2012 KIA SORENTO Complaints

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the air bag warning light was also illuminated. 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 failure reoccurred six months later. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was informed that the failure was caused by wiring issues with the front passenger's seat. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The vehicle was towed to an alternate dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 227,079.

I am filing this complaint regarding a sudden and unexpected engine failure in my 2012 Kia Sorento LX equipped with the 2.4L Theta II engine. Vehicle Information: Year: 2012 Make/Model: Kia Sorento LX Engine: 2.4L Theta II VIN: [XXX] While driving, my vehicle experienced a sudden engine failure and lost power, leaving the vehicle inoperable. This occurred without warning. The vehicle received routine maintenance, including regular oil changes, and the failure was not due to intentional neglect or misuse. I am concerned because this vehicle is equipped with the Kia Theta II 2.4L engine family, which has been associated with previous recalls, investigations, settlements, and numerous consumer complaints involving engine seizure, premature failure, stalling, and safety concerns. I understand my specific VIN may not currently fall within an active recall; however, my vehicle has experienced the same type of catastrophic engine failure reported by other Kia owners with similar engines. I am concerned that vehicles outside current recall VIN ranges may still be experiencing the same defect. An unexpected engine failure while driving creates a serious safety concern due to the potential for sudden loss of power and increased risk to occupants. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether additional 2012 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the 2.4L Theta II engine may be affected and whether Kia's current recall population adequately addresses the known engine failure concerns. I have also contacted Kia requesting that they review my vehicle, authorize a no-cost diagnostic evaluation, and determine whether the engine failure is related to known Theta II engine defects. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I had taken the Kia Sorrento to a local shop to get an oil change, and Mavis tire had discovered that the rear suspension and rear subframe were severely corroded with rust and I was told that the car is unsafe to drive. I had noticed as well that my brakes would not normally stop when I go to press them as a bit of a kickback and the traction sensors and ABS sensors and emergency brake sensors would go off and on for no reason.

On June 6, 2026, while driving home, the vehicle suddenly began smelling strongly of gasoline and burnt rubber. Within seconds, thick black smoke became visible in the side mirrors, followed immediately by white smoke pouring from the front hood and into the passenger cabin through the air vents. ?As I attempted to pull over to safety, the vehicle completely stopped responding. The brakes failed to operate, the engine stalled, and the steering wheel locked completely. We were barely able to bring the vehicle to a stop. Immediately upon exiting, visible flames erupted from underneath the driver's side of the vehicle and out of the front hood. The engine compartment and motor burnt completely.The safety of the driver and front passenger was put at extreme risk of death or severe injury. Because the brakes and steering locked up simultaneously while the cabin filled with smoke, we almost lost the ability to safely exit a moving vehicle that was actively catching fire. Furthermore, at no moment prior to or during the failure did any warning lamps, check engine lights, or diagnostic messages illuminate on the dashboard. There was absolutely zero advance warning from the vehicle's safety systems.The fire originated from a catastrophic fuel system failure, specifically matching the known issues of the high-pressure fuel pump leak.The vehicle is a total loss and is currently located at a tow yard. It is fully available for inspection upon request.Local police responded to the scene and generated an incident log number. A corporate claim has been opened directly with KIA but as of today, no inspector from the manufacturer or insurance has been sent out.

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact’s spouse stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power with no warning lights illuminated. The contact's spouse noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle, prompting the contact’s spouse to pull over to the side of the roadway. Moments later, the front of the vehicle caught fire. The local fire department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire; however, the cause of the fire had not yet been determined. The vehicle was completely consumed by the fire and deemed destroyed. No police report was filed, The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact’s spouse stated that the incident was extremely traumatic and believed the vehicle posed a serious safety hazard. The failure mileage was not available.

The clock spring needs fixed no features including the horn is working in my airbag light is staying on. Also I now have a loud knock in my motor I understand this should fall under the extended 15 yr 150k warranty; 2012 Kia vehicles (specifically the Sorento) with V6 engines are covered under major safety recalls for engine failure and fire risks. The primary issue involves metal debris from manufacturing that can cause premature engine bearing wear, stalling, and fire. You should check your VIN on the NHTSA site or Kia's recall page to confirm, as these recalls are still active.

In September 2025, an authorized Kia dealership performed recall SC284XM (HECU electrical short fire risk) on this 2012 Kia Sorento. During the repair, the dealership disconnected the battery, resetting the PCM/ECU and clearing all OBD-II readiness monitors including the oxygen sensor monitor. Despite driving hundreds of miles afterward, the O2 sensor monitor has not reached a Ready state. A malfunctioning or unmonitored oxygen sensor creates a direct safety risk — the PCM cannot properly regulate the fuel-air mixture, increasing the risk of catalytic converter overheating, engine damage, and potential fire. The vehicle cannot pass California's mandatory smog inspection and the registration has lapsed, forcing the owner to operate an unregistered vehicle or go without transportation entirely. The dealership has verbally confirmed this is a known model-year defect — the root cause is a software condition requiring a PCM reflash, not achievable through normal drive cycles. This is the second occurrence; the identical failure happened in 2022 after a prior battery disconnect on this vehicle. The vehicle is now held at the dealership 11+ days with no update, no loaner, and an ~$460 estimate for repairs caused entirely by Kia's own recall service. A vehicle actively subject to a fire-risk recall (SC284) was returned to an owner in a condition where the engine management system cannot be properly monitored — compounding the original safety risk rather than resolving it. All this an yet a no no-cost remedy has been issued. This vehicle has been subject to five NHTSA recalls: SC200 (engine fire), SC147 (engine bearing), SC284 (HECU fire), SC172 (fuel pipe fire), and brake-shift interlock defect. Simultaneous complaints filed with Kia Consumer Affairs and CA Bureau of Automotive Repair (Ref: XXX). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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 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