10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,930 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Kia Sportage electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Kia Sportage Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

Nov 152023

Sportage

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am writing about a recall notice that was issued last fall (2023) and has not yet been repaired by KIA, this vehicle's manufacturer. The HECU unit has a bad fuse that can cause a fire while driving or when parked. The relevant data is: Manufacturer Recall NumberSC284SL NHTSA Recall Number23V652 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available This waiting period has been excessive. KIA needs to get this done!

- Phoenix, NY, USA

problem #20

Dec 192022

Sportage

  • miles
The day I drove the car off the lot after purchasing (roughly 4 years ago) the low tire pressure sensor came on and I was unable to get it to go off. Mentioned it to the dealership whenever I went back for my first oil change and they told me they were able to -??wake it up-?? whenever they checked the tire pressure. It continues to not accurately read if the tire pressure is low or not. A couple of months ago (summertime) my sunroof would not close. I finally got it to close completely after having to turn the car on and off multiple times and I have not risked trying it again since. The biggest issue I-??m having now is about a month ago (November) I went to start my car and not only would the engine not turn over, but all the lights kept flickering as if the alternator was going out. I not only replaced the alternator, but also have to get a brand new battery because it was completely drained and would not jump within a day. Now, a couple days ago, I went to start it again and it did something similar - though after doing some troubleshooting I think it might be a bad starter this time that has now killed my battery. Both of these times my car did not show any type of warning lights. My concern comes from the fact that several recalls for the exact same make/model/year of the vehicle I-??m driving have been coming out and one of them includes the engine just -??freezing up-?? or -??dies for no reason-?? including while people are driving at highway speeds. No recall has been posted for my specific VIN number yet, but I-??m concerned it-??s just a matter of time based on these continued issues I-??ve been having.

- Springdale , AR, USA

problem #19

Jun 172022

Sportage

  • miles
My vehicle had just recently been parked and turned off after only having driven 10 miles. Upon returning to my car less than 5 minutes later, a plume of white smoke and a small flame could be seen below the hood of the car. Within minutes the entire engine was engulfed in flames. By the time the Fire Department arrived, the blaze had already reached the rear of the vehicle. Everything was completely lost.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #18

Mar 192022

Sportage 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving suv when sudden loss of power to engine, pulled off of highway and loss all power to electrical and to engine, I could smell something burning, upon further inspection after having suv towed to repair shop, I was informed that starter had melted and engine had seized up, I have contacted Kia dealership 3 times with no response from them, I also contacted Kia corp and no response, I also notified the BBB, I know there was a lifetime engine repair of this vehicle and some recall on bearings, I did have knock sensor done as required, I am looking for help in filing a complaint and copies of any recalls that were ever issued to this vehicle, I do not get recall notices sent to me, I own 4 cars, all Kia, other 3 not having issues yet, any help would be appreciated. Consumer stated the warranty has expired, but never received any notices of recalls.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #17

Jun 012016

Sportage

  • 45,000 miles
Auto window switches have had to be replaced.starting with original oem switch as #!,passenger side front is on third replacement, passenger side rear has been replaced once and is starting to go out again, switch will only operate from the drivers master control panel and drivers side rear has been replaced once. I believe it is a poorly manufactured part. Two were replaced under warranty, the other two will be out of my pocket. When the passenger side front went out for the second time, warranty was expired by one month with a history of problem auto window switches. I called Kia motors corporate office and explained that these parts are junk and I would like another replacement. Person in charge of service for Kia motors basically said tough your warranty is over. Vehicle auto window switches start out working intermittently when passenger tries to have window go up or down, then passenger has no way of putting window up or down then driver has to control window movement until switch finally goes out. This occurs whether vehicle is in motion or parked with ignition

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #16

Dec 032020

Sportage

  • 121,000 miles
Turned my car on and heard a weird ticking sound while it was idol. I decided to take it in to my mechanic. On the way to the mechanic, the sound started happening while accelerating. Once I reached 40 mph, the car stopped accelerating and stalled. I had to use the momentum and turn left into dirt parking lot to pull over since there was no pull over lane on the right side. My passenger and back windows do not work unless driver pushes buttons next to them to roll windows down.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #15

Mar 122018

Sportage

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving and the airbag inflated, the brakes locked up. Then started smelling gas and smoke

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #14

Sep 112020

Sportage

  • 45 miles
My car has a knocking sound in the engine. The oil has been changed on a regular basis. This car has been well taken care of. Also 2 of the windows will not work.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #13

Mar 102020

Sportage

  • 133,600 miles
This information is from mechanic: Engine began to smoke, vehicle drove into parking lot, put in park, opened hood, grey/green smoke noticed, engine would not restart. Mechanic stated that the engine seized up - would not restart - had to be towed to mechanic.

- Middlesboro, KY, USA

problem #12

Oct 082019

Sportage

  • miles
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Sportage. While the contact's vehicle was parked, a witness observed smoke and flames under the hood. The fire and police departments arrived and both departments filed reports. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and remained in the parking lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.

- Cidra, PR, USA

problem #11

Sep 162019

Sportage

  • 80,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. While driving approximately 60 mph, all the warning indicators illuminated, the power steering seized, and the engine failed. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and white smoke emerged from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine seized and needed replacement. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 13361451. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,600.

- Waterloo, NY, USA

problem #10

Jun 042019

Sportage

  • 111,000 miles
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.

- Tavares, FL, USA

problem #9

Oct 112018

Sportage

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact called on behalf of the driver. While driving and shifting into fourth gear, a loud noise was heard and the vehicle stalled without warning in traffic. All the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel after the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where it was noticed that the piston rod was detached. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #8

Sep 142018

Sportage

  • 140,000 miles
"takata recall" I was driving on highway 59 in houston in the middle lane and my oil light began flashing. After it flashed it stopped and then it would not accelerate. After I noticed it was not accelerating I began to get off the main highway onto a service road. By the time I got onto the service road the truck went completely dead. I got out and checked the oil and I had oil on my dip stick. I had gotten an oil change on September 1, 2018.

- White Hall, AR, USA

problem #7

Jul 262018

Sportage

  • 90,003 miles
Fist problem ever with car but died on me while driving to work had to pull over lost all engine function, it would crank but wouldn't start, thank god for triple a had it towed to the Kia dealership and they said they were going to do a diagnostic check on it that should take no more than a half hour and I am still waiting on a call back from them all day. Kia service sucks.

- Huntington Station, NY, USA

problem #6

Jun 142018

Sportage

  • 10 miles
I was in the road slowly because I was going to stop in a toll bridge about 10 miles and suddenly my Kia Sportage 2012 was down and a big noise I was really scared. A big hole appeared under the car and all oil scattered on the pavement. The piston broke so the engine. I'm really frustrated due to I still owe the vehicle and to fix the car the cost is $5,000 in Kia of yuma Arizona. I owe $6,000 plus $5,000 it's unfair

- San Luis, AZ, USA

problem #5

Feb 262018

Sportage

  • 48,850 miles
All gauges on instrument panel stopped working.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #4

Dec 082017

Sportage

  • 81,000 miles
Engine seized. Moves while in park moves forward in reverse. Driving engine stalled pulled over car died. Then would not engage but still moved as described. Had happened a few months ago after transmission replace. Then the igniter switch needed replacement.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 012017

Sportage

  • 84,000 miles
Door will not lock completely when car is sitting in the sun and its hot outside. Driver window will not roll down when its hot outside, trunk hatch will not open/unlock when hot out side. Alarm doesnt work when hot outside.

- Avondale, AZ, USA

problem #2

Apr 292016

Sportage

  • 41,416 miles
I own a 2012 Kia Sportage that I purchased from riverhead auto mall, that experience was wonderful. I originally purchased a Kia for a few reasons, the affordability but mainly the 5 year/10 year warranty. Since I have purchased this vehicle, I have had a few issues that I have visited various service departments to rectify which have still not been resolved. These are safety related issues, which I spoke to customer service department regarding and cannot believe that Kia would not stand behind their vehicles. I can guarantee you one thing, after my recent experiences with Kia I will never purchase another Kia or related vehicle again. For years, I have been trying to have two issues resolved, again both safety issues. First, the seatbelts on the driver side and passenger side do not fully retract. They end up getting stuck in the door, also more recently there are times when wearing a seatbelt and stepping on the brakes, the seatbelt is not restraining the person. Second, the driver side door lock will not open with either key' you need to manually open the door. When the car is put into drive, the door will not lock. All other doors will lock, not the drivers door. I have brought the car to multiple service locations over the past few years trying to get these issues resolved. All while under warranty, and was told time after time this was an intermittent problem and my complaints were not showing at that time. In may I brought the car in again for service and was told that there would be a diagnostic fee for both issues of approximately $200 each to simply look at the issues. There is a great deal of details and paperwork that I have supplied to Kia to support this. I went back and forth with multiple dealerships in between multiple surgeries since last summer.

- Farmingville, NY, USA

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