10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$6,070
Average Mileage:
95,500 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replaced with new engine (5 reports)
  2. not sure (4 reports)
  3. new head gasket and cylinder replacement (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Kia dealer.

problem #10

Mar 242024

Sportage LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,016 miles

I bought my 2017 certified preowned Kia in 2020 believing I had a great car with a great warranty. It had 45,280 miles on it when I bought it and now has a little over 75,000 miles on it. I've now been told that there is piston ring failure causing oil to ruin the engine and now need a new engine which the dealer quoted me to be about 8000.00 to replace. It is still under its original warranty and was a selling point for me when I bought the car. They don't want to honor it now saying that the problem isn't under the warranty although in my contract it is. I still owe 8.000 on a worthless vehicle that couldn't sell if I wanted to. I've since seen online many others saying the same thing.

What I wish I could say about Kia..That they own up to their mistakes...that they do right by their customers, that they are a company of good character and integrity that honors their warranties.... a great company to work with.

But I can't say that. What I can say, is that they give you the runaround. That their word means nothing to them or the people who spent their hard earned money on their product. They thought they were saving money by failing to live up their end of the bargain but what they fail to understand is that a happy customer is a loyal customer. A loyal customer returns again and again and refers all their friends and family and coworkers to them also. But now my family, extended family, friends, coworkers and neighbors and anyone I ever come in contact with who is in the market for a new car will know to stay away from Kia. Their name is not worth the paper it's written on.

I know I'll never step foot into a kia dealer.

- Nina D., San Bernardino, US

problem #9

Oct 252023

Sportage XE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 154,000 miles

I am the second owner of this SUV. I bought the SUV with 30,000 miles on it.

I have maintained the SUV, oil changes every 3,000 miles etc. It started with the oil. The oil started using a lot more than usual with no leaks seen. Then one day driving home my engine light came on.

Immediately took it in to have it checked and found out it needed a few spark plugs and a coil. That was replaced and still had the problems. When I had it checked again I was informed I needed a new motor. Went for a second opinion and was told one of the spark plugs must of shaved off a little debris and went into a piston. I a devastated to find out this can happen. Even if I get a new motor and have it installed close to $7000...I can't get the SUV insured. NOBODY will insure the KIA Sportages.

How can you make a car and sell it if you can't get it insured. So laugh is on me I guess. I buy what I think is a

dependable car(NOT!!!) and then get told nobody will insure me because they are too easy to steal.

KIA should be out of business

- Shelly A., Whiteright, US

problem #8

Dec 102022

Sportage FE 2.2L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,009 miles

Filed claim form on Kia website received e mail saying that there was nothing they could do even though there is a class action lawsuit for this had an estimate for 5,000 to replace motor Kia said I would be contacted by a trained technician still nothing only had vehicle for 5 months and now it sits and I make a monthly payment on it

- Terry N., Louisville, US

problem #7

Mar 092023

Sportage LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,358 miles

Drove home from work, and the car started to shake awful, engine light started to flicker then I turned off coasted into a parking spot. Had my vehicle towed then was told I need a new engine after having it for about 2 years, second or third owner for 55358 miles when I barely drive it as it is and leave it parked in a garage.

- Sean W., Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #6

Oct 232022

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Car just completely locked up on the interstate. I am driving with my grandchildren returning them to MS, thank GOD, I got the car to the side of the interstate and luckily, I was only an hour and half into my trip. Contacted my husband and he retrieved me and the children. Had the car towed to RIVERCHASE KIA on 10/25/2022, and immediately it was all about the WARRANTY, after a week no answers, contact the WARRANTY CO., myself and told CarFax would not suffice, and I needed the actual receipts for maintenance records.

Faxed 32 pages of original receipts over on 11/7/2022 and told on 11/10/2022 that it would not be covered, because I had not done a spark plug change, 3 air filters and flushed the coolant, I still owe 9,000 on this vehicle. Talking to the dealership who I purchased it through was certainly NO HELP, LIMBAUGH Toyota/MOTORS is the WORST, absolute WORST!

RIVERCHASE KIA.....still has not contacted me, so what am I to do?

- Robyn S., Pelham, US

problem #5

Jun 192022

Sportage FE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles

click to see larger images

engine failure

We were driving home from vacation, and at the almost top of a mountain, I tried to give it gas, and it wouldn't accelerate, and the check engine light came on. It went off at the top as we coasted down, but would come on every time I touched the gas. We barely made it to the dealership to drop it off. It would sputter every time we had to stop or come to a near stop. After almost 2 weeks of them having it and a $900 diagnostic fee, the tell me that the exhaust valve on cylinder 2 has broken and destroyed the cylinder head and head gasket. They quoted $5,200 to fix, or "around $9,000" for a new engine.

- Marki M., Charleston, WV, US

problem #4

Aug 202021

Sportage SX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

2017 Kia Sportage SX Turbo with all the bells and whistles: Engine has always been a little funky, in that the transmission seemed to "slip" when accelerating quickly and the engine would roar, and not go. Then it would "catch" and pick back up to be the speed it should have been. Nearly cost me my life when I was going across an intersection and relied on getting across quickly.

However, three months ago, the engine started "sputtering." I took it to Kia dealer, and $200 later they switched out the spark plugs. This was at 92,000 miles. (Spark plugs had been replaced maybe a year earlier). THEN... yesterday at 96,000 miles, SPUTTERING STARTED AGAIN and CHECK ENGINE LIGHT and a warning display came on the touch screen monitor. Took it in to a repair place, and they said the cylinders were misfiring, that two of the four cylinders were "scored" and the ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED!!

Now it is sitting over at the Kia dealership for said REPLACEMENT. Car is going to be traded in for something that I rely on. And that's not a KIA. I thought it was cute and enjoyed it, but it has been a lemon since I bought it and I've put up with it until it FAILED.

- Laurin E., Chapel Hill, US

problem #3

Sep 262020

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Was driving down the interstate and it started smoking and shut down... I'm very irritated.

- Sonja R., Antlers, OK, US

problem #2

Feb 062021

Sportage EX 2.0L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

Oil service tech found oil filter full of metal and anti-freeze.

- Craig S., New Albany, IN, US

problem #1

Nov 152018

Sportage SX 2.4L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,500 miles

I was very satisfied with my 2017 Kia Sportage SX AWD when I drove it brand new off the dealer's lot back in Feb 2017. It was a joy to drive. Up until January 2018 I was teleworking 4 days a week and put very few miles on the vehicle. As of Jan 2018 I was teleworking 1 day a week. As of November 2018 I have about 14,500 miles on the vehicle.

I brought the vehicle into servicing at regularly scheduled intervals. I was due for service in Nov 2018 so I scheduled a service date for Nov 26. Unfortunately, the vehicle didn't make it to that date. Around Nov 15th the car started sputtering and a voice warning message was saying there is a problem with the engine and the engine light remained on. I was barely able to get the car home and into the garage. I was not able to start the car. I called a tow truck to arrange for a tow to the Kia dealer on Nov 20.

As of now the dealer has not been able to identify the problem. I was told by the dealer that they have a call to the Kia Tech line to speak to the engineers.

This problem sounds like the problem Kia and Hyundai had a few years ago that resulted in a major recall.

Update from Dec 3, 2018: The engine failure was caused by a defective spark plug that broke in the cylinder and damaged the engine. Kia will install a new engine under warranty.

- Genesio Z., BerthoudBerthoud, CO, US