MyCarTSB

2012 Kia Sportage Other Problems

19 owner-reported other complaints from NHTSA data

19
Complaints
1
Fires
Jan 2023Dec 2019
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (19)

criticalUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2024

Your 2012 Kia Sportage has a recall due to a potential electrical short circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) that could cause an engine compartment fire while driving or parked. Kia has determined this is a safety defect and recommends parking your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the repair is completed. The fix involves replacing the HECU fuse at a Kia dealer at no cost to you, and should take 1-2 hours.

NHTSA #: 11591022
criticalUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2024

Your car is subject to a recall due to a fire hazard in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), which can short circuit while the vehicle is running or parked. Kia has advised parking the vehicle outside and away from buildings and other vehicles, but no repair remedy has been made available eight months after the recall notice. The recall indicates that replacing the HECU fuse may address the issue, but your dealership has not been able to provide a solution or timeline.

NHTSA #: 11588293
criticalUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2024

You may not have received recall notices about a serious issue with your 2012 Kia Sportage's hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) that has been linked to fires in some vehicles. When you contacted your local Kia dealership, they were unable to provide the replacement fuse unit needed to fix the problem. NHTSA recommends not driving vehicles with this issue and parking them away from structures and other cars until the repair is completed.

NHTSA #: 11583429
highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2024

Your car has a recall issued for the hydraulic electronic control module, but when you contacted a Kia dealership, they told you there's no available fix for this recall yet. This means the problem has been identified as a safety concern, but Kia hasn't released a repair solution.

NHTSA #: 11586103
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2023

My 2012 Kia Sportage 2.0 gdi $70k miles seized & began smoking as if it was going to catch fire while driving down the interstate on 11/24/2022 and 132 miles away from home. After finally getting towed back home and $400 later, I contacted Kia Corporate who then advised I have it towed to Kia dealership. Moving on, the dealership advised my turbo blew up I contacted Kia Corporate who put in a claim under manufacturer defect…ughh to find out they denied the claim. When Coughlin Kia should have 1st informed me of why my turbo blew up and didn’t. The dealership was very adamant on insisting I pay over $5k to have turbo fixed. My car had seemed to be using/burning oil which then was causing a misfire on cylinder 1 and oil blowing all throughout the engine. Which results from …. Worn or damaged main bearings throw off an excessive amount of oil which flows along the crankshaft and is thrown up into the cylinders. My car does have the lifetime engine replacement warranty and I feel Kia is doing everything possible to avoid replacing the engine. I had picked my vehicle up from Kia Couglin had it towed to a local garage (another tow bill $150) who advised of above issues after replacing turbo another $2k I’ve put into the car and still don’t have a vehicle. I strongly feel this all falls under that lifetime warranty & I’m getting no where with Kia Corporate

NHTSA #: 11501071
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2022

Metal fatigue is causing door hinges to split and splinter.

NHTSA #: 11462375
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2022

No Recall information has ever been received, by mail or other ways by me. Kia Headquarters was recently called requesting this information, and has still not been received.

NHTSA #: 11457435
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2021

RECALL ON A/C CONDENSER ASSY-COOLER, MILEAGE 24188 DATED 4-30-2015, RECALL WAS COMPLETED. CLAIM #18-646G-444. AT THIS TIME THE A/C BLOWS HOT AIR, MILEAGE 63465. WE LIVE IN KENNER, LA TEMPS ARE IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS. THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORTH THE REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY. THIS IN MY OPINION POOR WORKMANSHIP ON KIA BEHALF, VERY DISAPPOINTING.

NHTSA #: 11430513
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA TASCA (1660 HARTFORD AVE, JOHNSTON, RI 02919) AND THE KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED AS PART OF THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE RADIO AMPLIFIER WAS DAMAGED AND THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTING TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWO INPUT CONTROL PINS ON THE SWITCHES WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REGIONAL PARTS MANAGER WOULD BE CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET NOTIFIED THE CONTACT OF ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA #: 11415937
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2020

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN MY VEHICLE BEGIN TO LOOSE POWER. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND COULD NOT GET UP TO SPEED TO CONTINUE THRU THE INTERSECTION. I PULLED OVER THEN HAD SOMEONE DIRECT TRAFFIC AS I CAUTIOUSLY PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A LOCAL BUSINESS. AFTER WORK I GOT AAA TO TOW VEHICLE TO MY HOME. THE NEXT DAY I HAD AAA TOW VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. I CONTACTED KIA AT THAT TIME AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL .I HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS DIAGNOSE PROBLEM INCLUDING MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP FOR A FEE. AS I TRAILED BEHIND MY FRIEND AS HE SLOWLY DROVE VEHICLE FROM 1 SHOP TO KIA, I NOTICED FIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE SO WE STOPPED AND TOWED VEHICLE THE REST OF THE WAY. KIA SHOP VERIFIED IT TO BE ENGINE FAILURE AND QUOTED ME A REPAIR FEE OF $7500 TO $9000 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I HAD JUST SPENT $3000 ABOUT 3 MONTHS EARLIER FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION SO I DECIDED TO DONATE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF SPEND MORE MONEY.

NHTSA #: 11384133
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Dec 2019

MY VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE IF A STREET LIGHT . I TOOK IT TO KIA SHOP THEY SAID THE ENGINE DIED WHICH BEFORE THAT I NEVER GOT WARNINGS . I KNOW KIA DOES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE . THEY ARE COVERING THE ENGINE BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR WHICH IS A LITTLE OVER 3,000 DOLLARS . I'M NOT SATISFIED BUT I NEED MY CAR .

NHTSA #: 11290015
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Oct 2019

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND AS I REACH A RED LIGHT I STOPPED THE CAR TURNED OFF I TRIED TURNING IT ON 3 OR 4 TIMES BUT IT WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK . I OPEN THE HOOD AND A LITTLE SMOKE CAME OUT I HAD TO PUSH IT TO A SAFE PLACE AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY APARTMENT. I'VE TRIED TURNING IT ON BUT IT DOESN'T EVEN CRANK. THE RADIO AND LIGHT STILL TURN ON REGULAR. IT'S BEEN A PARKED ABOUT A MONTH . I HAD HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL BUT WHEN I CHECKED THE VIN NUMBER IT SAID I HAD ZERO RECALL FOR MY CAR . CAN SOMEONE HELP ME I'M LOST AND I NEED MY CAR I'M STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS PAYING INSURANCE AND IT'S ALSO TIME TO PAY REGISTRATION I'M FRUSTRATED AND IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GUIDE ME I WILL APPRECIATED IT THANKS

NHTSA #: 11266021
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2019

CAR ONLY HAS 79,597 AND I'M HEARING KNOCKING NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE NOW RECEIVED MY RECALL IN THE MAIL

NHTSA #: 11233492
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
FireFiled: Feb 2019

I HAD BEEN HEARING A STRANGE NOISE WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKES SINCE AUGUST 2018, I HAD A LAY PERSON LOOK AT IT WHO STATED IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO KIA AS I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR 20 MORE MILES AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T THE BEARINGS AND THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH THE CAR. ON FEB. 20, 2019, 6 MONTHS LATER, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY SON ON THE HIGHWAY AND STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD UNDER THE HOOD AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO FALTER. I TRIED ACCELERATING AND THE KNOCKING INCREASED AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT ON AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FALLING. I HURRIED TO GET OVER AND OFF THE HIGHWAY AS THE SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL WAS ENGULFING THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT COMPLETELY DIED AS I ROLLED TO A STOP WITH SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TOWED IT TO KIA WHO SAID THEY WOULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC FOR $145. THE TOW DRIVER GAVE ME A LEMON SIZED CHUNK OF METAL STATING IT LOOKED LIKE A PIECE OF THE OIL PAN AS THE FLATBED WAS COVERED IN OIL. I HAD TO CALL KIA THE NEXT DAY TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T DO ONE BECAUSE JUST FROM LOOKING AT THE HOLE IN THE OIL PAN, THEY COULD TELL IT HAD BLOWN AN ENGINE ROD. I WAS INFORMED THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A RECALL EVENT BECAUSE MY VIN WAS NOT RECALLED THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME.

NHTSA #: 11183294
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Dec 2018

RECENTLY PURCHASED 2012 KIA SPORTAGE ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO, ONLY 68,000 OFF THE LOT. HAS BEEN DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON VEHICLE. UNTIL LAST NIGHT HEADED BACK HOME, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING AND CLAMMERING NOISE THAT GOT LOUDER AS I COUNTINED TO DRIVE. I FIGURED AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES SHOULDN'T NOTHING POSSIBLY BE GOING WRONG. THE CAR FIRST STALLED OUT AND CUT OFF, THEN RESTARTED. DROVE TO NEAREST EXIT THINKING IT MAYBE LOW ON OIL BUT NO. RESEARCHED TO FIND THE UPSETTING AND POOR REVIEWS ON THE ENGINE FAILURE TO FAILED ROB BEARINGS WITHIN THE MOTOR DUE TO EXCESSIVE SCRAP METAL LEFT INSIDE DURING ASSEMBLY. IN WHICH RESPONSIBILITY IS SOLELY ON THE MANUFACTURER. ALSO READ UP ON FORBES ARTICLE OF KIA RECALLING VEHICLES FOR THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND SITUATION.

NHTSA #: 11155566
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jul 2018

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT SAID THE ENGINE WAS BAD AND THE PARTS WERE RECALLED. WE WERE ABLE TO TOW THE CAR TO ANOTHER SHOP AND THEY HAD SAID IT WAS POSSIBLY THE STARTER. WE REPLACED THE STARTER AS WELL AS ANOTHER PART AND THE CAR STARTED. ONCE TAKEN FOR A DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN SHUT DOWN. WE AGAIN HAD TO TOW THE CAR. NOW IT WON'T START.

NHTSA #: 11114074
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Oct 2017

AIR QUALITY. CAR CONSISTENTLY SMELLS LIKE MOLD AND MILDEW IN THE AIR VENTS DESPITE FREQUENT CHANGING OF FILTERS AND TREATMENT FOR MOLD AND MILDEW. CONDENSATION DOESN'T EVAPORATE AND MILDEW FORMS CREATING AN INDOOR AIR QUALITY ISSUE IN THE CAR. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND MAKES THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE FOR ANYONE WITH MOLD AND MILDEW ALLERGIES

NHTSA #: 11040348
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: May 2017

YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SO I TOOK IT TO PEPBOYS THAT SAID THE CODE WAS 791. THEN, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND MECHANICS TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT. MOST PEOPLE THAT PART SHOULD NOT HAD WENT BAD. THIS CODE IS FOR THE BUTTERFLY FLIPS IN THE INTAKE MANOFOLD.

NHTSA #: 10992507
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2016

WINDSHIELD SEAL STRIP START PEELING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE .

NHTSA #: 10840083

Other 2012 Kia Sportage Issues