Home · 2013 Kia Sportage Phev · Complaints

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)

300 of 380 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 6 of 12

Aug 25, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A CLINKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND IT STOPPED ACCELERATING DESPITE MY FOOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I LOST POWER. NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF ON THE DISPLAY DASH. THE ENGINE STALLED SHORTLY AFTER WHILE I WAS STILL IN MOTION. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. I TRIED TURNING OVER THE IGNITION BUT THE ENGINE JUST CLANKED BUT DIDN'T START. I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT READ ANYTHING ABNORMAL. ONLY AFTER I PULLED OVER DID THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS STILL FULL. I LOOKED UNDER THE FRAME AND NOTICED DRIPPING OIL. I NOTICED PIECES OF METAL ON THE GROUND AND RETRIEVED THEM. (PHOTO 1) THEY APPEAR TO BE PISTON CONNECTING ROD PIECES. THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT IN PLACE FOR ISSUES RELATED TO CONNECTING ROD BEARING WEAR LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE SEIZING INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH, DAMAGED PISTONS, AND A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK WITH THE ENGINES IN 2011-2019 KIA SPORTAGES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L OR 2.4L GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE.(ENGINE FAILURE AND FIRE).I HAVE A 2013 2.4L. (RECALL NUMBER 17V224000. KIA'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS SC147) ALTHOUGH ACCORDING TO THE KIA WEBSITE, MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON. TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO FREE INSPECTION AND REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED ENGINES, LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY REPAIRS, FREE INSTALLATION OF THE KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE (FROM A PREVIOUS RECALL 17V-224), AS WELL AS GOODWILL COMPENSATION. THE OIL SPILLED OUT ONTO THE TOW TRUCK BED DURING THE TRIP TO MY HOUSE. I ASSESSED THE DAMAGE WITH MY DAD AND NOTICED THE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. (PHOTO 2). WE REALIZED THE ROD BLEW THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK.

NHTSA ODI 11351166

Aug 25, 2020Engine

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM USED CAR LOT WITH A NEW INSPECTION STICKER. VEHICLE HAD 83K MILES AT PURCHASE. VEHICLE ENGINE BLEW AT 84K MILES. DRIVING APPROX. 40MP AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. WOULDN'T RESTART. GARAGE SAID THE ENGINE IS BLOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11351194

Aug 22, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 70-75 MPH WHEN THE MOTOR FAILED. NO LIGHTS CAME ON, NO WARNING UNTIL AFTER IT BLEW. THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND ABOUT 10-15 SECOND BEFORE I FELT THE ENGINE GAVE OUT--I FELT IT UNDER MY FOOT IN THE PEDAL. I LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY, I COULD STEER BUT HAD NO ACCELERATION. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO GET THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED AN OIL CHANGE A COUPLE WEEKS PREVIOUS, HE STATED THE MOTOR BLEW. HE STATED THIS HIM SURPRISE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT WHEN HE COMPLETED THE OIL CHANGE. I BECAME AWARE OF THE MOTOR RECALLS THROUGH A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC THAT THOUGHT HE COULD HELP AND WAS SHOCKED TO READ THE EXACT THINGS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS. I ATTEMPTED TO WORK THIS OUT WITH KIA AND WAS INFORM MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT CAUSE HARM TO MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE AS THIS WAS A BUSY HIGHWAY I WAS ON, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

NHTSA ODI 11350762

Aug 15, 2020Engine

VEHICLE HAS 129265 MILES, IT HAS ALWAYS HAD SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES ONE DAY I COMMENTED TO MY HUSBAND THE CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE RUNNING RIGHT, LACKING POWER. AS WE PULLED OUT FROM THE NEXT RED LIGHT CLIMBING A HILL I HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE.. WE DROVE ABOUT A MILE AND LOST MORE POWER AND A LOUD RAPPING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE., I PULLED OVER AND MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE OIL WAS LOOKED CLEAR AND DID NOT SMELL BURNT, COOLANT LEVEL WAS IN NORMAL RANGE BUT NEAR LOW MARK, NO WARNING INDICATORS CAME ON THROUGH THIS EVENT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, I CALLED FOR A TOW, BY THE TIME MY SON GOT THERE ABOUT 90 MINUTES LATER THE CAR DID RESTART, THE RAPPING IN MOTOR SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11349536

Aug 6, 2020Engine

AT 72355 MILES ROD BEARING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH

NHTSA ODI 11343600

Aug 6, 2020EngineFire

AT 97,XXX MILES, THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS FAILED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE FAILURE RUPTURED THE OIL PAN, SPRAYING OIL ON THE ENGINE, EXHAUST HEADERS, AND THE ROAD. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, NOISE, OR PERFORMANCE LOSS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE SEEMS SIMILAR TO OTHER FAILURES WITH KIA AND HYUNDAI ENGINES, HOWEVER THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE WAS NOT LISTED IN A NHTSA RECALL. KIA HAS REFUSED TO WARRANTY THE FAILURE, STATING IT WAS NOT "DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT". THE ENGINE MODEL IS A 2.4L DOHC MPI THETA-II. OTHER THETA-II ENGINES HAVE BEEN RECALLED, JUST NOT THIS VERY SPECIFIC TYPE.

NHTSA ODI 11343638

Jul 21, 2020Engine

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE LOSS OF POWER AND OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, HAD TO ABANDON THE VEHICLE AND RUN TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED, A ROD PUSHED THROUGH THE BLOCK. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPEN, COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BAD COLLISION. CONTACTED KIA, THEY WERE NO HELP, THE VEHICLE HAS LES THAN 70K MILES AND I'M A SECOND OWNER. KIA COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS.

NHTSA ODI 11340556

Jul 10, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE CEASED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. EARNHARDT KIA LOCATED AT 2121 EAST BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85022, AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,969.

NHTSA ODI 11338647

Jul 8, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. A LOUD BOOM WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ROYAL KIA LOCATED AT 4333 E. SPEEDWAY BLVD, TUCSON, AZ 85712, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE CEASED. METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. 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 APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

NHTSA ODI 11338241

Jun 27, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I BEGAN HEARING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. I NOTICED THAT IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ACCELERATE AND FELT AS IF THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO BREAK DOWN ON ME RIGHT ON THE FREEWAY. I DROVE IT HOME BUT THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO SIGNAL A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND ASSOCIATED IT WITH A RECALL #SC147 HOWEVER OUR VIN WAS NOT UNDER THIS RECALL HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT IT DEFINITELY SHOULD BE! WE TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHICH FOUND THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LOWER END CRANKSHAFT BEARING AND WOULD REQUIRE A BRAND NEW ENGINE AND WOULD COST $6000-$9000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL THAT I MENTIONED BUT DOES NOT FOR SOME REASON RELATE TO THIS RECALL. WE ARE THE FIRST OWNERS, HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 7 YEARS, GET REGULAR SERVICE ON THE CAR AND ONLY HAVE 129,000 MILES ON IT. WE WILL NOT BE REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331233

Jun 23, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING AS NORMAL, ON MY WAY HOME. THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A FLUTTERING NOISE SO I THOUGHT IT COULD BE MY ROTORS. HOWEVER, THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FORM OF CHIRPS AND GOT LOUDER AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. I CAME TO A STOP AT CONSTRUCTION AND WHEN I WENT TO GO FORWARD THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 2000 RPM. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT, IT MADE A HORRIBLE SCREECHING NOISE. SOUNDED LIKE A BELT FLAPPING AROUND AND SOMETHING ELSE MADE THE NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE IDENTIFIED METAL FLAKES IN THE OIL. THE ENGINE IS CONFIRMED TO HAVE FAILED. THE BREAKING OF THE ENGINE IS NOT TO USER ERROR AS I HAVE KEPT IT VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND HAD FREQUENT OIL CHANGE/ TUNE UPS. THE INCIDENT WAS OUT OF THE BLUE AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILING. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, THANKFULLY I WAS ON A LOCAL MOUNTAIN ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330445

Jun 15, 2020EngineFire

DRIVING BACK FROM A SHORT RUN TO DO A GROCERY PICK A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE BURNING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE FIREWALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328943

Jun 12, 2020Engine

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM OUR KIA THAT WAS EXACERBATED BY HIM ACCELERATING. WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT HOT OIL WAS SPLASHING UP ON THE ENGINE. THIS KIA SPORTAGE IS A 2013 AND ONLY HAS 90,000 MILES. WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT WE BLEW A ROD. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE CONSIDERING HOW OLD THE CAR IS AND LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. KIA IS KNOWN TO HAVE ENGINE ISSUES WITH THE 2011-2014 SPORTAGE ENGINES. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY KIA WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328500

Jun 11, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BENNY BOYD LAMPASAS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM LOCATED AT 601 N. KEY AVE, LAMPASAS, TX 76550, AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 227,077.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11328345

May 30, 2020Engine

AFTER 118,000 MILES ON A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE THE 2.4 LITER ENGINE IN MY 2013 KIA SPORTAGE SEIZED. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON MY WAY TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN MY MOTOR SEIZED AND I CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326621

Apr 3, 2020Engine

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY HEARD NOISE AND ENGINE DIED. MECHANIC SAID ENGINE THREW A ROD PROBABLY BECAUSE OF BAD BEARINGS. HE SAID THEY'VE SEEN THIS SAME THING IN OTHER KIA SPORTAGES..

NHTSA ODI 11320161

Mar 30, 2020Engine

MY CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (VERY FRIGHTENING). THE BATTERY AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS MY BATTERY. I REQUESTED A JUMP AND THE ROADSIDE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT MY BATTERY AND THAT I SHOULD REQUEST A TOW. EVENTUALLY MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE SEIZED BUT MY ENGINE TYPE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY OR RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11319737

Mar 11, 2020Engine

APPROXIMATELY 2.5 HOURS INTO A LONG HIGHWAY DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE ADDITIONAL, UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN TRAVELLING UP STANDARD HILL GRADES, AS IF IT WAS HAVING TO WORK HARDER THAN NORMAL FOR A HILL OF THAT SIZE. PREVIOUS DRIVES ALONG THIS ROUTE, OR ON ANY OTHER ROUTE, NO ADDITIONAL NOISES WERE HEARD. SHORTLY AFTER ATTEMPTING TO "TAKE IT EASY" ON A FEW MORE HILLS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON. WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OVER, AND THEN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WE OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WAS NORMAL. WE INSPECTED FOR DEBRIS, LOOSE CONNECTIONS, SIGNS OF DISTRESS, OR OTHER INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM, AND FOUND NONE. WE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND IT WOULD START AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DIE. FURTHER ATTEMPTS, EVEN WHILE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO TRY AND KEEP THE ENGINE GOING, WE'RE UNSUCCESSFUL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, AND AFTER DIAGNOSIS, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. VEHICLE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES, AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT THE SAME AUTHORIZED KIA SERVICE CENTER WE PURCHASED IT FROM. THERE WERE NO PRIOR SIGNS OF ISSUES, NOR ANY INDICATION THAT AN ENGINE FAILURE WAS IMMINENT PRIOR TO THE EVENT.

NHTSA ODI 11317638

Feb 29, 2020Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE SPEED AND SLIGHT JERKING I PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD . CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. SOMEONE GAVE ME A JUMP START I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 1 MILE THAN CAR STOPPED STARTED TO SMOKE THAN IT HAD TO BE TOWED THE CAR WILL NOT DO ANYTHING JUST SITTING IN DRIVEWAY

NHTSA ODI 11312216

Feb 19, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. MY CAR SEEMED TO BE LOOSING SPEED. I NOTICED MY DASH BOARD HAD ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC BY COASTING MY CAR OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT DIED. I HAD AAA TOW MY CAR TO DOBBS. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A BEARING ROD AND I NEEDED ENGINE WORK. I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA WHERE ALL THE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE ON THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ENGINE ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11310225

Feb 14, 2020Engine

DRIVING TO WORK I HEARD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. THE CAR STALLED ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON. A ROD HAD BROKEN. TOOK TO LOCAL KIA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON, FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND WHILE MANY OTHER KIA ENGINES WERE RECALLED FOR SOME REASON MINE WAS NOTE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING WITH THIS CAR. I FEEL THIS ENGINE SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11309165

Feb 12, 2020Engine

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CONNECTING ROD. BROKE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROD. MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11308880

Feb 5, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THERE WAS AND ABNORMAL RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER HOWEVER, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11307237

Feb 3, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A TAPPING SOUND EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (BEV SMITH KIA OF FORT PIERCE, 5655 S US HWY 1, FT PIERCE, FL 34982), WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11306709

Feb 3, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40MPH WITH MY 16 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR AND HEARD A DULL KNOCKING NOICE. AS I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT MY CAR STALLED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TURNED MY ENGINE OVER AGAIN AND IT STARTED UP WITH THE SAME KNOCKING NOICE THAT GOT LOUDER AS I ACCELERATED. I MADE IT UP THE ROAD TO ADVANCED AUTO WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED IT TOWED AS IT WAS LIKELY MY ENGINE SEIZING. HAD IT TOWED TO MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED A ROD HAD COME LOOSE DUE TO BAD BEARINGS AND THAT I NEED A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE. KIA HAS TOLD ME THAT AS A 2ND OWNER ON A NON TRANSFERABLE 10YR 100K MIKE WARRANTY I AM NOT COVERED ALSO THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE SC147 RECALL ALTHOUGH THE SAME MOTOR IN OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME YEARS HAD BEEN RECALLED ALONG WITH THE OTHER 300ISH REPORTS ON HERE. 88K MILES REGULAR OIL CHANGES MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS STILL OWE ON MY LOAN AND NOW HAVE TO COME UP WITH 7K TO REPAIR MY NOW 7YR OLD CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11306883

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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 →