2012 Kia Sorento vs 2012 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Kia Sorento | 2012 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 876 | 181 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 233 | 320 |
| Investigations | 8 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 76 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–24 | 19–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 92,000 mi | 51,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sorento | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 461 | 17 |
| Electrical System | 127 | 29 |
| Air Bags | 79 | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 68 | 2 |
| Steering | 19 | 46 |
| Exterior Lighting | 60 | 2 |
| Power Train | 55 | 7 |
| Structure | 35 | 20 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 142 | 6 |
| Check engine light | 81 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 54 | 15 |
| Airbag warning light | 48 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 39 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 29 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 18 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 0 |
2012 Kia Sorento
2012 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Kia Sorento vs Toyota Highlander 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.