general problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Sportage

22 problems related to equipment have been reported for the 2012 Kia Motor Sportage. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2012 Kia Motor Sportage based on all problems reported for the 2012 Sportage.

1 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/28/2024

It's been eight months without a remedy? I live in an apartment under section 8. I'm disabled (profound deafness in both ears). I'd like to ask for help to remedy this situation because my paranoia isn't helping. Will my kia vehicle burst in fire? why isn't there a replacement for the hecu? can I get another kia vehicle to replace the one I have without breaking the bank? I'm on disability benefits and I don't have the funds to get another vehicle right now. For reference (see below) summary kia America, inc. Has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2011-2013 my Sportage vehicles. The hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may experience an electrical short circuit, which can result in an engine compartment fire while driving or parked. Safety risk an engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until they can have this recall performed. Remedy when the remedy part is available, kia dealers will replace the hecu fuse. This recall will be performed free of charge at no cost to the customer. The estimated time required to perform this recall will be approximately one (1) to two (2) hours. (refer to sc284) " manufacturer's notes "sc284sl.

2 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/30/2024

I have a recall for a hydraulic electronic control module. However, kia dealership told me there’s no remedy for this recall.

3 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/16/2024

I was not aware of the hecu problem and did not receive a letter in Nov-23 or Mar-24 about the serious hydraulic electronic control unit that is starting fires with some kia Sportage 2012 cars and others. The problem is listed as recognized in 09/2023 and it is now 7 months after this point. I called kia quirk in braintree, MA and they were unable to provide me with the hecu fuse replacement unit for the abs system. The NHTSA. Gov website recommends that owners of vehicles included within the recall to not drive their vehicles and do not park near structures and/or other cars. But kia dealerships do not have the product to fix the problem that is cited as urgent. Please notify me as to what is the best remedy and more so, the dealership since you are unable to find 'the perfect solution,' is there a safe and tested solution that may be used instead to protect owners of vehicles. Thank you. M. Imbrogna 02136, mkiandei@aol. Com, 04162024 9:24p est USA.

4 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 09/25/2023

Since Sep. 25, 2023 we received a recall notice advising to park our kia vehicle outside and away from our home, other vehicles and buildings due to a serious fire hazard from the hydraulic electronic control unit short circuiting. We have always parked our vehicle in our garage to deter theft and break-ins, stealing catalytic converters, hail damage, any other damage. This is our primary vehicle and the recall states that the fire can occur when the vehicle is in use, as well as when just parked. If it gets damaged due to continually having to park it outside who is responsible for the repairs? it has been 8 months since we received this recall and no remedy has been offered. I spoke with kia dealership and they had no suggestions, yet the recall states that the hecu fuse needs to be replaced. How can we get a resolve to this dangerous issue?.

5 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 11/24/2022

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.

6 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/17/2022

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.

7 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/25/2022

Metal fatigue is causing door hinges to split and splinter.

8 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/11/2022

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.

9 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/06/2022

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.

10 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/01/2021

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.

11 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 10/28/2019

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 .

12 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 10/01/2019

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.

13 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/23/2019

When I put the gear in drive, it jerks. The car is stationary, I put in reverse, back out, put on the brake then drive and this is when it jerks. Also it going in to drive is difficult. As if it's hard to go in to gear. . This occurs every time I drive it. It also occurs when I'm putting into drive, going forward, not just backing up first. I have no documentation. I entered in other as I'm not familiar where this issue goes on your list. Possibly the drive train?.

14 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 07/19/2019

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.

15 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/11/2019

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.

16 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 02/20/2019

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.

17 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 12/02/2018

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.

18 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 07/09/2018

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.

19 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 07/01/2017

Door will not lock completely when car is sitting in the sun and its hot outside. Driver window will not roll down when its hot outside, trunk hatch will not open/unlock when hot out side. Alarm doesnt work when hot outside.

20 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/30/2017

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.

21 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/05/2016

Windshield seal strip start peeling from the top of the driver side .

22 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/15/2015

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.


Other Equipment related problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Sportage


Safety Ratings of Sportage Cars
Fuel Economy of Sportage Vehicles
Sportage Defect Investigations