2012 Kia Sportage Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 2%of 392 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the fuel system of the 2012 Kia Sportage, 2% of the 392 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 excell and lost RPM, then I heard a few thumps and the check engine and battery light came on. I glided to a stop on side of freeway and car wouldn't start. Called tow. Smoke was coming from under hood. Had signs of leaking some fresh fluid. Was told engine seezed. Possibly but only 52,000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #11186190, filed 2019-03, 52,000 miles“Hi I came home on lunch one afternoon the car drove perfectly fine no issues what's so ever. About an hour passed and it was time to go back to work so I put the key in the ignition and they car never started again. …”
NHTSA complaint #11308003, filed 2020-02, 90,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11384133, filed 2020-12, 130,000 miles“On november 12 I purchased the Kia Sportage ex 2012 and it was transferred on november 16 from pittsburgh to the dhillon auto center workshop located at penndel pennsylvania being attended by the mechanic (the vehicle was stationary) who after performing the usual technical inspections found that the engine did not work properly and after a short period of ignition, it smoked intensely and went out almost immediately; insisting a couple of times more and continued checking other components of the ignition system after which he did not insist more and reaching the conclusion that the engine…”
NHTSA complaint #11378156, filed 2020-12, 69,123 miles“It died when we turned it on but we didn’t think it started so we started it again and it was fine. Then 1 hour later we were driving and check engine light came on and it turned off then the car was dying. When I pulled over to let it cool down the car wouldn’t turn back on and when I checked under the hood there was oil all over the engine and the cap was there, it was smoking.”
NHTSA complaint #11499012, filed 2022-12Related service bulletins
- 10173503Mar 19, 2020VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SC184): EVAPORATIVE CANISTER - COMPLETION STICKER - To be filled out and provided to the customers whose vehicles are registered in one of…
- 10173502Mar 19, 2020VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SC184): EVAPORATOR CANISTER - PROOF OF COMPLETION CARD - To be filled out and provided to the customers whose vehicles are registered in one…
- 10173488Mar 19, 2020VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SC184): EVAPORATIVE CANISTER - OWNER LETTER - This notice is to announce a new Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to inspect the…
- 10173514Mar 17, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN - CANISTER INSPECTION AND AUXILIARY CANISTER INSTALLATION (SC184) - This bulletin provides the procedure to…
- 10173485Mar 17, 2020VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SC184): EVAPORATIVE CANISTER - QA - This document is a Question and Answer guide for the Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to inspect the…
- 10173484Mar 17, 2020VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SC184): EVAPORATIVE CANISTER - DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTICE - This notice is to announce a new Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to…
- 10173478Mar 17, 2020VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SC184): EVAPORATIVE CANISTER - DEALER PRINCIPAL NOTICE - Announces the new Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to inspect the evaporative…
- 10152915Jan 18, 2019TSB: SPECIAL SERVICE INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS FOR GDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides…
- 10127029Dec 13, 2017TSB - SERVICE ACTION: TURBO OIL FEED LINE REPLACEMENT (SA300) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the turbo oil feed line on some 2011-2015MY Optima (TF), produced…
- 10109655May 19, 2014PIT STOP: GDI INJECTOR SPRAY TIP DEPOSITS - A design feature of vehicles equipped with a Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) system is the placement of each fuel injector directly…
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 14% |
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% |
| 2023 | 14 | 7% |
| 2022 | 3 | 7% |
| 2021 | 2 | 4% |
| 2020 | 9 | 5% |
| 2019 | 7 | 10% |
| 2018 | 11 | 7% |
| 2017 | 24 | 6% |
| 2016 | 9 | 7% |
| 2015 | 7 | 5% |
| 2014 | 8 | 6% |
| 2013 | 9 | 2% |
| 2012 | 7 | 2% |
| 2011 | 10 | 6% |
| 2009 | 5 | 6% |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% |
| 2006 | 6 | 5% |
| 2005 | 14 | 21% |
| 2002 | 67 | 29% |
| 2001 | 62 | 27% |
| 2000 | 90 | 30% |
| 1999 | 38 | 13% |
| 1998 | 24 | 8% |
| 1997 | 18 | 10% |
| 1996 | 2 | 4% |
| 1995 | 3 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Sportage
328 complaintsElectrical system
29 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology