2012 Kia Sorento Electrical System

Q: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A: The electrical problem started with battery power drainage. After two battery replacements, other electrical problems started to occur. Turn signal lights would not work, windows would not open or close, the left headlamp failed, was replaced, but did not work, all warning lights stayed on. Q: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A: The various electrical failures first occurred while driving the vehicle. I was inable to signal to change lanes. Q: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? A: No. Q:Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A: Yes. Before the battery drainage issue ocurred, the check engine light and ABS indicator lights began staying on all the time.

KIA AMERICA, INC. SUBMITTED A SAFETY RECALL REPORT ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2023, (NHTSA RECALL #23V-652) DETAILING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (HECU). I WAS NOTIFIED ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023, THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL AND THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED AGAIN WHEN THE REMEDY PART (A NEW FUSE) WAS AVAILABLE. KIA IS RECOMMENDING AFFFECTED OWNERS PARK THEIR VEHICLE OUTSIDE AND AWAY FROM STRUCTURES AND OTHER VEHICLES UNTIL THE REMEDY PART HAS BEEN INSTALLED. THIS LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS IS CAUSING UNDUE WEAR AND TEAR ON VARIOUS PARTS OF MY VEHICLE INCLUDING PAINT, TIRES AND HEADLIGHTS. IT HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS SINCE I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND NEARLY 7 MONTHS SINCE THE NHTSA WAS MADE AWARE AND THE REMEDY PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. I BELIEVE KIA HAS EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY AND THAT IS WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT.

I received an important safety recall on November 14, 2023. It has been over 3 months since I have received this recall. I have contacted my nearest dealer, and they have yet to receive the part (HECU) to replace in my vehicle. I have had to park my car outside for the past 3 months in bad weather. Now, three of my windows are not working because the cold weather froze their motors. When should I expect to have this part replace, so I and park my car in the garage and out of the elements?

The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HEUC) may experience an electrical short circuit, which may result in an engine compartment fire while driving or parked. The notice was received 11.14.23. The part is not available. The warning light under the WARNING in the letter, illuminated on my dashboard and I followed the WARNING instructions: PULL OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION. TURN OFF THE ENGINE. CALL KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A KIA DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBE. I did this. I had to pay $166.77 for the tow and can't be refunded until the remedy notice is issued. Kia tells me they have to charge $190 to diagnose the car and that there is no remedy at this time. It has been 77 days, today, since the recall was sent. I understand Kia is aware prior to the notice issuing. This is a major safety issue. A fire can be catastrophic. This is interfering with my livelihood. I am a traveling cardiac nurse and I am single, with no other means of travel. I have just this one vehicle to rely on. Why is there not a remedy for this recall after so long? This is unacceptable and Kia needs to be held responsible.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact was unable to enter the vehicle. The contact was able to enter the vehicle 10 minutes later after several attempts. The contact stated that the vehicle was turned off however, later that night she became aware that the vehicle had independently restarted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

This vehicle is under an active recall. There is no known remedy yet and as outlined in the recall the vehicle could catch fire while parked OR while driving. My family should not use this vehicle until this situation is fixed. I want a replacement vehicle at the company's expense. There is no other TIMELY fix for this problem and the recall information said to contact you if it was not done in a timely manner. Please do not simply send me the recall information again. I know there is a recall. I want results. I think I have an undrivable vehicle and they have no timeline to resolve the issue.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, prompting the contact to pull the vehicle into a parking lot. The contact also stated that the vehicle history stated that the engine was replaced by the dealer when the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING - BACK UP CAMERA DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE EITHER. REPLACE THE FUSE AND IT BLOWS IMMEDIATELY. HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT AND THEY INFORMED ME A DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM- IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE.

ON A BUSY HIGHWAY RT.70 VEHICLE DECALS GOT TO FLASHING ON THE DASH BROAD ALL OF THEM. THAN LOST ALL POWER.COULDN'T USE FLASHERS OR ANYTHING. AND GOT OVER TO THE SHOULDER .WAIT A FEW MINUTES NOTHING HAD TO GET IT TOW BACK TO MY SONS. TRY A JUMP AFTER 3 MINUTES THE VEHICLE SHUT BACK DOWN .BATTERY SHOW GOOD .

I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF IT BURNING OUT PREMATURELY. I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND THE OLD BULB WAS STILL GOOD. THE NEW BULB WAS PUT IN TO VERIFY THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. THE AUTO PARTS STORE CHECKED THE FUSES AND ALL ARE OK.

2012 KIA SORENTO WAS SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP ON REGULAR BASIS. OCTOBER 7, 2017 CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT TO THE GROUND. CALLED KIA AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING! STATED THEY DID NOT DEAL WITH CONSUMERS AND TO DEAL WITH MY INSURANCE. INSURANCE ONLY PAID BOOK VALUE AND WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE WITH THAT AMOUNT! I DID EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK AND KEPT MY KIA IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND THEY DID NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT! I HAD A APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE ON MONDAY AND IT BURNT ON SATURDAY! I FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD ISSUED A RECALL AND I AM SURE THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT AT SERVICE ( I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE). MY NIECE WAS DRIVING FROM KENTUCKY TO MY HOME IN VIRGINIA (HER VEHICLE WAS BROKE DOWN AND THE DRIVE WAS A HOUR AWAY). THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A NOISE AT WHICH TIME SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THEN THE VEHICLE DIED AND STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND SHE CALLED ME AND I STARTED ON MY WAY TO MEET HER. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO RAISE THE HOOD BUT TWO GUYS HAD STOPPED TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP AND ONE SEEN THE RED OF THE FIRE IN THE CRACK OF THE HOOD AND ADVISED HER TO GET AWAY. WITHIN SECONDS FLAMES ENGULFED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND BURNT COMPLETELY BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE FIRE CHIEF TOLD ME WHEN I ARRIVED THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL. WE WERE BLESSED THAT MY NIECES 6 MONTH OLD WAS WITH ME AND NOT IN THE VEHICLE WITH HER BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HER OUT! VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA AND I WAS A HUGE FAN BUT NOT ANYMORE AFTER DEALING WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE! I DO NOT FEEL IT IS FAIR THEY ARE NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCT! THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME AT ALL!

MY HEADLIGHT PIGTAIL CAUGHT ON FIRE...I HAD IT REPLACED ...REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS IN IT AND NOT EVEN 2 WEEKS LATER THE PIG TAIL CAUGHT ON FIRE AGAIN...THEY SAID IT MUST NE A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING SOMEWHERE AND IT WILL START AT 200$ TO LOOK AT IT TO FIX....MU CAR ISNT THAT OLD TO HAVE THIS ISSUE.

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TURNING SIGNAL KEEPS GOING OUT. I'VE REPLACED THE BULB NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT'LL WORK FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN IT WILL STOP WORKING AGAIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HIGH. MINUTES LATER, THE TOP OF THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE ENTIRE HOOD ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

MY CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT LOCK POSITION. THIS OCCURS WHEN GOING EXTREMELY SLOWLY LIKE WHEN GOING IN OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE.

NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE IS FROZEN AT THE STARTUP SCREEN. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS ONLY 3 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE NAV DISPLAY UNIT. IN MY CASE THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE.

PURCHASED CAR IN APRIL 2016 USED. A WALMART BATTERY WAS IN CAR. I MENTIONED TO SALES PERSON THAT IT HAD A WALMART BATTERY, HE SAYS "O YEAH, THEY HAVE GOOD BATTERIES". SO, CAR IS AT LEAST ON SECOND BATTERY. THAT BATTERY DIED IN APRIL 2017. NEW BATTERY FROM O'RIELLY'S. THAT BATTERY IS NOW LOSING IT'S CHARGE WITHIN 5 DAYS OF NOT DRIVING. NOT NORMAL. ALTERNATOR IS THROWING 14.1 TO BATTERY. NOTHING IN CAR IS EVER LEFT ON.

BATTERY IS GOOD. HAVE TO JUMP START EVERY TIME.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 KIA SORENTO AND WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE 10 YR / 100,000 MILES WARRANTY ( A BIG PART IN THE DECISION ) TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE. IN SEPTEMBER 2016 THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO START , THE MECHANIC STATED THE STARTER WAS THE PROBLEM. I CALLED KIA AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A KIA DEALER FOR EVALUATION, AND FURTHER MORE THE STARTER WAS NOT COVERED, EVEN. THOUGH THERE IS A LIST OF ITEMS NOT COVERED AND THE STARTER IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD RANDOMLY CHANGE TO INCLUDE THE MPG GOING UP AND DOWN LIKE A ROLLER COASTER. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. I'VE INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT IT MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY STATE THEY DO NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM.

KIA OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO START USING THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION BUTTON.

AT DEALERSHIP TO POSSIBLY PURCHASE USED 2012 KIA SORENTO. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. DEALER HAD TO JUMP START. EVERYTHING SEEMED OK AND DROVE TO NEARBY PARKING LOT TO LOOK OVER THE CAR. LEFT THE CAR RUNNING IN PARK AND AFTER 5 MINUTES VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO LIGHT UP, ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND THE STOP BUTTON WOULD NOT SHUTDOWN THE CAR. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE LABORED AND THEN STOPPED. CALLED DEALER AND WE JUMP STARTED THE ENGINE. ON THE WAY BACK TO DEALERSHIP (LESS THAN A MILE) THE ENGINE LABORED, THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND, POWER STEERING GOT VERY HEAVY, AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE REQUIRING JUMP STARTS. IT DIED AGAIN ENTERING THE DEALERSHIP. BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP BUT TROUBLESHOOTING DETERMINED THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING. SENT TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. *TR

AFTER SITTING FOR TWO DAYS, THE UNIT WOULDN'T RESPOND TO SMART KEY. INITIALLY THOUGHT SMART KEY BATTERY WAS DEAD. I REPLACED BATTERY IN SMART KEY, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULDN'T RESPOND. I HAD TO USE MECHANICAL KEY TO UNLOCK AND ENTER UNIT WHEN I NOTICED THAT NEITHER THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE WORKING NOR WOULD THE 'START' BUTTON ACTIVATE ENGINE OR ANY AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS. BOOSTED UNIT AND TOOK TO A NEARBY SHOP. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS, AND IT DID RESTART; BUT LEFT WITH SHOP TO SEE IF BATTERY HAD A BAD CELL (THE REASON IT WOULDN'T START). THE SHOP INDICATED THAT BOTH THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDING REPLACING. THE SHOP SUPERVISOR STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WASN'T PROPERLY CHARGING THE BATTERY. I MENTIONED THAT THE ALTERNATOR/CHARGE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON WITH ME; BUT HE STATED THAT IT WILL NOT ALWAYS COME ON UNLESS THE ALTERNATOR HAS REALLY GOTTEN BAD. REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR COST $500 (EXCLUDING LABOR) FOR A UNIT THAT IS ONLY JUST OVER 4.25 YEARS OLD, AND WITH ONLY 83,700 MILES.

HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULB IN MY HEADLIGHT. USED TO BE EVERY 4-5 MONTHS. NOW, IT'S 3 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AFTER TAKING IT TO SHOP, WIRING IS SHORTING OUT, MELTING PLASTIC AROUND BULB AND CONNECTION TO CAR. CAN NOT JUST REPLACE LITTLE SOCKET, LIKE IN MOST CARS, KIA WANTS YOU TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS, TO THE TUNE OF OVER $500 FOR THE PART ALONE, NOT COUNTING LABOR. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE LAST 9-10 YEARS.

I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHEN MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES EVERY WARNING SYMBOL LIGHT BEGAN TO LIGHT UP. MY RADIO EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN AND THE FRONT DASH LIGHTING WENT OUT. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF MILES, BUT THE ENGINE POWER WAS DWINDLING. I EVENTUALLY LOST ACCELERATION AND POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. MY CAR HAS A PUSH BUTTON START AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHUT IT OFF. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGHLY. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK- ONLY DRIVE OR NEUTRAL AND COULD NOT GET MY FLASHERS TO COME ON. AFTER 5-7 MINUTES, THE CAR FINALLY DIED AND I COULD SHIFT IT INTO PARK AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DAY THAT MY BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE COULD BE CHECKED. AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED I WAS TOLD THE ALTERNATOR WAS WORKING FINE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AS IT CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR