2012 Kia Sportage problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (304) · Power Train (19) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Sportage model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
314 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2023-09-25 · campaign 23V652000 · 1,730,192 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: 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.
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.
Engine 2020-12-02 · campaign 20V750000 · 294,756 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Engine 2019-02-15 · campaign 19V101000 · 32,296 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Engine 2018-12-19 · campaign 18V907000 · 71,653 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2017-03-31 · campaign 17V224000 · 618,160 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Service bulletins (177)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-09 · CS2311_TSB_R4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition: cylinder protector & decal installation (cs2311) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provi
Structure:body 2026-06-08 · CS2312_TSB_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Engine 2026-03-11 · PI2103_OWNR_501 · Other
product improvement campaign: owner renotification (pi2103 flight #501) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting an important product improvement campaign to perform a software update on 2011-2013 my kia sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter mpi engines to prot
Structure:body 2026-02-19 · TSB_CS2312_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Structure:body 2025-12-19 · CS2311_OWNR_PC201 · Other
customer satisfaction campaign: postcard owner renotification (cs2311) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting customer satisfaction campaign. kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade and can be installed at the ignition
Structure:body 2025-12-18 · TSB_CS2312 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin provides information to install a theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector on certain 2010-2022my kia vehicles outlined on page 19, which may not have bee
Showing the 6 most recent of 177 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-26 · Power Train · 🔥 fire“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 flashers would not operate, i put it into park, turned …”
2026-06-15 · Engine“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 high-speed traffic. this vehicle has two active feder…”
2025-11-26 · Structure:body:door:handle:interior · 103,841 mi“the contact owns a 2012 kia sportage. the contact stated while attempting to open to the front driver's side door from the inside of the vehicle, the contact heard an unknown part inside the door fall, and the door required to be opened manually by pulling on the exterior door handle. a dealer was contacted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, whe…”
2025-10-27 · Engine“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 event in order to get it towed to the dealer. the …”
2025-08-12 · Engine“vin# [xxx] my recall has not been repaired because kia claims the repair parts have not been made available to them yet. this recall is from sept. 2023. why hasn't this been taken care of yet? ridiculous & dangerous!! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)…”
2025-07-02 · Engine“i was sold this car in april 2025. june 29 2025 my engine stopped working. confirmed it is entirely blown. i was unaware of open unaddressed recalls when i purchased the car. because of the recalls not being addressed by previous owners, kia and the warranty company refused to fix the engine. …”
2025-06-24 · Engine“there were no warning lamps/lights/messages prior to the failure. i have been begging kia car pros glendale to repair my engine since may 27 2025 as it qualifies under the settlement. i have requested in writing a response but they continue to use stalling tactics only calling me to convey they need the first 13,000mile oil change now. i have pictu…”
2025-04-18 · Electrical System“the car has been giving off a burning smell each time that i begin to drive especially if the heat is being utilized. the smell worsens as i drive a further distance. …”
2025-04-12 · Engine“while accelerating engine just shut off and seized. no warning. no check engine light before or after during the incident. temp was normal. next day a check engine light did come on while car was in "on" position (engine still not turning over) but no code was generating. no evidence of leaking oil. dipstick showed normal oil level. …”
2024-12-31 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“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 dealer was made aware of the issue and …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.