2012 Kia Sorento Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 35about this part
- Share
- 4%of 880 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 71,164miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 35 complaints about the body and structure of the 2012 Kia Sorento, 4% of the 880 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 71,164 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 4 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My wife was driving on the highway around 65-70 MPH and the rear fixed panoramic sunroof just shuttered in her vehicle. I read about others had same issue. I had my 5 year old sitting on the back seat. She got scared but luckily didn't get into an accident. We have dash cam video and we have recorded there was no sign of any road debris hitting the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11228852, filed 2019-07, 88,611 miles“The retractable sunroof shattered without warning as I was driving on the highway with my child. There were no prior warning signs or damage. The glass fell in on us, mostly my daughter in the back seat. The service manager at the Kia dealer acknowledged that this had happened to other vehicles, but said there was nothing they could do since Kia has not issued a recall yet.”
NHTSA complaint #11203416, filed 2019-04, 96,000 miles“I own a 2012 Kia Sorento sx. 9pm temperature about 70 all day. Turned off main business street in des plains il drove about 100 feet when rear panel of panoramic sun roof shattered. First thought was gun shot. There were no vehicles behind or in front of me, sidewalk was empty.”
NHTSA complaint #11011960, filed 2017-08, 71,000 miles“The struts on my back lift gate are already worn out on a 2012 Kia Sorento. I had a 2007 Kia sportage prior to this vehicle and never had a problem with the back struts on the lift gate. On the sportage the glass opened separately from the bottom half of the lift gate. However, this newer vehicle wore out the back lift gate struts in just over 2 years with only 35,000 miles on the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10649568, filed 2014-10, 35,000 miles“Sunroof exploded while I was driving to work on february 18, 2019. This is the second time this has occurred within 2 years. I have called Kia customer service and they have been giving me the run around.”
NHTSA complaint #11182326, filed 2019-02, 150,000 milesRelated service bulletins
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- 11026980Dec 17, 2025CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software…
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10173247Mar 26, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) SENSOR PAD REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the front passenger Occupant Detection System…
- 10109817Feb 28, 2017TSB: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL - To improve customer satisfaction, Kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional…
- 10109878Dec 8, 2016SC141 - SORENTO OWNER LETTER - Dear Kia Sorento Owner: Kia Motors America, Inc. is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to apply additional anti-corrosion material to the…
- 10109874Dec 6, 2016TSB: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL - To improve customer satisfaction, Kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional…
- 10109877Dec 5, 2016Questions and answers for voluntary service campaign sc141 ? Underbody ? Additional anti-corrosion treatment
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 7 | 16% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 5 | 2% |
| 2019 | 56 | 13% |
| 2018 | 9 | 4% |
| 2017 | 17 | 2% |
| 2016 | 111 | 9% |
| 2015 | 100 | 13% |
| 2014 | 160 | 16% |
| 2013 | 91 | 9% |
| 2012 | 35 | 4% |
| 2011 | 268 | 18% |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 9 | 6% |
| 2006 | 7 | 3% |
| 2005 | 14 | 5% |
| 2004 | 28 | 13% |
| 2003 | 12 | 4% |
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 complaintsFuel system
39 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 27, 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