Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Kia Sorento
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Kia Sorento has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 880 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V652000 HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V750000 Engine Damage May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V907000 High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V224000 Bearing Wear may result in Engine Seizure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V626000 Brake-Shift Interlock Mechanism Can Chip or Crack NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 461 complaints
- Electrical System 127 complaints
- Air Bags 81 complaints
- Unknown or Other 81 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 69 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 60 complaints
Of the 880 complaints on file, 21 report a crash and 77 a fire; across all 880 complaints, owners report 36 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Kia Sorento has a below-average rating due to significant engine-related issues, reflected in high complaint counts and multiple recall campaigns. While other areas like electrical systems and brakes also show issues, the lack of diverse failure data limits full assessment. Frequent engine complaints highlight potential reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80,000–120,000 miles | $3,000–$5,000 | very common |
| Electrical system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | common |
| Service brakes | 50,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Transmission fluid check
- Cooling system service
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Battery inspection
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires or noises
- Brake pedal softness
- Electrical system warning lights
- Transmission shifting issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Kia Sorento at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.