Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Kia Sorento owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Hi, I get my car fixed at the dealer Inver Grove Kia in West Saint Paul in Minnesota. There is s problem with my suspension. With that being said, the first problem was my sway bar and that was not fixed correctly. I am now hearing the same noise on the passenger side of SUV and they are telling me it is strut. I need to have all information and recalls sent to me. Then dealer is not looking into other problems that the 2012 Kia Sorento has right now. The dealer has put me in a bad situation and also in danger with not inquiring more about the suspension problems associated with my 2012 Kia Sorento. https://www.lutherkiamn.com/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=organic
My 2012 Sorento had the Voluntary Safety Campaign SC141 for additional anti corrosive material performed in 2016. The vehicle had already been driven for 5 years in one of the "snow belt" states they listed. Dealer said no other action needed except the additional undercoating. Now, my rear crossmember is completely rusted and away bar has broken loose. Am going to contact Kia as I feel this should be replaced by them for not catching the issue before.
I had taken the Kia Sorrento to a local shop to get an oil change, and Mavis tire had discovered that the rear suspension and rear subframe were severely corroded with rust and I was told that the car is unsafe to drive. I had noticed as well that my brakes would not normally stop when I go to press them as a bit of a kickback and the traction sensors and ABS sensors and emergency brake sensors would go off and on for no reason.
My kia Sorento shocks are really bad seems like it bounces Alot More than normal and heard a squeak coming from the shocks also hard to get the to turn when Im park and electric seems to glitch with bulbs going out faster and radio acting like it shorting out since the wiring was replaced it does this
The suspension mounting block rusted off the frame and the frame rusted into on the passenger rear side of the car It was good that we were running slow close to the house when it happened if that would've come loose at Highway speeds, the car would probably flipped The vehicle is now undrivable
When going over speed bumps, my car sounded like a tin can particularly when cold outside. Thought it could be shock absorbers. A local car repair place replaced strut mounts, brake pads and new shocks at a cost over $3000. After paying for this, my car made the same sound which I captured on video. I did some research and found numerous other complaints about suspension system on this model Kia Sorento. I provided this information to repair shop and returned for proper fix. They discovered a technical service bulletin for this car #sa178. They made this correction and told me to contact Kia for reimbursement. Kia refused saying that because it was out of warranty and not repaired at a Kia dealership they could no help me. This is an ongoing problem with sorentos, but there has not been a recall notice for this vehicle. I am out of pocket over $3K. Not happy.
The ball bearings went out on the front end causing both my front tires to wear right down to the wires on the tire treads. Within a few weeks of fixing them the engine seized in my car for the second time. While my 16 year old was driving it on the highway she sudden lost power and the vehicle started to slow down. She pulled off the road and had her brother take over driving it. He could not get it to speed or to shift so he put it in manual to get it off the highway. Once off the highway he called me. I followed him less then 4 miles to the local mechanic who listen to the engine and said to park the car as the engine was about to go. In the process of driving it home less then 2 miles the engine completely seized up.
I recently had struts replaced due to normal wear and was informed there was an issue with a fracture in the right front axle. I was further told it May be a recall. Well after research I was told it waa for 2014 but it is the exact same issue on my vehicle. I was advised to submit this for review to see if this recall of the 2014 front axle should be extended to more years as my issue is the exact same thing. It does make loud noise at mild turns. The mechanic stated it will only get worse as the fracture progresses. I have to get this fixed and can't wait to see what your decision if any is but maybe this will help others.
While driving approximately 35 miles per hour on a paved city road, the driver's side front wheel caved into the vehicle (detached from the vehicle). The vehicle had never been in an accident nor hit any significant holes. The incident was spontaneous without any apparent cause. The vehicle was towed to a Kia dealer, who found that the bottom bolt of the strut had broken and fallen out.
When I went in for a routine tire rotation, I was told my driver's side coil spring was broken which presented a safety hazard as it could pop the tire. When calling for estimates, I was told that the coil spring must have been defective for a car of this year and mileage.
Suspension complaints in other Sorento years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2012 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the suspension of the 2012 Kia Sorento, 3% of the model year's 880 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Kia Sorento suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2012 Kia Sorento, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Kia Sorento suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.