2012 Kia Sportage Problems, Recalls & Reliability
454 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Kia Sportage, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 68/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 101,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2012 Kia Sportage sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1995, 2005, 2019, 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 2012 sits among all Sportage years
What owners report
“I was driving down the road when the engine siezed up and died on me. I was traveling at 60 mph when it died on me and luckily there was a shoulder to pull off of the highway so that i could get out of harms way in the heavy traffic.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Sportage
“Engine seized while driving. There are other 2012 kia sportages under the engine recall but ours isn't even though it's the same problem. The engine seized and everything shut off causing us to have to pull over on side of the road in the middle of nowhere.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Sportage
“Car only has 79,597 and i'm hearing knocking noises coming from under the hood. I have now received my recall in the mail”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Sportage
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 350 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 98,100 miles. Half of those reports fall between 74,000 and 117,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
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…
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…
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.
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
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…
Model years named: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Led to recall campaign 23V877.
Led to recall campaign 17V224000.
Technical service bulletins
177 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2012 Kia Sportage. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2012 Sportage TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Kia Sportage reliable?
The 2012 Kia Sportage drew 454 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 68/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).
What are the most common 2012 Kia Sportage problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Kia Sportage are engine (330 complaints), electrical (32), and other (25).
At what mileage do 2012 Kia Sportage problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Kia Sportage problems around 98,100 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 74,000 and 117,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Kia Sportage have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Kia Sportage. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.