2012 Kia Sportage problems and complaints
Owners have filed 392 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sportage. The most-reported areas: Engine (328), Electrical System (29), Unknown Or Other (23).
Key takeaways
- 392 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 7 involve a crash, 16 a fire, 10 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 328 | 84% |
| Electrical System | 29 | 7% |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 | 6% |
| Power Train | 21 | 5% |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 3% |
| Hydraulic | 11 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 | 2% |
| Steering | 6 | 2% |
| Structure | 4 | 1% |
| Air Bags | 4 | 1% |
| Visibility | 4 | 1% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Kia Sportage SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Kia Sportage SUV FWD | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train,electrical System,engine - filed 2026-06-26
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 operat...
Engine - filed 2026-06-15
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. Thi...
Latches/Locks/Linkages,structure - filed 2025-11-26
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 vehicl...
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More for the 2012 Kia Sportage
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.