Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Kia Sorento 2012 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2012 Kia Sorento? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2012 Kia Sorento issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2012 Kia Sorento in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Kia Sorento review: 2009-2013
Kia refettled the Sorento for those who understood their city limits. New Kia diverted from the bush and went closer to the 'burbs with its all-new Sorento wagon in 2009. Gone were the low-range transmissions in its four-wheel drive models — in came economy-oriented four-cylinder and front-wheel drive models. These
Read the article
Used Kia Sorento review: 2003-2013
Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 as a used buy.
Read the article
Kia Sorento 2012: Regular V6 oil changes?

It would seem it is a ploy for more income, but regular oil changes are vital in ensuring your engine remains in good health. Kia spokesman Kevin Hepworth told us that the Sorento servicing is generally 12-months/15,000 km, but there is a provision for a supplementary service, every 6-monthly/7500 km, when the vehicle is used in severe conditions. Severe conditions are highlighted in the service manual and generally they include prolonged high speed driving, extended towing, dusty conditions etc. Talk to your dealer if you're concerned that you might be operating in severe conditions, but it would seem that you're probably not, so sticking to the yearly servicing would seem to be the best course of action.

Kia Sorento 2012: Can the alternator run a cooler model TE 08?

We asked Kia and we were told the following: "The Engel thermoelectric cooler model TE 08 draws 4 amps per hour, so if the engine is running there should be no issue with the cooler. There is no issue with the warranty on the amp. If the cooler is used for extensive periods without the engine running then the battery will be on a constant draining/recharging cycle that could reduce the life of the battery."

Kia Sorento 2012: Turning off overdrive for towing?

We asked Kia for advice, which was "there is no overdrive as such in your car, it has just the six gears, and there is no lockout. The recommendation is that when towing you let the six-speed gearbox drive it as a full automatic and allow the gearbox to do its work. It is not recommended to use the manual mode to force gears to hold as there is a higher risk of overheating the gearbox. The exception to that rule is if the manual mode is used sensibly to help with engine braking on steep descents."

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
Have a new question for the CarsGuide team?
More than 9,000 questions asked and answered.
Complete guide to Kia Sorento 2012
Complete guide to Kia Sorento 2012 CarsGuide Logo
Reviews, price, specs and more