10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,886 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 #15

Oct 112023

Sportage 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle lost motive power. Additionally, on several occasions while in reverse, there was a loud noise coming from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer five times; however, the failure could not be replicated. The contact stated that on another occasion the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where an unknown code was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Lynwood, IL, USA

problem #14

Jan 112024

Sportage

  • 75,490 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the electrical and mechanical systems became inoperable. The headlights, signal, and hazard lights became inoperable. The contact pulled over, placed the vehicle in park, and turned the vehicle off. After restarting the vehicle, an abnormal ticking sound was coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the radiator needed to be replaced and the tie rod had excessive play. The dealer denied repairing the vehicle due to sludge in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 75,490.

- Woonsocket, RI, USA

problem #13

Feb 082024

Sportage

  • miles
Fully maintained services with my 2019 Kia Sportage with my local Kia dealership. I am a sales rep and use my car daily. I have 155k miles on my car. My car was needing oil changes about every 2500 miles because it was burning so much oil. Yesterday, 2/08, I turned on my car during my work day and while ideling my car in park, my engine light came on. The car immediately started to shake uncontrollably. No other indication prior to the shaking of the car did I think something was wrong. Again I get services done frequently to my car. I took it to Kia immediately. They diagnosed that in cylinder 2 one of my intake valves was broken. This is not covered under the recall already put in place or with the extended warranty with the software update. According to my Kia Dealership, the current recall for an engine replacement is only for the under rod bearing. The dealership wants $7300 for a completely new engine. I have never had a car that has ever had an engine go. Nor have heard of one having the engine fail within the first 5 years. I have looked online and many people have complained about this exact same problem and Kia says they can-??t do anything for us. I do not have current documentation because my car is still at Kia. I am trying to figure out what to do before I drive it off the lot.

- San Marcos, CA, USA

problem #12

Dec 072023

Sportage

  • miles
Complained since buying car noise in motor was told it was fine on dec 7th car broke down 200 miles from home was told it was the rod bearings that was under recall

- Clarksburg, WV, USA

problem #11

Nov 162023

Sportage

  • miles
I have been fighting with Cronin Kia over my engine that needs replaced due to a known problem with the GDI engine. This vehicle is burning so much oil and I have reported the problem. I was told to perform oil consumption tests, which I have been compliant with. The problem is that on 11/16/23, I had to go to an oil change company due to my engine having no oil, yet again. I called Cronin Kia and was told that since I put oil in the car, I have to start all over again. I hadn't even gone the 1,000 miles that they requested me to do. I called the dealership and the service manager, Josh Hopkins, told me he could not help me even though I had photos. I then called the Kia corporate office number and spoke to Angel and was told that I should have let my engine blow up on the road and have it towed to the dealership. This would have caused an accident and they told me they didn't care that is what I needed to do. I feel this is so unacceptable and needs to be reported to you. This could cause a major accident and I have a daughter wo has special needs and I need to drive a safe vehicle and telling me to take the chance of an accident is so scary. I would really appreciate any help you can offer. [XXX] (formerly [XXX] ). [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Hamilton , OH, USA

problem #10

Nov 062022

Sportage

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an unusual ticking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with tow hitch wiring harness deficiency. The contact was informed that the tow hitch wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had received an interim recall notification in November 2022. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) in July 2023. The contact stated that the vehicle was stolen in April 2023 for a short while. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer offered to cover half the cost of the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- South Holland, IL, USA

problem #9

Aug 202022

Sportage

  • miles
the continued to over heat smoke and has burning smell and seat belt stop tracting and retracting

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #8

Mar 012023

Sportage

  • miles
My vehicle keeps stalling and its been having an oil consumption problem for several months. I keep taking it to kia, they keep doing oil consumption tests. I'm afraid to drive my vehicle anymore. I had an oil change done one month 3k miles later she was out of oil.

- Manassas Park, VA, USA

problem #7

Oct 172022

Sportage

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, there was a ticking noise heard coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who confirmed the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting diagnostic testing and repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #6

Jun 272021

Sportage

  • miles
When you put the car in gear, the car rolls backward in drive. The engine light, oil light and battery light are on the dashboard.

- Chesterfield , VA, USA

problem #5

Feb 072021

Sportage

  • 18,000 miles
When driving in traffic engine shuts off with no warning. Complete loss of engine power. Have to come to a complete stop in lane of traffic and then put vehicle in park and restart engine. Happened 3 times in last month. My Kia Sportage 2019 only has 18,000 miles on it. No check engine lights on. Extremely unsafe and Kia services very unhelpful. Vehicle was in motion all 3 times this happened on a city street going straight in traffic.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #4

Jul 172020

Sportage 4-cyl

  • 12,000 miles
In August of last year I bought a 2019 Kia Sportage ex from smithtown Kia in NY. On July 12, 2020 I was driving with my daughter when the car just stopped without any warning. It was a very scary experience as cars were all around me. Luckily, I was on a side street and not on a main road or highway! when I preceded to start the car up again there was a terrible odor that smelled like gas and a burning smell. At that point, I called my husband who got a tow truck for us. The next day, the service department told me the code to inform them what was wrong with the vehicle disappeared. However, the car was working and ready for me to pick up! I informed them that I did not feel safe driving the vehicle without it being fixed nor was my daughter willing to go back in the car. I was told they would drive the car around to assure me there was nothing wrong with the car. Again, they offered for me to pick the car up or drop it off!

- Port Jefferson Station, NY, USA

problem #3

Jan 022020

Sportage

  • 13,800 miles
While driving normally on the highway, I've continuously experienced the car randomly revving between 3000 and 4000 rpms while driving on the highway and on regular roads. It will get stuck at 2000 rpms and will not accelerate or decelerate no matter how hard the gas/brake is pressed. It has been taken to the dealership I purchased it from twice now, and both times they have told me they cannot find anything wrong with the car, no codes or anything. I do not feel safe in a car I'm paying $402 a month for. I have contacted Kia corporate in atlanta and opened a case with Kia consumer assistance online. Waiting response from both. Will not buy another Kia after I lemon law this car. My family has always had Kia's and never had any issue with them. I previously had a 2016 Sportage that also had transmission problems.

- Fayetteville, GA, USA

problem #2

Sep 262019

Sportage

  • 3,999 miles
My Kia Sportage 2019 caught fire on the highway in new market md at around 10:30 am 9/26/19. We had previously taken the car to the dealership where we purchased it back in 12/2019. It had only 3900+/- miles on it. The oil, filter, tire rotation and 27 point inspection was done on 9/19/19. As I was in the left lane of rte 70 wb I noticed blue smoke coming from the back of the car. I put on my flashers and signaled over to the right shoulder. I called my husband and was quite hysterical because now the front of the car was smoking a brownish-black. It quickly started coming in they the vents. I couldn't figure out what to do - may have been in some sort of shock. But I finally left the vehicle but was still too close. A passerby, jeremiah darling of NJ, assisted me to a safe place and I heard a pop then the flames started coming quickly.

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

problem #1

Dec 052018

Sportage

  • 5,000 miles
Purchased car on July 28 2019 from hollywood Kia. Took it to their service center on November 26 for complimentary oil and filter change. On December 5 on the I-75 expressway got an alarm sound and sign that the "engine has overheated". managed to get home, next day waited all day for towing company. Either car is defective or the service they did caused this dangerous issue.

- Miami Beach, FL, USA