2012 Kia Sportage: sudden loss of power

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · WA · fire

I was driving eastbound in my 2012 Kia Sportage on I-82 just past Benton City MP97 at about 11AM on Monday June 22, 2026, when my engine knocked twice, the red check engine light came on, and I lost power. I pulled over off the road next to a concrete barrier that was beside a rock roadcut. My flashers would not operate, I put it into park, turned off the ignition and immediately noticed the smell of burning oil or rubber. I had 2 half gallon containers of water on my front seat, so I popped the switch, lifted the hood, used the prop rod to hold the hood up as I started dowsing the flames that were popping up on the passenger side of my engine compartment near the firewall. After using both half gallons, I ran to the rear of the vehicle, opened the hatchback, and grabbed a gallon spray bottle of water and brought that back around to the front of the vehicle. By this point the prop rod holding the hood was bending and the flames were popping back up, I pumped the sprayer and directed a stream of water with my left hand and used my right to hold up the hood as the prop rod was not working. After the fire was completely out, I returned to the rear of the vehicle, donned my reflective vest, put a portable flasher on my vehicle, and at this point a Benton County fireman in a pickup arrived - he was called by a motorist that saw me pulling over with smoke trailing my vehicle. The fireman was followed by a large firetruck and crew. They propped up the hood with a bar and inspected the motor to verify the fire was completely extinguished. They took my information and left. A Washington State Patrol arrived, assessed the scene and offered assistance, but I already had called my wife so he left me to wait for her. He told me I had 24 hours to get the car off the interstate. I had the car towed to my driveway by A&E towing at about 2:30PM. I just realized this morning that I ought to report it to you. I haven't tried to start it, but I'm sure it won't.

Filed Jun 14, 2023 · Engine · OH

Driving 25-30 MPH engine died, no warning lights illuminated prior to the engine stopping. The vehicle drifted to a stop on the side of the road. There was no loss of power steering. Safety was at risk due to sudden engine loss while driving on a road. Vehicle was towed to nearby service center for evaluation. Motor is seized per service center.

Filed Sep 24, 2022 · Engine · NM

Loss of power while traveling uphill on I25 at high speed (75 mph). Speed slowed to less than 30 mph while other vehicles passed at high speeds. Once on side of road, car would not start. Engine and battery lights remained on, but were not on prior to this event. Vehicle was towed to mechanic shop for evaluation, diagnosed with seized engine and due to high repair cost, is a total loss.

Filed Jul 30, 2022 · Engine · TN

I was driving down the road at 55 mph and my vehicle lost all power and died. So sitting on the side of the road I tried to start the vehicle again. It started but died again. So I waited a few minutes and tried again. It started so I put my flashers on and drove at a low speed until I got the vehicle home. I heard a loud knocking as I was driving it. So the next day I called the Kia dealership to make an appointment for the recall on it and they told me they only do recall on certain days. So I had to wait for 3 wks before I could bring it to them. On the day of the service I was driving it to them and the knocking of the engine started to get loud and then the engine started to make this grinding sound and it died on me. So I sat in a turning lane for a bit and tried to start it up again but then the grinding got louder and I heard something explode and smoke came out from under the hood of the car. I had to call the dealership and let them know I was broken down and I had to call a tow truck this being the weekend after the 4th of July I sat for a tow truck from 7:40 am to 10:40 am and the temp outside at that time was around 100 degrees. I get the vehicle to the dealers and they call me the next day telling me they can't do the recall and it would cost me 12,000 for a new engine because they say the warranty has gone out on the vehicle and I waited too long to have the recall done. I bought this vehicle from Carvana and before I actually purchased the vehicle I took it to the dealership for them to look at it and make sure it was ok. At that time I had brought up the recall that Carvana told me about and I told them that at the dealers and they told me they didn't have the time to take care of that recall so life went on and I had forgotten it until that day when the vehicle had broken down. I only had the car for a year and only had put 1,500 miles on it when all of this happened. So I own 12,000 on this car and can't drive or do anything now.

Filed Jul 5, 2022 · Engine · 80,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the oil level warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle stated losing power. The contact was able to pull over and add more oil into the engine however, the failure continued. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the failure happened due to insufficient maintenance. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Mar 30, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · IL

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.

Filed Dec 30, 2021 · Engine · CA

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.

Filed Jan 21, 2021 · Engine · 109,000 miles · KS

As driving down the highway at 65 we noticed a abrupt loss of power followed shortly after by several warning lights and vehicle engine shutting off. After safely pulling off side of road I popped the hood to look for any obvious issues non were found no smoke, smell of burning or hot, checked oil level which was fine. Got back in vehicle and it restarted fine but has a audible click noise, we decided to have the vehicle trailered home to prevent any further damage. When this took place there were no active check engine lights or any info on temp gauge that was out of the ordinary. The next day I checked the oil again and decided to start the vehicle once again started with no issue but has a audible click that gets louder with applied RPM. Went ahead and put in drive to check if transmission was functioning and appears to work in drive and reverse only moved a few feet then shut it off. We seen that kia has had several recalls over manufacturing defects for engines that cause these malfunctions but according to the dealer ours does not fall in that category.

Filed Oct 20, 2020 · Engine · 83,000 miles · TX

Driving on farm roads, started hearing faint noise in engine. Then the car lost all power (while going 70-75). Also lost breaking for a short amount of time.was able to get off road safely. Had diagnostic test done. Seized engine. Kia says there is no recall on my vehicle. There are other recalls for similar issues on the same make and year though. ?? A rod was completly shattered in the bottom end. Engine has to be replaced.

Filed Aug 12, 2020 · Engine · 76,500 miles · NV

I was driving at highway speeds going home and my engine started making a "knocking" noise. I lost power to the engine and could barely make it safely off the road. I was able to "limp" the car home with the engine still knocking,without a lot of power. I towed it to the kia dealership here in reno, nv and they diagnoses it as a premature failure of the crank shaft. The car has less than 77 thousand miles on it. Because I am the second owner, kia will not issue me the manufacturer warranty. There is a class action lawsuit regards to this problem with kia and hundai motors here in the us for single port injector motors and in canada about the multi-port injector motors. I believe that with my car having the same engine problems as the class action lawsuit, my car should be included in the lawsuit.

Filed Jul 10, 2020 · Engine · 89,000 miles · MA

Driving westbound on i70 on june 3, in warrenton mo, my 2012 kia sportage suddenly lost all power at highway speed. I quickly pulled off the highway as the engine shut down and I coasted into a gas station. The car would not restart. I hired a tow truck and had the sportage towed 45 minutes away to jim butler kia. The next morning, the service manager informed me my engine had siezed and needed to be replaced. Kia will not warranty the engine even though they have replaced about 1.7 million 4 cyclinder engines for my model year kia and other years as well. There is an open recall for my sportage which I was never notified of for oil leaks that can cause engine failure. I have requested help from kia but they refuse to help me even though the car is within warranty time and miles but I am the second owner. Other 2nd owners have been covered and had their engines replaced at no charge I have read online many times. Kia knows they had a problem with millions upon millions of 4cyl and 6 cyl engines and replaced them but are for some reason refusing to help me with mine, even though I can prove I did the required maintenance. I was lucky I was able to pull off i70 without being rear ended by one of many 18 wheelers speeding by. I just want my car fixed like the millions of others like mine were!!

Filed May 21, 2020 · Engine · 89,753 miles · NV

Driving vehicle on the freeway (I-80) at 65 miles an hour to work from my home and the vehicle started shaking and lost power. I immediately pulled to the shoulder of the road and called a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with lower engine failure. Kia corporation has a recall on 2012 kia sportage for lower engine failure but the corporation told me that my vehicle is not affected by the recall.