2016 Kia Sportage

Routine

Owners filed 131 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
60,000 milesMedian miles at failure

47 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine52
021
Service Brakes, Hydraulic30
000
Electrical System10
000
Unknown or Other9
000
Service Brakes5
110
Air Bags5
506
Vehicle Speed Control3
100
Structure › Body3
010
Power Train3
000
Fuel/Propulsion System3
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module22V051000Park outside
Filed Feb 2, 2022126,747 vehiclesKia Motors America

Defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

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 install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC227.

Engine18V907000
Filed Dec 19, 201871,653 vehiclesKia Motors America

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Sep 11, 2026TX

The vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic mechanical engine failure while driving. The vehicle completely lost acceleration, entered a low-pitched humming 'limp-home mode,' and the dashboard red oil pressure warning light illuminated solidly.The vehicle had previously received the mandatory corporate KSDS software update. A diagnostic check by an authorized Kia dealership officially documented the physical evidence of 'metal debris in the engine oil,' which is the unarguable signature of the defect described in NHTSA Recall campaigns for the Theta II engine block.Despite the physical evidence of connecting rod bearing failure and the active KSDS update, Kia Corporate and the local dealership have issued a flat denial of the Lifetime Warranty engine replacement mandate. This constitutes a direct violation of the safety recall settlement framework."

Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2026ND

The knock censor went out, once it was replaced and the oil changed it’s still knocking and unable to drive. Mechanic from out of state looked at it and now said he thinks there’s a problem with in the engine. The car is sitting in a driveway, 4 hours from a Kia dealership.

Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2026CA

Engine failure. The engine completely seized up

Engine
Filed Feb 9, 2026180,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the transmission failed to properly change gears. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2026116,124 milesTX

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several warning lights illuminated, and the engine seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,124.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 27, 2026ID

My wife was recently in a car accident and sandwiched between two cars and the airbags didn’t deploy.

Engine
Filed Nov 19, 2025SC

WAS DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR STARTED KNOCKING MAKING NOISE, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MY TAIL PIPE. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE, BUT THAT DIDN'T DO THE TRICK, THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON, MY CAR DRIVES VERY SLOW NOW. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT ON THE ROAD

Engine
Filed Aug 16, 2025PR

La guagua se apagó corriendo motor trancado quiero saber si tiene recall de la bomba de aceite es una kia sportage 2016 motor gdi [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine
Filed Jul 3, 2025TX

2 problems occurred within 1 month from each other: - Kia Sportage engine started to randomly stall. I needed to do a full stop in the middle of the road and restart the car to continue driving. I had 3 stalls happen within 2 weeks before I had time to take it to the dealer. The Kia Dealer held it for over a week and drove it but could not find any issues. They mentioned low oil, which was strange considering I recently replaced it. I also forced the dealer to do ignition tuning which seemed to have resolved the issue. - In a month after the first problem with stalling I experienced issues with the engine of unknown origin (so far). This happened this week. While going downhill cruise control shut off. After that the engine started to decelerate and the amber blinking engine light came off. Transmission started to be jerky. Dropped it off at the dealer again. I was very luck to not get into any major car accidents so far, but I was very close! Smells, sounds, and looks like a potential recall that Kia does not want to recognize.

Engine
Filed Jun 9, 2025MD

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, I was leaving work and was exiting I97 to enter on 695 and and I accelerated to proceed on 695 and my vehicle lost power, the engine light along with the oil indictor came on, and making a loud knocking sound. The vehicle was towed and taken to the mechanic and the code read, "Knock sensor." The knock sensor was replaced at $301.85. I was able to drive the vehicle without any problems until Wednesday, June 3, 2025, when going to a doctor's appointment the vehicle's engine came on along with the oil indicator and the power was reduced and I had to pull over again with the same experience. The vehicle was again tested for codes and it then read Camshaft Sensor. This vehicle did not have any ill-performance, bells, dings, whistles or indicator lights until it was actually happening. According to the certified mechanic, this is a defect in the vehicle and although the part may be warranted, it will happen again and buyers will still have to pay for the part and labor, again, to have it fixed. I do not have my invoice on hand, however, I can get another copy.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 27, 2025AZ

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 25, 2025AL

Me and my family were on the way to the beach, as I accelerated on the interstate got to 65 mph, engine light started blinking, car instantly slowed down. Got off on next exit, to check and see what was going on, car started hesitating after acceleration. Was able to get it to an autoshop (O'Reilly's) diagnosis shows knock sensor failure and they told me it has to do with the safety recall, didn't even know the car had a recall on it.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 28, 2025OH

Very often, when I put my car into park, it doesn't seem to fully engage, and I either can't remove the key (until I put it back into drive, and then park again), and in some instances I experience a "rollaway" as soon as I remove my foot from the brake pedal. I believe there is already a recall for the Kia Telluride model for this issue.

Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2025NC

Have approx 101000 miles on car. It had 54202 when i bought it from A Kia dealer in Gastonia NC who was forced out of ownership because of fraud. The car has been serviced regularly and engine oil changed between 3-5ooo miles. I have put approximately 57000 miles since 2017. I have never had an issue with car until Christmas Eve 2024 when after leaving stop sigh and a turn around panel oil light came on and as i was looking for place to pull over all lights started Flashing and car completely went dead. Had to struggle to steer off road. Dead checked oil level good had it changed less than month temperature was normal Car dead and would not crank. Had to pay 200 on Christmas Eve to get towed to my son’s house which was approximately 15 miles. I had driven over 200+ miles averaging 60-70 mph. Diagnostic code P0014 - B camshaft position timing over - advanced or system performance bank 1. Troubling shooting told Me to replace sensor that might fix problem. I put the $89 sensor in and the car actually started but sounded like it was gonna blow up. Mechanic looked at it and said timing belt loose but he was afraid damage was done to engine and might need new one Am working on getting it towed over 200 miles away to a mechanic that i trust to look at timing system. I’m gonna have approximately $600 dollars spent and really nothing has been done but sensor replaced. After reading these complaints it seems around 100000 miles this has happened to quite a few 2016 Kia Sportages. It l

Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2024FL

Vehicle went from operating fine to a flashing yellow engine light. Within minutes, the vehicle could not be safely driven. There was a knocking and vibration from the engine.

Engine
Filed Dec 9, 2024PR

AS WE WERE DRIVING MY NIECE HOME FROM SCHOOL ABOUT A BLOCK FROM HER HOUSE, THE CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER AND WHEN WE PULLED OVER TO LET HER OUT, THE CAR SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT START BACK ON. WE WAITED A WHILE AND TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON, BUT IT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. THERE WERE NO MESSAGES OR ANYTHING SAYING SOMETHING WAS WRONG

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Sep 25, 2024CA

The car accelerated of its own accord, I had been driving 30-35 miles an hour when it accelerated suddenly and caused me to wreck.

Engine
Filed Aug 14, 2024110,000 milesIL

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and stalled. During the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.

Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2024IL

The engine knocks took it to the auto mechanic and needs a new engine. Have to pay for this and reading on line it is a well known issue

Engine
Filed Apr 21, 2024IN

I was driving down the road on 4/18/2024 and my engine locked up. I got it off the road as far as I could, but was very dangerous spot. All maintenance has been done on this SUV. I had it towed to a local independent shop where I was informed it was locked up. No warning light came on. I just lost all power and coasted to the side of the road. It is available for inspection at the shop it was towed to. No repairs have been done at this time.

20 of 131 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2017
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202627100Routine
202551100Routine
202469300Routine
2023191610Routine
202246120Routine
202151270Routine
20201602120Routine
201970230Routine
20181633120Routine
20173994270High concern
2016 — this page131250Routine
20151462110Routine
2014122310Routine
20133813220High concern
20123925160Above average
2011181680Routine
201020201Fatalities reported
200980380Routine
2008983240High concern
200777250Routine
2006111150Routine
200568320Routine
20034000Routine
2002234360Above average
2001228240Above average
2000304470Above average
1999284531Fatalities reported
1998303560Above average
1997181351Fatalities reported
199657330Routine
199556210Routine

Compare every Sportage year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 2, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.