2012 Kia Sportage reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Kia Sportage — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 451
- 100 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 327 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 10 reported crashes · 13 injuries · 22 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,159
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
+186
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2010-2014
+159
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
73%
Engine: 327 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Kia Sportage
- ENGINE 327
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22
- POWER TRAIN 20
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 11
5 recalls on record for the 2012 Kia Sportage
- NHTSA 23V652000 · 2024 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 20V750000 · 2021 · ENGINE An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 18V907000 · 2019 · ENGINE A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 19V101000 · 2019 · ENGINE A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 17V224000 · 2017 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Kia Sportage
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Kia Sportage units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Kia Sportage reliable?
NHTSA has 451 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Kia Sportage and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (327 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Kia Sportage units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Sportage?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (327), unknown or other (23), electrical system (22), power train (20). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Kia Sportage?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.