2012 Kia Sportage Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 5%of 392 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Kia Sportage, 5% of the 392 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“So since I purchased the vehicle around this time last year the feeling while driving my Kia was smooth no vibration or notice coming from the car, I havent had any kind of accidents or hit any pot holes, so now a year into having the Kia and keeping all the fluids, brakes, and tires changed I noticed before getting it services and having those listed changed there is a feeling in the steering front end of what I say feels like the tires are going to fold up under the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #11397789, filed 2021-02, 115,000 miles“When I put the gear in drive, it jerks.the car is stationary, I put in reverse, back out, put on the brake then drive and this is when it jerks. Also it going in to drive is difficult. As if it's hard to go in to gear.. This occurs every time I drive it. It also occurs when I'm putting into drive, going forward, not just backing up first.I have no documentation. I entered in other as I'm not familiar where this issue goes on your list. Possibly the drive train?”
NHTSA complaint #11246285, filed 2019-08, 81,000 miles“I was driving with my daughter at 7:30 pm on santiago canyon road orange, ca. When I noticed a clicking sound and caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of a light reflecting off the road. I instantly pulled over and told my daughter to get out. The car took about 3 to 4 minutes to totally go up in flames. I was never contacted about any potential problems with this car or anything about the Kia sorrento we also own. Now I won't be driving that car either.”
NHTSA complaint #11265649, filed 2019-10, 85,000 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“My 20 year old daughter was driving her 2012 Kia Sportage on the 30 bypass going 55 miles an hour when all of a sudden she had engine loss. Thank goodness she was able to safely get to the side of the road without getting hit or even killed. She was very scared. We had the car towed to a independent mechanic. He said the had catastrophic engine. The mechanic advised us to have it towed to the Kia dealership where we purchased the vehicle a year and a half ago. Kia said that it would need a new engine costing $5000-$8000 to repair. …”
NHTSA complaint #11310717, filed 2020-02, 73,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11017172Apr 17, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are…
- 11000787May 16, 2024This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission…
- 10242913Sep 25, 2023PITSTOP: AWD SYSTEM CONCERN DUE TO TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE - This Pitstop provides information regarding potential concerns with the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system due to tire sizes of…
- 10226555Nov 18, 2022TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity…
- 10168851Nov 8, 2019TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN - PARTIAL REPAIR OF 4WD COUPLING - This bulletin provides the procedure information regarding the partial repair of the Four Wheel Drive (4WD) Coupling…
- 10130104Feb 16, 2018TSB - DRIVESHAFT SERVICEABILITY - This bulletin has been revised most recently to include additional information. This bulletin provides information regarding axle shaft…
- 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…
- 10089382Aug 3, 2015Tsb: 6-spd. A/t adaptive value reset /relearn - this bulletin provides the procedures necessary to reset and relearn the adaptive values after transmission replacement or…
- 10092147Jun 1, 2015Tsb: 6 spd a/t solenoid replacement multiple dtcs - this bulletin provides information relating to the replacement of various shift solenoids on 6-speed automatic transaxles…
- 10089761Jun 1, 2015Tsb: 6 spd a/t solenoid replacement multiple dtcs - this bulletin provides information relating to the replacement of various shift solenoids on 6-speed automatic transaxles…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 11% |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% |
| 2023 | 19 | 10% |
| 2022 | 3 | 7% |
| 2021 | 4 | 7% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 7 | 10% |
| 2018 | 18 | 11% |
| 2017 | 41 | 10% |
| 2016 | 8 | 6% |
| 2015 | 6 | 4% |
| 2014 | 4 | 3% |
| 2013 | 18 | 5% |
| 2012 | 21 | 5% |
| 2011 | 23 | 13% |
| 2010 | 2 | 10% |
| 2009 | 3 | 4% |
| 2008 | 12 | 12% |
| 2007 | 3 | 4% |
| 2006 | 6 | 5% |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 23 | 10% |
| 2001 | 22 | 10% |
| 2000 | 41 | 13% |
| 1999 | 57 | 20% |
| 1998 | 63 | 21% |
| 1997 | 25 | 14% |
| 1996 | 11 | 19% |
| 1995 | 4 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Sportage
328 complaintsElectrical system
29 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsFuel system
7 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