What 181 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid

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 not 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.

NHTSA ODI 11567184

Kia still doesn't have a remedy for the recall. It is 2024. I am still at risk

NHTSA ODI 11566721

It's been close to 6 months since they did the hydraulic brake switch fuse recall. This is a pretty big deal with cars catching on fire out of nowhere. How long do they have to come up with a solution?

NHTSA ODI 11563991

A combination of the risk of fire with the electrical component and lack of resolution to repair said recall and a faulty engine has left me in a bind. Due to the recall and its lack of resolution I am unable to get the engine repaired because the recall has left the repair shops unwilling to take the risk of fire while repairing the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11563657

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 ABS warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 155,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11557246

Drive the car for a certain amount of time (20 mins) park and then drive it again 20 mins back home when it’s already parked smell to burn. What I do? I need the car to drive to work and back home.

NHTSA ODI 11556791

I have replaced the control arms on my vehicle 5 times since 2019. Now my vehicle has brake and steering issues resulting from this and the control arms are needed replacing again. This has caused me to wreck once and luckily it wasn’t life threatening but I am now afraid to drive the car

NHTSA ODI 11554466

2011 Kia Sportage engine stalling/failure. Has been having oil pressure/heating/oil feed line/consumption issues. Taken to a Kia dealership on multiple occasions for all routine maintenance, including every 3000 oil changes. Owner was told that a catalytic converter was needed in 2021 due to engine stalling/ failure while driving 55-60mph on highway to a rapid deceleration and vehicle would go >20mph. Owner had car towed to Kia dealership and had a new catalytic converter put on in 2021 by dealership. Then in 2022 same engine stalling occurred again. Taken back to dealership and was told car needed waste gate actuator replaced. Owner agreed to cost/repairs. Then during repair was told that another catalytic converter was needed due to sludge/clogging, when one was put on less than 1.5 years prior. With less than 20k miles on new one. Car engine continues failing and will not accelerate above 20-25 mph. Check engine light has come on and been diagnosed numerous times from 2018, when oil issues started to 2023. Both dealership and manufacture are aware of recurrent issues.

NHTSA ODI 11548411

My A/C didn't work, then I noticed that none of the interior lights worked either when I took it to the repair shop. After many tests, they sent my car to a KIA dealership where they diagnosed the problem as the main wiring assembly needed to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11540716

The engine light came on and it started making loud noise, then the car started pulling on its own and it stop in the middle of the road. My safety Issue was I had to keep my driver hood open so other visible drivers could know my car had an issue. later on, that day I took my car to the mechanic and the mechanic said I have an oil leak and that's why my car started acting like that. The mechanic told me my car was ready to go, so I paid him and left thinking my car was fine. I drive 6 miles away from the car shop and my car broke down in the middle of the road. so, I had to call the tow truck people to tow my car until I could really find out what's wrong with my car.

NHTSA ODI 11539580

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V101000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was unsure if there were any warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and of the recall notification. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pressure switch, oil pan, and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that a follow-up call would follow; however, the contact had not received a response. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11519512

No check engine light on. Driving down highway when car jerked hard, coasted to side of the road. Lights, radio, dashboard lights, window controls all work. Towed to mechanic was told engine needs to be replace.

NHTSA ODI 11517741

the check engine light blinked and i lost power as i was driving. they replaced my engine and now i have 6 lights on my dash.

NHTSA ODI 11505492

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the cabin started filling up with white smoke and she could smell a burning plastic odor. The contact continued driving to her destination. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact attempted to place the vehicle into park(P) and the shift knob failed to move to park(P). The contact was able to shift to drive (D), neutral(N), and reverse(R). The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who took the console apart and was able to get the knob from being stuck. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer to be diagnosed for the burning odor. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA ODI 11495776

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off as several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact managed to coast the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway. The contact made multiple attempts to restart the vehicle but every attempt failed. Due to the excessive heat and with a newborn baby inside the vehicle, the contact called authorities for assistance. The authorities could not provide the adequate assistance needed to handle the matter; therefore, she called her husband. Her husband was able to call a neighbor who came to assist the contact with her children. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it had yet to be diagnosed or serviced. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11478566

Was driving home when car had it’s check engine light start flashing and car wouldn’t come up to speed. Went by local auto zone to check code given and it was associated with the KSDS recall update and the car is now in limp mode. Towed car to Peak Kia where it’s been for almost two months. They wanted me to tow it to Arapahoe Kia since they had previously replaced the engine (see complaint from 2019) and it now needs replacement again but it’s not covered under warranty again according to them since it’s a 2011 Kia. Not putting another cent into this car after paying over 7500 to replace the first MPI engine if Kia won’t cover replacement of faulty engine someone can have the car to investigate the engine issues and hold them accountable, be it the NHTSA or a lawyer. Kia even did the software update that put the engine in limp mode and still won’t do anything to cover a known defect.

NHTSA ODI 11467244

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rod bearings failed and the engine seized. The contact related the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000.

NHTSA ODI 11464360

The engine malfunction light came on and the vehicle began seizing. It would no longer go any faster than about 20 miles per hour. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was jeopardized as I was driving 60 miles per hour on the freeway and the light came on and the vehicle immediately began to lose speed. The issue was inspected by the dealership that I had the vehicle towed to that I normally service my vehicle. There were no symptoms or warning lamps prior to this incident. The dealership said it was a "bearing clearance issue". I contacted Kia directly and they have offered $500 of goodwill assistance towards a $5k replacement of the engine.

NHTSA ODI 11457121

Something is wrong with the output on the ECU/ECM. At first, my car would just randomly turn off and not start. This happened in the street at a red light, in parking lots and pulling into gas stations. Now the car does not turn on at all. I have a push to start so it clicks and tries to turn on. I took it to a mechanic and was first told it was the fuel pump, that was replaced but wasn't the issue. The vehicle was taken to a kia dealership who ran a test and showed the ecu/ecm was not giving enough output to tell the car to engage and start.

NHTSA ODI 11451274

The gear shift get stuck in park or drive.

NHTSA ODI 11444334

Engine failed while driving

NHTSA ODI 11433438

Airbag Clock Spring does not work properly. It has been recalled on other KIA's but not mine. I was told to just turn the steering wheel to get the cruise to work, but don't know if that will make the airbag work in case of an accident if it's not fixed!!

NHTSA ODI 11427038

I was driving 65mph on the Freeway and all of a sudden I have no power. I press acceleration to the floor and it done nothing. Code p200a Intake Manifold Code p420 Exhaust Manifold I couldn’t go no faster than 25/30 mph on an incline. I live in West Virginia so there’s inclines every few miles. I’ve been looking on the internet and I’m not the only one that is experiencing this. It needs to be fixed ASAP. And Dealership’s charge an arm and a leg for things like this. The parts alone are expensive. I believe it is going to get worse before it gets any better. So my opinion and many others say it needs to be a Recall on the 2011 KIA SPORTAGE 2.4L I4 FI DOHC 16V. Thank you for your time.

NHTSA ODI 11421346

Oil pan leak caused by faulty gasket and failed indicator

NHTSA ODI 11419638

123000 MILES STARTED KNOCKING AND ENGINE SEIZED. CAR IS GARBAGE

NHTSA ODI 11414948