Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Kia Sportage owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. My flashers would not operate, I put it into park, turned off the ignition and immediately noticed the smell of burning oil or rubber. I had 2 half gallon containers of water on my front seat, so I popped the switch, lifted the hood, used the prop rod to hold the hood up as I started dowsing the flames that were popping up on the passenger side of my engine compartment near the firewall. After using both half gallons, I ran to the rear of the vehicle, opened the hatchback, and grabbed a gallon spray bottle of water and brought that back around to the front of the vehicle. …
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.
I parked my car to unload groceries. My car was on but in park. I walked around the back of the car to the passenger side to unload the. At. The door was still locked so I walked back around to the driver side unlocked the doors and walked back around to the passenger side. When I started unloading my groceries, my car started rolling/ driving away. No one was in the car as this was happeneing. As I chased my car I was able to get to my passenger door and get it opened, the car was still in the park. The only thing that stopped my car was the framing of a garage. I have multiple witnesses that saw my car in park, and watched it drive away. Thankfully no one was hurt. I don't feel comfortable driving this car any longer.
I was driving with my daughter at 7:30 pm on santiago canyon road orange, ca. When I noticed a clicking sound and caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of a light reflecting off the road. I instantly pulled over and told my daughter to get out. The car took about 3 to 4 minutes to totally go up in flames. I was never contacted about any potential problems with this car or anything about the Kia sorrento we also own. Now I won't be driving that car either.
Hi I came home on lunch one afternoon the car drove perfectly fine no issues what's so ever. About an hour passed and it was time to go back to work so I put the key in the ignition and they car never started again. It sounded to me like it wasn't getting any fuel so I thought I'll change the fuel pump..that's when I learned that there was a fuel pump from a polaris artticat snowmobile that was used by the manufacturer which OK I thought was funny at the time but finding a replacement part was a nightmare..I finally found a replacement part which I just had to get a whole new fuel pump and assembly but when it didn't start after that I didn't know what to do. I took it to vip and had them take a look they called me back the next day and said they had no clue what was wrong with it and that I needed to come grab it and bring it to the dealer where I bought it from. …
Before this happened thought I heard a slight tapping sound like a rocker arm but didn't hear again day or two before as I would top a hill left my home. A couple of days later while driving on a city street in traffic engine died or shut off. Behind another car I had to turn out of my lane to avoid the rear-ending vehicle in front with no power steering struck a curb to my left oncoming lane coasted back on road crossed both lanes to the right finally coming to rest in small gravel lot of closed building. Put car in park and tried to start would not turn the engine over. I thought I damaged starter when I jumped curb. That night had towed to my home less than five mins away $90.00 bought starter puton tested old one, no good. Probably from trying to start over and over. Finally got motor to turn over sounded OK. …
So since I purchased the vehicle around this time last year the feeling while driving my Kia was smooth no vibration or notice coming from the car, I havent had any kind of accidents or hit any pot holes, so now a year into having the Kia and keeping all the fluids, brakes, and tires changed I noticed before getting it services and having those listed changed there is a feeling in the steering front end of what I say feels like the tires are going to fold up under the car. When turning the steering seems to feel really loose and I have to correct it out of the direction I just turn to make the vehicle to correctly drive forward. It has pulled to the right for a long time and this is one of the reasons I replaced the tires. …
My 20 year old daughter was driving her 2012 Kia Sportage on the 30 bypass going 55 miles an hour when all of a sudden she had engine loss. Thank goodness she was able to safely get to the side of the road without getting hit or even killed. She was very scared. We had the car towed to a independent mechanic. He said the had catastrophic engine. The mechanic advised us to have it towed to the Kia dealership where we purchased the vehicle a year and a half ago. Kia said that it would need a new engine costing $5000-$8000 to repair. How is it that our same year make and model have 3 recalls but our VIN number is not. When they sold us the car they knew it was a ticking time bomb and didn't care. Just wanted to make the sale. As the 2nd owner of the car they said they won't honor the factory warranty even if the salesman marked it on our paperwork that we do have it. …
I was driving in the middle of a busy highway when my car all the sudden lost all power. I luckily was able to get to the side of the road. The car however would not turn over. Electric worked but nothing else. I had to have it towed back home, 2 hours away, to have a dealership take a look at it. The bearing wore from the engine completely locked up the engine. Called Kia and two Kia dealerships directly and they told me there was nothing they could do for me, even though they are having these engine issues with many of their other makes within the same year. Representative stated that since I was over my power train warranty as a second owner, with only 112,000 miles on the car, and the current recall was only cover 2.0 liter engines and not 2.4 liter engines. …
On November 12 I purchased the Kia Sportage ex 2012 and it was transferred on November 16 from pittsburgh to the dhillon auto center workshop located at penndel pennsylvania being attended by the mechanic (the vehicle was stationary) who after performing the usual technical inspections found that the engine did not work properly and after a short period of ignition, it smoked intensely and went out almost immediately; insisting a couple of times more and continued checking other components of the ignition system after which he did not insist more and reaching the conclusion that the engine was internally damaged. Before which I felt frustrated and confused and without knowing who to turn to. Until doing the proper historical monitoring of this vehicle I find out that this car has a pending recall to be solved by Kia. …
Transmission complaints in other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2012 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2012 Kia Sportage, 5% of the model year's 392 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Kia Sportage transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2012 Kia Sportage, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Kia Sportage transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.