2012 Kia Sorento Suspension Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11746144

Incident

Mar 13, 2026

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

NHTSA ID

11717957

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

Rear subframe is completely rusted out on one side makes it completely undrivable especially with my young children.

NHTSA ID

11715679

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

Left rear sub frame cracked in half while driving car . 2017 they did work to the under belly in reference to corrosion of the car . Has therr been any other complaints about this vehicle type ?

NHTSA ID

11658437

Incident

May 2, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11587481

Incident

May 7, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11569657

Incident

Dec 7, 2023

Brackets associated with the rear axle rusted and cracked. Became unable to drive safely. Back wheels started going crooked(top was inward and bottom was outward)

NHTSA ID

11562779

Incident

Dec 28, 2023

Transmission / or gear shifting

NHTSA ID

11541224

Incident

Aug 21, 2023

Engine shut down

NHTSA ID

11508527

Incident

Feb 7, 2023

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

NHTSA ID

11425351

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID

11246586

Incident

Jul 15, 2019

Mileage

97,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11228981

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

136,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL SHAKING WHEN DRIVING ALSO THE BOOT IS CRACKED AND AFFECTING THE BALL JOINTS ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE

NHTSA ID

11228546

Incident

Jun 21, 2019

Mileage

10,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11208930

Incident

Nov 10, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

FRONT LEFT SPRING CRACKED. CAR WAS ONLY DRIVEN FOR RESIDENTIAL USE ON PAVED ROADS, UNDER 50K MILES. THE KIA DEALERSHIP NEVER FOUND THE ISSUE DURING ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, MAVIS DISCUNT TIRE STORE FOUND THE PROBLEM WHILE CHANGING TIRES.

NHTSA ID

11111386

Incident

Jul 14, 2018

Mileage

47,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11005030

Incident

Jun 29, 2017

Mileage

66,810 mi

MY ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE IN MOTION. THE FRONT END POPS DURING BRAKING, AND A BOLT HEAD BROKE OFF THE AWD HOUSING.

NHTSA ID

10971682

Incident

Mar 21, 2017

Mileage

64,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL- I HAD JUST STOPPED TURNED A CORNER AND THEN VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING ME TO HIT A POLE.

NHTSA ID

10967040

Incident

Feb 25, 2017

Mileage

800,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10927249

Incident

Oct 27, 2014

Mileage

23,072 mi

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM AN E-MAIL SENT TO BIG O TIRE CUSTOMER SERVICE (TBC CORP) ON JUNE 26/2014 WE OWN A SET OF 4 DEFECTIVE COOPER 107H DISCOVERER LSX PLUS TIRES PURCHASED FOR OUR 2012 KIA SORENTO EX SUV ON NOV. 29, 2013 FROM BIG O TIRES STORE #6171 IN CONIFER, CO. THEY BALANCED AND MOUNTED THE TIRES. THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT, SO FIRESTONE IN EVERGREEN, CO (11/29/14) ALIGNED THE VEHICLE. IN LATE APRIL, 2014 WE NOTICED A LOUD RUMBLING ROAD NOISE. WE HAD ANOTHER ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEAK KIA IN LITTLETON, CO WHO DETERMINED THAT ALL ALIGNMENTS WERE WITHIN KIA SPECS, FOUND NO NOISE WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE RACK AND ADVISED US THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO BIG O TIRES IN CONIFER. THEY ADVISED US TO HAVE THE CAMBER ADJUSTED MORE AND IF IT COULDN'T, TO INSTALL A NON-KIA AFTER MARKET PART WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE FURTHER CAMBER ADJUSTMENT. WE HAD THE ALIGNMENT ADJUSTED AGAIN. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. KIA REINSPECTED THE TIRES, TOOK IT FOR ANOTHER ROAD TEST AND REVIEWED THE ALIGNMENT RECORDS AND AGAIN THE KIA SERVICE MANAGER CONCLUDED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO BIG O TIRES IN CONIFER TO SEEK RESOLUTION. THE MANAGER STATED THAT OUR SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE BAD AND HIS LEAD MECHANIC STATED THAT WE NEEDED THIS AFTER MARKET PART TO ALLOW THE CAMBER TO BE FURTHER ADJUSTED. AT THAT POINT WE ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A REGIONAL OR DISTRICT MANAGER WHO COULD ASSIST US. WE WERE REFERRED TO COOPER TIRE. COOPER TIRE, TOLD US THAT THESE ARE PRIVATE LABEL TIRES MANUFACTURED BY COOPER FOR TBC AND TO SPEAK WITH TBC AS THEY HANDLE ALL WARRANTY CLAIMS. TBC THEN TRANSFERRED OUR CALL TO BIG O CUSTOMER SERVICE. AS I MENTIONED TO [XXX], MY WIFE AND I ARE REALTORS AND WE PLACE CLIENTS IN THIS VEHICLE EVERYDAY. THIS CREATES ADDITIONAL LIABILITY FOR US, BIG O TIRE AND COOPER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10607117

Incident

Apr 14, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

MY 2012 KIA SORENTO AT LOW SPEED,STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, NO POWER STEERING. I HAD TO PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND THEN RESTART. SO GLAD I WAS NOT HIT FROM BEHIND AS MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF SO SUDDENLY. MY CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND LOW MILEAGE. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE THEN. THANK GOD NO ACCIDENTS, YET. BUT IM WORRIED TO DRIVE IT ANTICIPATING FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN IN THE KIA SERVICE SHOP TWICE AND THEY ARE CLAIMING TO FIX IT. ALSO TWO WEEKS AGO THE RIGHT SHOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DRIVE TO WORK AND THE STORE ON A WEEKLY BASIS, NO REASON A TWO YEAR OLD, BOUGHT BRAND NEW VEHICLE IN 2012 SHOULD ALREADY NEED A SHOCK REPLACEMENT. I FEEL LIKE I WAS SOLD A LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573777

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

23,000 mi