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…
2012 Kia Sorento engine problems
severe 344 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
344
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
35fires
When does it fail?
Of the 344 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 39% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 344 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Driving on the highway, engine began to tick and make strange noise, engine light flashed, oil light cam on and engine ceased.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Kia sorento. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle abruptly decelerated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle onto the road shoulder, attempted to check under the hood, and found that the engine was on fire. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. *tr
My car is starting to rattle on cold starts only. It now has 142000 and still has the issue. I took my car to summit place Kia and they said my car doesn't fall under technical bulletin 140 even though it falls under the engine type and manufacture date. I do routine maintenance with records and they said I missed the replacement window because I bought the car used. After reading multiple…
Vehicle has started consuming high amounts of oil as it passed 90,000 miles. Received an oil low light and needed to add 3.5 quarts of oil. Took to a ki dealership who noted that there were no visible leaks, but plugs were burning white. Kia corporate forces the dealer to install knock detection sensor update which voids all previous engine recalls. In the past, high oil consumption was enough…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Kia sorento. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000. Updated 03/12/14*lj *tr
While driving the engine seized up leaving the vehicle without power. Had to coast car to the shoulder of road and was later removed by a tow truck. Was traveling north on state highway 83 in monroe county ga.
Had engine trouble with your 2012 Kia Sorento?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 Kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 344 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 265 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 77,500 and 127,000 miles, with the median around 101,541. A quarter of owners report trouble before 77,500; a quarter make it past 127,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Kia/Sorento.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.