10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 15
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 85,169 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Was driving suv when sudden loss of power to engine, pulled off of highway and loss all power to electrical and to engine, I could smell something burning, upon further inspection after having suv towed to repair shop, I was informed that starter had melted and engine had seized up, I have contacted Kia dealership 3 times with no response from them, I also contacted Kia corp and no response, I also notified the BBB, I know there was a lifetime engine repair of this vehicle and some recall on bearings, I did have knock sensor done as required, I am looking for help in filing a complaint and copies of any recalls that were ever issued to this vehicle, I do not get recall notices sent to me, I own 4 cars, all Kia, other 3 not having issues yet, any help would be appreciated. Consumer stated the warranty has expired, but never received any notices of recalls.
- Chicago, IL, USA
The engine started quietly knocking and continued to get louder until there was a pop and smoke started coming out of the back of the car and I pulled to the side of the road.
- Saint Louis, MO, USA
A rod knock in the engine, car stopped while driving and put many people behind us at risk. The problem has been confirmed and looked at but not worked on. No warnings or lights came on before the engine failed and shut off. The check engine light came on the day after it failed.
- Twin Peaks, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was assigned a case manager. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
- Denver, CO, USA
2012 Kia Sportage. Consumer writes in regards to blown engine. The consumer stated the manufacturer was contacted. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the towing and repairs.
- Bend, OR, USA
1. The engine and yes its available for inspection. 2. My husband was stranded in the middle of a rural street with no emergency lane in early in the morning for various hours until law enforcement had to help. 3. There are various active recalls for these vehicles(2012 Kia Sportage) 4. No, I made an appointment with a dealer Kia for January 26, 2022, but they already said that the will not cover the damages mentioning that what broke down was part of a "product improvement" campaign but not a recall according to them. 5.Car started up just fine in the morning, a couple of minutes into my commute the check engine light turned on momentarily but quickly turned off. Engine then started making noises so I decided to head back home, trying to reach some safe area to stop the car I heard a very loud noise and the car shut down so I got stuck in the middle of the road.
- Manor , TX, USA
KIA notified me of a KSDS recall for my engine in July 2021. I went and had the recall software installed at a KIA dealership in August 2021. On October 10, 2021, as I was driving down the freeway, my car lost power and the engine light illuminated. (Due to the installation of the KSDS software recall) Took the car to Valley KIA of Fontana. They told me that my vehicle was not covered by any settlement agreement as I had the MPI engine type, not the GDI. They provided me with a verbal quote of $7,912 to replace my engine with a used engine. I need to understand what recourse I have as now, I have a car that will not go over 2000 RPMs and KIA is refusing to cover this as a defect. I ended up towing the car back to my home.
- Panorama City, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated there was an abnormal knocking noise detected and the vehicle went into limp mode. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the rod bearing had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under an extended warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.
- Live Oak, FL, USA
I financed my 2012 Sportage about year and half ago and since the turbo has began to leak which being under warranty was replaced but now my oil pan and filter is leaking oil and failrly good amount, so I noticed this because the dash light for low wiper fluid came on and when i tried to pop hood by pulling interior latch i learned that my hood release cable had disconnected not only from the interior latch but from my main hood latch as well so while under my car trying to figure out how i could fix this i could see the oil that had been leaking and was coming from pan and filter. I cant check the level due to the cable malfunction and learning about these recalls im scared to drive my vehicle.
- Porter, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (Engine) there was an abnormal fuel odor entering the vehicle intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.
- Columbus, OH, USA
Kia installed ksds software update. After installation the malfunction as described in the recall notice occurred. I contacted Kia and I am having difficulty with having them cover the extended warranty provided by the recall after the recall completion.
- Ellicott City, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the contact heard a rattling sound coming from the vehicle. A few days later while driving, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled in the middle of the road. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as an engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
We are still making payments on a 2012 Kia Sportage AWD. Last month on a drive to doctor appts the engine started clattering and blowing smoke. We pulled over to the side of the road just as the check engine light came on. We shut the engine off and popped the hood. The back of the engine had a bright orange glow. We had it towed to a nearby shop. They had me start the engine but it immediately started popping. They said the engine was shot. Not having the money to fix it we had it towed home. This happened on a busy 2 lane highway on the crest of a hill. Very dangerous for us and the tow truck driver. I have left messages with both Kia hotline and the local dealer, No response.
- Lincoln, AR, USA
Unknown. The car made a rattling noise. When the car was being taken to a mechanic for inspection the car stalled. The vehicle was taken by a tow truck to the mechanic. The mechanic stated after disecting the engine, it fell apart.
- Colorado Springs , CO, USA
On my 2012 Kia Sportage, my engine failed my vehicle does not turn on because the engine doesn't work for my 2012 Kia Sportage I know this because it is a common issue in Kia Sportage that the engine doesn't work anymore and that the engine needs to be replaced and I saw that Kia Recalled 295,000 Cars in the U.S. for Engine problems and my vehicle needs to be 1 of them because my vehicle won't turn on anymore.
- Northglenn, CO, USA
The oil and engine light came on while I was driving and the car started to decrease in speed. I had to pull over to the side of the road and call for a tow truck to come and get me. The car started making a knocking sound and I am unable to drive my car at this point.
- Washington, DC, USA
I was drive down the hwy and the truck just cut off on thw hwy and little smoke came from the hood I had to try push the truck to the side of the road and the truck never crank again its dead
- Birmingham, AL, USA
First complaint #11340436 filed in July 2020 for original 2012 engine. Engine light never came on. Driving on a highway 70-75 mph. Knocking sound in engine. Crankshaft piston rod damaged. Engine replaced with used 2014 motor. March 2021 complaint being filed for replacement 2014 engine (in July 2020) engine light has come on repeatedly in the last month when just driving around town. 1) oil was changed; light reset. 2) solenoid switch replaced; light reset. 3) leaking oil; valve cover secured 4) variable valve timing gear problem, timing is off causing oil pressure problems. Vehicle running rough, engine is audibly missing.
- Madison, WI, USA
I had a recall on my Kia for sc200sl engine inspect/test/repair. I make any appointment on with Kia company to check and repair, inspect engine or replace it on as the recall describe it. I went there that day the take the car on their shop for inspect it. It took like one hour to them to finished it. They tell me the repair and inspect the enginethe and everything. I went home I find out the did repair and inspect my car but the guy was just lie to me. The engine was still have engine check on. I call them to make another appointment because the first appointment they said the repair the engine but they did not. I went the second time, they told me to leave the car there for one day so that the can look at it again. They day after that I went pick up my car they said again the repair and inspect it now I should be good, after one day driving it the engine was getting worse than before the check engine come back on. The oil light comes on and oil level still full. So I want them to replace my engine or repair it. Anytime I go there they don't repair it.so now after about 10 minutes of driving oil light comes on and vehicle shut down or on red traffic light.
- Springfield, MO, USA
- Chicago, IL, USA