Kia Sorento Complaints (2012)
880 consumer complaints on file.
- #11265750October 2, 2019AIR BAGS
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.)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11258869September 29, 2019ENGINE
AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS 4 QUARTS LOW. I DID OIL CHANGES REGULARLY BEFORE THIS (EVERY 6 MONTHS / 5,000 MILES). THE ENGINE CONSUMED (BURNED?) 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. NOW AT 93,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE ENGINE IS BURNING 1 QUART EVERY 500 MILES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11258468September 27, 2019ENGINE
THE ENGINE STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART WHILE DRIVING, IN MODERATE TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 30MPH.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11257536September 23, 2019ENGINE
SUDDENLY AT 95000 MILES ENGINE STARTED TO USE OIL BUT IT'S NOT BURNING IT OR ANY LEAKING FROM ENGINE. I HAVE TO CHECK OIL WEEKLY AND WILL NEED A QUART EVER 800 TO 1000 MILES. AFTER READING MANY POSTS ON THIS SUBJECT ALL ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS WE ARE. KIA WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM AND TERRIBLE ENGINE DESIGN. THEY NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11257104September 21, 2019ENGINE
MY KIA SORENTO HAS HAD THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR GO OUT TWICE IN TWO YEARS. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IS CHANGED WHEN SUPPOSED TO BE AND STILL THIS IS THE SECOND TIME DRIVING IT HAS DONE THIS ON A CITY STREET.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11256440September 18, 2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR BREAK LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS FAIL CONSISTENTLY. THEY HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. ON OCCASION, THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT POWERS BACK ON AFTER THE REAR HOUSING HAS BEEN MOVED. IN INCIDENTS WHEN THE LIGHT HAS FAILED, THERE IS A BURN MARK ON THE OUTER CONTACT PORTION OF THE BULB. THIS AFFECTS ALL LEVELS OF DRIVING AS YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF NEARLY INVISIBLE AND GIVE ZERO INDICATION OF STOPPING TO VEHICLES AROUND YOU.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11256515September 18, 2019ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2012 KIA SERENTO 2/25/2017& KIA HAD A "ANTI-CORROSION"RECALL AND WE HAD IT SERVICED AT MIKE SMITH KIA IN PADUCAH,KY-4/14/17,WE WILL CALL THIS DOCUMENT1.THEN WE WE RECEIVED MAJOR ENGINE RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 20,2017 ABOUT 2012 KIA SERENTO'S STALLING,DOCUMENT 2.WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WYATT JOHNSON KIA OF TN. OCTOBER 7,2017 & WE WERE TOLD IF IT DID NOT PASS THEIR TESTS THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE.OK,WELL THEY SAID IT PASSED,AND CHANGED THE OIL,&SUPPOSEDLY PUT AN "MIL" SENSOR AND"MIL" DASH LIGHT TO DETECT ONCOMING ENGINE FAILURE AND SEND THE CAR INTO WHAT THEY CALL A 'LIMP" MODE. WHICH IS NOT DOCUMENTED ON DOCUMENT #3 WHICH TO OUR SURPRISE IT PASSED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN MAKING AN KNOCKING SOUND AND EXPERIENCING SOME ATTEMPT'S OF THE VEHICLE STALLING.YES AFTER THE OIL CHANGE RAN SOME WHAT SMOOTHER,BUT STILL EVERY NOW AND THEN WE WOULD GET AN OCCASIONAL THROTTLE SPIKE,OR AN ATTEMPT TO STALL.GOT AN RECALL TO DO A LOGICUPGRADE,& TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO WYATT J. KIA DEC.12,2018,DIAGN. DID NOT DETECT CODE FROM KNOK SENSOR BUT CAUTIONED,ON PERFORM FUEL INJECTION/THROTTLE BODY SERVICE FOR $199.95 DOCUMENTS #4&5 THE WE HEAR ABOUT THIS FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE RECALL IN MICHIGAN ON 68,000 VEHICLES IN OUR YEAR,MAKE AND MODEL,WHICH RAISED A RED FLAG TO WHY OUR VEHICLE WAS CONTINUING TO THROTTLE SPIKE'S AND MORE APPARENT ATTEMPTS TO STALL.HOWEVER NO RECALL ON OUR'S?HAVE GOTTEN 2 MORE RECALL'S SINCE ON OUR VEHICLE,ONE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM CONNECTOR WARRANTY EXTENSION,&TWO AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING,CALLED KIA TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINT. FOR REPLACEMENT AND ASKED ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE AND IT POSSIBLY BEING THE REASON FOR THE THROTTLE SPIKES & STALL ATTEMPTS ALL THIS TIME,BUT NO RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE,AND WANT TO CHARGE$120+$199.FOR DIAG.AND THROTTLE BODY/FUEL INJECTION,BUT FREE REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAG SPRING ASS.?HAVE TO KEEP OIL CHANGED,BECAUSE START'S TO RUN REALLY ROUGH.THIS IS GETTING OLD!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11256026September 16, 2019ENGINE
MY ENGINE WAS REPLACE ON ORIGINAL RECALL. I KEEP BRINGING IT BACK FOR OVERHEATING AND RUNNING HOT AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME NOTHING IS WRONG. IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR CAR IT DOES NOT GET HOT UNTIL YOU DRIVE IT FOR A WHILE OR LONG TRIP
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11255535September 16, 2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2012 KIA SORENTO, HAD ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BLOWING. ASKED DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT. THEY SAID PRONGS NEEDED TO BE SPREAD. THE LIGHT BLEW AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEN THEY REPLACED THE HARNESS. THEY FORGOT TO MENTION THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY DID ME A FAVOR FIXING IT FOR FREE. FAST FORWARD A YEAR AND I START HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY TELL ME THAT THEY WILL DIAGNOSE FOR $150 AND IF IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS IT WILL COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $300. IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESSES THEY DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR THE DIAGNOSE BUT IT STILL COST $250. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE HEADLIGHT. THEY DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE I DIDN'T BRING IT IN EVERY TIME THE BULBS BLEW TO PAY $20 TO REPLACE THE BULBS. GOT IT REPAIRED 5/2019 NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11255538September 16, 2019VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11255837September 16, 2019ENGINE
MY KIA SORENTO IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. I HAD IT AT A DEALERSHIP 6/2019 FOR A RECALL TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS OK AT THAT TIME. SHORTLY AFTER THE RECALL EVALUATION WAS COMPLETED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN 07/2019 DUE TO LOSS OF OIL ABOUT 800 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE AT MINEKE. THEY TOPPED IT OFF AND HAD ME COME BACK IN AFTER 1000 MILES AND TOLD ME I HAD AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE AND TO TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TO FOLLOW UP. I WENT TO AN OFFICIAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DOCUMENTED BY THEM AND THEY DID THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AGAIN. THEY SAID AT THE TIME THE SPARK PLUGS AND ENGINE LOOKED OK AND THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT MINE WOULD NOT QUALIFY TO BE REPLACED AT THIS TIME AND I COULD KEEP TOPPING OF THE OIL IF NEEDED. I BROUGHT IT BACK AFTER PUTTING ON 950 MILES BECAUSE THE OIL WAS VERY LOW. IT HAD BURNED THROUGH 2.5 QUARTS. THEY SAID THE ENGINE IS BAD AND 2 OUT OF 3 SPARK PLUGS ARE STARTING TO GO. THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED BUT IT DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA KIA HAS TO BE COVERED UNDER KIA'S EXTENDED WARRANTY SO IT WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 136,331 MILES ON IT NOW AND I STILL OWE MONEY ON IT SO I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT BUT DON'T WANT TO PAY $6,200 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I CALLED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY CREATED A CASE NUMBER. THEY RECOMMENDED GETTING SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER KIA DEALERSHIP. NOW I HAVE TO START THIS PROCESS OVER AGAIN. MEANWHILE, MY ENGINE IS GETTING WORSE AND IT IS CONCERNING ME THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I FOUND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA WITH REPORTS OF ENGINES CATCHING ON FIRE. ONE DEATH AND 130 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED. I DRIVE WITH MY TWO CHILDREN WHO ARE 9 AND 5 AND I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING THEM AT RISK WHILE I WAIT FOR A DECISION ON THIS. AT THE VERY LEAST I WANTED THIS REPORTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11254434September 10, 2019AIR BAGS
I TOO HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON OUT OF THE BLUE; NO ACCIDENTS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11254441September 10, 2019AIR BAGS
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...
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11254066September 9, 2019ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 KIA SORENTO ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING TO WORK GOING ABOUT 60MPH AND I FEEL A "KLUNK". AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, MY RPMS WERE RAPIDLY DROPPING, THEN I FELT THE ENGINE CUT. I POPPED IT INTO N AND HAD TO MAKE MY WAY ACROSS THE 3 LANE HIGHWAY. COASTED TO A STOP ON SHOULDER AND OBSERVED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON POPPING THE HOOD, THERE WAS A SMALL ENGINE FIRE WHICH I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH. THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE PLACE. BEHIND THE ENGINE, ON THE SERPENTINE BELT, ON THE RADIATOR. IT WOULDNT CRANK SO I HAD IT TOWED. AUTO SHOP CALLED AND STATED "WE CHECKED THE OIL LEVELS AND IT WAS AT THE L LINE ON THE DIP STICK. TRIED TO CRANK IT TO NO AVAIL, THEN TRIED TO MANUALLY CRANK IT AS WELL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, WE NOTICED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, WITH A PIECE OF THE ENGINE MISSING. YOU ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO REQUIRE A NEW ENGINE." SPECIFICS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11254103September 9, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED, JERKED, AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAWKINSON KIA (5501 MILLER CIR DR, MATTESON, IL 60443, (708) 720-8999) TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. WHILE AT THE DEALER, THE ENGINE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE FAILURES OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,286.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11254277September 9, 2019ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY UPHILL THEN HIT THE BRAKES AND ALL LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH AND CAR DIED. HAD CAR TOWED AND 2 MECHANIC'S TOLD ME THAT MOTOR HAD LOCKED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11253363September 5, 2019FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
UNDER THE RECALL, A FUEL LEAK WAS REPAIRED. THE SAME LEAK IN THE SAME PLACE AGAIN WITHIN 7 MONTHS. DEALER SLOW TO CALL BACK AND ARRANGE AN INSPECTION. CANNOT DRIVE CAR AS IT IS UNSAFE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11246672August 27, 2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN IN THEIR HEADLIGHT SOCKETS. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE LOOSE AND HANGING OFF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT HEADLIGHT COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11246586August 26, 2019ENGINE, SUSPENSION
THE BALL BEARINGS WENT OUT ON THE FRONT END CAUSING BOTH MY FRONT TIRES TO WEAR RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRES ON THE TIRE TREADS. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF FIXING THEM THE ENGINE SEIZED IN MY CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME. WHILE MY 16 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY SHE SUDDEN LOST POWER AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD HER BROTHER TAKE OVER DRIVING IT. HE COULD NOT GET IT TO SPEED OR TO SHIFT SO HE PUT IT IN MANUAL TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY HE CALLED ME. I FOLLOWED HIM LESS THEN 4 MILES TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LISTEN TO THE ENGINE AND SAID TO PARK THE CAR AS THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO GO. IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING IT HOME LESS THEN 2 MILES THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED UP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11246310August 26, 2019ENGINE
THE ENGINE ON MY 2012 KIA SORENTO RAN OUT OF OIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHT OR OTHER INDICATION OF PROBLEM. WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ACCELERATED TO GET AROUND AN 18 WHEELER AND THE ACCELERATION CUT OUT, CAUSING CARS BEHIND ME TO HAVE TO SLOW TO AVOID RUNNING INTO MY REAR. THE SORENTO QUICKLY BECAME VERY SLUGGISH AND PROGRESSIVELY SLOWED DOWN. I CHANGED LANES TO THE RIGHT WHEN SAFE TO DO SO AND STOPPED THE CAR. I LOOKED FOR PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN CHECKED THE OIL. THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND I HAD NO WARNING THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO SAID THE MOTOR IS BLOWN AND MUST BE REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0