What 380 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Sportage Phev

The engine seized with only 83k miles on it. For some reason it is not covered under the massive KIA engine recall despite overwhelming amount of information online saying this is a worldwide problem.

NHTSA ODI 11435262

The engine locked up on the vehicle while I was driving it. It just quit running in the middle of driving 60 mph traffic. I was on the expressway in the fast lane of traffic and it was in mid-afternoon traffic. No warning lights were on before it shut down. Vehicle was well maintained and taken care of and garage kept. It is available for inspection

NHTSA ODI 11434142

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds however, the contact was able to drive the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11429773

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 73 mph, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact parked on the side of the roadway and saw smoke coming from under the hood. The contact opened the hood and saw fire around the engine. The contact stated that her boyfriend extinguished the fire with bottles of water she had in the vehicle. The police and fire department were called to the scene. A fire report was filed. The contact was not aware of a police report being filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to two independent mechanics and remained at the second location. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

NHTSA ODI 11426124

Car stopped while at a stop light. There was traffic all around. We had it towed. Airport Kia ([XXX]) states it needs a new engine. They said they could not repair on a recall or product improvement because it had been too long. I spoke with Kia Corporate and they said there was a software update in April 2021 that was designed to (Product Improvement) to fix the engine issue. Once the software update was done the car would get a 15 year warranty. We did not receive information regarding the update or any other recall notices. We found out only when the engine quit. The car was still tied to the original owner @ Kia Corporate (per their records) - although they had [XXX] and her address as the Registered Driver. They did not contact [XXX]. Neither the dealership or corporate will help us with this issue. The engine replacement will be $6000.00. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11425947

Bought a 2013 Kia Sportage on July 16, 2021 form Holman Cadillac in Mt Laurel, NJ 08054. Two days later the check engine light appeared. Took it back to the dealer but they could not fix it. Holman sent it to a Kia Auto Shop. Car has been in the shop for 3 days. We are afraid it could be associated to the engine issues that have plagued the Kia vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11425960

Car stopped running while driving and the engine seized and locked up. Had my mechanic look at it. Put myself and others at risk being in traffic. No problems prior and no warning lamps whatsoever.

NHTSA ODI 11424492

The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 10 mph, the vehicle loss motive power without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact's friend's residence, who works as an independent mechanic, and diagnosed the vehicle with an engine. The battery, alternator, and starter were replaced however, the failure recurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the Vin was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact was informed that since the oxygen sensor recall was not repaired the manufacturer would not cover the engine repair. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11423755

I was driving from Abilene, Texas to San Antonio, Texas, when coming up a hill, all of a sudden, I hear something pop, and then right after a loud ticking noise. I lost acceleration, and brought it down from 75mph, to about 15-20mph in order to pull over. My car then needed to be towed into Fredericksburg, and then was towed to a shop in San Antonio, Texas. After the shop reviewed what had happened, they said it was a bearing, and that there was a recall for that particular year and model. After calling KIA, they said they could not help me, as my VIN was not included in that recall; even though the recall (SC147) is for the 2011-2014 KIA Optima, Sorento and the Sportage. I was told that it only affected the 2.0L engine, and not my 2.4L engine. This information, along with my VIN # needs to be added to the RECALL, as it is the 'same' issue with all of those other vehicles. KIA does not want to help or assist. I asked for someone else, a high supervisor, but was denied. There were no warnings given, or prior symptoms before the failure. I was totally taken by surprise when this happened to me in the middle of no where.

NHTSA ODI 11421849

Sudden Engine knocking. Engine needs replacing. Recall placed for my vehicle type but not my specific vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11421727

I was driving on Hwy 100 in Fairview,Tn and my Kia Sportage just stop running and I coasted off the Hwy in a front yard. I was on a two lane Hwy. very Scary had to tow car into a repair shop in Fairview but they said found engine locked up and then Kia said to have it towed to a dealership in Franklin, Tn. I have never had this happen ever in any vehicle. I’m 70 years old and need this engine to be paid for. I have two tow cost and a diag. From Hall Repair Shop.

NHTSA ODI 11421486

Just purchased Kia Sportage 2013 a few weeks ago and everything was just find under under the hood. Yesterday I was driving to work and the car just stalled on me on the highway and started smoking. No warning signs! By the grace of god, i was able to enter to the right lane without losing my live as many were all driving fast around me as I was trying to make it to the side. When I was able to park and I noticed that the oil was pouring out from the bottom.

NHTSA ODI 11420921

Traveling at highway speeds, the following happened. 2013 KIA Sportage purchased July 2019 -Started to lose power and loud knocking noise from engine (No check engine light and coolant temps average to make me aware of a problem). The lack and loss of power in any situation with other vehicle at high rates of speed has the possibility of cause severe accidents, casualties, and endangering large groups of individuals. -Pulled off to the shoulder of the highway due to lack of power and car shaking (Very high risk of getting hit). -Had car towed to AAA approved (Kwik Kar). -Mechanic called and mentioned that this specific engine (2.0L and 2.4L) is that the oil pump has defects and will starve the engine of oil with no signs (Such as check engine light). -Estimated cost of repair $8000. -I called KIA and the response was "since I did not take my vehicle in when there was a product improvement campaign that KIA would not repair/replace the engine due to my negligence" (I was never contacted about this "Campaign") and when I would check the KIA website (I checked every 3 months) there were and still are no recalls specific for my VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11420482

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, the engine ceased. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ODI 11420144

I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 KIA SPORTAGE ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR JUST DIED ON ME. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND FOUND OUT BY MECHANIC THAT MY ENGINE HAD SEIZED . HE SAID I NEEDED TO TELL KIA BECAUSE OF ALL THE RECALLS THEY HAD FOR 2013 VEHICLES. MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11416191

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO BEARING FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 11415591

WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY ENGINE SEIZED ON ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE OFF TO THE SIDE WITHOUT BEING HIT. I CONTACTED THE KIA CORPORATION WHICH IS A HORRIBLY RAN BUSINESS. AFTER LETTING THEM KNOW I WOULD CONTACT A LAWYER IF THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. NOT CALLING IT A RECALL, THOUGH IT IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING THE RECALL STATED. THEY ARE MAKING ME PAY 3000.00 LABOR COSTS TO FIX MY VEHICLE, AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE WHOLE THING! MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR TWO MONTHS NOW AND STILL ISINT FIXED!

NHTSA ODI 11414549

MY HUSBAND WAS RETURNING HOME TO OREGON FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AND WAS DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR (2013 KIA SPORTAGE) BEGAN MAKING LOUD KNOCKING NOISES AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER. HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE FREEWAY WHEN IT LOST POWER, MAKING IT INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND PUTTING HIM IN DANGER BECAUSE THE PEOPLE BEHIND HIM HAD TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID REAR-ENDING HIM. IT WAS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS TO TRY AND MOVE THE CAR OFF OF THE FREEWAY WITH OTHER CARS GOING BY AT 50+ MPH. FORTUNATELY, HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY AND PULLED OVER WHEREUPON THE CAR DIED. HE TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT STILL HAD THE VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND WOULD NOT STAY ON. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIT UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER HE HAD TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. AFTER WAITING FOR 3 HOURS FOR A TOW, THE CAR WAS FINALLY TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER HILLTOP KIA IN RICHMOND CA. MY HUSBAND HAD TO WAIT FOR CLOSE TO A WEEK TO GET THE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND ONCE THEY DID, THEY CAME BACK WITH AN $11,000 ESTIMATE STATING THAT THE CAR NEEDED THE ENGINE REPLACED, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ONLY APPLIED TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR AND KIA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE FREE OF COST. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR HAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THAT KIA IS NOT REPLACING THESE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT'S A DEFECT OF THEIR OWN MAKING. THIS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL BECAUSE THE CAR ONLY HAD 62,000 MILES ON IT, AND WE KEPT UP WITH ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. WE STILL OWE $3500 ON A CAR THAT WE CAN'T EVEN DRIVE, THE LOWEST WE'VE BEEN QUOTED TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN IS $5000 WHICH MEANS THAT THE COST OF FIXING IT IS EQUAL TO OR MORE THAN THE RESALE VALUE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11413438

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED BY A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT'S FATHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. STAFFORD KIA OF FREDERICKSBURG (5204 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (888)736-2604) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE HOWEVER, THE CALL GOT DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11408412

MY 2013 KIA SPORTAGE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE THE GAS PEDAL DIDNT WORK I PULLED OVER AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING BECAUSE IT WAS ON FIRE

NHTSA ODI 11407958

CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTIONED, REPLACED X2, THEN MAT FAILED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. STAYED IN DRIVEWAY. SELDOM USED TOTAL MILAGE 111,659

NHTSA ODI 11407308

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RPM STARTED FLUCTUATING WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ALL THE ENGINE OIL HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO NALLEY KIA (7849 MALL PKWY, LITHONIA, GA 30038) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,344. *DT

NHTSA ODI 11406948

AT A FREEWAY OFF RAMP STOP SIGN MY 2013, KIA SPORTAGE ENGINE DIED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.THERE ARE 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR WHICH KIA IS HAVING A RECALL. KIA DENIED MY CLAIM SAYING MY VIN # WAS NOT ONE APPROVED FOR RECALL.THEY CLAIM THAT MY CAR WAS NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT WHERE THE DEFECTS OCCURRED. REGARDLESS OF WHERE MY CAR WAS ASSEMBLED, MOTOR BEARING FAILURE WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES IS KIA'S FAULT. THE EMOTIONAL STRESS IS SEVERE. KIA'S STONEWALLING IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND THE EXPENSE (APPROXIMATELY $6,000) IS BACKBREAKING.

NHTSA ODI 11406470

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO YOUNGBLOOD KIA (3525 S CAMPBELL AVE, SPRINGFIELD, MO 65807, (866) 825-9532) AND DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI 11405375

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH, WHEN A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED AND WE WERE ABLE TO MERGE OUT OF TRAFFIC. ONCE THE CAR DIED THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CAR HAS 106,000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT IT HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY, HAD NO LIGHTS ON, NO LEAKAGE AND NOTHING TO INDICATE THERE WAS OR WOULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. I CALLED KIA COORPERATE WHO CLAIMS THIS SPECIFIC VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE 2013 KIA SPORTAGE ENGINE RECALLS. THERE ARE 42 PAGES OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ALMOST IDENTICAL SCENARIO. KIA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO PEOPLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE VEHICLE DYING SUDDENLY AT FAST SPEEDS AND A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN. I AM BEING QUOTED MORE THEN THE VALUE OF THE CAR TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED ENGINE. WHICH VERY CLEARLY WILL ALSO HAVE ISSUES AS THESE ENGINES ARE FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI 11405460