2012 Kia SPORTAGE: complaints, problems and recalls

DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH, EXITING THE 405 S FREEWAY IN SOCAL ON THE BROOKHURST N EXIT RAMP, HEARD A LOUD POP. CHECKING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, I SEE A LONG 13 INCH CRACK IN THE GLASS AT THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER, BEGINNING AT THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE IT'S CONNECTED TO THE CAR BODY FRAME AND EXTENDING LEFT TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER PARKING THE CAR, I INSPECT THE CRACK, WHICH IS COMPLETELY SMOOTH, INDICATING THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR A ROCK TO HAVE CHIPPED OR GOUGED THE GLASS TO START THE CRACK. ANY GLASS DUST WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424659 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AS I WAS APPROCHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES MADE A VERY VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO STOP AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED SO I HAD TO PUT MUCH MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I CARRIED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED (DID NOT MAKE THE NOISE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP) AND AFTER CHECKING IT I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO MAKE THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425730 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE PEDAL GRIP PADDING FALLS OFF, LEAVING A SLIPPERY SURFACE AND A FALLEN GRIP PADDING BLOCKING BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING IN FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SWERVING INTO TWO TOLL LANES & CRASHING INTO SEVERAL RUBBER DIVIDERS. AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE BRAKE PEDAL GRIP PADDING HAS CONTINUED TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. KIA DEALERSHIP & SERVICE DEPARTMENT DENIED A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN TGHE VEHICLE WITHOUT EVEN INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432967 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GEAR PLACED IN PARK. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE ALSO OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN THE EVENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO JUMP FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES, TRAPPING THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE VEHICLES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES THE ARMS, SHOULDERS AND RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FA…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450350 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OR ANY SPEED ABOVE 30MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD VEHICLE REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION TO TRACK VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. WITHOUT CONSTANT CORRECTION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAVE THE ROAD SURFACE. THE RESISTANCE TO STEERING PRESSURE IN CORRELATION TO SPEED DOES NOT SEEM PROPERLY PROGRAMMED FOR VEHICLE. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS IS TO DRIVE A CAR THAT WOULD OTHERWISE TRACK DOWN THE ROAD CORRECTLY, NOW THROW CONTROL ARMS WITH WORN OUT BUSHINGS AND BALL JOINTS. IT ACTS EXACTLY LIKE THAT, EXCEPT A CAR WITH WORN OU…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453522 at NHTSA ↗

ITS APPROX 57 DEGREES OUT. 6:30 AM THIS MORNING WENT OUTSIDE TO START CAR CAME, BACK 10 MINUTES LATER TO GO TO WORK AND FOUND A CRACK (WHICH WASN'T THERE WHEN I STARTED THE CAR) FROM BOTTOM LEFT CORNER UP TO THE TOP. ON MY WAY TO WORK ANOTHER CRACK STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY CAR IS 9 WEEKS OLD, NO ACCIDENT, NO CHIPS. WHEN I CALLED THE CAR DEALER THEY SAID CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY IT SHOULD BE COVERED. I TOLD THEM THAT I FELT THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. THEY TOLD ME NO. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474447 at NHTSA ↗

I PULLED A TRAILER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS DATE. THE TRUCK ONLY MADE IT 10 MILES, AND LOST ALL POWER, AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF OF THE FREEWAY. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW APART. ALL THEY DID WAS CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON JULY 13TH, I TOWED MY CAMPER, WHICH WAS LIGHTER THAN THE LAST TRAILER I PULLED. THIS TIME, ABOUT 6 MILES INTO THE TRIP, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LET GO ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO GET ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER AND A CAMPER IN-TOW. WAITED AT THE SIDE OF T…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485272 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A HUGE POP SOUND ALMOST LIKE A FIRECRACKER AND WHEN I TURNED AROUND TO SEE WHAT IT WAS MY ENTIRE BACK WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR ANY OBJECT LIKE THAT TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, MAYBE PRESSURE OR AN AIR BUBBLE? IT SEEMED LIKE A DEFAULT IN THE WINDOW TO ME BUT OF COURSE IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495354 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-03-31 (March 31, 2017)

Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.

Consequence: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.

Reported: 2018-12-19 (December 19, 2018)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Reported: 2019-02-15 (February 15, 2019)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Kia Sportage vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.

Consequence: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will replace the oil pressure switch with an improved one, free of charge. In addition, dealers will inspect the oil pan for any oil leaks, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC174.

Reported: 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.