2012 Kia Sportage: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 448 complaints
448
Total Complaints
97,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
10
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

73,000 25th Percentile
97,000 Median Mileage
115,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
325
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
22
POWER TRAIN
20
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
11
STEERING
6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6
AIR BAGS
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
SEAT BELTS
2

Severity Assessment

10
Crashes
22
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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 ..."
"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 ..."
"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..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28