2012 Kia Sorento: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2012 Kia Sorento
On the 2012 Kia Sorento, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 98,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other speed control problem, reported by a median of 15,000 miles. Overall it scores 74 out of 100, high risk for a 2012.
High risk for a 2012 — 67th riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. 1,209 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2012 Kia Sorento
Owners have reported 70 named failure modes on the 2012 Kia Sorento, and the three most-reported carry 37% of everything filed.
Other engine problem leads with 294 reports, about 2.3 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 66k to 127,000 miles.
Other brake problem follows with 75 reports, usually reported between 25k to 115,000 miles. 5 of those reports mention a fire.
Other electrical problem follows with 74 reports, usually reported between 26k to 100,000 miles. 14 of those reports mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (483), electrical (121) and brakes (92).
The mileage the reports cluster at
810 of the reports on the 2012 Kia Sorento came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 87,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 28% by 50,000 miles, 60% by 100,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 15 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 100,000 and 110,000 miles, which alone holds 10% of the dated reports.
22% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other speed control problem around 17k, other steering problem around 26k, no-start or intermittent start failure around 31k and other powertrain problem around 35k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 70. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 15 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 26 mention a crash, 109 a fire and 29 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.83, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other brake problem at $300–$1,800, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000 and complete engine failure or seizure at $4,500–$12,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
45% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 294 | 217 | 66k | 98k | 127k | 2.3 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 75 | 28 | 25k | 78k | 116k | 0.6 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 74 | 46 | 26k | 66k | 100k | 0.6 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 71 | 59 | 73k | 97k | 122k | 0.6 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 59 | 33 | 80k | 98k | 135k | 0.5 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 47 | 26 | 82k | 101k | 128k | 0.4 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 45 | 35 | 9k | 35k | 103k | 0.4 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 38 | 25 | 15k | 60k | 85k | 0.3 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 34 | 25 | 44k | 58k | 79k | 0.3 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 31 | 25 | 100k | 116k | 125k | 0.2 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 27 | 7 | — | 115k | — | 0.2 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 23 | 16 | 5k | 17k | 30k | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 17 | 13 | 31k | 65k | 100k | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 17 | 13 | 50k | 90k | 139k | 0.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Oil leak | engine | 15 | 9 | 81k | 94k | 102k | 0.1 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 13 | 7 | — | 81k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 13 | 12 | 5k | 26k | 43k | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 13 | 6 | — | 93k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 12 | 10 | 3k | 31k | 110k | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 12 | 7 | — | 143k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 11 | 9 | 100 | 36k | 106k | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 11 | 8 | 34k | 37k | 44k | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 10 | 8 | 233 | 102k | 165k | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 10 | 8 | 49k | 57k | 92k | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 10 | 9 | 24k | 44k | 85k | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 9 | 4 | — | 75k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 9 | 3 | — | 47k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 7 | 6 | — | 101k | — | 0.1 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 7 | 6 | — | 102k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 7 | 7 | — | 112k | — | 0.1 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 7 | 6 | — | 43k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 7 | 5 | — | 27k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 7 | 5 | — | 67k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 6 | 3 | — | 57k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 6 | 3 | — | 12k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 6 | 3 | — | 100k | — | 0.0 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 6 | 6 | — | 83k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 5 | 1 | — | 119k | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 5 | 4 | — | 65k | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 5 | 4 | — | 122k | — | 0.0 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 4 | 3 | — | 98k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 4 | 3 | — | 124 | — | 0.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 4 | 3 | — | 99k | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 65k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 122k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 118k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 2 | 1 | — | 8k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 92k | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Alignment fault and uneven tire wear | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 65k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 2 | 2 | — | 56k | — | 0.0 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 2 | 2 | — | 54k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 2 | 2 | — | 21k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 120k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 118k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 180k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Automatic braking for no reason | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 5k | — | 0.0 | $0–$1,500 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 108k | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 47k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 94k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other seat belt problem | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 20 | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 75 | 46 | 73k | 90k | 121k | 0.6 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2012 Kia Sorento draws about 9.6 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 90th percentile of complaint rates among 2012 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 125,687 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2012 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
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 time being in the shop every time they say they can't reproduce my description of the problem to make a diagnosis so they can't fix it. However, they have already heard the problem because they put in a new starter and told me if the problem persists to bring it back. On one of the visits they rewired the electrical parts to see if it was an electrical problem and it was not. I am afraid that one of these days the car is actually going to move out of park and hit something. Every time I push the start button I hold my breath and go stiff because when it "acts" up the whole car jumps backwards as if…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento v6. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact mentioned that he was able to restart the vehicle almost immediately after the failure. In addition, he mentioned that the failure recurred approximately 20 times since he had purchased the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was not able to diagnose the failure but advised the contact that what the vehicle was exhibiting was normal when the accelerator and brake pedal were depressed simultaneously. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who verified the dealers advisement and did not provide any additional assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 3,200 and the current mileage was 6,000. Updated 04/26/12*lj
Other brake problem
While coming to stop at intersection or pulling into parking lot space at low speed, I could hear and feel brakes grinding to a complete stop, upon releasing the brake pedal I could hear and feel what I believe to be the calipers grinding as they release. It happens whenever I come to a stop or when I am able to drive forward upon release of the brakes. I feel unsafe driving this vehicle. This noise occurred just after 10000 miles. Before this quiet and smooth braking. On january 11, 2012 I took the vehicle in and service desk person said the service manager would like to test drive the vehicle. I observed the service manager drive out of lot and after about 20 minutes service manager walked back in and talk with service desk person. After three hours of waiting the service desk person informed me the service manager did hear the noise from the brakes and apparently they were in contact with kia corp. Thru e-mail concerning this matter to see if the manufacturer will cover the repairs. After a while I was informed by the service desk that kia has been receiving numerous complaints concerning grinding noise from brakes, and that…
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 kia sorento. The contact stated that while driving on a mountainous road at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly increased acceleration. The contact applied the brake pedal, but the pedal depressed to the floor. The vehicle continued to accelerate and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The vehicle eventually stopped after crashing into a cement wall. The airbag located in the steering wheel did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed and the contact sustained injuries to the head and the entire body. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The insurance declared that the vehicle was destroyed and stated that the air bags and brakes were faulty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 385. Updated 11/20/15*lj *tr
Other electrical problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. The contact stated that the push start feature did not properly function and would not turn the vehicle off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer disconnected the ignition from under the hood, but had not been able to repair the failure. The failure and current mileages were 38. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to successfully restart the vehicle after numerous attempts. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the failure may be related to the electronic system. The dealer stated that the key might have disconnected from the vehicle and caused the failure. The vehicle was in the process of having the key synchronized with the electrical system. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 6,000.
Recalls on the 2012 model year
NHTSA has issued 5 recall campaigns covering the 2012 Kia Sorento, affecting an estimated 242,609 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electron, engine, fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fitt and engine and engine cooling:engine. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
1,730,192 vehicles 2023-09-25- Defect
- 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.
ENGINE
294,756 vehicles 2020-12-02- Defect
- 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
71,653 vehicles 2018-12-19- Defect
- 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
618,160 vehicles 2017-03-31- Defect
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
377,062 vehicles 2015-10-06- Defect
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2012 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2012 — 67th riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 22 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2024 comes out best at 65 and 2016 worst at 80, with 2012 itself at 74.
If the model year is negotiable, 2024, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2007 and 2023 score lower than 2012 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2011–2018 generation specifically, 2015 is the strongest year at 70 and 2016 the weakest at 80.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2011-2018 generation, 2015 Kia Sorento scores best at 70 and 2016 Kia Sorento worst at 80.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: alternator or charging system failure from about 100, control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure from about 233, no-start or intermittent start failure from about 3k and other steering problem from about 5k.
On a 2012 Kia Sorento with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether alternator or charging system failure has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
The limits of complaint data
1,209 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 1,209 reports, 810 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 67% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Sorento?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (294 reports, median 98,000 miles), other brake problem (75 reports, median 77,500 miles) and other electrical problem (74 reports, median 67,500 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2012 Kia Sorento problems start?
Other speed control problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 15,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 5,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 87,000 miles.
Is the 2012 Kia Sorento reliable?
It scores 74 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 67th riskiest of the 271 2012 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2012 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Kia Sorento is best?
Within the 2011–2018 generation, 2015 scores best at 70 out of 100 and 2016 worst at 80. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed