10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 15
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,664 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Kia Sportage Owner Comments (Page 2 of 16)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #300

Jul 062022

Sportage

  • miles

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

I was driving down the road at 55 mph and my vehicle lost all power and died. So sitting on the side of the road I tried to start the vehicle again. It started but died again. So I waited a few minutes and tried again. It started so I put my flashers on and drove at a low speed until I got the vehicle home. I heard a loud knocking as I was driving it. So the next day I called the Kia dealership to make an appointment for the recall on it and they told me they only do recall on certain days. So I had to wait for 3 wks before I could bring it to them. On the day of the service I was driving it to them and the knocking of the engine started to get loud and then the engine started to make this grinding sound and it died on me. So I sat in a turning lane for a bit and tried to start it up again but then the grinding got louder and I heard something explode and smoke came out from under the hood of the car. I had to call the dealership and let them know I was broken down and I had to call a tow truck this being the weekend after the 4th of July I sat for a tow truck from 7:40 am to 10:40 am and the temp outside at that time was around 100 degrees. I get the vehicle to the dealers and they call me the next day telling me they can't do the recall and it would cost me 12,000 for a new engine because they say the warranty has gone out on the vehicle and I waited too long to have the recall done. I bought this vehicle from Carvana and before I actually purchased the vehicle I took it to the dealership for them to look at it and make sure it was ok. At that time I had brought up the recall that Carvana told me about and I told them that at the dealers and they told me they didn't have the time to take care of that recall so life went on and I had forgotten it until that day when the vehicle had broken down. I only had the car for a year and only had put 1,500 miles on it when all of this happened. So I own 12,000 on this car and can't drive or do anything now.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #299

Jun 282022

Sportage

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 60-65 MPH, the engine made abnormal knocking sounds, and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact-??s daughter was able to restart the vehicle and veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V101000 (Engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed the dealer information. The dealer informed the contact that he had to pay out-of-pocket for the engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

- Estancia, NM, USA

problem #298

Jul 252022

Sportage

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced jerking, and then the engine seized with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #297

Apr 012022

Sportage

  • 41,951 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated there was a knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle to the local dealer, the engine seized. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign: 20V750000 (Engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 41,951.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #296

Jun 052022

Sportage

  • 200,000 miles
The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The VIN was not available.

- Santa Fe, NM, USA

problem #295

Sep 052021

Sportage

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the oil level warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle stated losing power. The contact was able to pull over and add more oil into the engine however, the failure continued. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the failure happened due to insufficient maintenance. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #294

Jun 092022

Sportage

  • miles

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

The vehicle stopped while I was driving. Took it to the dealership and after 13 days struggling with a little girl and public transportation, I was told that they will only fix it if I am ready to spend $18,000. The main problems are the engine, the transmission and the wiring harness. But yet i was told the recall doesn't cover any of it. I tried calling Kia and was on hold for 1h25 minutes for the lady to just hang up on me. I don't know where else to head. Thanks

- City Of Orange, NJ, USA

problem #293

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 #292

Jun 142022

Sportage

  • miles
Engine started knocking at 98,000 miles and Dealer wont do a thing about it.

- Highlands Ranch , CO, USA

problem #291

Feb 012022

Sportage

  • miles
Vehicle was purchased and driven less than 1 yr and less than 10,000 miles before engine failure. Both repair facilities and salvage yards claim there is a recall on the engine of this car. Both dealership and KIA are unwilling to rectify this problem.

- Brandon, FL, USA

problem #290

May 022022

Sportage

  • 96,600 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,600.

- Harrisonburg, VA, USA

problem #289

Mar 142022

Sportage

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the engine seized. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and the starter was damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The dealer sent a diagnostic report to the manufacturer; however, the manufacturer declined to cover the repair of the vehicle. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which he associated with the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #288

Mar 192022

Sportage 4-cyl

  • miles
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 #287

Mar 062022

Sportage

  • miles
The engine started quietly knocking and continued to get louder until there was a pop and smoke started coming out of the back of the car and I pulled to the side of the road.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #286

Jan 212022

Sportage

  • miles
A rod knock in the engine, car stopped while driving and put many people behind us at risk. The problem has been confirmed and looked at but not worked on. No warnings or lights came on before the engine failed and shut off. The check engine light came on the day after it failed.

- Twin Peaks, CA, USA

problem #285

Jan 172022

Sportage

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was assigned a case manager. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #284

Jan 102022

Sportage 4-cyl

  • miles
2012 Kia Sportage. Consumer writes in regards to blown engine. The consumer stated the manufacturer was contacted. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the towing and repairs.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #283

Jan 052022

Sportage

  • miles
1. The engine and yes its available for inspection. 2. My husband was stranded in the middle of a rural street with no emergency lane in early in the morning for various hours until law enforcement had to help. 3. There are various active recalls for these vehicles(2012 Kia Sportage) 4. No, I made an appointment with a dealer Kia for January 26, 2022, but they already said that the will not cover the damages mentioning that what broke down was part of a "product improvement" campaign but not a recall according to them. 5.Car started up just fine in the morning, a couple of minutes into my commute the check engine light turned on momentarily but quickly turned off. Engine then started making noises so I decided to head back home, trying to reach some safe area to stop the car I heard a very loud noise and the car shut down so I got stuck in the middle of the road.

- Manor , TX, USA

problem #282

Oct 102021

Sportage

  • miles
KIA notified me of a KSDS recall for my engine in July 2021. I went and had the recall software installed at a KIA dealership in August 2021. On October 10, 2021, as I was driving down the freeway, my car lost power and the engine light illuminated. (Due to the installation of the KSDS software recall) Took the car to Valley KIA of Fontana. They told me that my vehicle was not covered by any settlement agreement as I had the MPI engine type, not the GDI. They provided me with a verbal quote of $7,912 to replace my engine with a used engine. I need to understand what recourse I have as now, I have a car that will not go over 2000 RPMs and KIA is refusing to cover this as a defect. I ended up towing the car back to my home.

- Panorama City, CA, USA

problem #281

Dec 192021

Sportage

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated there was an abnormal knocking noise detected and the vehicle went into limp mode. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the rod bearing had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under an extended warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

- Live Oak, FL, USA

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