2012 KIA Sportage: common problems

Owners of the 2012 KIA Sportage filed 392 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 392
involving a crash: 7

KIA Sportage 2012: 3D model with the “Engine” area highlighted — the most complained-about component — Yellow marks the “Engine” area, the component owners complain about most for this year. Illustrative only. 3D model: xnova360, CC Attribution.

What fails most often

1 Engine 84% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
3 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 3% of all complaints
5 Fuel/propulsion system 2% of all complaints
6 Steering 2% of all complaints
7 Air bags 1% of all complaints
8 Structure 1% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine: 328 complaints (84% of all).
Electrical system: 29 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Powertrain: 21 complaints (5% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 11 complaints (3% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Fuel/propulsion system: 6 complaints (2% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 4 complaints
2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 17 complaints
automatic, 6-speed
manual, 6-speed

Drive: FWD, 4WD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 392 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

knocking, grinding or other noise116 · 30%
engine failure or replacement100 · 26%
warning lights, check engine94 · 24%
stalls while driving67 · 17%
smoke, burning smell, fire57 · 15%
loss of power / limp mode33 · 8%
won't start29 · 7%
oil leak or consumption16 · 4%
vibration13 · 3%
windows, sunroof10 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine	328	0
Electrical system	29	1
Powertrain	21	2
Service brakes	11	1
Fuel/propulsion system	6	1
Steering	6	0
Air bags	4	4
Structure	4	0
Visibility	4	0
Vehicle speed control	3	0
Electronic stability control	2	0
Engine and cooling	2	0
Exterior lighting	2	0
Seat belts	2	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Was driving and the airbag inflated, the brakes locked up. Then started smelling gas and smoke
Electrical system · crash · 2020-11-11 · NHTSA complaint #11374214
Her car hit at nearly a 90 degree angle with enough impact to rock the sportage, it buckled the hood and knocked off several of the grill panels. Not until I moved the car and exited did I realize that there was a third car involved that impacted the car that hit me driving her into my car with enough force that her…
Air bags · crash · 2014-03-17 · NHTSA complaint #10572950
I was pulling out into traffic and did not see a car due their headlights were not on. We hit and none of my air back deployed the whole front of my car was smashed and I hit my head on the door jam and my vehicle has side air bags also. I have contacted kia and initially got a case # and stuff. The case # is [xxx].
Air bags · crash · 2014-03-13 · NHTSA complaint #10569079
I swerved to hit a deer, hit the deer then went in to the ditch and drove head on into a tree. The airbags did not deploy, and I am wondering why.
Air bags · crash · 2013-11-14 · NHTSA complaint #10552315
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.
Service brakes · crash · 2011-10-27 · NHTSA complaint #10432967
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.
Engine · 2026-06-26 · NHTSA complaint #11746708
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.
Engine · 2026-06-15 · NHTSA complaint #11744253
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.
Structure · 2025-11-26 · NHTSA complaint #11701684

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20113
20124
20132
20147
20152
20169
201740
201866
2019100
202066
202124
202229
202313
202418
20257
20262

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 996 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Sportage has 144 complaints (33 years in the data). This year has 392, above average.

What to check before buying

Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2012 KIA Sportage?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 392. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (30%), engine failure or replacement (26%), warning lights, check engine (24%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 KIA Sportage?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2012 KIA Sportage from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2012 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.