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2012 Kia Sorento consumer reviews

$21,250 starting MSRP
side view of 2012 Sorento Kia
(158 reviews)
84% of drivers recommend this car
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.4
  • Interior 4.5
  • Performance 4.2
  • Value 4.3
  • Exterior 4.5
  • Reliability 4.3
Explore the 2012 Kia Sorento
Shop the 2012 Kia Sorento

The biggest xxx vehicle I have ever owned

burns oil like crazy, have tried to fix it several times to no avail. Timing chain failure at 85k miles. Odd security and auto lock issues, Stalls constantly and have had it in several times and they cannot solve the issue. I cannot depend on this vehicle for anything. I cannot put my family in this and feel safe as I have had to get it towed at least 3 times. It is a money pit.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 1.0
  • Value 1.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 1.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
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I believe I need timing change after 3 years no go

Need Timing change after driving it for 3 years. It was riding great for first 3 years, and it stopped on me at intersection at the stop light.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 2.0
  • Interior 2.0
  • Performance 2.0
  • Value 2.0
  • Exterior 2.0
  • Reliability 2.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
6 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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2012 KIA Sorento.

Engine issues after 40k. The driver side airbag quit, I was told it was warranted (at least where I bought it) but since its inside the seat, you have to buy a new seat!!. The door handles are plastic, expect those to break, now kia had a fix, but that was roughly $200 per door. The car battery is proprietary (at least this one) so no competition there. Engine light cost me another 1600. Its was a sensor on the engine not warranted, event though I was promised "warranty for life" by the dealer. Now at 60+k miles the head gasket was xxxxxxx radiator water into my engine...$2800 and I refused to bring to KIA since im sure its not a warranty issue, nothng else was. Now because of the way the front window was designed, its rusting away. Now im trading it ASAP. This was my secont KIA, never again.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 3.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 3.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does not recommend this car
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Kia's cars are as good as the dealership you go to

We traded our 2012Optima because of a brake issue the dealership couldn't find. I could've scanned the ABS myself but it was under warranty, so after MANY times to that dealership we switched to another and decided to trade it in and get a 2012 Sorento. The salesman assured us the CARFAX said the car was seviced including all the major components and specifically said,Engine, Transmission and complete driveline,within the 1st month we had oil consumption issues which was diagnosed as a bad engine after being stranded with it,we also had complained about the transmission having issues with it on a few occasions to the dealership now we're getting close to our 10 year warranty period and I'm worried that we'll be stuck with the bill. Our dealership now are awesome they do whatever they can to do right by us. So maybe I'm being paranoid but a couple thousand $$$ isn't something we can afford. We want to keep it if all is good,and might buy a used Kia again in a couple of months it all depends on what happens here.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
8 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Good vehicle but unsure on recall on 2012 Kia sere

I've had this car for five years and only had to replace starter. However I now have engine issues it stalled on me driving on highway luckily I cruised down off ramp and had to use all muscle for power steering and brakes that went out to a parking lot on access road.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 3.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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Worst Vehicle Ever

My 2012 Kia Sorento engine froze the day after it turned 100,000 miles. Followed all required maintenance, and it was still a lemon. Worst car I’ve ever bought.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 1.0
  • Value 1.0
  • Exterior 3.0
  • Reliability 1.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
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Absolutely amazing!

This car is AMAZING! It drives beautifully, has a gorgeous interior and is just what I was looking for to provide awesome adventures for my family (i.e camping, hiking, biking). I would definitely recommend this car to anyone out there looking!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
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Great highway car. She's fantastic

Me an the ole girl got along from the first day we've been nearly every where,Can't keep her alingened so the unfortunate end is near .

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
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Engine won’t last and it broke down less 100,000 m

Engine wont last longer if this car for commuting 50 miles drive back and forth. Exterior good and with ECO is good but engine won’t last longer below 100,000. Knocked sounds heard. Sad part KIA won’t replace engine because I’m the second owner. They said its out of warranty. Customer service terrible, they just advice me to keep the receipt for the engine replacement and have to wait for recall.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 1.0
  • Exterior 3.0
  • Reliability 3.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does not recommend this car
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Love this car

I love the interior and exterior style. There’s nothing to hate about the car. It is a very comfortable suv and is very stylish. I would recommend anyone to buy a sorento.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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