2012 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls

THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON SOMETIMES THE CAR THE LUNGES BACKWARDS WHILE THE CAR IS STILL IN PARK IT ONLY DOES THIS WHEN I AM STARTING THE CAR. IT ALSO MAKES AN AUDIBLE NOISE AT THE SAME TIME IT IS " BUCK JUMPING". I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AN ON THE FIRST VISIT THEY HEARD THE NOISE AND FIGURED IT WAS THE STARTER. THEY PUT IN A NEW STARTER AND I AM STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SEEMS TO SLIP DURING CITY DRIVING BUT IT IS VERY SUBTLE. NOW AFTER ABOUT THE FIFTH TI…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418873 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS STARTING OFF FROM STOP SIGN AND FELT AND HEARD A LOUD THUD FROM THE ENGINE AREA. IMMEDIATELY THE 2012 SORENTO LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. IT WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED BUT WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. BEING VERY CLOSE TO THE DEALER, I TOOK IT IN. THE SALES DEPT HAS AGREED TO FIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND REPLACE THIS ONE. I'M NOT SO SURE... *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422390 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE WITH THE START BUTTON, THERE IS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE EITHER WANTS TO LUNG FORWARD OR BACKWARDS IN THE PARK POSITION, TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME, I'M TOLD THAT UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY HEAR THE NOISE THEY CANNOT DETECT WHAT IS CAUSING IT SINCE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEY DID NOTHING SINCE THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK SECOND TIME AS NOW THE SOUND IS GETTING LOUDER AND THE LUNGING IS MORE PROMINENT , AS THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CHECKING THE VEHICLE IN SHE STARTED VEHI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10428112 at NHTSA ↗

2012 KIA SORENTO V-6 AWD VEHICLE SURGES EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE DURING START UP AS IF ITS PARTIALLY IN GEAR. ONCE STARTED IT SEEMS TO BE FINE AND DRIVES NORMALLY. THE ISSUE WAS SPORADIC AT FIRST BUT IS NOW OCCURING ON A DAILY BASIS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS FIRST CONTACTED ON 8/27/11. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN IN ON 9/6/11 BUT WAS NOT FIXED AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS HAVING COMPUTER RELATED ISSUES. I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER SINCE THEN! 9/28/11

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428534 at NHTSA ↗

THE PANEL ASSEMBLY UNDER COVER IS BROKEN OFF EASY AND OBSTRUCTING THE WHEELS MOVEMENT, CAN CAUSES OVER TURN OR FLIP OVER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10430700 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO SX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS AND THE CONTACT WOULD THEN HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 600.

Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433016 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBORING HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED AND AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440119 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2012 KIA SORENTO. BOUGHT WITH 114 MILES ON IT. I HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EX AWD MODEL W/POWER SHIFTING. I NOTICED AFTER DRIVING MY CAR SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT WHEN IT SHOULD. RPMS WOULD REACH UP TO 4000 AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT SHIFT. I HAVE TO MANUAL SHIFT THE CAR INTO THE NEXT GEAR SINCE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE. IF I WANTED A STANDARD TRANSMISSION - I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED ONE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10442429 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-10-06 (October 6, 2015)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 19, 2009, to January 31, 2013. In the affected vehicles, if excessive force is applied to the gear shift lever, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack allowing the transmission being able to be shifted out of "Park" without the brakes being depressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

Consequence: Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll, which may result in a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake-shift interlock mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 9, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC124.

Reported: 2017-03-31 (March 31, 2017)

Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.

Consequence: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.

Reported: 2018-12-19 (December 19, 2018)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Reported: 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.