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

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

(January 11,2024) my wife had an accident while driving a 2012 Kia Sorento vehicle. She was waiting to enter a parking space at the Laurel Mall that someone was backing out of, when the space was clear to enter, she took her foot off the brake and proceeded to enter the space. It seems that the Sorento went full throttle on it's own and proceeded to smash into 3 other parked cars. I read that Kia has a problem with faulty acceleration on 2009 thru 2015 with the Sorentos. I reported this incindent to my insurance and they recommended that I contact Kia Motors Direct. I have reported this to Kia Motors Customer Care, (January 12, 2024) I am waiting for their reply to this situation. There were no warning lights nor any warning of a failure with the vehicle. To date, the Sorento has not been repaired nor checked by a mechanic.

NHTSA ODI 11565965

The abs brake light, traction control, and downhill assist lights all came on at the same time. This is being caused by a faulty speed sensor. This item was recalled on the two wheel drive kias, but not the all wheel drive models... hiwever.. looking for answers in the forums show that there is a systemic problem in the kia system, just Google search it and watch all the other car owners stories pop up.

NHTSA ODI 11546718

The vehicle slows unexpectedly while driving and will not go above 2 RPM causing me to slow to below 40 mph on the highway without any warning. I took the vehicle to Kia for an airbag recall and suddenly I started to have these engine problems. They never informed me there was a recall on my vehicle or that this issue could occur. I am not the original owner and acquired the vehicle from my dad, which he purchased from someone else. I had the vehicle checked out by AAA and the knock sensor was replaced, yet the issue continued to happen. I took the vehicle back to Kia because AAA could not figure out why the car continues to have this engine issue. Kia cannot seem to figure out the issue as well but stated the engine needs to be replaced. We asked them about the recall because I suddenly received notice about the class action lawsuit, but the vehicle has 185,472 miles on it and they refused to correct the issue and said the new engine will cost $7200. The issue has almost placed me in several accidents because the vehicle abruptly slows down and I have to pull to the side of the road use a code reader to clear the code in order to drive again but it continues to happen multiple times while driving and I need to get to work. The problem has been confirmed by Kia, but they won't replace it. We were encouraged to file a complaint and see if Kia will take responsibility for their engine since it has been recalled for this issue and a lawsuit ensued. The engine light appears when the car fails to drive properly.

NHTSA ODI 11530983

I was driving my car on the highway and entered a ramp to another highway and as I began to accelerate again it was like my engine shut down and there was no response to the gas pedal for throttle. I pulled my car over to the side, sat for a moment, and then turned the car back on. I was able to accelerate, but if I accelerate too fast the engine would shut back down. I contacted Kia and they said all recalls have been processed for my vehicle, but now out of nowhere it's hardly driveable. I am still forced to use this car for short distances under a couple miles for work, but the vehicle's engine will try to shut off over 2k rpms. I have maintenance records for every year with this vehicle and I don't get how this just happens. My mechanic says a Knock Sensor is telling the engine to turn off and my local kia store said there wouldn't be anything to do without a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11513608

I have owned my 2012 KIA Sorento since 2014 and thoroughly enjoy my car. After 9 years of satisfactory ownership which include dealer servicing, my car scared me and now I question my safety. On Friday 24th, 2023, I pulled into my driveway and the car suddenly accelerated out of control. The brakes did nothing to slow its acceleration. By the time I reached the key and turned the car off it had accelerated thru 130 feet of a very muddy back yard. (The all-wheel drive is very effective) Fortunately, I just missed a huge 100-year-old pecan tree and stopped just short of the tree line in the back. This ripped the tire off one of my rims and I had a mechanic change the spare so we could retrieve the car. I am taking the car to the KIA dealer on Monday morning 27th. to find out what happened!!

NHTSA ODI 11509132

was driving and no warning lights came on and then the engine seized up after buying it 3 months ago. then took towed to kia vw billings mt and they now have had the car for almost two weeks and none of my rights are being met and no communication back to me wont respond to several of my calls. i will be filing a lawsuit against either auto resource in billings mt for selling me a faulty vehicle or going after kia vw of billings mt for lost wages as i drive for a living and im disabled and have been treated very very poorly.

NHTSA ODI 11470358

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

ON 03/22/21, AT 8.00AM WAS A REGULAR VISIT FOR OIL CHANGE, FINALLY AROUND 1PM MY CAR WAS SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD THE "ENGINE LIGHT", NEVER HAPPEN BEFORE, I CLAIMED VERBALLY WHY, THAT HAPPEN NOW. I AM DRIVING BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME IS SAFE AND I BELIEVE, AND WAITING THE APPOINTMENT FOR( RECALL 20V750) THANKS TO ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11404398

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET AND MY KIA STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GASAND THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CHECK BATTERY LIFE AND THE OIL LIGHT AND THEN IT DIEDWHILE I WAS DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11387948

DRIVING ON THE THRU-WAY GOING 65 MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD SUDDENLY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES AND COMPLETELY JUST 'SHUT OFF' ON ME WITH NO FORE-WARNING. CALLED AAA, TECH. COULD VISIBLY SEE A BELT WHICH HAD RIPPED OUT OF ENGINE AND WAS DANGLING UNDER VEHICLE. I THEN HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED- A NEW BELT WAS INSTALLED , A BRAND NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW BRAKES, OIL CHANGE. 3 WEEKS AFTER THIS EVENT, I WAS AGAIN DRIVING ON THE THRU- WAY IN ALMOST THE SAME EXACT LOCATION AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. . MY VEHICLE JUST WENT DEAD, THIS TIME SLOWING DOWN AND DYING. CALLED AAA , THEY SERVICED ME OFF THE THRU-WAY (THRU-WAY DIVISION) AND UPON HAVING VEHICLE LOOKED AT MY CHOICE SHOP.. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE HAD COMPLETELY SEIZED (WAS NOW TOTALLY DEAD) AND WAS NON- REPAIRABLE WITHOUT A NEW ENGINE. ALSO TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE HAD LITTLE OIL EVEN THOUGH I HAD ONLY 3 WEEKS PRIOR GOTTEN AN OIL CHANGE AND CAR REPAIRMAN COULD NOT REPORT ANY PHYSICAL ISSUES WITH OIL CONNECTIONS, IE. GASKET LEAK, DRAIN PLUG, SEAL ISSUES. DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF MONIES I HAVE SPENT FROM DAY 1 ON THIS VEHICLE, MY EXPERIENCES AND THE LEMON THE VEHICLE HAS PROVEN TO BE, I FIND THIS INCREDIBLY UNSETTLING AND KNOW THAT THERE WERE ISSUES GOING ON WITH THIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO IT GOING ONTO THE ROAD THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND WERE NOT DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN. ASIDE FROM THESE ISSUES, IN PAST THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE LOCKS AND WINDOWS LOCKING ON THERE OWN WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION AND FUSES RELATED TO THIS AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE SHOCKING ME WHEN OPENING DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WHICH IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE! I REQUEST THAT SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THE RECALL WITHHOLDING WHICH HAS COME TO LIGHT WITH KIA AND MY VEHICLE QUALIFYING FOR THESE RECALLS AS KIA HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ASSIST ME FINANCIALLY AS WELL AS WEST HERR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330348

I USE SPEED CONTROL OFTEN. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO SET. I NEVER REPORTED IT BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULD COST A FORTUNE FOR THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE. I BELIEVE IT IS ACTUALLY PART OF AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT NO LONGER WORKS. I WENT TO ADJUST THE VOLUME OF PHONE CALL FROM STEERING WHEEL AND THE IT DISCONNECTED THE CALL. WENT TO TURN VOLUME UP FOR THE RADIO FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VOLUME WENT DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11255538

WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OVER 70MPH MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, MY SPEEDOMETER DROPPED FROM 70 TO 40 CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO HAVE TO PULL INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC (TWO LANE ROAD GOING DOWN MOUNTAIN) TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS OIL, CHECK ENGINE, AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHTS ALL BEGAN TO FLASH. PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE STARTED AFTER SOME STRUGGLE. DROVE WITH HAZARDS ALL THE WAY HOME. BEFORE THIS MY VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. MY RPMS WOULD DROP AND HITTING THE GAS DID NOTHING. EVERY TIME VEHICLE STARTS MAKING KNOCKING SOUND BEFORE RATTLING AND STALLING OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION EVERY SINGLE TIME IT LOSES POWER, OR THE ENGINE STALLS OUT. IMMEDIATELY PURCHASED CAR FAX TO SEE ALL OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ONES. ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. KIA REFUSES TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AND ONLY KEPT MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR 56 MINUTES BEFORE TELLING ME IT WAS READY FOR PICK UP. WHEN ENGINE IS ACTING UP, REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS DOES NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11206916

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL ON I-15 JUST 3 MILES SOUTH OF SCIPIO, UT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR. I GOT INTO THE FAR RIGHT LINE OF THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE AND FLAMES CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THICK BLACK SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE AIR VENT. AS WE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I BREATHED IN A LITTLE BIT OF THE THICK SMOKE THAT CAME THROUGH THE AIR VENT, BUT MY WIFE DID NOT BREATHE ANY OF THE SMOKE. THE HOOD AREA WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AFTER WE ESCAPED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER THIS INCIDENT STARTED. EVERYTHING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO ABOUT HALF OF THE TRUNK AREA WAS DESTROYED.

NHTSA ODI 11012531

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY STALLED AND ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSE POWER CAUSING THE SPEED TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROSEVILLE KIA IN ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA TO BE DIAGNOSED BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI 11002850

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE 2012 KIA SORENTO HAS SURGED ON ITS OWN WHEN STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL RUN AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712673

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,806.

NHTSA ODI 10631847

ON OCTOBER 14,2013 AS I WAS TRAVELING IN STOP AND START TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SURGED FORWARD AT LEAST 5 FEET WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT TOOK MUCH EFFORT TO AVOID CRASHING. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN ON MARCH 16,2014 WHILE IN A PARKING LOT LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPOT. AGAIN WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD 8 TO 10 FEET. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573186

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT SATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ODI 10566266

WHILE DRIVING THE SORRENTO, IT SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR OTHER INCIDENTS SINCE THEN. ONE DAY THERE WERE TWO OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING IN ONE DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10557899

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE IN ENGINE. NO ACCELERATION AND LUCKILY HAD AN EXIT CLOSE TO PULL OFF SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WOULD TURN ON, BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE AT ALL. CAR WAS TOWED TO NEARBY DEALERSHIP. WE WERE 8 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. KIA WAS NOT HELPFUL AT ALL WITH DEALING WITH THIS. CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE. WE HAD ALL PAPERWORK FOR OIL CHANGES IN CAR AND THEY MADE THE DEALERSHIP FAX THEM OVER BEFORE STARTING ANY WORK - WHICH HAPPENED TO BE 4 DAYS LATER BECAUSE THEY STILL DIDN'T WANT TO AUTHORIZE KIA TO WORK ON THE CAR. KIA MADE IT SEEM LIKE WE HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAD 19,000 MILES ON IT. WE FINALLY GOT THE CAR AUTHORIZED TO WORK ON AND WERE AUTHORIZED TO GET A RENTAL CAR (ON DAY 5). WE WENT BACK HOME, THE CAR WAS STUCK IN TOWN 8 HOURS AWAY GETTING WORKED ON. WHEN CAR WAS DONE, KIA WANTED MY HUSBAND TO DRIVE 8 HOURS TO PICK UP THE CAR! THEY ARGUED AND ARGUED WITH US UNTIL THEY FINALLY AGREED TO PUT IT ON A TRUCK AND HAVE IT TRANSPORTED. SERVICE PAPERWORK SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF METAL DEBRIS IN BOTTOM OF OIL PAN. THEY REPLACED THE LONG BLOCK ASSEMBLY. WHEN THEY REPLACED THAT, THEY FOUND THE OIL FILTER TO BE DAMAGED AND REPLACED THAT AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10542633

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 GAUGE 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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10514899

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD JOLT FORWARD AND THE ENGINE RPM WOULD RAPIDLY INCREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD SECURE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE A REGIONAL OFFICER FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE REGIONAL OFFICER NEVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE APPOINTMENT WAS CANCELLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

NHTSA ODI 10481402

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 10/03/12*LJ UPDATED 10/05/2012*JS

NHTSA ODI 10473959

ON 08/12/12 WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 72-74 MPH, I EASED OUT INTO THE PASSING LANE TO PUT MYSELF BEHIND SOMEONE GOING FASTER. THE CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED AND ACCELERATED WITH MAXIMUM THROTTLE. I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL MODERATELY TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR CONTINUED AT MAXIMUM ACCELERATION AND IN THE PASSING GEAR. I THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH GREAT VIGOR AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. AFTER A SHORT WHILE I REACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND DROVE ABOUT 60 MILES WITHOUT ANY FURTHER MALFUNCTION. I PRESENTED THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR. THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND I WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. I ASKED THEM IF THEY REPORTED THESE VERY DANGEROUS OBSERVATIONS TO KIA OR NHTSA. THEY SAID NO THEY NEVER DO. INCIDENTAL TO THIS EVENT, I HAD AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON 7/25/12. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION HEAT SENSOR. A PART WAS ORDERED AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE CAR NORMALLY. WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS, I BECAME AWARE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVATING WHEN DRIVING THE FIRST TIME IN A DAY. BUT IF THE ENGINE WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED NORMALLY. I DUPLICATED THIS 3 DISTINCT TIMES EXACTLY AS WRITTEN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT ABLE TO LINK THE DIFFICULTY TO ANYTHING THEY HAD SEEN OR READ, THEY SUMMERIZED IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR THAT FAILED BUT THE COMPUTER DISPELLED THAT NOTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10473846