2012 KIA SORENTO Engine Problems

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.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V750000 (Engine) and 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while driving into a parking spot, the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. The contact later replaced the battery, but the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that, due to the vehicle not having the sensor changed before the failure, the engine could not be replaced. The dealer informed the contact tha,t due to the mileage, the vehicle would not be covered and would not qualify for the...

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the rod bearings were knocking, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V626000 (Power Train), 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and 20V750000 (Engine). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact called the warranty company which declined the repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

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....

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...

Hey I’ve Recently Wrecked My Vehicle Due To Malfunctions This Year Just A Few Months Ago & I Reported It To The Dealer Before I Crashed It. That Something Was Wrong With The Engine And Also Sent The Dealership I Purchased It From Videos Before Hand But Nobody Would Listen To Me. Now My Car Is Sitting In A lot Engine Blowed And I Can’t Afford Another One. I Have Proof , Names And Also Couldn’t Get My Car Fixed Because I Only Had Liability Insurance Only. No Report Was Filed Because Me And The Other Vehicle Was Transported To Uab Hospital.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked with an abnormal rattling coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that there were metal shavings found inside the engine. The dealer requested that the contact provide the history of maintenance on the vehicle. The contact provided documents; however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair due to a lack of maintenance on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The failure persisted, and the vehicle remained at the residence unrepaired. The manufacturer was...

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...

[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...

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.

I had my mechanic come to my house to diagnose what has been going on and it is a recall on the motor. Along with my car throwing codes as well. I purchased the car from car max told them almost a year ago something was wrong with my car and they told me it was nothing it was a transmission issue. My father raised me to learn how to fix vehicles so o knew something was wrong. Now due to their negligence I am stranded with two small children.

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...

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

There is a recall on my vehicle. I received my first letter in May2024. I took it to dealership and they ran test but said they couldnt fix the recall bc Kia hasn't sent them the remedy so they sent us home. I called Kia customer service and they said when remedy is ready I'll get another letter. I just got that letter a few days ago and called dealership (Superior kia Orangeburg SC). They will fix recall but trying to charge me for testing again claiming it's because recall wasn't fixed last time I brought it in..this was not my fault and they sent me home saying they were unable to fix at the time. This is a recall and I'm not supposed to be charged. They refuse to fix recall unless I pay them.

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.

On August 23rd 2024, I drove this vehicle all day. But, upon reaching our final destination (ER department entrance) smoke began rolling out from under the hood. Once getting out to inspection the vehicle someone hollered for a extinguisher. I turned to look at the vehicle and I could see underneath of the 2012 kia sorento had flames. My son was still in the car so my mother and I ran to get him out of his rear facing carseat and ran away from the vehicle. At this time the vehicle still had a fire that went out with extinguisher but quickly light back up. After this the whole are and car filled with smoke. Fire department was called and this took them awhile to fully extinguish the fire. This could have hurt myself, my child, and my mother. I lost alot of valuable things including my son's new carseat,...

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.

My 2012 Kia Sorento has a recall for the motor, and I had taken it to Kia for an inspection and the dealer stated to me that my car does not have a recall on it. Recently my car stalled on the road while I was driving, and it nearly caused an accident because someone behind me had to break suddenly to stop.

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.

While waiting for notification that the remedy part was available for this car, it caught on fire. It caught on fire on 6/20/2024. The car is a total loss and it was a very dangerous situation.

Driving from a parking lot to roadway the engine seized. We have never had a recall. We bought it in 2019. I understand this has been a problem for many. Can I get the engine replaced on the recall? We had just had a lot of work done. Oil change, struts, brakes, etc.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an abnormally strong gasoline odor. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle and unlatched the hood, only to discover gasoline flowing on top of the engine. The contact stated that he had made it home safely and ran water through the engine to clean the gasoline off. The contact researched the failure online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the malfunction indicator lamp warning light illuminated and the contact heard a loud sound. The contact stated that the sound was like something had fallen from underneath the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed white smoke that exited the rear exhaust and white smoke that exited from under the front hood of the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle and exited the vehicle. The vehicle was engulfed in flames. The local Fire department and Police department arrived on the scene. A police and fire reports were filed however limited information for the reports was available. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The manufacturer inspected and determined that the failure was no fault of the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

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.

The manufacturer of Kia has not resolve the fire issue to the vehicles. The recall has not be looked into or updated since letter in 2022. I’ve asked multiple Kia reps when the recall will be handled and was told there is no remedy. This recall is super dangerous and is a liability when driving on highways or long travel. My car can catch on fire at any time and nothing is being handled to resolve the issue.

Kia issued a recall in September of 2023 that affects the HECU. I have received one interim notice but nothing since and it’s been 7 months. I am concerned about mine and others safety and would like an update on the recall.

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....

This 2012 Kia sorento caught fire and burned. Believed to be part of the recall 23v652

Engine seized up

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.

A notice was mailed to me on [XXX] Recall #[XXX], advising that the hydraulic electronic control unit may experience an electrical short circuit, which can result in engine compartment fire. Park the vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall has been performed. The malfunction indicator light appeared approximately a month and a half ago, and I contacted my KIA dealer who advised me that I must have the car towed to their location at my expense They billed me over $200, plus the towing. The recall has still not been addressed. This is an extreme problem for me. I live in Florida and have a very unhealthy relative out of state but feel that it is unsafe to drive my vehicle far from home which has caused me and my family extreme anxiety. I have received no updates from KIA since the initial 11/14/23 letter....

There was a recall listed online 9/2023 for HEUC hydraulic electronic control unit. [XXX]. I called Kia in September the day I saw and they said a letter would come out and part would be available for the recall soon. I waited. I called again in November 2023. Still no fix or letter. I called again in January then 4/2024 still no letter or part to remedy the problem. I'm tired of waiting and very scared to drive my car. I’m hearing now that the part might not be available until July 2024??!? This is completely unacceptable. That is 11 months driving a car that could catch on fire??!? And obviously it was a problem long before the recall actually happened or else there wouldn’t have been a recall needed. A serious recall and no remedy?!? How many people have to die to make them fix the problem??!! I’m scared...

This has been recalled for 6 months with no remedy. I cannot drive my car due to risk of engine fire, and I have been advised to not park near other cars. This has been extremely frustrating and inconvenient. I have not been offered a replacement vehicle either

car codes say vehicle has suspension with engine.

On November 11th, 2023 I was driving down the road. I noticed my power steering starting to fail. I looked down and everything was lit up on the dash. I quickly put on my turn signal so the cars behind me knew I was exiting the road. I was in another state on a 2 lane road. Luckily I was able to pull off the road into a gravel parking lot. The car would not start. My children called for a tow truck and it was towed to my cousin's house about a half hour away. Several days later I had it towed to a garage by my cousin's and was told the engine seized up and would need replaced. I was about 4 hours away from home, so my children paid to have it towed back home. It was towed to a Kia dealership by my home. After several...

My concern is when will the RECALL BE HONORED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES 1ST- BRAKE SYSTEM 2ND- ENGINE CAUSING A FIRE HOW SOON CAN I GET MY CAR IN TO GET THESE RECALLS SERVICED???

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle would suddenly stall while idling. The contact was able to restart the vehicle to continue driving. The check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted after the first repair and the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the purge valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The purge valve was replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The...

It won't catch up speed it slips on the freeway. Once I pass 60 miles per hour it excelerates very high and rpm get stuck after I hit 50 miles per hour. There's a knocking noise coming from the engine and burns oil fast.

Engine started loosing power a little over 100,000 miles and seized. Car has not started or ran since, was told it would be $7000 to replace engine.

I experienced a Malfunction of indicators lamp, ABS warning lights, burning/ melting smell and smoke from the engine compartment.

SC284XM HECU My car was exacted by the HECU fuse

On Wed, Nov 1, 2023, 1:08 PM [XXX] [XXX] > wrote: December's 2nd, 2020 Kia Recall number SC200XM NHTSA Recall # 20V750 Recall Status Incomplete The summary reads that Kia is conducting a safety recall campaign to inspect the engine compartment for fuel, engine oil leaks and or and engine test and make any repairs including engine replacement on all 2012 - 2013 Kia Sorentos. This recall basically described my vehicle that I owned and many of the related problems like fuel mix related issues. My vehicle was giving off codes related to the fuel emissions problems, like gas cap, intake manifold, sensor, could be related to a possible engine fire or oil leaks that could cause a fire, ( reasons for a recall) On (10-12-2023) I took my vehicle in for this safety recall because Kia had issued this above safety recall for my vehicle. Prior to my going...

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and the ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact noticed a burning odor on the interior of the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact drove the vehicle to her place of employment and turned off the vehicle. A coworker checked the engine oil level and discovered that there was no engine oil in the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle was not due to have an engine oil change for another month. The dealer was made...

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had been illuminating off and on for approximately six months. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Engine went out while driving. Took vehicle to a mechanic where it was confirmed it needs an engine replacement

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at approximately 30 MPH as the battery and alternator warning lights illuminated. Another driver then alerted the contact that the vehicle had caught fire under the hood. The contact merged to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. The contact mentioned that a third of the vehicle had been engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact sustained injuries to her knee from the door while attempting to exit during the incident. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and deemed totaled by the insurance agency. A fire report was filed but there was no police report filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hyraulic) however the...

Was driving on highway car started making noise, wasn't sure where the noise was coming from by the time I could pull over my car started shaking and it was clearly coming from the engine. My engine went out so fast without warning. Only 120,000 miles.

The engine is constantly loosing oil but it’s no leaking it’s burning somewhere there is always tons of smoke that come from the burning of it upon contacting Kia they stated that it isn’t their problem.