purchased car fax to see all open recalls on my vehicle. This is one of the major ones. Entire replacement of engine. Kia refuses to replace my engine and only kept my vehicle in the shop for 56 minutes before telling me it was ready for pick up. When engine is acting up, removing my foot from the gas does not slow the vehicle. This vehicle is incredibly dangerous and unpredictable.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #16

Jul 022017

Sorento

  • 68,000 miles
As I was driving downhill on I-15 just 3 miles South of scipio, ut, I began to notice issues with the brakes and accelerator. I got into the far right line of the highway and noticed that smoke and flames came from underneath the hood. As I put the car in park, thick black smoke came through the air vent. As we got out of the vehicle, I breathed in a little bit of the thick smoke that came through the air vent, but my wife did not breathe any of the smoke. The hood area was completely engulfed in flames after we escaped from the vehicle. The fire department put out the fire about 20 minutes after this incident started. Everything from the front of the car to about half of the trunk area was destroyed.

- Springville, UT, USA

problem #15

Jun 012017

Sorento

  • 128,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that on several occasions while at a stop light, the vehicle had suddenly stalled and also while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly loose power causing the speed to decelerate. The vehicle was taken to roseville Kia in roseville, California to be diagnosed but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000.

- Grass Valley, CA, USA

problem #14

Apr 242015

Sorento

  • miles
This is the third time that the 2012 Kia Sorento has surged on its own when stopped with the engine running. If you don't have your foot on the brake the car will run away.

- Bellingham, WA, USA

problem #13

Apr 192012

Sorento

  • 8,806 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 8,806.

- St. Thomas, VI, USA

problem #12

Oct 142013

Sorento

  • 17,500 miles
On October 14,2013 as I was traveling in stop and start traffic the vehicle suddenly accelerated and surged forward at least 5 feet while my foot was on the brake almost hitting the car in front of me. It took much effort to avoid crashing. This occurred again on March 16,2014 while in a parking lot looking for a parking spot. Again while my foot was on the brake the car accelerated and lunged forward 8 to 10 feet.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #11

Feb 272014

Sorento

  • 21,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact sated that while reversing from a driveway, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and continued to accelerate with the brake pedal depressed. The contact was able to avoid crashing into a tree. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 21,000.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

problem #10

Aug 152013

Sorento 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
While driving the sorrento, it suddenly shut off while I was in traffic. There have been four other incidents since then. One day there were two of the same thing happening in one day.

- Richland Hills, TX, USA

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