2012 Kia Sorento reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Kia Sorento — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,203
- 352 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 460 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 32 reported crashes · 59 injuries · 117 fires
What owners report fails — 2012 Kia Sorento
- ENGINE 460
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 127
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 81
- AIR BAGS 79
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 65
5 recalls on record for the 2012 Kia Sorento
- NHTSA 23V652000 · 2024 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 20V750000 · 2021 · ENGINE An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 18V907000 · 2019 · ENGINE A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 17V224000 · 2017 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 15V626000 · 2015 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll,
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Kia Sorento
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Kia Sorento units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Kia Sorento reliable?
NHTSA has 1,203 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Kia Sorento and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (460 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Kia Sorento units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Sorento?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (460), electrical system (127), unknown or other (81), air bags (79). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Kia Sorento?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.