2012 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the check engine warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. There was a misfire coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering while depressing the accelerator pedal and cautiously drove to the nearest independent mechanic. The mechanic used a code scanner and retrieved a fault code for an inoperable knock sensor and wiring harness. The vehicle was also taken to another independent mechanic who provided the same information. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Engine Knocking - Car enters limp mode and has a known recall. KSDS was updated in prior recall and engine has failed at 118k Miles. Car has been well maintained. Kia asks for maintenance records, records were provided and they will not take action. KIA avoided fixing the engine and just updated software to tell you when this happens and now that the engine is failing will not honor their warranty or do work on the car despite sending maintenance records of over 10 years

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, she entered the post office; after 3 to 4 minutes, she was alerted by a consumer that the vehicle had caught fire. The contact noticed fire emerging from the undercarriage. The TPMS warning light had been illuminated prior to the incident. Post office employees attempted to extinguish the fire. The fire department was called and successfully extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries. Police were also present at the scene. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V-652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Engine warning lamp illuminated as the engine lost some power. Code was diagnosed as the knock sensor issue. Unit taken to mechanic to evaluate and diagnose. Repair shop notified us that based on the sensor, the engine could succumb to a failure at any time. Engine oil was flushed, cleaned, and replaced. Code was addressed currently. This is similar to the failures observed by other engines in this class, however, it does not appear this engine is part of the lifetime warranty or recall.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that her son had reported that the vehicle was losing motive power and had failed to exceed 15 MPH while driving. The check engine warning illuminated. The contact advised the driver to pull over and to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and advised that the engine had failed the engine bearing test and several other engine tests. The contact was advised that the vehicle could not be driven. The contact advised the dealer that in 2024, the same dealer had performed the recall of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000(Engine) on the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle qualified for a manufacturer program for engine replacement. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact that the dealer would be contacted, but no further action was taken. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Engine Intake gasket oil leak.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that, while driving at 60 MPH, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, prompting her to attempt to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. During the attempt, the contact stated that she then heard an abnormal pop, after which the vehicle lost motive power, and within a moment, the entire front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Upon exiting the vehicle and being assisted by bystanders, the contact was informed that the bystanders had attempted to alert her on the road as they had observed flames emanating from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility but had yet to be deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed, and injuries were not reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,334.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) and 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal before the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle was pushed to a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was then towed to a Collison enter. However, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) could not be performed if the engine was not replaced first. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had received a recall letter regarding a defect in the engine and the vehicle had been repaired in 2017. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 274,479.

[XXX] brought car in to dealer with engine problem, I was told it needed a new engine and would be replaced under warranty. April 27th 2025 I picked up my car, two weeks later on [XXX], driving home from work the engine caught on fire, I was able to pull over, got out and called 911. In 5 minutes the whole front end was engulfed in flames. Coconut Creek Police arrived first, then the fire department. The fire department extinguished the fire. I didn't notice any warning lamps, car was driving fine, I filed a claim with my insurance, AAA, I also spoke with the KIA service manager about it, He said it could have been an old brittle fuel line, they only replaced the engine. My AAA insurance company has the vehicle and is inspecting it. The Coconut Creek Police in FL has a report # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The engine was replace May 1, 2025 and on May 11, 2025 the car caught on fire. It was a total loss.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a bearing failure and the failure was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Driving on the highway, engine began to tick and make strange noise, engine light flashed, oil light cam on and engine ceased.

Not sure if you can help me, we bought a 2012 Kia Sorrento in 2011. The motor blew up at 92,000 miles. There was a recall on it and the motor was replaced. They gave us lifetime warranty on the motor. The second motor blew up as we were driving it at on 100,000 miles on the that motor. Luckily we were not on the freeway at the time. We took it to Findlay motors in Las Vegas for a new motor under the warranty. They contacted the KIA corporate office in Irvine Ca and denied our warranty. We have put in over $8,000.00 in the last two years on new struts, serpentine belt, motor mounts, brakes and 60-90,000 mile check ups. All done by Jim Marsh KIA in Las Vegas. We have all the reciepts. They will not even talk to us. They have a service rep. Tony Thomas in Ca who did not even look at the Sorrento or check our service records deny the warranty. This vehicle has had several recalls, not just the motor. I took it in for all the other recalls. It was unsafe for us to drive it when it blew up and unsafe to drive now. I am a [XXX] Veteran and think they are just hoping I will go away. I am hoping since their was a recall on this that maybe your agency can help me. Or maybe put me in touch with an agency that can help me by making them fulfill their obligation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was making an abnormal knocking sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced, and the knock sensor software needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 193,999.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the used car dealer where it was purchased. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer Serra Kia of Jackson (175 Stonebridge Blvd, Jackson, TN 38305) was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) because the engine had already seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed because a previous recall had not been performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that after leaving the dealer, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that Customer Satisfaction Number: 2304 (Anti-Theft S/W Logic Upgrade & Decal Installation) was also performed, which could have caused the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 81,476.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle required several attempts to start; however, the vehicle failed to remain running. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the cam shaft. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 142,000.

This model has been under a recall notice since September 25, 2023. The recall notice advises owners to park their car away from structures in fear of fire. According to the most recent data available, Kia has not even completed the remedy for the issue and has communicated NOTHING to owners about the status of a fix. It is now eight months since this recall was issued -- eight months of not knowing about the status of the repair, which not only affects the potential safety of the vehicle and structures, but the vehicle's potential resale value. Will someone please suggest to Kia that they make safety a priority and fix this? After eight months with no information, it feels like another effort by Kia to make serious problems go away by ignoring them.

My 2012 Kia Sorento (138k mi.) has received all suggested maintenance religiously, including a routine oil change on April [XXX]. On April [XXX] while driving the vehicle, a loud sound came from the engine and it stalled in traffic. An initial inspection revealed that there was NO oil. I immediately put 5 qts. of oil in the vehicle, drove home, parked, and called the shop that had JUST changed my oil. They came to look at the vehicle the next morning and again had to put 3 qts. of oil. The vehicle has since been towed to the dealership which confirmed "excessive bearing wear" where the engine attaches to the transmission causing the oil to leak out and a knocking rod. The entire engine must be replaced at a price tag of $12,000. The dealership stated that there were NO dtc codes showing for the ENTIRE HISTORY FOR THE VEHICLE. Essentially, the vehicle is in pristine condition but has now suffered a complete engine seizure less than 20k miles outside of warranty. The technician also stated that since NO dtc codes were indicated, including the 1326 dtc, they could not request an extension of warranty from the manufacturer on my behalf. Upon researching this issue, I have found 800 complaints for this model year Sorento, ten (10) NHTSA Investigations, and five (5) recalls for this MY. Two recalls relate to excessive bearing wear causing engine seizure (NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000) and the installation of software related to the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) to detect the rod knocking. Being that Kia is obviously aware of these issues on this MY, I requested that the manufacturer extend my warranty to cover the repairs. KIA responded and said since the recalls weren't for my specific engine model, they would not consider extending the warranty. This is absurd. Furthermore, the current recall which was issued over 8 months ago (NHTSA Recall Number 23V652000) still has not been resolved by KIA. This is not something new. I need help. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While driving on the Highway at 70 mph car started to slow and stall. I pulled out on an access road where I was able to come to a stop and push car into a fast food restaurant. This was the first incident. The second time it also stops while I was driving. We had to have it towed back home.