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 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,051 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2012 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #54

Nov 302023

Sorento

  • miles

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

I experienced a Malfunction of indicators lamp, ABS warning lights, burning/ melting smell and smoke from the engine compartment.

- Olathe , KS, USA

problem #53

May 162023

Sorento

  • miles
My regular lights on pasenger side keeps going out. The harness keeps melting. And my sunroof rubber pieces keep coming undone hitting the glass of sunroof causing very loud noises while driving sounds like the glass is going to break.

- Manning, SC, USA

problem #52

May 222022

Sorento

  • miles
Replaced the headlight bulbs in my wife's car around 80k miles when 2 of the 4 bulbs went out. I noticed the lenses were discolored from the inside slightly but didn't put much thought into it. The vehicle now has a little over 144k miles and I have replaced the high beam bulbs once again, and the low beam bulbs twice more, and the low beam bulbs I have had to replace the connector due to burning on both sides, and the driver side is burnt out again. This shouldn't happen and means there is too much power going to the bulb, which is a fire hazard as well as a safety hazard as I can't keep a bulb working in that slot.

- Gray, GA, USA

problem #51

May 182022

Sorento

  • miles

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

My passenger headlight went out again. I've taken to the dealer. They replaced the burnt out fog lights too. This is the 4th time in less than a year! I filed previous complaints. Had the headlights replaced repeatedly. Something keeps shorting out. There's an electrical problem. I can't keep replacing my headlights all the time. When the one side goes out, the other follows. This is becoming a real safety issue.

- Lebanon, OH, USA

problem #50

Dec 152021

Sorento

  • miles
The passenger low beam head light keeps burning out. I have had the wiring replaced twice because it keeps melting. The brake light blow at least every 2 months

- Villa Ridge , IL, USA

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problem #49

Dec 022021

Sorento

  • miles
Passenger side low beam headlight keeps burning out. Had bulb replaced one month ago, burnt out again. Had it replaced several times. One time recently the mechanic had to also replace the wiring connections because it melted.

- Attleboro, MA, USA

problem #48

Nov 182021

Sorento

  • miles

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

Both of my headlights went out as I was driving down the road. I did not have any type of warning light on my dash come on.

- Mexico, MO, USA

problem #47

Nov 032021

Sorento

  • miles
Low beam headlights on passenger side burn out at a rate of 1 to 2 per year. I am the original owner and the vehicle has never been in an accident. Dealer replaced headlight wiring and high beam switch on steering column under warranty because plug at headlamp melted and switch seemed faulty. This repair was approximately 4 years ago. Headlights burning out has been a problem since new. Seems to happen most often when High beams are used and going back to low beams. Inspect at any time. Living in rural Texas with little to no street lights it can be unnerving to have the low beam on one side unexpectant burn out. I write all of this because it burned out again last night and it's getting frustrating.

- Splendora, TX, USA

problem #46

Aug 202021

Sorento

  • miles
Passenger side headlight went out while driving. Went to replace bulb and found connector melted. Quick internet search shows this is not uncommon and even a YouTube tutorial on how to replace the pigtail. Question remains what caused the overheating in the first place" While it's a major inconvenience at this point as we can't drive the vehicle without fear of getting a ticket or repair order until fixed, worst case scenario this happens to both at night"

- Salisbury, MD, USA

problem #45

Jan 172019

Sorento

  • miles
My driver headlight wiring harness keeps overheating and melts the harness casing. I have fixed this issue numerous time. My driver passenger door handle came off in my hand.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #44

Jan 222020

Sorento

  • 280,000 miles

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

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 #43

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 #42

Dec 262020

Sorento

  • 96,000 miles
While driving my 2012 Kia Sorento on the fwy. The engine stalled with no warning. The check engine light came on...I was able to put car in neutral and restart. It ran fine, but check engine light remained on. There was no apparent sounds of engine trouble...so I continued my route. The next day it started fine, no bad noises, but check engine light was on...I was able to drive for approximately 20 miles until it stalled again while on fwy. Was able to restart, but compression was low on engine, so I pulled off and had it towed to shop. They told me the oil was down 4 qts. And had catastrophic engine failure. My complaint is the oil light never cam on. I've seen other complaints similar to this...I'm wondering if you are doing anything to rectify this problem?

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #41

Nov 252020

Sorento

  • 101,000 miles
Passenger side headlight went out. The clip on the housing that holds the headlight was broken. Replaced it. Light started working then went out again. This time the wires in the housing came loose. Light out again. It doesn't matter if the car is stationary, in motion, it'll work when it wants to. As for the body of the vehicle....pulled into a car wash to spray it off. Turned around to start and noticed on the driver side mirror a spot of paint missing about the size of a quarter. Down to the primer. The paint is dark cherry pearl. There is no scratch, dent, or anything that caused it.

- Gray, LA, USA

problem #40

Dec 062020

Sorento

  • 152,000 miles
Went to check my headlight bulb as my headlight stopped working again after just replacing the bulb a few weeks ago. What I found is that the connector to the bulb was completely melted

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #39

Jul 032020

Sorento

  • miles
My driver side headlight and passenger side turn signal keeps going out and I've taken it to the auto shop to be fixed multiple times it fixes for a few days and out again but the build doesn't burn out because sometime if I turn the car off and back on it will come back on or if I got a bump it will go out.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #38

Nov 232020

Sorento

  • 56,500 miles
Intermittent connection to passengers side headlamp bulb, causing overheated connector and wiring.

- Tigard, OR, USA

problem #37

Nov 162020

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
LH low beam not working. Replaced bulb and it didn't fix. Swapped with rh bulb to make sure it wasn't a bad new bulb and that didn't fix it. Hi beam and park lamp work fine. Researched online and seen this is becoming a common problem.

- Oconto, WI, USA

problem #36

Nov 092020

Sorento

  • miles
Headlights intermittently turn off while driving or don't work when you turn the car on and then will randomly start working again. It is usually just one headlight, but did have both go out one night.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #35

Jun 012020

Sorento

  • 98,000 miles
When turning blinker on headlights will flash a few times then turn off very completely so dangerous

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

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