2012 Kia Sorento Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 39about this part
- Share
- 4%of 880 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 106,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 39 complaints about the fuel system of the 2012 Kia Sorento, 4% of the 880 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 106,000 miles. 11 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 complaint #11384057, filed 2020-12, 138,693 miles“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 complaint #11374701, filed 2020-11, 130 miles“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 complaint #11317252, filed 2020-03, 153,000 miles“Engine recall. Lately I been heard a knocking noise under the hood of my vehicle also I heard knocking noice from the exhaust pipe when I start the car as well. It comes n goes I hear it once in a while mainly in the morning when I first start the car. I hear it any other time once in a while. N I see lately there leakage coming threw the exhaust pipe as well. I took it to my machanic n he advised me to report to the dealer since it can b a possible recall”
NHTSA complaint #11189796, filed 2019-03, 89,730 miles“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 complaint #11013481, filed 2017-08, 75,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10152915Jan 18, 2019TSB: SPECIAL SERVICE INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS FOR GDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides…
- 10109760Sep 8, 2014PITSTOP: XM 2.4L GDI MIL ON WITH DTC ? P0269 - On some 2012-2015MY Sorento (XM) equipped with 2.4L GDI engines, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) may illuminate with the ECM…
- 10109655May 19, 2014PIT STOP: GDI INJECTOR SPRAY TIP DEPOSITS - A design feature of vehicles equipped with a Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) system is the placement of each fuel injector directly…
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 5% |
| 2024 | 2 | 5% |
| 2023 | 6 | 5% |
| 2022 | 14 | 7% |
| 2021 | 24 | 9% |
| 2020 | 10 | 7% |
| 2019 | 28 | 6% |
| 2018 | 13 | 5% |
| 2017 | 49 | 6% |
| 2016 | 58 | 5% |
| 2015 | 31 | 4% |
| 2014 | 50 | 5% |
| 2013 | 38 | 4% |
| 2012 | 39 | 4% |
| 2011 | 19 | 1% |
| 2008 | 5 | 2% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 12 | 5% |
| 2005 | 12 | 4% |
| 2004 | 14 | 6% |
| 2003 | 77 | 25% |
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Sorento
461 complaintsElectrical system
127 complaintsBrakes
103 complaintsOther or unknown
84 complaintsAir bags
81 complaintsExterior lighting
60 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
55 complaintsBody and structure
35 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaintsSuspension
22 complaintsSteering
20 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia Sorento
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology