2012 Kia Sportage Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

328Engine complaints

83.7%Of all 392 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE328 · 83.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23 · 5.9%

Unspecified / other23 · 5.9%

POWER TRAIN21 · 5.4%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC11 · 2.8%

Share of the 392 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Kia Sportage overview page.

What owners report

“DRIVING FROM ARIZONA TO VEGAS ON HIGHWAY 93 NORTHBOUND , NO PRIOR PROBLEM, NO WARNING SUDDENLY HEARD A VIBRATING OR TICKING NOISE, CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T…”NHTSA complaint 11186190 — filed 03/12/2019

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A AWFUL KNOCKING NOISE. THEN THE DASH LIT UP WITH OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I…”NHTSA complaint 11185919 — filed 03/11/2019

“MY VEHICLE MAKES A TICKING/KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOSE. IT RUNS REALLY HARD AND IS SLUGGISH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT HAS ALSO STALLED…”NHTSA complaint 11184178 — filed 03/04/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Kia Sportage have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Kia Sportage: 328 of 392 complaints on file (83.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Kia Sportage have in total?

392 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 7 involved a crash, 16 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.