2011 Kia Sportage

Defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Risk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

Defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Kia Sportage vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.

Risk. A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Kia has notified owners, and dealers will replace the oil pressure switch with an improved one, free of charge. In addition, dealers will inspect the oil pan for any oil leaks, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC174.

Defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Defect. Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.

Risk. Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.

Defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sportage vehicles manufactured March 7, 2011, to June 8, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may intermittently fail.

Risk. Whenever the brake switch is not working, the brake lights will not illuminate, reducing the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions of stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC121.

Defect. Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Risk. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

Front headlights went out also rear brake lights now I have a problem with brake light and tailgate lamp staying on when car and lights are off. The suspension has had a issue ever since I bought it it makes awful loud noises when driving and especially hitting bumps in road. Passenger front and rear windows won't roll down. Had to replace battery as well. Inside door handles fell off as well as outside rear handles.tire pressure indicator light stays on as well as the park assist and drive train lights stay on.problem with car going in drive sometimes it locks up and have to restart and slam on brakes several times to unlock

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. While accelerating to overtake a vehicle driving under the speed limit, the vehicle started to stall. The check engine light was flashing, and the vehicle went into ECO mode. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire and engine failure due to an oil leak. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Update to NHTSA (ODI #11679186) Subject: Update to ODI Complaint #11679186 – Kia America Written Response Body: Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am writing to provide an update to my ODI Complaint #11679186 regarding my 2011 Kia Sportage SX (VIN: [XXX] ), which caught fire while I was driving on [XXX]. On August 27, 2025, Kia America issued me a written response (attached). In this letter, Kia explicitly acknowledged: “Preliminary evaluation results show… the fire originated within the engine compartment area.” “The cause was unknown engine oil leaks allowing motor oil to contact hot exhaust surfaces of the engine that led to ignition.” Despite admitting the fire’s cause, Kia refused restitution, stating that the vehicle was “9 years and 163,000 miles outside of warranty.” I request that this letter be added to ODI Complaint #11679186 and considered in your analysis of Kia vehicle fire trends. I believe this documentation is significant in establishing that Kia recognizes the fire hazard but denies responsibility due to warranty expiration, which does not address the broader safety risk. Thank you for your review and for your ongoing work to protect vehicle safety. Respectfully, Daniel McAdams INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On [XXX], my 2011 Kia Sportage SX (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while I was driving. The vehicle rapidly filled with smoke, causing throat and eye irritation from smoke inhalation. My insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. Kia America (Case #[XXX]) acknowledged the incident and confirmed that a fire inspection would be conducted. The inspection was completed, but Kia has refused to release the findings or determine the cause. On [insert date], Kia denied my claim without explanation, despite the vehicle being a complete loss due to fire. This is a critical safety issue that could have caused severe injury or death. I am requesting NHTSA investigate the cause of the fire and Kia’s handling of post-incident safety reporting. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for the State Inspection, the vehicle failed the Emissions test. The State Inspector diagnosed a failure with the Evaporative Emissions Control System (EVAP). The contact was informed that the system was leaking. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 243,000.

I'm [XXX] from Brooks Alberta Canada. I purchased this car from a private seller here in Brooks last [XXX] named “Hein Teresa Lorraine” lives in [XXX], Brooks AB T1R 0R7" and she did not include all the details in her car that it has a recall issue with the engine which is the Knock Sensor Problem. After a couple of days of using it I experience engine malfunction, the oil pressure light is keeps on flickering and as I drove from Brooks going to Calgary the engine suddenly stalled and activates the “Lymp Mode”. I cannot able to move forward and almost hit by a huge truck because of that incident. I coordinated with Straightline Kia Medicine Hat that incident, they check the vehicle and test it, after several testings they proved that the vehicle has a engine recall backjob. The check engine code shows P01326 which is responsible for engine stalling while accelerating. Kia Manager "Kent" talk to me and promise me that he will do all the reports to replace the engine. He submitted the report to the engineering department of Kia for the engine replacement but they declined it due to lack of documentation proof for regular maintenance of the vehicle from the previous owner. I told them that i recently purchased the car and I cannot able to provide the previous oil change done with the vehicle. Unfortunately after 2 weeks of waiting for nothing, Kent refuse to do a follow up report on the said incident and telling me that I need to take my car and need to pay a certain amount for

KIA issue a recall for my vehicle. Visited the dealership as instructed and the replacement part was not available. After a month and a half, they still don't know when they will receive the part. Driving a car with a safety recall (fire possible) is not ideal.

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V101000 (Engine) and 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer, a second dealer, Team Kia of El Cajon (619-444-7200), and a third dealer, Kearny Mesa Kia (858 223-3131) were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and a case was opened. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH she rolled over a large puddle of water on the roadway. The contact stated that she hydroplaned and she lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that she drove off of the roadway and down an embankment and rolled over several times before coming to a stop at the bottom of the embankment. The contact was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The contact stated she was diagnosed with a concussion, bruises to both arms, a sprained left ankle, and cuts to her hands and feet. The contact stated that she was conscious when she was removed from the vehicle and noted that only the side air bags had deployed. The driver's front air bag had not deployed. The contact stated that the police were on the scene but was not sure if a report had been written. The contact stated that the vehicle had been towed to an impound lot and declared a total loss by her insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

My 2011 kia sportage had a recall #23V65200. On [XXX] my radio started smoking and my headlights would not shut off even with car off and keys out. You had to unplug cable from battery for lights to go off and not run battery down. I called kia in bloomington indiana they said to not drive and call customer service to have towed. i called on [XXX] and talked to a lady, she was very rude and dismissive. Said they would not tow due to my kia being a 2011 it was to old and they would only tow if above 2015. She then said I had to pay and only if the lights and smoke was because of recall they would pay. But I did not know or have extra money for this and nowhere in our papers about recall does it say it had to be a certain year to tow, only to stop driving and call. So my disabled husband drove it to the dealership in bloomington on [XXX] and dropped off even though they were at risk. I did not hear anything from kia and called to make sure they received auto. They had said they found my car and did not know it was there on June 19th. My husband told a person there he dropped it off and I guess they didn't get messages. After having my car and me telling them what had happened they then said they fixed recall but would have to run a diagnostic for them to see if the other problems were because of it. Bloomington then said they could not say it was not because of the recall this happened they did not know. So they sent my car to headquarters to engineers is what bloomington told

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked overnight and next to her home, it was started but the contact left the vehicle in park and on as she retrieved a personal item from inside the home, and upon return, it was discovered that the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The police arrived on the scene and filed a police report but no information was available. The origin of the fire was unknown. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact recently received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and related the failure to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel and the radio became inoperable. The contact also stated the ignition system stopped working as intended, and the vehicle had to be started manually with the key. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the local dealer was contacted several times and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

I was driving down the highway at 55 mph with the cruise control on and when I came to a stoplight where I had to make a right, the brakes would not depress they were frozen or a hard break pedal. Apparently in 2023 Kia recalled 98,944 Kia Sportage SUVs due to a brake booster issue. My Kia is a 2011. It was very scary and I am having my vehicle towed to a Kia Dealership

The contact called on behalf of his girlfriend who owned a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that his girlfriend parked the vehicle at her driveway residence, and she discovered that the vehicle had caught on fire underneath the front. The fire department was called and the police arrived on the scene later. The fire was extinguished with water. It was unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later was declared a total loss by the insurance company. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. and the contact related the failure to this recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

MY VEHICLE HAD A AN ILLUMINATED OIL LAMP ON THE CLUSTER AND AN OIL LEAK. ON [XXX] I TOOK MY 2011 KIA OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE UNDER SAFETY CAMPAIGN 174 (SC174 SL THETA 2 - 2.4 L MPI ENGINE OIL PAN)- WHEN KIA OF DOWNTOWN RETURNED MY VEHICLE TO ME THE INVOICE STATED "OIL PAN WAS FOUND NOT LEAKING , OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WAS REPLACED" OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS I NOTICED I STILL HAD AN OIL LEAK SO I MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AT KIA OF DOWNTOWN LA TO ASK THEM TO LOOK AT THE OIL PAN AGAIN UNDER SC174 I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DOWNTOWN LA KIA ON [XXX] - THIS TIME I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM THEM STATING "VERIFIED CUSTOMERS CONCERN UPON INSPECTION FOUND OIL PAN TO BE LEAKING FROM SEAL" AND AN ESTIMATE OF $845.84 TO REPAIR IT --- I CALLED AND SPOKE TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR AND SHE SAID MY 'WARRANTY WAS VOIDED BECAUSE OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCES" WHICH THEY SAID ARE SMALL SCRATCHES ON BOTTOM THE OIL PAN - I TOLD THEM I DONT THINK THEY CAN "VOID" A SAFTEY RECALL -- I NEXT CALLED KIA CORPORATE OFFICE AND OPENED A CASE -#[XXXXXXX] - SUPERVISOR NAMED 'RICHARD"OF CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME ON RECORDED CALL THAT KIA CORPORTATE MADE AGREES WITH THE DECISION NOT TO REPLACE MY OIL PAN DUE TO THE SCRATCHES AT THE BOTTOM OF MY PAN THAT ARE NO WHERE NEAR THE MAIN SEAL. DID KIA VIOLATE ANY FEDERAL LAW BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE LEAK AT THE MAIN SEAL AND DENYING TO REPLACE THE OIL PAN AND RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME WITH A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT - RECALL - SC174 DOES NOT MENTION ANY EXEMPTIONS FOR THE RECALL SUCH

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

My complaint is in regard to your safety recall, 23V652. I received a letter notice stating my 2011 Kia Sportage is unsafe to drive. it may start a fire in the Hydraulic Electronic control unit (HECU) whether the car is parked and not being used or while driving. I consider the time for this recall to be unacceptable and would like immediate attention to fix my car.

I had the check engine light come on my Kia around September 2023. It stayed on and did not flash or anything. I had a hard time accelerating in car. I took it to get fixed on December 19,2023. They said it was the electronic wastegate actuator and I got it replaced. A month after that I was on the high way and all of my car lights came on the dashboard and a cloud of black smoke came out the exhaust pipe. I pulled over and got my car towed to dealership. They told me this time it was the engine. My car was held for 1 month to fix the engine. I have spent so much money in this car and I think this recall has alot to do with my issues with it.