2012 Kia Sorento — Known Issues & Recalls

Your engine is knocking and the car enters limp mode, which is a known issue covered by a Kia recall. Kia updated the software in a prior recall, but your engine has now failed at 118,000 miles despite regular maintenance. Kia is refusing to repair or warranty the engine even though you've provided complete maintenance records spanning over 10 years. The fix will likely require engine repair or replacement under warranty coverage.

Your 2012 Kia Sorento caught fire under the vehicle while parked at a post office, shortly after you turned it off. You had noticed the TPMS (tire pressure) warning light was on before the fire started. Post office employees and the fire department responded and extinguished the fire, and no one was injured. The cause may be related to a known brake system issue, and the vehicle was not inspected or repaired.

Your 2012 Kia Sorento lost power and couldn't go faster than 15 MPH, and the check engine light came on. A dealer diagnosed the problem as engine bearing failure and found other engine problems that made the vehicle undrivable. Even though the dealer had performed a recall on your engine in 2024, the manufacturer told you the engine qualified for replacement under a manufacturer program, but no further action was taken after that.

While driving at 60 MPH, you noticed smoke coming from under the hood. As you tried to pull over, you heard a loud pop and the engine lost power. Moments later, the entire front of your vehicle caught fire. No warning lights appeared before this happened. This is a serious fire risk that requires immediate investigation by a mechanic or the manufacturer to determine the cause.

Your engine warning light turned on and the engine lost power. A mechanic diagnosed this as a knock sensor problem and warned that your engine could fail without warning. The repair shop flushed and replaced your engine oil and addressed the diagnostic code. The knock sensor may need to be replaced or cleaned to prevent engine damage.

While driving at 75 MPH, your check engine light started flashing and your engine began misfiring, causing the car to sputter when you pressed the accelerator. Two independent mechanics both found that your knock sensor and its wiring harness were faulty. The fix will likely involve replacing the knock sensor and inspecting or repairing the wiring harness connected to it.

Your engine has an oil leak coming from the intake gasket. This is the seal between the intake manifold and the engine block that can wear out over time. You may notice oil dripping under your vehicle or a burning oil smell when the engine is running. The repair will involve removing the intake manifold and replacing the worn gasket to stop the leak.

Your 2012 Kia Sorento experienced engine failure at around 250,000 miles while driving into a parking spot — the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. Kia had issued two recalls for your vehicle (one for the engine and one for the brakes), but replacement parts were unavailable for an extended period. When you took the vehicle to a mechanic, they confirmed complete engine failure, and Kia refused to replace the engine because the recall sensor work hadn't been completed before the failure occurred. The dealer also denied coverage under warranty due to your vehicle's mileage. Resolving this would likely require pursuing a claim with Kia directly or exploring your state's lemon law protections, as the engine failure appears connected to the unperformed recall.

While driving at 60 mph, your 2012 Kia Sorento jerked with abnormal rattling from the engine, and the check engine light came on. A dealer inspection found metal shavings inside the engine, which relates to an open safety recall (NHTSA Campaign 23V652000). The dealer refused to perform the recall repair, citing inadequate maintenance history, and your vehicle was not repaired. This issue typically requires engine inspection and possible internal component replacement or engine rebuild to remove the metal debris.

Your check engine light came on, and a few days later while parked, your car began smoking under the hood. Within 10 minutes, neighbors reported hearing explosions and your vehicle caught fire. The fire destroyed the car, which had to be scrapped. Your car had a small oil leak for years that burned off on the engine, which may have contributed to the fire risk.

Your car's pearl white paint is chipping and peeling off in various areas. This is a cosmetic issue that affects the appearance of your vehicle. Addressing this typically involves sanding the affected areas and repainting or applying a touch-up product to prevent further damage and rust.

Your air bag warning light came on and stayed on permanently. You didn't have a mechanic diagnose or repair the issue, so the underlying problem wasn't identified. The warning light indicates a potential fault with your air bag system that needs professional diagnosis. A mechanic will need to scan your vehicle's computer to find the specific air bag component that's causing the warning.

Your car's rear subframe has severe rust damage on one side, making the vehicle unsafe to drive, especially with children in the car. The structural damage from rust compromises the suspension's integrity and stability. Fixing this will likely require replacing the rusted subframe section or the entire rear subframe assembly.

Your 2012 Kia Sorento caught fire in the engine compartment while idling, just days after the dealer completed a recall service for a brake system safety issue. You noticed smoke coming from under the hood, opened it, and found flames coming from the fuse box area. A fire investigator from the manufacturer examined the vehicle but could not determine the exact cause of the fire. The fire may be related to the recall work that was recently performed, and you should have your dealer or manufacturer investigate the connection between the recall service and this fire incident.

You reported engine problems to your dealer several months before your vehicle crashed, including video evidence of the issue, but the dealer did not address it. Your engine subsequently failed, resulting in a crash where both vehicles were transported to the hospital. You were unable to get the car repaired due to having only liability insurance coverage.

You noticed a fuel smell inside and around your vehicle and found a cracked fuel rail that leaks significantly when the engine runs. You discovered that a 2012 Kia Sedona has a recall for the same fuel rail leak issue, but your Sorento's VIN isn't included in that recall even though it has the identical problem. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the cracked fuel rail.

Your Sorento's suspension feels bouncier than normal and makes squeaking noises from the shocks. You're also having trouble turning the steering wheel when parked, and your electrical system is glitching with bulbs burning out quickly and the radio cutting in and out—these issues started after the wiring was replaced.

Your engine is making a knocking noise from the rod bearings, and your check engine light is on. You've been notified about three separate recalls affecting your powertrain, brakes, and engine, but your dealer hasn't diagnosed or repaired the vehicle yet, and your warranty company has declined to cover the repairs. Fixing this will likely require engine inspection and possible bearing replacement.

Your accelerator pedal didn't respond when pressed, and your traction control and ABS warning lights came on. Your vehicle then stalled and entered limp mode (reduced power mode), forcing you to drive it home slowly. A diagnostic scan showed multiple fault codes related to your vehicle's braking and traction control systems. The issue likely involves your vehicle's electronic brake and traction control modules or their sensors.

Your parking lights stay on continuously, and even after replacing the brake light switch, the switch doesn't align properly with the brake pedal stopper mechanism that's supposed to turn off the brake lights. This causes the lights to remain on and drain your battery, requiring you to disconnect the battery to prevent complete discharge. The issue appears to be that the brake pedal mechanism has shifted out of alignment with the switch.