What 875 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

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.

NHTSA ODI 11611298

While waiting for notification that the remedy part was available for this car, it caught on fire. It caught on fire on 6/20/2024. The car is a total loss and it was a very dangerous situation.

NHTSA ODI 11596263

This 2012 Kia sorento caught fire and burned. Believed to be part of the recall 23v652

NHTSA ODI 11585161

i was out door dashing on monday january 15 2024. i went into panera to pick up order. came outside to my car and it looked like it was smoking. i popped the hood and was about to put my hand in there to lift the hood when i realized it was hot. i looked under and it was on fire.. everything is melted.. there wasnt any warnings at all. now i have know car..

NHTSA ODI 11566324

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at approximately 30 MPH as the battery and alternator warning lights illuminated. Another driver then alerted the contact that the vehicle had caught fire under the hood. The contact merged to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. The contact mentioned that a third of the vehicle had been engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact sustained injuries to her knee from the door while attempting to exit during the incident. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and deemed totaled by the insurance agency. A fire report was filed but there was no police report filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hyraulic) however the recall remedy was not yet available. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000. VIN Tool Confirms Parts Not Available.

NHTSA ODI 11554406

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in her carport, she was awakened by her son that a fire had ignited and that the vehicle was in flames. The contact then stated that the fire from the vehicle had extended to her home living room. As a result, half of the house was in flames. The contact stated that she and her family were able to exit her home to safety and then notified the fire department. The fire department had extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. The family's iguana pet passed away due to the fire. The contact then stated that the vehicle was towed to a tow lot and inspected by the insurance company and that the source of the fire was near the carport area and may have been electrical related but was to be determined. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. Additionally, the contact stated that she was not notified that the VIN was included in a recall, and upon research she discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11546854

Unknown. Push start engine failed on first and second try. One minute later the engine is one fire.

NHTSA ODI 11520051

These vehicles were never equipped with an alarm to notify drivers when parked in any other gear other than 'Park'. If the driver parks vehicle in 'Reverse' and do not set the parking brake, he/she can shut off the engine with no alarms notifying the driver to move shifter to park. An incident occurred with this vehicle in which the driver parked it overnight in a parking garage on level 6. The space appeared level, but is on a very slight incline. The vehicle (miraculously) remained in place overnight. However when the same driver proceeded to use the vehicle the following morning, it wouldn't start (obviously because you cannot start these vehicles unless the shifter is in 'Park' or 'Neutral'). He thought the battery was dead, not thinking to check the position of the shifter. After trying to get the vehicle to start with no success, he left the vehicle to use his personal vehicle. After leaving this vehicle, it rolled out of position and proceeded backwards (halfway down the incline between levels 6 and 5), turned slightly and hit the wall inside the parking garage (causing almost $6,000 of damage to the LR corner of the vehicle). The safety issue lies in the fact that this vehicle could have collided with another parked vehicle (with someone inside it) or another vehicle making the turn from level 5 to proceed to level 6. The vehicle could've also struck a pedestrian inside the parking garage. If the speed was greater, the vehicle could've damaged the section of the parking garage it struck and dislodged fragments of concrete (possibly causing it to fall on people and/or vehicles below).

NHTSA ODI 11507084

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, CAME TO A STOP AND STARTED TO SMOKE, A FIRE IGNITED AND CONSUMED THE FRONT END

NHTSA ODI 11372756

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.

NHTSA ODI 11322468

AS I WAS DRIVING, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD AND WHEN I PULLED OVER TO CHECK, MY CAR BLEW UP IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11228637

KIA RECALL. ON MAY 22, 2014, MY 2012 KIA SORENTO CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AT THIS TIME, BUT NOW IT IS COMING TO SURFACE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE SPONTANEOUSLY CATCHING FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11170588

I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE A FIRE GUN THAN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE, I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE WAS ALREADY ON FIRE, I GOT MY TWO DAUGHTERS OUT OF THE TRUCK AND FIVE MINUTES LATER THE WHOLE TRUCK EXPLOTED

NHTSA ODI 11154607

THIS KIA SORENTO CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE DRIVER REPORTED THAT THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND SHE COULD SEE SMOKE AND A FLAME COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE LEFT THE VEHICLE UNHARMED HOWEVER THE EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE CAR IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM DALLAS AUTO AUCTION BY MAS MOTORS IN DALLAS TX. THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS KIA OF ARLINGTON.

NHTSA ODI 11132280

2012 KIA SORENTO WAS SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP ON REGULAR BASIS. OCTOBER 7, 2017 CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT TO THE GROUND. CALLED KIA AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING! STATED THEY DID NOT DEAL WITH CONSUMERS AND TO DEAL WITH MY INSURANCE. INSURANCE ONLY PAID BOOK VALUE AND WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE WITH THAT AMOUNT! I DID EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK AND KEPT MY KIA IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND THEY DID NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT! I HAD A APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE ON MONDAY AND IT BURNT ON SATURDAY! I FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD ISSUED A RECALL AND I AM SURE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT AT SERVICE ( I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE). MY NIECE WAS DRIVING FROM KENTUCKY TO MY HOME IN VIRGINIA (HER VEHICLE WAS BROKE DOWN AND THE DRIVE WAS A HOUR AWAY). THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A NOISE AT WHICH TIME SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THEN THE VEHICLE DIED AND STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND SHE CALLED ME AND I STARTED ON MY WAY TO MEET HER. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO RAISE THE HOOD BUT TWO GUYS HAD STOPPED TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP AND ONE SEEN THE RED OF THE FIRE IN THE CRACK OF THE HOOD AND ADVISED HER TO GET AWAY. WITHIN SECONDS FLAMES ENGULFED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND BURNT COMPLETELY BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE FIRE CHIEF TOLD ME WHEN I ARRIVED THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL. WE WERE BLESSED THAT MY NIECES 6 MONTH OLD WAS WITH ME AND NOT IN THE VEHICLE WITH HER BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HER OUT! VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA AND I WAS A HUGE FAN BUT NOT ANYMORE AFTER DEALING WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE! I DO NOT FEEL IT IS FAIR THEY ARE NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCT! THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME AT ALL!

NHTSA ODI 11128846

MY HEADLIGHT PIGTAIL CAUGHT ON FIRE...I HAD IT REPLACED ...REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS IN IT AND NOT EVEN 2 WEEKS LATER THE PIG TAIL CAUGHT ON FIRE AGAIN...THEY SAID IT MUST NE A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING SOMEWHERE AND IT WILL START AT 200$ TO LOOK AT IT TO FIX....MU CAR ISNT THAT OLD TO HAVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11128852

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HIGH. MINUTES LATER, THE TOP OF THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE ENTIRE HOOD ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11124571

I WAS DRIVING A 2012 KIA SORENTO WITH THREE OTHER PASSENGERS AND OUR FAMILY DOG. I SEE SMOKE COMING FROM BACK OF MY CAR THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR PASSING ME SINCE MY CAR WAS IN MINT CONDITION WITH A NEW ENGINE AND NEW TRANSMISSION. I LOOK AGAIN THERE IS NO CAR GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY AND NOW I SEE A LOT MORE SMOKE. CARS COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY ARE FLASHING ME AND WAVING SO I FIGURED I'M PROBABLY OVER HEATING. I STEER TO THE RIGHT ON A STEEP HILL THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESN'T WORK I QUICKLY THROW IT INTO PARK THE GEARS ARE GONE SO NO PARK. AT THAT POINT WE SEE FLAMES SHOOTING AT US. MY DAUGHTER AND I OPEN OUR DOORS THE CAR IS SLOWLY ROLLING DOWN THE HILL, THE DOOR HITS HER SHE GOES FLYING THE CAR ALMOST RUNS HER OVER. I TAKE THE CAR AND I'M HOLDING THE 4,000 POUND CAR BACK FROM ROLLING DOWN THE HILL SO THE KIDS AND DOG IN THE BACK SEAT CAN GET OUT. THEY FINALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS, GRABBED THE DOG BY THE COLLAR. I LET GO OF THE CAR IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND STARTED TO EXPLODE. WHAT A HORRIFYINGLY EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11112496

EXISTED THE FREEWAY, STOPPED AT 2 STOP LIGHTS WITH OTHER CARS WITH NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE. STARTED FORWARD FROM LIGHT 100+ YARDS AND MAYBE 20 MPH WHEN FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH LARGE FLAMES. I PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FIRE BURNED FROM MOTOR COMPARTMENT INTO DASH AND CEILING OF PASSENGER AREA. VEHICLE IS TOTALED! THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED BY KIA ON A RECALL JUST 5 MONTHS AGO. ONLY ABOUT 9000 MILES ON THE NEW ENGINE!

NHTSA ODI 11093994

DRIVERS ROCKER COVER LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED AND SHORTED OUT STARTING A FIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR WE WERE JUST PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT OUR HOME. THEN THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE.

NHTSA ODI 11075310

ON MONDAY, MARCH 23 AT 8 PM, I ARRIVED HOME AND PARKED MY CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE. I LOVED UP AND WENT INSIDE. AT 4:30 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING, MY SON CAME INTO OUR BEDROOM SAYING BE THOUGHT SUNSHINE WAS TRYING TO BREAK INTO MY CAR BECAUSE THE CAR ALARM WAS GOING OFF. I WENT TO THE WINDOW TO LOOK OUT, AND IMMEDIATELY SEE THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FLAMES APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT. WE CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE WHOLE BACK HALF OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS ROARING. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR ROLLED OUT ARSON. IT WAS THE CRAZIEST THING I HAVE EVER WITNESSED AND IT WAS TERRIFYINGLY CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE. THE FIRE WAS ALREADY IN OUR YARD WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. I SHUTTER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY SON HAD NOT WOOLEN UP WHEN HE HAD. THE FIRE WAS SO CLOSE TO THE GAS TANK, WE ARE LUCKY THERE WANT A FULL ON EXPLOSION. THE WEATHER WAS MILD AND DRY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THERE WAS NO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR. I SIMPLY CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. MY BEST GUESS IS THAT SOMETHING SET OF THE CAR ALARM WHICH ON TURN SHORTED AND SPARKED THE FIRE IN THE FLASHING REAR LIGHTS. IT WAS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE AND IN PERFECT CONDITION THAT I PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2014. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702294