2012 Kia SPORTAGE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Kia SPORTAGE has 451 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (73% of all complaints), specifically: i pulled a trailer for the first time on this date. the truck only made it 10 miles, and lost all power, and i barely made it off of the freeway. brought it to the dealer, and they found the spark plugs blew apart. all they did was change the spark plugs and sent me on my way. on july 13th, i to. ⚠️ 22 fire reports filed.

22 fire reports 5 crash reports 6 injuries

451

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

329 complaints

73%

• I PULLED A TRAILER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS DATE. THE TRUCK ONLY MADE IT 10 MILES, AND LOST ALL POWER, AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF OF THE FREEWAY. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW APART. ALL THEY DID WAS CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON JULY 13TH, I TO
• AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30AM, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. MY KIA SPORTAGE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD BANG, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. IT ALSO SHUT OFF THE HEADLIGHTS, AND DISABLED THE POWER STEERING, WHILE ON A CURVE, GOING 70MPH. THE POWER ASSISTED BRAKES WERE ALSO NOT WORKING, BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUT DOW
• DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE OF THE CAR GAVE OUT. I WAS GIVEN ZERO WARNING BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL MY CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME. THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND THIS SHOULD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 15 fire reports

“I PULLED A TRAILER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS DATE. THE TRUCK ONLY MADE IT 10 MILES, AND LOST ALL POWER, AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF OF THE FREEWAY. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW APART. ALL THEY DID WAS CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON JULY 13TH, I TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

29 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING OR ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY POST WERE TOO BIG FOR THE BATTERY CONNECTORS. AS A RESULT, ALL THE ELECTRICITY IN THE VEHICLE FAILED, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE MANUFAC
• WE HAVE HAD TO BRING IN AND HAVE REPAIRED TWICE WITH OUR KIA , IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY CLUSTER , SO AM WONDERING WHAT DUE WE DO NEXT ,,,,,THANK YOU *TR
• I OWN A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE THAT I PURCHASED FROM RIVERHEAD AUTO MALL, THAT EXPERIENCE WAS WONDERFUL. I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED A KIA FOR A FEW REASONS, THE AFFORDABILITY BUT MAINLY THE 5 YEAR/10 YEAR WARRANTY. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD A FEW ISSUES THAT I HAVE VISITED VARIOUS SERVI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING OR ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY POST WERE TOO BIG FOR THE BATTERY CONNECTORS. AS A RESULT, ALL THE ELECTRICITY IN THE VEHICLE FAILED, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE MANUFAC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

• WINDSHIELD SEAL STRIP START PEELING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE .
• 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.
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“WINDSHIELD SEAL STRIP START PEELING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE .”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

20 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GEAR PLACED IN PARK. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE ALSO OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN THE EVENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO JUMP FROM THE VEHIC
• DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, A LOUD SQUEAK SOUND OCCURRED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AND THE ENGINE PROMPTLY SHUT OFF AND HAS SINCE THEN BEEN UNABLE TO START AGAIN. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS DR
• I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR ALL THE SUDDEN LOST ALL POWER. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HOWEVER WOULD NOT TURN OVER. ELECTRIC WORKED BUT NOTHING ELSE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK HOME, 2 HOURS AWAY, TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GEAR PLACED IN PARK. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE ALSO OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN THE EVENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO JUMP FROM THE VEHIC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

11 complaints

• VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AS I WAS APPROCHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES MADE A VERY VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO STOP AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED SO I HAD TO PUT MUCH MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE
• 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 HA
• 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 local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The c

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AS I WAS APPROCHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES MADE A VERY VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO STOP AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED SO I HAD TO PUT MUCH MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 451 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I PULLED A TRAILER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS DATE. THE TRUCK ONLY MADE IT 10 MILES, AND LOST ALL POWER, AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF OF THE FREEWAY. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW APART. ALL THEY DID WAS CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON JULY 13TH, I TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING OR ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY POST WERE TOO BIG FOR THE BATTERY CONNECTORS. AS A RESULT, ALL THE ELECTRICITY IN THE VEHICLE FAILED, INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE MANUFAC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WINDSHIELD SEAL STRIP START PEELING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE .
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GEAR PLACED IN PARK. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE ALSO OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN THE EVENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO JUMP FROM THE VEHIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)