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2012 Kia

Sportage 2WD

Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L

Kia Sportage: best and worst years
2012 Kia Sportage 2WD (photo 1 of 2)

Photo may show a different model year; you're viewing the 2012.

PhotoJengtingchenCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Body
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel DriveEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Transmission
Manual 6-spdEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Powertrain
GasEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Fuel
RegularEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026

Engine & performance

HP
176
Power to weight
0.056 hp/lb
Axle ratio
3.74
Cyl
4EPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Aspiration
Naturally aspiratedEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026

Efficiency

MPG Hwy
27 mpgEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
MPG City
20 mpgEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
MPG Comb
23 mpgEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Fuel $/yr
$2,700EPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Smog score
5/10
Elec. Range
0 miEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
SmartWay certified
No

Dimensions & capacity

Length
175 inNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Width
73 inNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Height
65 inNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Wheelbase
104 inNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Curb Weight
3,157 lbNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026

Safety NHTSA, model year

⚠ This model year has a recall advising owners to park outside or away from structures (fire risk). Check with the manufacturer.

Overall crash rating
★★★★
Rollover rating
★★★★
Stability control (ESC)
Standard
Forward-collision warning
No
Lane-departure warning
No
Recalls
5
Owner complaints
390
Reported injuries
10
Theft rate
0.8 per 1,000 produced (CY 2012 federal data)

Reported problems NHTSA owner complaints, model year

  • ENGINE73%
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6%
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER5%
  • POWER TRAIN4%
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2%
  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1%

Source: NHTSA owner complaints, 449 total.

Kia Sportage: best and worst years

Federal investigations NHTSA defect investigations, model year

  • AQ23002Openopened Nov 17, 2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

    Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

  • DP22003opened Sep 12, 2022ENGINE

    Loss of Motive Power

  • EA21003opened Dec 22, 2021ENGINE

    Engine Fires

  • RQ17003opened May 18, 2017ENGINE

    Scope and Timeliness

Known issues manufacturer service bulletins, model year

171 service bulletins filed with NHTSA for this model year

  • Mar 11, 2026ENGINEPI2103_OWNR_501

    PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2103 FLIGHT #501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2011-2013 MY Kia Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter MPI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge and will only involve the addition of newly developed computer software for the Engine Control Unit

  • Feb 19, 2026STRUCTURE:BODYTSB_CS2312_R1

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 20, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whole Integr

  • Dec 19, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYCS2311_OWNR_PC201

    CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. Kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade and can be installed at the ignition cylinder location to provide additional protection against the social media theft method. Prior notifications stated that this modification had to be performed by July 1, 2025, but the subject vehic

  • Dec 18, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYTSB_CS2312

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 19, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) did receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In

  • Dec 17, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYCS2312_OWNR

    CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made available to owners of eligible Kia model vehicles free of charge at authorized Kia dealers since 2023. In addition to the anti-theft software, a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade has been developed and can be installed at th

  • Dec 9, 2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGSPS797

    PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane film of the ultrasonic sensor is used for object detention and can be damaged by stone chips or for

  • Jul 8, 2025ENGINEPI2103_OWNR_401

    PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI203) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2011-2013 MY Kia Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter MPI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge and will only involve the addition of newly developed computer software for the Engine Control Unit (“ECU”).

  • Apr 17, 2025POWER TRAINTSB_TRA046_R5

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This 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 is replaced, and the transmission oil cooler is transferred to the new transmission.

  • and 163 more

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

Warranty manufacturer terms, by make

Basic
5 yr / 60k mi
Powertrain
10 yr / 100k mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60k mi
EV battery
10 yr / 100k mi

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.