Two problems related to gas recirculation valve (egr valve) 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.
While driving on the I-10 freeway in phoenix, my engine seized up. All instrument lights came on and the vehicle died while driving approx 65mph. Luckily I was able to get to the shoulder without incident. I had to wait over an hour in 106 degree heat with a highway patrol officer until the tow truck could arrive. The kia dealership confirmed that the engine died. This exact problem was addressed with kia in 2017 under a recall of over 600 thousand vehicles across their lineup including the Sportage of this exact manufacturing year. In 2019, kia expanded the vehicles covered to avoid a class action lawsuit. But I was told that my VIN doesn't qualify for the recall or the kia engine settlement. My vehicle only had 94000 miles on it and I performed all routine maintenance timely. I am the second owner of this vehicle and apparently the 10 year or 100k warranty also doesn't apply to me. I worked in automotive industry for years. Everyone knows that all of these engines are made with dozens of shared components to keep costs down during manufacturing, regardless of what your VIN is. Had it been my 15-year-old son, learning how to drive for the first time, he would not have had the experience to know how to handle the situation. He would most likely have that day or caused a massive accident on the highway. It is shameful that kia won't help customers like me when they know these engines are all defective. Does it take multiple deaths from car accidents before kia will act on behalf of their customers? do the right thing kia!.
At only 97,000 miles our 2012 kia engine seized and threw a rod onto the interstate. It was 97 degrees out and out 1 yo was stranded with us on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere until help arrived. Come to find out it was a common issue with this kia and Hyundai engine. There was even a recall. Unfortunately kia said that the problem was only certain VIN numbers and that ours want produced at the same place. The internet is full of this same issue. It's obviously a design issue or a larger production issue. I cannot express the economic bind this put our family in and kia made it very clear that they don't care. They were even rude and dismissive on their customer care line.