KnownCarProblems2012 Kia Sportage Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 392 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine (84% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Sportage model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2012 Kia Sportage problems
Engine
330 complaints · 84%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles.
Cruising along at freeway speed, 75 MPH, vehicle momentarily lost power as if it was going to stall or down shift. Upon resuming speed, heard a tapping noise and a loud bang, saw smoke coming out the back of the vehicle and objects tossed out. Saw a vehicle following in my lane, swerve as if avoiding an object but did…
The engine seized up while driving on local street. Kia states that my engine (2.4l) was not part of recall. While this engine was unique to the Sportage in 2012 it is the same 2.4l that they recalled in other vehicles. Not explanation given for denial. It took Kia almost 3 months to tell me that it was not covered…
Electrical
29 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, body control module/bcm, instrument panel, starter assembly.
Door will not lock completely when car is sitting in the sun and its hot outside. Driver window will not roll down when its hot outside, trunk hatch will not open/unlock when hot out side. Alarm doesnt work when hot outside.
Engine seized. Moves while in park moves forward in reverse. Driving engine stalled pulled over car died. Then would not engage but still moved as described. Had happened a few months ago after transmission replace. Then the igniter switch needed replacement.
Other or unspecified
23 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 93,000 miles.
Yesterday when I was driving my check engine light came on. So I took it to pepboys that said the code was 791. Then, called the dealership and mechanics to find out about it. Most people that part should not had went bad. This code is for the butterfly flips in the intake manofold.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v750000 (engine). The vehicle was taken to Kia tasca (1660 hartford ave, johnston, ri 02919) and the knock sensor detection system software was updated as part of the repair. The contact stated that after the recall…
Transmission
21 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 83,000 miles.
Driving down freeway at 70 miles an hour when engine started knocking and car stopped, took to shop they said that two rods blew through the block and can't figure out why since there's still all the oil in car. Extremely scary to happen on freeway!! They are saying at 83,000 miles it's not covered since I'm the…
When I put the gear in drive, it jerks.the car is stationary, I put in reverse, back out, put on the brake then drive and this is when it jerks. Also it going in to drive is difficult. As if it's hard to go in to gear.. This occurs every time I drive it. It also occurs when I'm putting into drive, going forward, not…
Brakes
11 complaints · 3%Brake pedal grip padding falls off, leaving a slippery surface and a fallen grip padding blocking brake pedal. While driving in freeway at 65 MPH. Driver lost control of vehicle, swerving into two toll lanes & crashing into several rubber dividers. After this incident the brake pedal grip padding has continued to fall…
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The check…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
Hi I came home on lunch one afternoon the car drove perfectly fine no issues what's so ever. About an hour passed and it was time to go back to work so I put the key in the ignition and they car never started again. It sounded to me like it wasn't getting any fuel so I thought I'll change the fuel pump..that's when I…
On november 12 I purchased the Kia Sportage ex 2012 and it was transferred on november 16 from pittsburgh to the dhillon auto center workshop located at penndel pennsylvania being attended by the mechanic (the vehicle was stationary) who after performing the usual technical inspections found that the engine did not…
Steering
6 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 52,500 miles.
Rattling noise coming from steering column for a while and has constantly gotten worse. Took it to a Kia of cherryhill first they told the noise was coming from something in the door, then they guy at the service desk took a ride with me, I pointed the noise out & he told me it was a viscous coupling, the following…
Rattling noise from steering column that is continuously getting worse. Vibration from wheel while braking intermittently. This more often occurs while making turns. Every time the wheel is turned left, there is a clicking noise but not when it's turned to the right. I was originally told it was the viscous coupling…
Visibility and wipers
4 complaints · 1%Parts named most often: windshield, glass, side/rear, sun/moon roof assembly.
Its approx 57 degrees out. 6:30 am this morning went outside to start car came, back 10 minutes later to go to work and found a crack (which wasn't there when I started the car) from bottom left corner up to the top. On my way to work another crack started in the middle of the windshield. My car is 9 weeks old, no…
I was waiting at a stop light when I heard a huge pop sound almost like a firecracker and when I turned around to see what it was my entire back window was completely shattered. There was no rock or any object like that to be found anywhere so I have no idea what caused it, maybe pressure or an air bubble? It seemed…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Kia Sportage recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the hecu fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed november 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2024 through june 18, 2024. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc284.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 borrego, 2014-2016 cadenza, 2010-2013 forte, forte koup, sportage, 2015-2018 k900, 2011-2015 optima, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, soul, 2012-2017 rio, 2011-2014 sorento, and 2010-2011 rondo vehicles. The hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Engine
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, kia dealers will update the knock sensor detection system (ksds) software, free of charge. The recall began january 27, 2021. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc200.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 sorento, 2012-2015 forte and forte koup, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, 2014-2015 soul, and 2012 sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Engine
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will replace the oil pressure switch with an improved one, free of charge. In addition, dealers will inspect the oil pan for any oil leaks, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began july 3, 2019. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc174.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 kia sportage vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.
Engine
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began january 17, 2019. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc172.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 optima, 2012-2017 sorento and 2011-2018 sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17v-224, warranty, or the knock sensor detection system (ksds) product improvement campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Engine
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began june 20, 2017. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc147.
Full defect summary
Kia motor company (kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 optima, 2012-2014 sorento and 2011-2013 sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Scope and timeliness
Summary
Nhtsa opened recall query (rq) 17-003 to investigate the timeliness and scope of kia?s theta II gdi engine recall (recall no. 17v-224), and kia?s compliance with reporting requirements. On november 23, 2020, the agency entered into a consent order with kia to administratively resolve NHTSA?s assertions of violations of law in connection with rq17-003. Nhtsa?s assertions included that kia may be liable for civil penalties on multiple grounds, including that recall no. 17v-224 was untimely and kia?s recall report contained certain inaccuracies.under the consent order, kia agreed to a total civil penalty of $70,000,000. The total civil penalty included a payment of $27,000,000 as a non-deferred
Questions about the 2012 Kia Sportage
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Sportage?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (330 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); electrical (29 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); other or unspecified (23 complaints, typically around 93,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Kia Sportage have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Kia Sportage?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Sportage model year since 2000, with 392 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.