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

On June 6, 2026, while driving home, the vehicle suddenly began smelling strongly of gasoline and burnt rubber. Within seconds, thick black smoke became visible in the side mirrors, followed immediately by white smoke pouring from the front hood and into the passenger cabin through the air vents. ​As I attempted to pull over to safety, the vehicle completely stopped responding. The brakes failed to operate, the engine stalled, and the steering wheel locked completely. We were barely able to bring the vehicle to a stop. Immediately upon exiting, visible flames erupted from underneath the driver's side of the vehicle and out of the front hood. The engine compartment and motor burnt completely.The safety of the driver and front passenger was put at extreme risk of death or severe injury. Because the brakes and steering locked up simultaneously while the cabin filled with smoke, we almost lost the ability to safely exit a moving vehicle that was actively catching fire. Furthermore, at no moment prior to or during the failure did any warning lamps, check engine lights, or diagnostic messages illuminate on the dashboard. There was absolutely zero advance warning from the vehicle's safety systems.The fire originated from a catastrophic fuel system failure, specifically matching the known issues of the high-pressure fuel pump leak.The vehicle is a total loss and is currently located at a tow yard. It is fully available for inspection upon request.Local police responded to the scene and generated an incident log number. A corporate claim has been opened directly with KIA but as of today, no inspector from the manufacturer or insurance has been sent out.

NHTSA ODI 11744052

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

NHTSA ODI 11666032

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 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.

NHTSA ODI 11605807

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.

NHTSA ODI 11603692

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an abnormally strong gasoline odor. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle and unlatched the hood, only to discover gasoline flowing on top of the engine. The contact stated that he had made it home safely and ran water through the engine to clean the gasoline off. The contact researched the failure online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA ODI 11589903

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.

NHTSA ODI 11588239

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the cruise control failed to operate as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that later that day, the fuel door failed to open automatically. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11586508

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle would suddenly stall while idling. The contact was able to restart the vehicle to continue driving. The check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted after the first repair and the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the purge valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The purge valve was replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 114,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11569897

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.

NHTSA ODI 11568149

The contact owns a 201 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact became aware of fuel burning which caused her legs to sting and itch. The lights on the instrument panel then went dark. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 210,875. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11561283

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 65 MPH, an abnormal fuel odor began to emit from the vehicle without warning. His wife was then waved down by a fellow motorist that alerted her that the vehicle had caught fire. The contact stated that his wife had difficulty stopping the vehicle as depressed the brake pedal. Once the vehicle was stopped, an unknown color smoke filled the vehicle's front cabin as she and the other occupants exited the vehicle. No occupants were injured and no medical assistance was rendered at the scene. The vehicle was extinguished by the fire department and a fire report was filed. In the fire report, the investigator linked the cause of the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000(Fuel System, Gasoline; Engine); however, his vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and an investigator was sent to diagnose the cause of the failure; the contact had yet to hear back from the manufacturer. The dealer was also notified about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

NHTSA ODI 11479372

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.

NHTSA ODI 11464323

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel cap needed to be replaced. The mechanic replaced the fuel cap; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was 17,272.

NHTSA ODI 11454631

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.

NHTSA ODI 11452634

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.

NHTSA ODI 11420836

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.

NHTSA ODI 11413193

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 [XXX]. SHE CAN ALSO ATTEST 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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11399668

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.

NHTSA ODI 11395472

LEAKING FUEL AND NOW CAR NEEDS NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11390688

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.

NHTSA ODI 11384057

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.

NHTSA ODI 11374701

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

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.

NHTSA ODI 11317252