2012 Hyundai Santa FE vs 2012 Kia Sorento
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Hyundai Santa FE | 2012 Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 352 | 876 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 99 | 233 |
| Investigations | 6 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 21 |
| Fire reports | 17 | 76 |
| NCAP overall rating | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–23 | 20–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 72,917 mi | 92,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Santa FE | Kia Sorento |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 228 | 461 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 127 |
| Air Bags | 6 | 79 |
| Power Train | 24 | 55 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 60 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 68 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 25 | 33 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 63 | 142 |
| Check engine light | 34 | 81 |
| Clunking / rattling | 28 | 54 |
| Loss of power | 25 | 39 |
| Hesitation / surging | 17 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 8 | 15 |
| Steering problems | 6 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 5 | 0 |
2012 Hyundai Santa FE
2012 Kia Sorento
Compare all Hyundai Santa FE vs Kia Sorento years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.