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:
8 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,943 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2012 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #56

May 022020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles

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

I went to the dealer and they told me I have to replace my OCS sensor in the passenger seat for $ 2100-$2300. They said the air bag won't work. Next to me was another woman being given the same info at the dealer and online I have seen countless complaints. This should be a recall. Ridiculous!!!!!!

- North Scituate, RI, USA

problem #55

Jan 302020

Sorento

  • 97,514 miles
At 97K miles, the airbag sensor light came on. After a $134 Kia service visit, they determined we needed to replace our passenger side seat for an OCS sensor, at a cost of $2,550. The airbags have never been deployed in the vehicle. After reviewing many websites (and NHTSA), I see that this appears to be a common problem with this vehicle. There was a recall on the drivers side airbag clock spring, but it does not appear to be directly related to this issue with the car.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #54

Dec 082019

Sorento

  • 142,000 miles
The air bag light in the instrument panel is on. According to universtiy Ford/Kia dealership in durham nc the airbag sensor is bad in the passenger seat. The estimated repair is approximately $2200. This vehicle has 142,000 miles and I think Kia should pay for this. To repair will require a new seat. According to Kia service the airbags no longer will function or may be activated prematurely.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #53

Sep 092019

Sorento

  • 88,000 miles

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

Vehicle with just over 88000 miles airbag light came on dealer says will be anywhere from 1500 to 2600 dollars to find and replace issue. Other sorrento owners complaining online about same issue. On initial start for the day airbag light came on and wont go out

- Millville, NJ, USA

problem #52

Nov 052019

Sorento

  • 140,000 miles
The OCS (occupant classification sensor) has failed, resulting in the passenger side airbag failing in the "off" position. The cost to replace is in excess of $2,000... a price that will leave many owners without a functioning passenger side airbag. Kia has extended coverage for other failing airbag components (clock spring), it is odd they would leave their customers exposed by not covering this one.

- Eden Prairie, MN, USA

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problem #51

Sep 102019

Sorento

  • 102,000 miles
Airbag light on at all times, no beeping when passenger sitting and car moving,

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #50

Sep 162019

Sorento

  • 123,000 miles

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

At approximately 123K miles, the airbag sensor light came on. After a Kia service diagnosis, it was determined that I need an OCS mat replacement, passenger side. The airbags have never been deployed. The cost is $2,700. After reviewing many consumer websites, I see that a great number of people are having the same problem. The light came on as I was starting the car and never went off. This appears to be a nationwide issue with a large number of people complaining. (I have a recall letter, but it is for the driver airbag clock spring.)

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #49

Sep 012019

Sorento

  • 97,000 miles
I received a recall notice from Kia motors stating that I need to bring in my 2012 Sorento in to have the "clock spring assembly" checked as my air bag light on the dashboard is illuminated. I brought it to have it checked and was told that it's not the "clock spring assembly" but the OCS mat that is defective ( code B1764 ) and would cost me $2640 to replace...I was told that the air bag system "might not" function properly with with the air bag light illuminated...why is the OCS mat not a recall matter as it is apparent that they are failing miserably...vehicle was in motion when light came on and remains on continually...

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #48

Feb 102019

Sorento

  • 85,000 miles
I too have the problem of the passenger airbag light coming on out of the blue; no accidents.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #47

Aug 112019

Sorento

  • 159,387 miles
My SUV has not encountered any incidents that involve the air bags to deploy. Yesterday while leaving work the air bag warning light came on after I started the vehicle and the light still has not turned off. Looking at recent complaints it appears that Kia has an issue that needs to be fixed nationwide.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #46

Jul 262019

Sorento

  • 112,000 miles

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

Air bag light on. Air bag light came on while driving. No accident or anything to set it off. Nothing but problems with this model and this is the icing on the cake. So unsafe!!!

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #45

Jul 102019

Sorento

  • 101,000 miles
My car has never been in an accident. While driving yesterday, the air bag indicator came on and stayed on all through my trip. It will not go off. I did some research on the internet and seen that this issue has been complained about by so many other users of this vehicle. This is a safety issue as the airbag system is likely faulty and may not deploy in an accident.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #44

Jun 142019

Sorento

  • miles
Electrical problem with the air bag not allowing it to deploy in an accident (at all times), will cost $2,000 to repair

- Middleville, MI, USA

problem #43

Apr 092019

Sorento

  • 101,138 miles
The airbag light will not turn off on the dashboard. I have not been in accident or anything. I turned my car on like normally and the airbag like continued to stay on instead of turning off once you are buckled and started driving.

- Culpeper, VA, USA

problem #42

May 302019

Sorento

  • 77,200 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact scheduled an appointment with darcars Kia of frederick (5826 urbana pike, frederick, md 21704, (301) 696-1200) to have the vehicle diagnosed and repaired. The failure mileage was 77,200.

- North East, MD, USA

problem #41

Mar 092016

Sorento

  • 117,250 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to aloha Kia of maui (89 E wakea ave, kahului, hi 96732) and repaired several times regarding the failure. The dealer stated that the weight sensor for the passenger seat was the cause of the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the entire seat assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 117,250.

- Haiku, HI, USA

problem #40

Feb 042019

Sorento

  • 135,000 miles
Takata recall - OCS mat passenger front seat- airbag light came on while driving down highway and no one was sitting in the seat - Kia said it is not a defect however I see multiple complaints about this issue. They want to charge $1950 to fix it.

- West Columbia, SC, USA

problem #39

Dec 012018

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
Door handles broke off, air bag light is turned on after replacing battery in car, and car won't pass smog because O2 sensor readiness and fuel system monitors won't show ready even though there is nothing wrong with the car and car is not pulling any error codes, both upstream and downstream O2 sensors were replaced, air filters changed, and fuel system was flushed and still did nothing to make the monitors show ready

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #38

Aug 272018

Sorento

  • 20 miles
I was driving the truck when I heard a loud noise like a fire gun than I saw smoke coming out from the engine, I pulled over and saw that the engine was already on fire, I got my two daughters out of the truck and five minutes later the whole truck exploted

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #37

May 262018

Sorento

  • miles
"takata recal". my Kia 2012 with current millage 49,000. No accident. Airbag light is on. Check engine light is on. Brought my vehicle to Kia dealer. They said intake manifold need to be replaced and it cost around $900.

- Houston, TX, USA

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