repaired · 2025 Q4
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2012 Kia SportageProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 392 owner complaints about the 2012 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-652 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 26, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Kia Sportage has problems
392 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
328Engine18 crash/fire/injury
29Electrical system5 crash/fire/injury
21Power train
11Service brakes, hydraulic
6Fuel/propulsion system
6Steering
4Air bags
4Structure
4Visibility
1710 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 328 | 18 |
| Electrical system | 29 | 5 |
| Power train | 21 | 4 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 11 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 1 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 4 |
| Structure | 4 | 1 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 |
| 10 other systems | 17 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2012 Kia Sportage recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Engine
Risk. An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
repaired · 2020 Q4
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.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Show 1 more recall
repaired · 2018 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
100kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 275 engine complaints. 49% were reported before 100,000 miles.
13under 30k miles134under 100k miles141100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
33 owners mentioned a cost$6,390median
Middle half: $5,000 – $7,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Sportage year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sportage median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Kia Sportage safety ratings
2012 Kia Sportage SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Kia Sportage, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
- Scope and TimelinessLed to recall 17V-224
In owners' words
What Sportage owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I was driving eastbound in my 2012 Kia Sportage on I-82 just past Benton City MP97 at about 11AM on Monday June 22, 2026, when my engine knocked twice, the red check engine light came on, and I lost power. I pulled over off the road next to a concrete barrier that was beside a rock roadcut. My…
On XXX, my 2012 Kia Sportage experienced a catastrophic engine failure while traveling on the interstate. The connecting rod failed, breaking through the engine block, causing sudden and sever oil leak and heavy smoke. The safety of the occupants was put at risk due to the sudden powefr loss in…
The car experienced sudden engine failure, flashing check engine light. The car was towed to the nearest mechanic and knock sensor code P1326, consistent with recall 20V750, was present. Kia Corporate refuses to authorize inspection and repair under the recall because the code was cleared after the…
Own a 2012 Sportage?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.