The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of…

12/31/2024 · NHTSA ODI #11633380.0

2012 Sportage · engine

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…

12/30/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11445598.0

2012 Sportage · engine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE HEARD A THUMP FROM OUR 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHEN WE GOT HOME, MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE ENGINE AND HE FOUND WE HAD NO OIL. WE NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT COME ON AND NEVER HAD AN OIL SPOT UNDER OUR CAR. WE TOOK IT TO OUR KIA DEALER AND WAS…

12/30/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938677.0

2012 Sportage · engine

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…

12/28/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11445273.0

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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 19V101000 15/02/2019

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Kia Sportage vehicles

A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

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 necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC174.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Kia Sportage reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 390 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Kia Sportage is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2012 Kia Sportage?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 295 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Kia Sportage has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Kia Sportage?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 390 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 10 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with kia. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.