10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,637 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #14

Jun 162024

Sportage

  • miles
I was driving my car and it stalled out and stopped and never cranked back up so I had it pulled in and my mechanic said it was a burnt starter and motor locked

- Mcminnville, TN, USA

problem #13

Sep 192022

Sportage

  • miles
Two weeks ago my car began making a loud knocking noise from the bottom end and emitting a burning smell from the engine out of nowhere, without any warning lamps. I took it to a mechanic I trust. As soon as he heard the noise and looked at it he told me it was bad and that I could not drive my car, it concerned a HECU unit and/or fuse and could potentially lock up or start on fire. He gave me a printout with NHTSA Recall# 22V051 on it and told me I would need a new engine. When I called Kia Customer Care they did not have the recall number. I gave it to them and they put me on hold for 45 minutes so they could do some research; the representative and her supervisor eventually found the recall and authorized a safety tow to Peak Kia in Denver, CO At Peak Kia they told me they looked at my car and it would need a new engine, but there was nothing they could do because my car was past warranty. That was the first time I had ever heard of anything about a warranty or it being past due. The service clerk told me it would be an out of pocket expense of 6 -12,000$ for a new engine and explained that this was because my car had gone past 100,000 miles, and the engine had already failed so the warranty could not be extended. She also told me to contact my dealership because they could be at fault. I left that building scared, because I still owe about 8000$ on my loan. I purchased the vehicle in Rapid City, SD with my parents at a non Kia dealership called Granite Nissan. When we called the dealership they said they had not been informed of a recall by the previous owner or Kia manufacturers. Neither had I at the time of purchase, or since. My dad and I checked Kelley Blue Book to make sure. I was then informed that the dealership does not have legal responsibility to alert buyers of this info. Now we are being repeatedly told that this will be my expense, and it is a scam. Kia made a car that promised reliability and safety, but have left the defects up to the owner.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #12

Jul 072022

Sportage

  • miles
This car was electronically going crazy tenants calling police cause alarm wouldn't stop going off Smelled gasoline but no leaks o roll the windows down engine ram n lights get dim no check light ever came on car shutting off child locked in car behind this then it goes up in smoke while driving on the freeway what the hell should I say more we could have list our lives in that car I have 2 kids 1 and 2. I need justice asap I have kids with astma is it due to this faulty vehicle

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #11

Feb 012022

Sportage

  • miles
I have not had an "incident" because I have not driven this auto since I received the recall notice early April. KIA is crazy if they believe it is safe to drive while under constant threat of fire. I was hoping you could initiate another class action suit to force them to act, as it has been an unreasonable amt of time...5 and ? months since recall date. Please help. I have contacted NHTSA, FTC, Attorney General, etc etc. NO ONE has responded other than to to issue a complaint report #.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #10

Nov 222021

Sportage

  • miles
The computer monitor says, " bootloader started insert USB with file" Nothing on the screen works. It never shuts off. Even when the car is off and the keys are out of the ignition. It kills the battery. We have taken the fuse out and it shuts off but I can't use the hatchback. It stays in the locked position. I also can't use the power locks. I took it to a Kia dealer and they could not figure it out. They sent me on my way.

- Fairlee, VT, USA

problem #9

Mar 072022

Sportage

  • miles
Well renctly it been a disturbing knocking sound in my engine it started to happen month after i got my oil change and the more u push the gas the sound start getting louder. Since then i haven't drove my vehicle i been trying calling kia but they haven't give me no information and thats the only vehicle that gets me to work. No it haven't been inspected i been constantly calling kia dealership i havent got a called back.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #8

Nov 202020

Sportage

  • 47,513 miles
Randomly shuts off while driving

- Belle Vernon, PA, USA

problem #7

Sep 202019

Sportage

  • 70,000 miles
My Kia Sportage is having major electric issues with the usb device and radio also lights delay to come on when I turn off vehicle weird sound comes from what sounds like the dash area also when I take my key out of the ignition it still makes the dinging noise like the keys are in the ignition and the door is open and when I shut my hatch sometimes it causes my lights in the back to flash on definitely something wrong with the electrical system and I definitely don't feel safe with my vehicle like this I had did some research and there are other Kia models with electrical recalls for catching fire and other things I hipe Kia will do something to make my vehicle ok and make me feel safe while in it im have issues when parked and in motion

- Harrison, MI, USA

problem #6

Sep 152019

Sportage

  • 58,000 miles
Intermittent non starting. Replaced vehicle battery and fob battery. All accessories work but will not start. Press the start button and it will not start and have a hard brake pedal. Will not start even when apply more pressure on the brake pedal. Wait 5 to 10 minutes later and it will start. Been back to the dealer many times and their computer says there is nothing wrong. They can not duplicate the problem.

- Gorham, ME, USA

problem #5

Jun 012016

Sportage

  • 17,000 miles
My car stalls. It stalls while idling, at a light or while driving on a highway at 65 mph. Although the last is less common it has happened enough to be frightening. I purchased the car 3 years ago and it stalled upon leaving the dealership. It was in 3 time immediaately. Since then the Kia dealership in coral springs Florida has told me they find nothing wrong. Sometimes is seems to backfire before stalling and others stall quietly. It is rare fir the car to get through bumper to bumper traffic without stalling. If I idle for five or six minutes it stalls. Going around clover leaves on highways it stall. It has stalled hundred of times.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #4

Oct 042018

Sportage

  • 32,400 miles
After heavy rain drove through large amount water slowly. Once I got threw the water all of my dashboard lights went off for 6 mins, so I pulled over and checked the switches. They came on, but as drove the smell of wires burning was very heavy in the cabin, I had to open all windows until the smell cleared. There has been frequent news coverage on Kia vehicles catching fire on the highways in Georgia. Also, reported that after required repair were done, these cars still caught fire. Still no nationwide acknowledge of this serious problem by the manufacturer. I don't feel safe driving my Kia. I have not any investigations by any Agency.

- Fairburn, GA, USA

problem #3

Mar 072018

Sportage

  • 20,000 miles
The 2015 Kia Sportage was in the parking lot at the medical center where my wife had a doctor appointment. She was inside approximately 10-15 minutes when an announcement was made about a red Kia in the parking lot. When she looked, it was her car & the engine compartment was engulfed in flames. The police and fire department were already on scene & the fire was extinguished. The car was a total loss.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #2

Oct 262017

Sportage

  • 42,000 miles
Drove vehicle approx 10 minutes smelled a burning smell, thought it was the vehicle driving in next lane, about 5 minutes later while stopped at a red light light, I noticed the heavy smoke coming from engine, I exited vehicle and just 1-2 minutes engine was fully engulfed in flames.

- Santa Maria, TX, USA

problem #1

Sep 202015

Sportage 4-cyl

  • 2,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. While driving at an unknown speed, all the lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle lost power steering and braking ability. The odometer also failed to illuminate. The contact observed smoke under the hood and flames appeared. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,000.....updated 10-27-15

- Macomb, IL, USA