2012 Kia Sportage problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid
The 2012 Kia Sportage has 392 owner complaints on record with NHTSA, which ranks it 2 of 8 Kia Sportage model years by complaint volume. The worst year is 2017 (401); the cleanest is 2019 (70). 5 recall entries cover this year.
Is 2012 a good year for the Kia Sportage?
The spread across this nameplate is wide: the 2017 draws 6 times the complaints of the 2019. On a run like that the model year you buy matters more than the badge, and 2012 sits near the top of it.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall entries |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71 | 3 |
| 2020 | 161 | 2 |
| 2019 | 70 | 2 |
| 2017 | 401 | 4 |
| 2016 | 132 | 2 |
| 2015 | 146 | 2 |
| 2013 | 381 | 3 |
| 2012 ← this page | 392 | 5 |
Older years have been on the road longer and collect more complaints for that reason alone, and a year that sold in higher volume collects more while being no worse.
This retrieval holds 8 of the nameplate’s model years. 2014, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 are absent, which means no records came back for them — not that they were clean. The ranking above is among the years shown.
The 2012 accounts for 22% of every complaint filed against the Kia Sportage in this retrieval, which works out to 28.0 complaints per year on the road across the 14 years since it was sold new — the figure to compare against other years, because it removes the advantage a newer car gets simply from having had less time to accumulate reports.
Which recalls cover the 2012?
Fuel System, Gasoline
Free remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
Engine
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Free remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge.
Engine
The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.
Free remedy: 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.
Take the campaign number to any franchised Kia dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2012 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.
Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.
What do owners report on the Kia Sportage?
Across every Kia Sportage year, not the 2012 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.
- Engine — 888 reports
- Electrical System — 171 reports
- Unknown or Other — 155 reports
- Service Brakes — 132 reports
If your 2012 is doing something now, these are the guides for that system — each opens with whether it is safe to keep driving:
Which other Kia Sportage years should you compare?
2013 Kia Sportage → · All Kia Sportage years
If you are deciding between years, the table above is the short answer and the Kia Sportage page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.
Check a 2012 before you commit
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