2012 Kia Sorento Reliability
The 2012 Kia Sorento has 880 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Sorento model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Sorento's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
880
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
21
Complaints citing a crash
77
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Kia Sorento complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 461 | 52% |
| Electrical system | 127 | 14% |
| Service brakes | 103 | 12% |
| Air bags | 81 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 81 | 9% |
| Exterior lighting | 60 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 55 | 6% |
| Body structure | 35 | 4% |
2012 Kia Sorento recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V626000 | Oct 6, 2015 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | 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… |
| 17V224000 | Mar 31, 2017 | Engine & cooling — engine | 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. |
| 18V907000 | Dec 19, 2018 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 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… |
| 20V750000 | Dec 2, 2020 | Engine | 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. |
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Sorento years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sorento analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 2 | Suspension | Too few reports |
| 2011 | 1,520 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2012 (this page) | 880 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 | 983 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 | 988 | 6 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2012 Kia Sorento on the used market
- 33 of 282 2012 Kia Sorento listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2012 Kia Sorento
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Kia Sorento can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Kia Sorento reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Kia Sorento reliable?
The 2012 Kia Sorento has 880 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Sorento model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Sorento's typical year.
What are the most common 2012 Kia Sorento problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Kia Sorento are engine (461), electrical system (127), service brakes (103), air bags (81). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Kia Sorento have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Kia Sorento, including 15V626000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission) and 17V224000 (engine & cooling — engine). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Kia Sorento compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 1,520 complaints and 8 recalls (avoid); the 2013 has 983 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 880 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Kia Sorento?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Sorento research
Other Kia Sorento model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Sorento, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.