2012 Ford Explorer vs 2012 Kia Sportage
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Ford Explorer | 2012 Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 822 | 392 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 88 | 177 |
| Investigations | 4 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 7 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 16 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 21–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,050 mi | 99,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 79 | 328 |
| Steering | 357 | 6 |
| Structure | 142 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 63 | 29 |
| Power Train | 55 | 21 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 6 |
| Air Bags | 27 | 4 |
| Suspension | 22 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 74 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 53 | 31 |
| Stalling | 41 | 67 |
| Airbag warning light | 22 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 56 |
| Vibration / shaking | 15 | 14 |
| Water leaks | 13 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 0 |
2012 Ford Explorer
2012 Kia Sportage
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Kia Sportage years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.