2012 Kia Sorento: won't start

Filed Feb 17, 2024 · Engine · OH

On November 11th, 2023 I was driving down the road. I noticed my power steering starting to fail. I looked down and everything was lit up on the dash. I quickly put on my turn signal so the cars behind me knew I was exiting the road. I was in another state on a 2 lane road. Luckily I was able to pull off the road into a gravel parking lot. The car would not start. My children called for a tow truck and it was towed to my cousin's house about a half hour away. Several days later I had it towed to a garage by my cousin's and was told the engine seized up and would need replaced. I was about 4 hours away from home, so my children paid to have it towed back home. It was towed to a Kia dealership by my home. After several weeks of getting all my oil changes to give them, they wanted all my oil changes for the 7 1/2 years I have owned the car. They finally approved a new engine after denying it the first time. I had to go 6 weeks without a vehicle because they would not give me a rental till the new engine was approved. The only problem is the new engine is still under the recall to replace the HECU fuse, so the problem can occur again.

Filed Sep 27, 2023 · Engine · AL

On Saturday September 23,2023 I was driving thru the City of Spring Garden, Alabama at 9:30 am. I was traveling at 45 MPH when I heard a light tapping noise coming from the engine compartment and almost an instant later the engine locked up and the right hand tire locked temporarily causing loss of steering control only lasted a couple of seconds and then the right tire freed up. I coasted to a stop. I tried to restart the engine but it would not turn over. I had the car towed to a local garage and after inspection determined that a main bearing had spun. The vehicle was running perfect up to this instant with no issues.

Filed Jun 23, 2023 · Engine · NC

engine just stopped. will not turn over. call kia. not on list. repair yourself. they are not reparing any cars. said they were but denying everyone. check the records. all talk and no action. pleasing the judge.

Filed Mar 23, 2023 · Driver assistance, Engine · MO

As I was driving down the highway my car died and all the lights on my dash came on, I lost my power steering. I noticed a cloud of white smoke from tailpipe. I was able to coast to the side of the highway, thankfully no one was hurt. O tried to start it back up but it wouldn't start. We opened the hood and there was white smoke coming from under the hood. I had to pay to have it towed. Currently waiting to get it evaluated from dealership. I've took it in for every recall and serviced my own car. Called Kia they said the engine will be replaced for free if the problem has to do with the rod bearings.

Filed Feb 13, 2023 · Electrical · GA · crash

These vehicles were never equipped with an alarm to notify drivers when parked in any other gear other than 'Park'. If the driver parks vehicle in 'Reverse' and do not set the parking brake, he/she can shut off the engine with no alarms notifying the driver to move shifter to park. An incident occurred with this vehicle in which the driver parked it overnight in a parking garage on level 6. The space appeared level, but is on a very slight incline. The vehicle (miraculously) remained in place overnight. However when the same driver proceeded to use the vehicle the following morning, it wouldn't start (obviously because you cannot start these vehicles unless the shifter is in 'Park' or 'Neutral'). He thought the battery was dead, not thinking to check the position of the shifter. After trying to get the vehicle to start with no success, he left the vehicle to use his personal vehicle. After leaving this vehicle, it rolled out of position and proceeded backwards (halfway down the incline between levels 6 and 5), turned slightly and hit the wall inside the parking garage (causing almost $6,000 of damage to the LR corner of the vehicle). The safety issue lies in the fact that this vehicle could have collided with another parked vehicle (with someone inside it) or another vehicle making the turn from level 5 to proceed to level 6. The vehicle could've also struck a pedestrian inside the parking garage. If the speed was greater, the vehicle could've damaged the section of the parking garage it struck and dislodged fragments of concrete (possibly causing it to fall on people and/or vehicles below).

Filed Feb 8, 2021 · Engine · 127,000 miles · WI

Engin stopped in the highway didn't start after that. All the services done in the dealership. Nothing wrong except engine frozen. Dealer tried to start crank manually but didn't turn. I went through the dealer for nessasory help but failed. Still the car sitting in garage in my house since that. I got all the proofs of the services and the black and wite print outs of the defects which mentioned. Dealer didn't help me and I am still trying to find a lawyer to go against the company for the refusal for fixing my vehicle.

Filed Dec 25, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · HI

Hi I am writing you on behalf of my kia sorrento 2012 I've been having problems the last past nine months after my car wouldn't start I supposedly assumed it was the battery so I had the battery changed in the lock at the battery is about 78 years old so I changed it after change that still drain after every month my car would just turn off in the middle of me driving or stopping at a stop sign when I put my AC or my heater on it drops idle and it makes the car really heavy to the point where it feels like it's holding back my car has been doing this occasionally often on where I'll be driving a long distance or a short distance with the AC on and as I'm parking turn off the AC in the car while I go up and down and will drop idol and just turn off the vehicle without any spiders I do not know what's going on with the vehicle I've had it checked out every month for the last past nine months and paid for the diagnosis which they always keep on telling me there's nothing wrong with the vehicle I have looked up my vehicle VIN number and have put in the nhtse number and I have a form you recalls and they look like engine cesar an engine fire

Filed Nov 14, 2020 · Driver assistance, Engine · 130 miles · MN

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.

Filed Feb 1, 2020 · Engine · 123,000 miles · WV

The vehicle died while driving and would not start. Vehicle towed to a local mechanic where it was discovered the engine had seized. Vehicle maintenance was up to date and the last oil change in the vehicle took place just 15 days before the engine seized. There were no warnings, no sounds, no dash board warning lights before the breakdown. Car simply died.

Filed Oct 15, 2019 · Engine · 78,000 miles · TX

I was driving down the highway at about 65mph when my 2012 kia sorento completely shut off, the instrument panel lights all came on and I fortunately was able to drift to a stop. The car would not start back up. Had it towed to the kia dealership where they told me that the crankshaft had seized due to mechanical debris in the engine. The dealership said that this is a very common problem with my make and model regardless of engine type, but only the gdi engine was recalled. My specific engine was not recalled and I would be left to pay to have the engine fixed due to a mechanical failure not of my causing. This doesn't make sense, it is the same problem found with hundreds of thousands of kia sorentos 2011-2013 whether they are a gdi engine or the same type of engine I have. Why were not all engine types recalled if all engine types have this exact same issue?

Filed Sep 9, 2019 · Engine · 114,500 miles · MD · fire

I was driving my 2012 kia sorento on the highway driving to work going about 60mph and I feel a "klunk". As I tried to accelerate, my rpms were rapidly dropping, then I felt the engine cut. I popped it into n and had to make my way across the 3 lane highway. Coasted to a stop on shoulder and observed smoke from the engine compartment. Upon popping the hood, there was a small engine fire which I was able to extinguish. There was oil all over the place. Behind the engine, on the serpentine belt, on the radiator. It wouldnt crank so I had it towed. Auto shop called and stated "we checked the oil levels and it was at the l line on the dip stick. Tried to crank it to no avail, then tried to manually crank it as well. Upon further investigation, we noticed a hole in the engine block, with a piece of the engine missing. You are definitely going to require a new engine." specifics, I have no idea what the issue may be.

Filed Jul 18, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 69,000 miles · PA

2nd complain for kia engine. Dec. 2017 my engine seized. I spent on 5grand for a rebuilt engine. Original complaint was electrical system did not give me any indication that there was an issue with my oil or engine. Driving down a main street where my car suddenly died. I had to pull off to the side of the road. I was able to restart it. Once it was restarted you can hear loud clicking from the engine. Fast forward to a year and 4 months later. Rebuilt engine on feb 2018.. Car died again on 7/16/19. Once again no indication that there was a problem with my car. No oil light. I was driving on the highway when my car was not picking up on accelerating. I decided after work I put some oil into my engine. Schedule an appt with my mechanic to have my oil changed. The next day my car would not start. Had my mechanic tow my car and later tells me that it was my engine again. Stated he could find an engine for over 3grand for me. Unfortunately I do not have the money. I am now out of a car again with a newborn and trying to find rides to and from work. I just recently moved and cannot afford this. My VIN is not listed in the recalls and it should be. Kia has faulty engines and it is not just the one engine. Last engine failure was at 65000 miles. This time it is at 69000 miles. Why are my oil lights not coming on when there is low oil? Why was this problem not fixed to begin with??? Other problems with my car is my handle in the back seat pulled off (I am not that strong) electrical system (oil light not coming on, cruise control knocks out while driving, volume control for radio randomly calls contacts) kia is a lemon but I don't have the money to repair a 2nd and probably 3rd engine. I don't even trust my car with my kia dealership anymore because they are crooks and liars. I still have 10grand left to pay for this car!