What 392 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid

I WAS IN THE ROAD SLOWLY BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO STOP IN A TOLL BRIDGE ABOUT 10 MILES AND SUDDENLY MY KIA SPORTAGE 2012 WAS DOWN AND A BIG NOISE I WAS REALLY SCARED. A BIG HOLE APPEARED UNDER THE CAR AND ALL OIL SCATTERED ON THE PAVEMENT. THE PISTON BROKE SO THE ENGINE. I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED DUE TO I STILL OWE THE VEHICLE AND TO FIX THE CAR THE COST IS $5,000.00 IN KIA OF YUMA ARIZONA. I OWE 6,000.00 PLUS 5,000.00 IT'S UNFAIR

NHTSA ODI 11112910

I HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. TOOK IT TO KIA MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS A PREMATURE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE. KIA HAS A RECALL SC147 ON ENGINES FOR THIS REASON, BUT IS CLAIMING THAT MY ENGINE DOES NOT QUALIFY EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11112287

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET GOING 60MPH WHEN MY ENGINE JUST DIED. I COASTED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THANKFULLY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. IT WAS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND WE WERE TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND HE COULDN'T EVEN TURN IT OVER MANUALLY. WHEN LOOKING FOR A NEW ENGINE THERE WAS NOT 1 IN ALL OF THE US AVAILABLE!! HE MENTIONED THE RECALL REGARDING ENGINE FAILURE ON CERTAIN KIA SPORTAGES SO I CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID MY VIN # WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND MY WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED SO THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME AT ALL! I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SAYING AND ESPECIALLY HOW TERRIBLE THEY TREATED ME. MY CAR ONLY HAS 80K MILES ON IT AND THIS WAS NOT RIGHT. I INVESTIGATED THE RECALL AND FOUND IT WAS FOR THE ENGINES FAILING WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MINE. I ALSO FOUND A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SAME SITUATION FOR OVER A YEAR NOW THAT ARE UNABLE TO EVEN PURCHASE ANOTHER ENGINE BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE DUE TO ALL THE ENGINES EXPLODING AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THEY TOO WERE NOT UNDER THE VIN RECALL BUT THEIR ENGINES WERE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. KIA IS DEFINITELY HIDING SOMETHING AND I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATE THIS! MY FAMILY COULD HAVE DIED AND SO COULD ALL OF THE OTHER FAMILY'S THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. MY CAR NOW SITS IN OUR DRIVEWAY UNABLE TO DRIVE, UNABLE TO FIX AND UNABLE TO SELL YET I'M STILL HAVING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN AND I HOPE SOMEONE GETS THESE LYING JERKS FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND ARE CONTINUING TO DO.

NHTSA ODI 11112182

MY 2012 KIA SPORTAGE ENGINE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT 141,000 MILES. THERE WAS METAL DEBRIS IN THE ENGINE, HOWEVER, I AM TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR ENGINE IS NOT IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT COVERING THESE ENGINE FAILURES. HOWEVER, KIA HAS DISCONTINUED THE ENGINE AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS BACK ORDERED 5-6 MONTHS. I HAVE TO SPECULATE THAT THERE ARE MORE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES OUT THERE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE LAWSUIT. I AM LODGING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE OVERALL AND THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ARE TOO LOW TO BOTHER WITH. WE WERE IN THE VEHICLE IN COMMUTER TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME THAT THE ENGINE FAILED...THANKFULLY, QUICK THINKING SAVED US FROM HAVING A WRECK AND WE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. MY SPORTAGE HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, ALL OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THE RIGHT TIMES...THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO FAIL. $23,000 FOR A CAR THAT RAN FOR 141,000 MILES...SO DISAPPOINTED. AND THEY WANT $6500 TO DO THE REPAIRS AND I HAVE TO WAIT 5-6 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE BACK ORDERED ENGINE! WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA...SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A HONDA CRV...MY SISTER'S HAS 250,000 MILES ON IT AND IT RUNS LIKE IT'S NEW!

NHTSA ODI 11111721

OUR KIA 2012 SPORTAGE BEGAN TO SUDDENLY MAKE KNOCKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY . REVIEWING INFORMATION I EXPECT THE WORST . NEW MOTOR!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11111339

MY 17YR OLD SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE.HE SLOWED DOWN TO PULL OVER AND THE STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T WANT TO TURN. HE SAID IT WAS HEAVY. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC WHO STATED IT WAS ROD BEARINGS. I REMEMBERED A COUPLE YEARS AGO GETTING A LETTER FROM NHTSA AND KIA MENTIONING THEY WERE INVESTIGATING A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. I LOOKED UP AND IT SAID NO RECALLS ON MY CAR. THE CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL SAME YEAR AND EVERYTHING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 106 THOUSAND ON IT AND HAS ALWAYS RECEIVED ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC SAID HAD MY SON KEPT DRIVING THE CAR THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY SON WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY RURAL ROAD WITH A LOT OF CURVES. WE HAVE A LOT OF OILFIELD TRUCKS AND TRAFFIC WITH VEHICLES THAT CAN'T STOP FAST AND HAD MY SON BROKE DOWN ON A CURVE OR BOTTOM OF A HILL HE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. I THINK THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED MORE. KIA SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE MY ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN A DIFFERENT FACILITY. MY CAR HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM AS THE RECALL SAME YEAR MODEL EVERYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11111135

OUR KIA 2012 SPORTAGE ENGINE FAILED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 ON MARCH 10 2018. WE HAD NEVER HAD AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COME ON EVER UNTIL THE ENGINE SEIZED GOING 65 MPH. HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COME FORM THE ENGINE. CAR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE HIGHWAY - HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE RECALL BUT HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. CAR CURRENTLY AT MECHANIC. THE ENGINE FAILURE IS THE EXACT DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE OTHER ENGINE FAILURES. ******WE CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THAT OUR VIN DID NOT MATCH THEIR RECALL. AND TOO BAD FOR US. **** WE HAVE BEEN IN A QUANDRY ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS. WE SPOKE TO OUR HYUNDAI SERVICE ADVISOR (WE HAVE OWNED A HYUNDAI FOR 10 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS) AND HE SAID THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY PURSUE THIS FURTHER WITH KIA. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON WHO TO DEAL WITH ON THIS? WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO START. I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ANY ADVICE YOU MIGHT HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 11110800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (PAT PECK KIA, 10611 BONEY AVE, D'LBERVILLE, MS 39540, 228-679-5200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD WAS FAULTY AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,200.

NHTSA ODI 11110625

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MONTROSE KIA IN SHEFFIELD (5033 DETROIT RD, SHEFFIELD, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTAINED METAL SHAVINGS AND THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI 11103725

THE VEHICLES ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CERTIFIED ASE MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS BALL BEARING MATERIAL IN THE OIL FILTER. THE MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME TO SEND IT TO A REGISTERED KIA DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID. THE VEHICLE YEAR AND MODEL ARE BEING INVESTIGATED HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OUR VIN SERIES AS IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THROUGH HOURS OF RESEARCH THE PARTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED WERE NOT MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY CAUSING FASTER WEAR AND TEAR ON THE BALL BEARINGS AND THUS CAUSING ENGINES TO SEIZE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IN THE PAST AFTER FILING A REPORT THAT MY CAR CAN NOT BE CONSIDERED. THE VEHICLE HAS A TOTAL OF 90,000 MILES AND NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OF USE BY MYSELF BEFORE THIS EVENT OCCURRED. IT IS A SAFETY VIOLATION, AND THAT IS THAT SIMPLE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAD TOLD ME THEY HAD MANY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR AND SERIES AS MINE DO NOT FIT THE CRITERIA AND UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLES ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY TO REPAIR THEM MYSELF. NOT ONLY HAVE I LOST 14 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR BUYING A VEHICLE THAT IS FAULTY BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I THOUGHT THE JOB OF THE NHTSA WAS TO KEEP AMERICANS LIVES AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE AND I AM TRULY APPALLED THAT THEY ARE IN-FACT NOT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT A STATISTIC ON ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE AT THE PERCENTAGE THEY ARE BEING ALLOWED.

NHTSA ODI 11099328

VEHICLE IN MOTION HIGHWAY SPEEDS FLAT SURFACE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF TOWED TO DEALER -- CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11097901

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THE BATTERY AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ENTIRELY. I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE TO THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND I COULDN'T RESTART THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11096812

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR ALL THE SUDDEN LOST ALL POWER. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HOWEVER WOULD TURN OVER. ELECTRIC WORKED BUT ENGINE MAKE LOUD NOISE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK HOME, 2 HOURS AWAY, TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THE BEARING WORE FROM THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP THE ENGINE. FOUND OUT VEHICLE HAS RECALL ON SOME 2012 SPORTAGE BUT NOT MINE WILL COST $5000 TO FIX

NHTSA ODI 11096624

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE SIEZED UP AND DIED ON ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH WHEN IT DIED ON ME AND LUCKILY THERE WAS A SHOULDER TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY SO THAT I COULD GET OUT OF HARMS WAY IN THE HEAVY TRAFFIC.

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VEHICLE BEGAN TO SUDDENLY MAKE KNOCKING NOISES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT SHORT DISTANCE HOME BEFORE ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED. TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP WHO CONFIRMED THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED (PISTONS BECAME COMPLETELY STUCK AND UNABLE TO MOVE). SERVICE MANAGER SAID ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR,

NHTSA ODI 11092240

I PURCHASED A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE FOR MY DAUGHTER FOUR MONTHS AGO. LAST WEEK SHE WAS DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY AND SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG, LOST POWER AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR FILLED UP WITH SMOKE AS ALL THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT AND THE HOT ENGINE WAS BURNING IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PISTON HAD GONE THROUGH THEN ENGINE BLOCK. THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO ONLY PAY $119 DOLLARS TO PULL THE HEAD GASKET AND KIA SHOULD COVER THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE. AFTER PULLING THE GASKET THEY TOLD ME THE BLOWN ENGINE WAS NO FAULT OF KIA AND SINCE THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED THERE THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PAY TO FIX IT. AFTER MANY HOURS OF RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THE SAME MODEL AND SAME YEAR THE ENGINES I HAVE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A RECALL. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO ENGINES IS THEY COME OUT OF DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. THIS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE SINCE THE ENGINES ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT HAVE $6800 TO PAY FOR A USED ENGINE WHICH HAS MORE MILES ON IT THEN THE ONE THAT WAS BLOWN. NOT TO MENTION IT TAKES THE VALUE DOWN CONSIDERABLY. WE WOULD LIVE IN CONSTANT FEAR THAT THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW AGAIN PUTTING MY DAUGHTER IN DANGER. I HAVE GOTTEN ONE MESSAGE FROM THE ESCALATION DEPARTMENT. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL BACK REPEATEDLY, WITH NO RETURN CALL. THIS EXPERIENCE AND TREATMENT BY A COMPANY THAT SUPPOSEDLY PRIDES THEMSELVES ON THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS DEPLORABLE. UPDATE. I RECEIVED A CALL ON 4/16/2018 FROM A KIA CONSUMER COMPLAINT REPRESENTATIVE. WE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THE SITUATION. HE ASSURED ME HE WOULD BE WORKING ON A SOLUTION AND TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS. AS OF 4/27/2018 STILL NO CALL. I WOULD HAVE CALLED HIM SOONER BUT I JUST GOT OUT OF SURGERY A FEW DAYS AGO.

NHTSA ODI 11090477

CAR ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN . HAVE AUTO AT MECHANIC WHO HAS BROKE DOWN MOTOR SAID ENGINE BEARING WAS BAD , THE BEARING WAS SPUN CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI 11088364

ENGINE FELL APART ON EXPRESSWAY GOING 70MPH

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ALL GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11078455

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. DOUG SMITH KIA IN AMERICAN FORK, UTAH WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 11076549

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC TESTED AND GOT CODE- P0017 WHICH IS UNKNOWN TROUBLE CODE. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS MOTOR IN OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO ENGINE SEIZING UP WITH THIS CODE. TWO DAYS AFTER THAT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. WHEN I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR IT TOOK AWHILE TO TURN OVER AND WON'T START. THE CAR HAS NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WAS TESTED AND IS GOOD. I WAS LUCKY AND WASN'T DRIVING WHEN ENGINE SEIZED UP. CAR ONLY HAS 104,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11076114

AFTER ATTEMPTING TO REMOTE START MY CAR PARKED IN THE LOT, I WENT OUTSIDE TO A CAR THAT DIDN'T REALIZE IT COULD START AND YET IT CONTINUED TO TRY. I STOPPED IT AND TRIED THE KEY, AND THE CAR LIGHTS WORKED BUT THE CAR WAS QUIET, AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA DEALER, AND AFTER TWO DAYS THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN, GUIDES, AND TENSIONS $1,116, PLUS TAX.....AFTER A WEEK THEY SAID YOU HAVE 16 OF YOUR 32 VALVES DAMAGED $2,500, PLUS TAX. APPARENTLY MY 2012 KIA SPORTAGE 2.4L MPI THETA II 64,000 MILEAGE, IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I BOUGHT THE CAR AS A SECOND OWNER SO THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 60,000 FOR SECOND OWNERS. KIA CORPORATE, CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS "NO GOODWILL", WHICH MEANS THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I LIKE MANY STILL HAVE A CAR LOAN FOR THE VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 2 WEEKS AT THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11075541

DRIVING AT 50 MPH DOWN HIGHWAY, HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND COME FORM THE ENGINE. CAR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE HIGHWAY - HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE RECALL BUT HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. CAR CURRENTLY AT MECHANIC.

NHTSA ODI 11073206

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE ON A HILL BECAUSE IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER (BUTLER KIA, 4950 CRATER LAKE AVE, MEDFORD, OR 97504, (541) 776-3088) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI 11067083

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN, ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA, METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN MY OIL. THIS HAPPENED ON A STATE HIGHWAY NEAR MY HOME.

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