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What 130 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid

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 (130)Crash / fire / injury (13)Engine (58)Brakes (38)Electrical system (17)Fuel system (9)Transmission & drivetrain (8)Speed control (6)Airbags (5)Body & structure (4)Steering (4)Visibility & wipers (4)

13 of 130 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jan 27, 2026AirbagsCrash1 injury

My wife was recently in a car accident and sandwiched between two cars and the airbags didn’t deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11713791

Sep 25, 2024Speed controlCrash

The car accelerated of its own accord, I had been driving 30-35 miles an hour when it accelerated suddenly and caused me to wreck.

NHTSA ODI 11616318

Apr 4, 2023BrakesFire

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle caught on fire underneath the hood. The fire died down before the fire department arrived on the scene; however, there was no report filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact there was no fire damage; however the engine was completely destroyed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22v051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

NHTSA ODI 11515418

Dec 12, 2022EngineFuel systemFire

While driving in highway we noticed a fuel smell. After a little came from front area (hood area) and heard a blast underneath. At the same time the car abruptly stopped in the highway (HOV lane). We also noticed fireballs shooting downward from underneath the car. We had no options but to call fire brigade to stop the fire. Later we had to tow the car to home. I called a mechanic to evaluate the situation and he informed us the engine of the vehicle has been ceased as a result. We have to bear a significant cost for the repairs. We are still suffering emotional stress as a result of this unexpected incident.

NHTSA ODI 11497121

Oct 7, 2022SteeringSpeed controlEngine1 injury

I was driving with my cruise control set at 70 mph, on Highway 95 ( the speed limit ) While driving my vehicle suddenly dropped to 40 mph, all dashboard lights began to flash. I had problems with the steering as I attempted to pull over. I had a tractor trailer behind me on a major highway. When I came to a complete stop, my engine light kept flashing. I drove my car to the KIA dealership in GA, where they determined my engine failed ( software issues ) There were no prior warnings. My vehicle had been serviced just a few weeks prior. KIA is fully aware of these ongoing engine failures according to my local KIA dealer rep.

NHTSA ODI 11488291

Apr 15, 2022EngineFire

The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated her son was driving approximately 35 MPH when smoke came from under the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over safely and removed himself from the vehicle. The vehicle became totally engulfed in flames and was destroyed. The state police arrived on the scene and attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but were not successful. The fire department arrived on the scene shortly afterward and extinguished the fire. The local police filed a report. There were no injuries sustained. The approximate failure mileage was 118,860.

NHTSA ODI 11460894

Sep 27, 2019Speed controlBrakesCrash

I WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE ON POINTS OF ROCK ROAD IN BREWSTER, A QUIET STREET NEAR THE BEACH AND THE CAR PROCEEDED UP AN EMBANKMENT,DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER ONTO THE ROOF OF THE CAR ABD DID NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL I PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES

NHTSA ODI 11258484

Apr 17, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury

ON JANUARY 24TH 2019 AT 7:45 P.M. I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION THAT RESULTS IN MY CAR BEING PUSHED ACROSS THE STREETS AND HITTING THE CURB ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO BE COMPLETELY TOTALED NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED ME TO HIT EVERYTHING ON THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE I WAS INJURED I HAD A CERVICAL SPRAIN A CONCUSSION I ALSO HAD NERVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY I ALSO HAD A BULGING DISC IN THE TOP OF MY NECK AND IN THE LOWER PART OF MY BACK THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD ME IN PLACE WE WERE GOING 35 MILES PER HOUR IN MOTION I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF KIA THEY CAME TO READ THE DATA FROM MY VEHICLE'S BLACK BOX AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT WITH ENOUGH FORCE FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY HOWEVER THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS A 2002 MUSTANG IN ALL OF THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED

NHTSA ODI 11196924

Feb 14, 2019SteeringCrashFire1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING SEIZED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT'S SON SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11180068

Jan 30, 2019AirbagsSeat beltsCrash2 injuries

MY DAUGHTER, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 1/29/19 AT 7:45AM. SHE WAS STOPPED AND A TRUCK HIT HER FROM BEHIND AND SHE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND SHE HIT HER HEAD ON WHEEL, AND WINDSHIELD. HER SON WHO WAS IN BACK IN HIS CAR SEAT, ALSO HIT HIS HEAD. THEY BOTH SUSTAINED SEVERE CONCUSSIONS, BLACK EYES, HEAD ACHES, WHIP LASH. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD EITHER OF THEM IN PLACE NOR DID THE AIR BAGS GO OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11173110

Jan 11, 2019AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

AIR BAG CAME OUT BUT DID NOT INFLATE IN HEAD ON COLLISION SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN 40 MPH HEAD ON IN MOTION

NHTSA ODI 11166418

Jul 2, 2018Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING OUR 2016 KIA SPORTAGE THAT WE HAD BOUGHT ON 05/23/2018 (JUST MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT THE DAY BEFORE) TO MYRTLE BEACH SC, WE HEARD A POP, I LOST FUNCTION TO THE GAS, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND FIRE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WE GRABBED WHAT WE COULD OUT OF OUR CAR AND RAN AS FAR AWAY AS WE COULD. IT WASN'T EVEN 2 MINUTES LATER AND THE WHOLE CAR WAS IN FLAMES AND EVERYTHING WAS DESTROYED. ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE FRAME OF THE CAR. WE JUST GOT MARRIED IN OCTOBER OF 2017, THIS WAS OUR FIRST MARRIED PURCHASE AND WAS SUPPOSE TO BE OUR FAMILY CAR AND WE WATCHED IT BURN TO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF US. WE ALSO LOST A LOT OF VALUABLES IN THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11105067

Nov 6, 2017SteeringAirbagsWheelsCrash1 injury

ON SEPT 3 2017 I WAS INVLOVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED LEAVING ME WITH SEVERE BRUISES ON ABDOMAN AND BURN MARKS ON MY LEFT FOREARM. I WENT TO HOPSPITAL AND HAD AN ULTRASOUND DONE. OUR CAR WAS TOTALLED AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM GOING TO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER MEDICAL ISSUES I HAVE POLICE REPORTS AND MEDICAL REPORT TO BACK THIS UP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 11043829

Working with the data? Download all 130 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 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 2016 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid verdict →