general problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Sorento

I smelled fuel in & around vehicle. Did some checking discovered cracked fuel rail , causing significant fuel leak when engine is on. Did some more research online discovered 2012 kia sedona recall sc188 “fuel rail leak” identical issue my 2012 Sorento has but my VIN does not come up with fuel leak recall. There is however recall 23v652 hecu replacement- engine fire possible.

On August 23rd 2024, I drove this vehicle all day. But, upon reaching our final destination (er department entrance) smoke began rolling out from under the hood. Once getting out to inspection the vehicle someone hollered for a extinguisher. I turned to look at the vehicle and I could see underneath of the 2012 kia Sorento had flames. My son was still in the car so my mother and I ran to get him out of his rear facing carseat and ran away from the vehicle. At this time the vehicle still had a fire that went out with extinguisher but quickly light back up. After this the whole are and car filled with smoke. Fire department was called and this took them awhile to fully extinguish the fire. This could have hurt myself, my child, and my mother. I lost alot of valuable things including my son's new carseat, my children's double stroller, a tablet, clothing, etc. I have called kia as I found out there was a recall that kia has none about and started sending notices out November 14th 2023. My vehicle sat at a kia dealership from January to March 6th and if this recall was so drastic such as a car fire why was this not taken car of when my vehicle sat for 2 months. I have a call into kia as of Monday August 26th 2024. I am still waiting for a rep to be assigned my claim and to speak to them. As of today August 28th 2024 noone has reached out to me.

While driving, the rpms go to zero and the car stops and I lose all power. Yes, it's a safety risk to me and other drivers because it shuts off while driving. Someone following behind me can run into me. Yes, I took it to ourisman kia of catonsville twice - they reproduced it happening the 2nd time I dropped it off after showing them a video of what happens. They said they don't know how to fix it. No, the vehicle was only inspected by the dealer. See video attached regarding warning lamps/messages etc.

My 2012 kia Sorento has a recall for the motor, and I had taken it to kia for an inspection and the dealer stated to me that my car does not have a recall on it. Recently my car stalled on the road while I was driving, and it nearly caused an accident because someone behind me had to break suddenly to stop.

The manufacturer of kia has not resolve the fire issue to the vehicles. The recall has not be looked into or updated since letter in 2022. I’ve asked multiple kia reps when the recall will be handled and was told there is no remedy. This recall is super dangerous and is a liability when driving on highways or long travel. My car can catch on fire at any time and nothing is being handled to resolve the issue.

It won't catch up speed it slips on the freeway. Once I pass 60 miles per hour it excelerates very high and rpm get stuck after I hit 50 miles per hour. There's a knocking noise coming from the engine and burns oil fast.

There was the smell of gasoline inside the cabin. Then the check engine light came on. Smoke began coming from the engine compartment. The fire completely engulfed the vehicle.

Since purchase of the vehicle there has been non stop issues with the engine and cooling system. I had the engine replaced after purchase which took 2 months and now the vechicle started to smoke again and a smell of burning rubber. I took it to the dealership to have repaired and the entire cooling system was replaced, only weeks after the same issue occurred again to find out it was now the water pump that was not replaced. Researching to resolve the car has serveral recalls for the same exact issues that have been occurring. My concern is the safety of me and my children and the unknown of being repeatedly charged for a vehicle that was sold knowing that it was not in good standing with the state for odometer variance.

Engine suddenly lost power while on 125 mile road trip. Tachometer flat lined at 60 mph and speed and engine power rapidly decreased ( as if in creeper mode) and I was not able to accelerate above the 20 mph , enough to get to the shoulder. I was towed to the kia dealership and after a day the couldn't replicate the problem as the vehicle returned to it's proper operational mode. This happened again 3 weeks later at 80mph in the center lane under cruise control with the same issues, sudden loss of power, inability to accelerate and no tachometer reading yet still running at idle. This time I pulled into a gas station and took the battery cable off for 5 minutes then replaced it. The vehicle became fully operational and I drove another 125 miles home. I bare was able to get over as I couldn't accelerate the vehicle and had to creep up the exit ramp. This being extra hazardous as it was nightfall and both times I had my 2 year old grandson with me. If I was in the left lane I would not have been able to make it across the highway and possibly would have caused a major back up putting myself, grandson and the other drivers on the road at risk of a collision. . . There are many blogs in line with kia owners reporting this same problem and with no resolution if the dealerships can't replicate the problem while they have the vehicle.

Please see attached email sent to NHTSA . . I was advised to file a complaint. I need help! this issue is getting worse. Please feel free to contact me anytime regarding documentation. If you do not reach me directly, feel free to speak with my wife jennifer balinovic. She can also attest the the issues we have. This is constant whether in park , driving , idling. Also recently we have notice the light to signal a malfunction in the air bags keeps coming on. It also flashes for a few minutes at a time. Please let me or my wife know what documents you need and we will get them to you immediately! thank you for your help with this matter.

I had taken my vehicle into kia on 02/22/21 to have the engine looked at because it is knocking, and I am experiencing loss of power, burning smells, jerking, stalling, having to add oil in my SUV weekly. We already replaced the valve cover gasket twice, and also the high fuel rail sensor, spark plugs prior to taking it back to them. We had a certified mechanic do the repairs for us. My SUV was at kia a total of 45 days though and I got maybe four phone calls, one they just told me I need a new engine and the issues are related to issues pertaining to the recall. The others were about the airbag recalls that needed to be done, and are not even fully complete. I was told by a gentleman named david to drive it when I get it back until it seizes or starts knocking, whatever comes first. I told them everything else that's been happening when I took it in so they know. I was told under kia guidelines that kia would not put a new engine in my vehicle under the recall even though my engine is part of the recall until something actually happens. That is not safe! I have children and I don't want to get hurt or my children to get hurt if it seizes while driving it, and then there is the fire risk with it also that I received a letter for. I am really concerned and frustrated. It wont even pass smog right now until it has a new engine and I cannot even get my tags and registration which I paid for until it passes smog. Here I am also paying a car payment monthly on this thing when clearly the engine is failing because it is a bad engine. All I did was drive it around town taking my kids to school and back and forth to work. I filed two complaints to kia regarding these issues and have not gotten any responses, they have treated me like crap. When I picked up my SUV it was completely out of gas, it has no oil in it, it was dirty and my brand new battery was dead.

Leaking fuel and now car needs new engine.

I had a burning oil smell coming into the cab of the car and smoke pouring out of the engine. I was driving home and noticed it when I got home from work. We took it to the kia dealership the next day and it smelled bad, but didn't overheat. I took it in and it had multiple oil and fuel leaks. They replaced the valve cover gasket and fuel line and resealed the front cover and lower oil pan. This is very similar to another recall (recall #20v750000) they have on a different 2. 4l engine. I called the customer relations at kia and they said that no issues had been related, but I've had many other recalls on my engine already and have a warranty on it.

I was driving and suddenly heard a knocking noise under the hood and then all of the lights came on and it broke down and I had to pull over on the side of the road then it started smoking and then it caught fire. This all happened within 20 minutes on 12/10/2020. It was in cobb county GA off of ew connector and in between fontaine rd and floyd rd.

I was driving and heard a knocking sound. I came to a stop sign and the car stalled. It restarted but had no power. I turned and tried to go a little further had no power. I managed to get the car off road and into the bypass lane. Car would not start again. I had to call for tow truck.

Vehicle was being driven and completely shut off, came to a stop and started to smoke, a fire ignited and consumed the front end.

We had some kind of fuel leak that caused smoke to come from the hood and the car to overheat. The check engine light did come on. We were on our way to the mechanic and the car died on us in the middle of the road. The car was taken to two different mechanics 3 different times. We had the thermostat housing replaced, the intake manifold, and the head gasket. Submitted documents to kia showing our problem. They said they needed more proof showing there was some type of leak. I found the original papers today from the first mechanic that states "fluid leaking, smoke from under the hood, car shut down". I asked if I could submit those documents since they say exactly what kia was looking for. I was told that those documents wouldn't make a difference in the outcome and they would not be reimbursing me anything on this matter. I have paid almost $3000 to have my car fixed and kia will not reimburse for anything even tho I have the proof they told me that they needed. Kia has not been helpful at all through this matter. They have no intention of reimbursing me even tho my recall letter states they will if I have proof showing there was a leak and smoke coming from the engine. I received the recall letter 4-6 months after I had made the repairs.

The vehicle was sitting in the driveway approximately 30 to 45 minutes after having been driven. I had noticed nothing unusual when driving the car. I walked outside to the driveway and flames were visible inside the car. The car was unoccupied and was not running. The switch was turned off and the keys were removed. The doors were locked. I unlocked the doors and put the fire out with a pan of water. I let it cool off and cranked it and moved it out of the driveway to the side of the road. I removed the battery cable for safety reasons. The emergency flasher switch apparently had melted and the flashers would not turn off.

I have a 2012 kia Sorento. I had issues with a recall when the dealer used a probe to look for metal shavings in my motor. Car started burning oil. After 4 months of arguing with the dealer, kia finally replaced the motor in January 2018. Now on 3/9/2020 I am 4 hours away from home. I smell gas and then my car burst into flames. Kia has a recall on "certain" 2012 kia Sorento's however my VIN is not one. If that is the case then why did mine catch fire.

My car has been having strange intermittent engine troubles & symptoms. (the first symptoms appeared in September 2019) it started with the accelerater going out on the highway over about 50 mph once or twice randomly. About a month later it did it again. And then this time it also stalled at a stop sign. Other times it feels like the car engine hiccups. It will lose power and come back on within a half second. And then continue as if nothing happened for another month. Recently the symptoms are happening more often. It is terrifying. I can't drive on the highway because I am so scared. At this point, these symptoms have now taken place numerous times and it doesn't matter what speed - when in motion up to 60-70 mph, around 30 mph, at a stop sign, when I was trying to turn left, etc. I have taken it to a mechanic several times since the first symptom. And I have taken it to a kia service location. All have said the car seems to be running great and there are no codes showing up or engine lights coming on. They cannot see anything wrong with the car unless the symptoms appear. I have seen some articles online about a recall for kia's of my year with the same symptoms, but this recall is not on my VIN? I am honestly so upset because I loved this car. I have been looking for a new car, but I really just wanted to get this fixed. I do believe my car is affected by the other recall, but why isnt it showing up? what do I do? this car is putting my life and other peoples lives in danger. I have a lot of travel coming up and I don't know what to do. I need a safe car and I am terrified to drive right now. Can you please help me?.

Under the recall, a fuel leak was repaired. The same leak in the same place again within 7 months. Dealer slow to call back and arrange an inspection. Cannot drive car as it is unsafe.

Tl- the contact owned a 2012 kia Sorento. The contact received NHTSA campaign number 18v907000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine). The contact stated while driving 50 mph, smoke was coming from center console. The contact stated she continued driving the vehicle on the highway to parking lot of her employment. The contact stated she was able to locate a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to local dealer kia of duluth located at 1701 w michigan st, duluth, mn 55806, (866) 722-4542. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer has been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 135,000. Dp.

Engine recall. Lately I been heard a knocking noise under the hood of my vehicle also I heard knocking noice from the exhaust pipe when I start the car as well. It comes n goes I hear it once in a while mainly in the morning when I first start the car. I hear it any other time once in a while. N I see lately there leakage coming threw the exhaust pipe as well. I took it to my machanic n he advised me to report to the dealer since it can b a possible recall.

Upon exiting the freeway on an out of town trip, my elderly father, 9 year old son and I began to smell a strong gasoline smell. There were no previous symptoms or signs of an issue and we just travelled about 250 miles. I typically drive alot in the city as well. In this case, I pulled into the hotel parking lot (right off the freeway) and there was a large amount of smoke coming from under the hood of the car. Because this occurred on Saturday evening and we were coming into town for an event, we were not able to contact warranty forever until Monday. Fearful, because I have heard of the many spontaneous fires that have occurred on my vehicle type, we have to wait to have it towed and inspected. The engine was replace in my vehicle, under recall, just last year. Thankfully, no one was injured. It could have been worse, very scary. I will be more than happy to upload any needed documentation after an inspection has been completed.

Tamara recall: while driving on briarcliff way in atlanta, GA 30345 on 8/5/18 going approximately 20 mph my engine made a loud pop sound and began smoking and shut off immediately. I was unable to restart car; called tow truck to tow car to ed voyles kia dealership in chamblee GA. They determined it was due to �broken tone wheel inside engine came apart� ; allegedly fixed it by replacing engine; since service I have brought 2012 Sorento back to ed voyles due my check engine light repeatedly coming back on in which ed voyles just turns it off stating; �we really don't know what is going on.

My vehicle is consuming oil. Every 1000 miles I am having to top it off to keep it from running dangerously low and seizing up. There is no indication of a leak so it is an internal problem. The vehicle is also sluggish upon acceleration. Sometimes the rpm gauge is a zero when I am driving at 40 plus speeds. . Presently I am the kia dealer is conducting an oil comsumption test. I will upload results.

We have a kia Sorento 2012. Passengers smelled gas 4. 5 hours into a 5 hour trip to philadelphia. Stopped at rest stop and did not think it was coming from car. We drove approximately another 30 mins into philadelphia and got off the highways onto local streets. Jogger on side of road flagged us down with "your car is on fire!" we pulled to side of road and got out of the car. The kia Sorento's engine was on fire. A local fire department arrived and put out the engine fire with water. No injuries.

Engine failure engine stopped in middle of highway traveling at 55 mph straight highwayput family in danger 2016 June oil leaking all over ground and electrical failure pushed car to side of highway . 140000 mile past warranty kia refuse to fix.

While coming to a stop at a traffic light the engine light came on, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate, the rpm guage did not move, but the vehicle would move forward at engine idle speed (reaching about 20mph on a level surface). The vehicle was towed to the dealership where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced.