2012 Kia Sportage: engine and transmission complaints
VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
88%
341 of 392 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
88% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Kia Sportage are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 99% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
ENGINE03/05/20201 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WITH HELP FROM A BYSTANDER PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED THE NEXT DAY AND O…
ENGINE08/29/20181 INJURED
AT ONLY 97,000 MILES OUR 2012 KIA ENGINE SEIZED AND THREW A ROD ONTO THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS 97 DEGREES OUT AND OUT 1 YO WAS STRANDED WITH US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS KIA AND HYUNDAI ENGINE. THERE WAS EVEN A RECALL. UNFORTUNA…
POWER TRAIN03/05/2012CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GEAR PLACED IN PARK. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE ALSO OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN THE EVENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO JUMP FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRAS…
Three of 341 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (5)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 rec…
ENGINE
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
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 da…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2012 Kia Sportage
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
5 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.
