2012 Kia Sorento Service and Repair Manual

The 2012 Kia Sorento was sold in four trim levels around two gasoline engines, a 3.5L V6 and a 2.4L four-cylinder, and the service specifications diverge between them. The figures here are the ones Kia published for the 2012 Sorento rather than approximations pulled from an adjacent model year.

Engines covered

• 3.5L V6 — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 2.4L inline-four — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sport utility

Trims covered

• Base
• EX
• LX
• SX

Known issues on the 2012 Sorento. Four recalls are on federal record for this model year. The first concerns the engine itself, following machining errors during the engine manufacturing process: bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash. A related second recall covers the fuel delivery hoses, lines and fittings on Sorentos that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, where a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. The third is on the antilock/traction control side of the hydraulic brake system: an engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. The fourth covers the automatic transmission, where excessive force may unintentionally shift the vehicle out of Park without requiring the brake to be pressed. Owners have filed 1,202 complaints against the 2012 Sorento and Kia has issued 186 technical service bulletins.

Whether the job is tracing a lower-end knock, inspecting fuel lines after an engine replacement or checking the brake-shift interlock, the procedures and specifications are Kia's own, written for the 2012 Sorento.