2012 Kia Sorento Electrical System Problems
The Electrical System is the top reported problem area for the 2012 Kia Sorento, with 174 complaints, 20% of all complaints filed for the model year. NHTSA logs 24 fires and 6 injuries tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 85,000. No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this component.
- Electrical System complaints
- 174
- 20% of 880
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 24
- Injuries reported
- 6
- Median mileage
- 85,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Headlight wiring harness connectors melt or burn, sometimes recurring after replacement of the headlight or pigtail.
- Engine bay wiring shorts and triggers fires that spread into the hood, dash, and passenger compartment while driving or parked.
- Rocker cover or interior lighting shorts out and produces smoke or fire near the driver's floor area.
- Abnormal engine noise and a rising temperature gauge precede some fires that start near the hood and windshield area.
- Low beam headlights fail repeatedly and owners trace the cause to a melted connector in the wiring harness.
When 2012 Kia Sorento electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 14, 2012, latest Feb 14, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Kia Sorento
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Electrical System complaints by Sorento model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical problems on the 2012 Kia Sorento?
- NHTSA lists 174 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Kia Sorento, which is 20% of all 880 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Kia Sorento electrical system?
- No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data provided for this component.
- Do 2012 Kia Sorento electrical complaints involve fires?
- Yes, NHTSA data tied to this area shows 24 fires, 2 crashes, and 6 injuries among the reported cases.
- At what mileage do 2012 Kia Sorento electrical failures typically occur?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 85,000 miles.
- How does the 2012 Sorento compare to other years for electrical complaints?
- Among Sorento model years, 2012 shows 174 electrical complaints at 20% share, close to 2011's 312 complaints at 21% and lower than 2017's 190 complaints at 24% share.