What 875 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sorento

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER JOB AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOKE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO KIA OF DULUTH (LOCATED AT 1701 W MICHIGAN ST, DULUTH, MN 55806, (866) 722-4542). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ODI 11205827

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.

NHTSA ODI 11013481