2012 Kia Sportage: excessive oil consumption

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 Jan 10, 2023 · OH

My 2012 Kia Sportage 2.0 gdi $70k miles seized & began smoking as if it was going to catch fire while driving down the interstate on 11/24/2022 and 132 miles away from home. After finally getting towed back home and $400 later, I contacted Kia Corporate who then advised I have it towed to Kia dealership. Moving on, the dealership advised my turbo blew up I contacted Kia Corporate who put in a claim under manufacturer defect…ughh to find out they denied the claim. When Coughlin Kia should have 1st informed me of why my turbo blew up and didn’t. The dealership was very adamant on insisting I pay over $5k to have turbo fixed. My car had seemed to be using/burning oil which then was causing a misfire on cylinder 1 and oil blowing all throughout the engine. Which results from …. Worn or damaged main bearings throw off an excessive amount of oil which flows along the crankshaft and is thrown up into the cylinders. My car does have the lifetime engine replacement warranty and I feel Kia is doing everything possible to avoid replacing the engine. I had picked my vehicle up from Kia Couglin had it towed to a local garage (another tow bill $150) who advised of above issues after replacing turbo another $2k I’ve put into the car and still don’t have a vehicle. I strongly feel this all falls under that lifetime warranty & I’m getting no where with Kia Corporate

Filed Dec 12, 2022 · Engine · 70,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 70-75 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and stalled. The contact was able to coast the vehicle off the road where she noticed a fuel odor. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to her residence and then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was excessive wear on the bearings and seals caused by the engine consuming oil. The failure produced diagnostic trouble code: P0301 (Cylinder #1 Misfire). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case manager and informed that the failure was not related to a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Mar 30, 2021 · Engine · 111,500 miles · WI

First complaint #11340436 filed in july 2020 for original 2012 engine. Engine light never came on. Driving on a highway 70-75 MPH. Knocking sound in engine. Crankshaft piston rod damaged. Engine replaced with used 2014 motor. March 2021 complaint being filed for replacement 2014 engine (in july 2020) engine light has come on repeatedly in the last month when just driving around town. 1) oil was changed; light reset. 2) solenoid switch replaced; light reset. 3) leaking oil; valve cover secured 4) variable valve timing gear problem, timing is off causing oil pressure problems. Vehicle running rough, engine is audibly missing.

Filed Nov 15, 2019 · Engine · 101,400 miles · MN · fire

Traveling home on interstate highway at 75 MPH when I suddenly heard an unfamiliar noise coming from the engine compartment. A few seconds later, some louder noises came from the engine area and I lost all power and lots of lights lit up on the dash. I could immediately smell burning oil and noticed blue smoke in my rear view mirror and what looked like a circular part sliding on the pavement behind me which I knew was some part from the car. I pulled over onto the shoulder and lifted the hood and saw flames on the rear of the engine on the exhaust area. I used 10 or 12 handfuls of snow from the ditch to throw on the fire to get it out. Had it towed to the nearest city and had to rent a car to get home. I know that the engine blew up. I saw oil from the engine on the shoulder right up to where it came to rest.

Filed Dec 13, 2018 · Engine · 144,000 miles · TN

On 11/09/2018 our son was driving home after visiting his father in the hospital.he called and said the kia had began shaking and the engine light came on so he immediatly turned into a parking lot .the car made some loud noises and completly lost power before he could park in a space.this was around midnight and he is a teenager so he was really upset .as I was at the hospital with his dad he called a friends parent to pick him up .the next day we had car towed to kia dealer.the following week the dealer called and said engine was unrepairable .as soon as my husband was released from hospital we went to dealer on the following friday and got quote of over 5000.00 to fix with a new short block engine.of course our VIN is not included in the recalls of this engine but we feel certain this failure is the result of kias faulty engine.this car did have 144,000 miles that were interstate commuter miles and I had always kept the oil changed.prior to this the only thing repaired was the radio and a new battery.there was zero warning of any approaching problem with the engine.it did not use oil,drip any fluids or give any indication anything was wrong. Fortunalty this happed late at night with no traffic and not to me during my daily interstate commute.