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 beari…
2012 kia Sorento engine problems
severe 343 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100
Complaints
343
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$3,100
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 OTH…
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 TO…
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.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 kia Sorento?
It's a meaningful issue. 343 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.