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What 380 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Sportage Phev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (380)Crash / fire / injury (28)Engine (300)Brakes (25)Electrical system (22)Transmission & drivetrain (18)Engine & cooling (14)Fuel system (9)Body & structure (6)Suspension (6)Airbags (4)Speed control (4)

Newest first · 380 complaints · page 6 of 16

Mar 27, 2021Engine

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE LOST POWER TO EVERYTHING .LUCKILY SHE WAS IN A POSITION TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED SHE WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN . THIS HAPPENED TO HER TWICE WHILE TRYING TO GET HOME. I TOLD HER TO GET IT HOME AND MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT . SHE TOLD SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT SINCE IT WAS IN WE WANTED ALL RECALLS DEALT WITH. THEY ONLY FOUND TWO RECALLS( CHARCOAL CANISTER/ UNDERCOATING) WE HAD THEM RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST $150 AND WE WERE TOLD THEY FOUND NOTHING. ON THE RETURN TRIP FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MY WIFE CALKS AGAIN AND SAID THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AGAIN! I WENT TO SEE IF I COULD HELP AND FOUND THE VEHICLE WITH A TRAIL OF OIL BEHIND IT AND ABOUT 3 QUARTS OF OIL UNDERNEATH. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO TOW IT TO THEM. THE NEXT MORNING I CALL AND DECIDED TO MAKE A IN PERSON VISIT TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. AFTER I TELL HIM WHAT HAPPENED HE MAKES NO MENTION OF ANY ENGINE RECALL . I INFORMED HIM THERE WAS WITH THE ENGINE. THEN HE TELLS ME THERE IS A RECALL WITH THE 2.4 GDI ENGINES AND NOT FIR THE 2.4 MPI ENGINES. THIS SPORTAGE HAS 70K MILES ON IT. STILL PENDING A CALL BACK ABOUT WHAT THEY DISCOVER THE ENGINE MAY BE REPLACED OR NOT. THIS NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION ABOUT THE 2.4 MPI BEING INCLUDED IN RECALLS.

NHTSA ODI 11405175

Mar 25, 2021Engine

MY BOYFRIEND AND I WERE ON MY WAY TO GATLINBURG FOR MY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND. JUST MADE IT INTO KNOXVILLE WHEN MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND STOPPED. WE BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE (THE LEFT LANE OF I-75 IN KNOXVILLE). MY BOYFRIEND STATED THAT THE ENGINE JUST THREW A ROD. WE WAITED 2 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK WITH TDOT BEHIND US FOR AN HOUR AND 1/2 FOR THAT. THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ROAD. WE FINALLY GOT TOWED TO THE KIA CLOSEST TO US. THEY RAN MY VIN AND STATED THAT ISN'T PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE MY ENGINE ISN'T THE GDI ENGINE. SO, EVEN THOUGH 2013 KIA SPORTAGES ARE ALL HAVING ENGINE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR ALL OF KIA'S CUSTOMERS, KIA IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. MY BOYFRIEND WORKS AS A MECHANIC AND SUBMITTED A PA AND IT WAS DENIED AS WELL. IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 CUSTOMER'S HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SAME ENGINE, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS LOOKS BAD ON KIA, AND IT LOOKS BAD ON THE NHTSA FOR NOT ISSUING THE RECALL DUE TO SAFETY. HAD ANY OF THE NUMEROUS 250 COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN SO FAR NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD, DUE TO NO WARNING, THEN I'M SURE THERE WOULD BE A RECALL. BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME TO DEATH BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 11404799

Mar 25, 2021Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT METAL DEBRIS WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED OAKES KIA (2900 BURLINGTON ST, NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO 64116, (816) 474-2900) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A TOTAL ENGINE LOSS DUE TO METAL DEBRIS FOUND IN THE ENGINE WHICH CREATED A HOLE IN THE PISTON. THE DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI 11404808

Mar 25, 2021Electrical system

I WAS OUT DRIVING MY CAR ONE DAY AND THE WINDOW SWITCH STARTED ACTING UP,THE RADIO SHUT OFF, THE AC COMPRESSOR AND THE RADIATOR FAN STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11404819

Mar 20, 2021Engine

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 191 BY MILEPOST 93 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A SLIGHT WHIRLING NOISE AND STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WE WERE ASCENDING A LITTLE HILL AND ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT UP THE HILL. WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET OFF THE ROAD AS FAR AS WE CAN. THE PLACE WHERE THE ENGINE DECIDED TO GIVE US PROBLEMS WAS NEAR A VERY DANGEROUS BLIND SPOT. AS THE KIA SLOWED DOWN, A SEMI ALMOST REARED ENDED US BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN DECELERATING SPEED. THERE WAS NO SUDDEN VIBRATION OR ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I HAD TO CALL THE SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DISPATCH UNIT TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE. THE SHERRIFF CAME OUT AND NOTED THAT THE KIA WAS IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION AND THAT A TOW TRUCK WAS REROUTE FROM MOAB, UT. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE KIA TO SHOW THE SHERRIFF THAT IT WAS DEAD, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCK AND THE ENGINE DIED, AND HASN'T TURNED ON SINCE. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE KIA, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM AT ALL. THE ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY AND THE REST OF THE KIA WAS IN TOP TOP SHAPE.

NHTSA ODI 11404002

Mar 11, 2021Engine

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 77 MPH ON I-95 WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY. THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. WE HAD TO TRY TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IN WHICH WE COULD SAFELY WAIT FOR HELP. THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE (FAMILY KIA) DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE TSB PI1803Y/Z (REV4) OR OFFER THIS TO ME. I BELIEVE THAT KIA SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT KEEPING THE CONSUMERS FEELING SAFE IN THEIR VEHICLES AND GIVE US A REASON TO RECOMMEND THE KIA BRAND. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. KIA NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT FOR ME AND FOR OTHER KIA CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ODI 11400404

Mar 10, 2021Engine

MY MOTHER 2013 KIA SPORTAGE LX JUST STALLED OUT WHICH DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD MY MOTHER IS 80 YEAR OLD IF TWO GENTLEMAN DID STOP AND PUSH CAR OFF THE ROAD SHE COULD OF BEEN KILLED THE CAR START SMOKING ONE GENTLEMAN CALLED ME I PICKED HER UP AND HAD THE KIA ROAD SIDE TOWED THE 2013 KIA SPORTAGE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD US THAT THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN UP AND WE WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW MOTOR THIS VEHICLE HAD NO SIGN OF THE CAR MOTOR WOULD BLOW UP ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN MADE ON THIS CAR WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN THIS CALL HAD NO RECALLS WHY SHE OWES MONEY ON THIS CAR AND NOW AFTER 14 MONTH OF HAVING THIS CAR THE MOTOR JUST BLOWS UP THIS IS UNFAIR THAT NOW SHE HAS NO CAR BUT IS PAYING 3300 PRR MONTH FOR HER CAR PAYMENT CAR MOTOR DO NOT BLOW UP THE CAR IS AT DAYTONA BEACH KIA WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR KIA MANUFACTURER MOTOR TO RETURN A PHONE CALL ABOUT THIS CAR NO ONE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THIS CAR I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THIS COMPANY SO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO MAYBE WE NEED AN ATTORNEY I JUST DO UNDER WHEY THE NHTSA WOULD NOT HELP IN THIS PROBLEM AND WHY WOULD YOU LET THIS BECOME A BIG PROBLEM PEOPLE COULD BE KILLED THIS WAS PLAMCOAST PARKWAY I HAVE ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THIS MANUFACTURER AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS CAR ALMOST ALL WITHTHE SAME VIN.NUM PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT WHAT NEXTS [XXX] OR PHONE NUMBER [XXX]I HOPE YOU DO HELP THANK YOU. WHY WAS THIS CAR RECALLED YOU HAVE 246 COMPLAINTS ON THE 2013 KIA SPORTAGE LX VIN NO. [XXX] THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE THE SAME VIN BUT THE LAST 4 DIGITS ARE BLOCKED THIS IS PROBLEM FOR US. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11400088

Mar 6, 2021SteeringSpeed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH, WENT INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE TO PASS A VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE REVVED INTO THE 7000RPM RANGE, ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DASH, AND IT IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK OVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS HAD COME ON PRIOR TO THIS AND MY OIL IS CHANGED REGULARLY. THE ENGINE IS NOW "LOCKED" UP. I AM READING THIS HAS BEEN A FREQUENT PROBLEM, BUT MY VEHICLE VIN SHOWS NO RECALLS. THIS WAS ON A 55MPH HIGHWAY, WHILE PASSING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11399550

Feb 25, 2021Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER FRED BEANS KIA OF LANGHORNE (1801 LINCOLN HWY, LANGHORNE, PA 19047, (267)436-4961) AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 188,000.*DT*JB*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JS*DT

NHTSA ODI 11397845

Feb 25, 2021Engine

ENGINE FAILURE 113,000 MILES, NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS. ENGINE KNOCKING WHEN IDLING

NHTSA ODI 11397971

Feb 18, 2021EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT'S CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER WHO OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND SAW SMOKE EXITING THE FROM THE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER DAYTONA KIA (510 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114: (386) 252-7000), WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11396745

Feb 5, 2021Engine

WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY MY ENGINE LOST POWER, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED, THEN I TRIED TO START IT BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT AN ACCIDENT HAPPENING SO I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF ROAD. THE MECHANIC FOUND DAMAGE AT THE CRANK SHIFT PISTOL #3

NHTSA ODI 11394890

Jan 18, 2021Engine

WAS DRIVING HOME ALONE FROM LOUISIANA TO MISSISSIPPI AND PASSED A CAR AND CAR DIES AND ALL DASH LIGHTS COME ON SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF CAR AND SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES. I TURNED CAR BACK ON AND NO DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND DIDN'T HEAR ANY NOISE TO INDICATE ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE SO I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP BEING I WAS ALONE AND IN A RURAL AREA. CAR RAN NORMAL FOR ABOUT 30 MILES AND CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN TO WHERE THERE WAS NO POWER AND FINALLY WOULDN'T GO. NOTE: NO ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AT THAT TIME.HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME (3) HOURS AWAY, AND MY MECHANIC SAID THE BEARING ARE RUINED AND THERE'S METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL AND THE OIL HAS A BURNT SMELL TO IT. I HAD OIL CHANGED REGULARLY AND THAT OIL CHANGE HAD ABOUT 600 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11388747

Jan 14, 2021Engine

ON 12-23-2020, WE WERE COMING BACK HOME AFTER DOING SOME GROCERY SHOPPING, I WAS DOING 70 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, THEN SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND CAR STALL AFTER THAT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, WHICH WAS PRETTY SCARY ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON A FAT HIGHWAY AND HAVING A TODDLER IN THE BACK, ALL 3 LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH (OIL, BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE). CAR DIDN'T WANT TO START AFTER THAT, SO I CALLED A FRIEND TO HELP US GET HOME SINCE IT WAS ONLY A MILE AWAY FROM WHERE WE LIVE. HOWEVER, THE CAR STARTED AN HOUR LATER BUT DIDN'T DRIVE MORE THAN 5 SECONDS AND STALLED AGAIN. I HAVE IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. HE INSPECTED AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. HE DROVE IT FOR TWO DAYS AND NOTHING. TWO WEEKS LATER AFTER GOING ON A TRIP I STARTED HEARING THIS TAPPING NOISE AT 2000 RPM, WHICH IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR ISN'T LEAKING ANY OIL, AND IT HAS ONLY 99K MILES, BEEN CHANGING OIL ON TIME, AND ALL NECESSARY FILTERS. AT THE MOMENT OF WRITING THIS COMPLAIN, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11388213

Jan 5, 2021Engine

PISTON ROD BROKE THROUGH THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS 88,400 MILES. NOT UNDER WARRANTY PER KIA. 2ND OWNER. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED FROM A KIA DEALER. 2ND HAND MARKET FOR THIS TYPE ENGINE IS NOT AVAILABLE. PER KIA, NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR THESE VEHICLES. *LN VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11386621

Dec 18, 2020Engine

ON 4/18/2019 I WAS DRIVING ON A NARROW 2-LANE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $8,800. THE ENGINE HAD 83,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11384100

Dec 10, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE OIL WAS DRAINED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT METAL SHAVING WAS FOUND IN THE OIL AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11382899

Dec 6, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, MY CAR JUST SLOW DOWN AND WOULDN'T GO FAST ANYMORE I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START UP ANYMORE IT JUST DIED ON ME. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AAA TO HAVE IT CHECKED, AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S AN ENGINE FAILURE. I WENT INTO KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM ABOUT THE I WAS HAVING WITH THE VEHICLE I ASKED IF MY VEHICLE IS UNDER AN ENGINE RECALL? THEY TOLD ME NO.

NHTSA ODI 11378066

Dec 4, 2020Engine

ENGINE FAILED AT APP. 114,770 MILES WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. STARTED WITH SLIGHT TAPPING SOUND, PROGRESSED TO LOUD KNOCKING SOUND, PROGRESSED TO SOUNDING LIKE BOWLING BALL ROLLING AROUND IN ENGINE IN A MATTER OF A FEW MILES NO ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE DEALER - NEVER HAD A WARNING LIGHT OR OIL LIGHT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE FOR MANY 2013 SPORTAGES BUT NOT MY CAR DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY REPLACE THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE ON SPORTAGES 10 TIMES A WEEK

NHTSA ODI 11377905

Dec 2, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

AROUND THANKSGIVING I NOTICED A KNOCKING/ RATTLING/ CLANKING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD IN THE ENGINE AREA, WHICH OCCASIONALLY INCREASED/DECREASED WHEN THE RPMS MOVED. DUE TO COVID AND NOT TRAVELING I DIDNT DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS. I WENT TO THE STORE ON 11/30 AND THE SOUND WAS LOUDER AND MORE STARTLING. I HAD MY HUSBAND CHECK IT WHEN HE GOT HOME. WE NOTICED RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE BUT MY VIN NEVER REGISTERED. BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN, MY HUSBAND ASKED ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ASAP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT FOR 12/1. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TO GET TO MY APPOINTMENT THE SOUND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE - THEN ALL LIGHTS WENT ON IN THE DASH AND THE GAS STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS LIKE MY VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I WAITED OVER AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK; ON THE SHOULDER OF A BUSY HIGHWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR. IT WAS DROPPED AT THE DEALER AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WAITING ON A REPORT AS TO WHATS WRONG. WE BELIEVE IT FALLS IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT RECALLS.

NHTSA ODI 11377412

Dec 2, 2020Engine

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR JUST SHUT DOWN HAD IT HAULED HOME THEN HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT HE SAID MY MOTOR WAS SEIZED LOCK UP HE PULL MY OUL PAN IT IS FULL OF METAL IT HAS 125000 MILES I CALLED KIA ITS NOT IN TJE RECALL IT HAS THE 2.4L ENGINE HOW CAN 1 BE ON RECALL NOT TJE OTHER THEY TELL ME THEY CANT HELP ME

NHTSA ODI 11377572

Dec 2, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING TO MISSOURI THERE WAS A KNOCKING FROM MY CAR, I TRIED PUSHING ON THE GAS BUT IT WOULDN'T LET THE GASKET TO THE ENGINE SO IT WOULDN'T LET ME CONTINUE DRIVING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND MY DAD AND BROTHER CAME TO TOW IT TO MY DADS TOWN MECHANIC HE SAID THE BARRINGS WENT OUT ON THE CRANK SHAFT. I WAS IN THE INTERSTATE. I FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL #17V-224 (METAL DEBRIS MAY HAVE BEEN GENERATED FROM FACTORY MACHINING OPERATIONS AS PART OF THE MANUFACTURING OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT WHICH MAY NOT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT'S OIL PASSAGES DURING THE CLEANING PROCESS. IN ADDITION, THE MACHINING PROCESSES OF THE CRANKPINS CAUSED AN UNEVEN SURFACE ROUGHNESS. AS A RESULT, THE METAL DEBRIS AND UNEVEN SURFACE ROUGHNESS CAN RESTRICT OIL FLOW TO THE BEARINGS, THEREBY INCREASING BEARING TEMPERATURES CAUSING PREMATURE BEARING WEAR. A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING WILL PRODUCE A CYCLIC KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND MAY ALSO RESULT IN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP AND/OR OIL PRESSURE LAMP IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IF THE WARNINGS ARE IGNORED AND THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED THE CRANK SHAFT GOING OUT AND IT COULD START A FIRE.) THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I KNOW THE VIN # AND THE RECALL NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH. I DON'T UNDERSTAND FROM WHAT I READ THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS 2011 TO 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. MY ENGINE HASS TO BE REBUILT THE PARTS ALONE ARE $2800 THEN IT COST THE MECHANIC TO FIX MY CAR SO IT'S GOING TO COST A LITTLE OVER OR UNDER 5000$ I ONLY OWE 4000$. IF I WOULD'VE KNOWN THIS I WOULD'VE TRADED MY CAR IN FOR THE NEW KIA SPORTAGE. I REALLY HOPE THAT SOMEONE CAN GET A HOLD OF ME ABOUT THIS I DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO SPEND 5000 WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11377576

Nov 24, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8TH 2020, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE 2013 KIA SPORTAGE WITH A LITTLE OVER 66,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON HWY. 174 IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, GEORGIA THE CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND AND THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. OIL WAS EVERYWHERE IN THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THIS WAS IN A STRAIGHT OF WAY AND NOT IN A CORNER AND NO ONE WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND HER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE ENGINE BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK AND IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. KIA HAS RECALLED SIMILAR ENGINES BUT BECAUSE THIS WAS A DOHC MODEL ENGINE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THESE ENGINES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALLED ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. I SCANNED IN A TEXT FROM MY MECHANIC AND THE KIA MECHANIC WHO GAVE ME A PRICE FOR THE NEW ENGINE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11376197

Nov 4, 2020Engine

DRIVING TYPICAL ROUTE ON FREEWAY. CAR STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. BECAME SLOW TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK THE NEAREST OFF RAMP. CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR DIED. ENGINE SEIZED. OIL AND BITS METAL COVERED THE INSIDE OF HOOD. MECHANIC SAID SOMETHING INSIDE THE ENGINE BROKE APART AND BUSTED A HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. OIL LEVEL ON DIPSTICK WAS NORMAL PREVIOUSLY AND AFTER INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11372944

Nov 4, 2020Engine

ON 10/19/2020 I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON AN OREGON STATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I HAD TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASH ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON AND MY ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. MY CAR STARTED, BUT I WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE A FEW MILES AT LOW SPEED BEFORE IT STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE SOUND. I STOPPED AGAIN AND WAS STRANDED WITHOUT CELL SERVICE AND WAITED FOR ASSISTANCE. A FEW HOURS LATER I WAS TOWED INTO THE NEAREST TOWN. THEY COULDN'T HELP ME, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER (APPROX 200 MILES). THEY TOLD ME THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE ESTIMATED COST IS $7,212. THE KENDALL KIA DEALER IN NAMPA, IDAHO AND KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAVE BOTH TOLD ME THAT NONE OF THE COST WOULD BE COVERED; I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY WILL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY. THE ODOMETER READING WAS 85,246 MILES AND IT HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.

NHTSA ODI 11373052

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Working with the data? Download all 380 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Kia Sportage Phev verdict →