Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Kia Sportage
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Kia Sportage has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 392 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V652000 HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V750000 Engine Damage May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V101000 Engine Oil Leak May Cause Stall or Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V907000 High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V224000 Bearing Wear may result in Engine Seizure NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 328 complaints
- Electrical System 29 complaints
- Unknown or Other 23 complaints
- Power Train 21 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 11 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 6 complaints
Of the 392 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 16 a fire; across all 392 complaints, owners report 10 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Kia Sportage faces significant reliability issues, mainly due to engine-related complaints and recalls. The numerous complaints filed regarding engine problems, alongside several recalls addressing potential engine fires and manufacturing defects, suggest below-average reliability. Limited data is available for other systems, making it challenging to identify other common failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 40,000–80,000 miles | $2,500–$6,000 | very common |
| Service Brakes | Unknown | $150–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Tire rotations and balances
- Brake inspections and servicing
- Transmission fluid changes
- Engine coolant replacement
- Spark plug replacements
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking noises
- Burning smell or smoke
- Oil leaks under the vehicle
- Brake warning lights
- Overheating engine
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Kia Sportage at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.