2012 Kia Sorento vs 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Kia Sorento | 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 879 | 152 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 233 | 1,002 |
| Investigations | 8 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 77 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–24 | 21–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 92,500 mi | 52,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen Tiguan |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 461 | 50 |
| Electrical System | 127 | 23 |
| Air Bags | 81 | 33 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 69 | 1 |
| Power Train | 55 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 60 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 33 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 31 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 142 | 20 |
| Check engine light | 81 | 14 |
| Clunking / rattling | 54 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 50 | 9 |
| Loss of power | 39 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 29 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 18 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 0 |
2012 Kia Sorento
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
Compare all Kia Sorento vs Volkswagen Tiguan 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.