Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Kia Motor Sportage - part 1

We were getting in our car to drive home from a restaurant. We attempted to start our car like any other day, and the car started. However, our car was stuck in gear, it was in parking but also not in parking. The car was not moving, the gear was in “park”, the dot light for park was not showing, and then we had several warnings appear on our dashboard. At first it was three, then it went to six (after turning off the car and restarting again)!! the car told us to put it in park, but we literally could not move the gear shift at all. We had: check speed limit system, check high beam assist, check driver attention warning, check blind spot safety system, check forward safety system, check rear cross-traffic safety system appear in 20 seconds of car being on. This car just hit ~15,500 miles on it. To add to the strangeness, we open the kia access app and tried “lock” and “unlock” (while being in the car”, then turn the car off. We started the car again and it worked as if this never happened (no immediate warnings like above). Yet we did recieve a check engine light and a vehicle diagnostic on the instrument (dashboard) saying “follow-up check required: 2 (engine management system and transmission control system. )” the car allowed itself to recognize it in park gear and drive off. The kia access app said we experienced a uoo01f0 code tied to the engine control system. We never seen anything like that before. We did, however, experience a problem with the driver seat powertrain at 11,000 miles where the seat wouldn’t move. The seat was fixed by the dealership though. We are going to take the car in to the dealership to see what they say.

See all problems of the 2025 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The contact owns a 2021 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the drain plug detached, and oil started leaking from the oil pan. The accelerator was depressed, but the vehicle failed to move and stalled while driving on the highway. The vehicle failed to restart. The oil light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined the oil cap had detached. The mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was difficult to start. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

It was roughly 2000 miles since my last oil change on my kia Sportage. A spot of oil appeared in my driveway. I thought it could be from a delivery truck. I started parking my car in another spot and didn’t see anymore oil on the pavement. Three days later the low oil light came on. I had my car towed to a mavis tire center they found that the oil drain plug was loose. They told me the car needed to go back to the dealership. They gave me a copy of a memo that they have sent to all of their shops reporting that NHTSA is investigating this problem with Hyundai and kia vehicles. The kia dealership is not concerned about this. The documentation for this service says last visit we did not tighten the drain plug properly and another shop confirmed that. Please check oil level, drain plug, and filter to ensure proper levels/tightness and report misc drain plug was found loose. They observed it for two hours. They also noted that mileage coming into the shop was 61212 mileage, out of the shop was 61212. Please note they had not done previous oil change as noted in their documentation. I have a service contract with this kia dealership where I bought the car. I stopped going there because they recommended that three of my brakes needed to be changed on March 4, 2025. In spring of 2025 I had two different mavis shops. Tell me that my brakes did not require changing. One set had 30% wear, the other set had only 20% wear. It is now June 25, 2026. My break still have not required being changed. That was not recommended service today either.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

I was driving eastbound in my 2012 kia Sportage on I-82 just past benton city mp97 at about 11am on Monday June 22, 2026, when my engine knocked twice, the red check engine light came on, and I lost power. I pulled over off the road next to a concrete barrier that was beside a rock roadcut. My flashers would not operate, I put it into park, turned off the ignition and immediately noticed the smell of burning oil or rubber. I had 2 half gallon containers of water on my front seat, so I popped the switch, lifted the hood, used the prop rod to hold the hood up as I started dowsing the flames that were popping up on the passenger side of my engine compartment near the firewall. After using both half gallons, I ran to the rear of the vehicle, opened the hatchback, and grabbed a gallon spray bottle of water and brought that back around to the front of the vehicle. By this point the prop rod holding the hood was bending and the flames were popping back up, I pumped the sprayer and directed a stream of water with my left hand and used my right to hold up the hood as the prop rod was not working. After the fire was completely out, I returned to the rear of the vehicle, donned my reflective vest, put a portable flasher on my vehicle, and at this point a benton county fireman in a pickup arrived - he was called by a motorist that saw me pulling over with smoke trailing my vehicle. The fireman was followed by a large firetruck and crew. They propped up the hood with a bar and inspected the motor to verify the fire was completely extinguished. They took my information and left. A washington state patrol arrived, assessed the scene and offered assistance, but I already had called my wife so he left me to wait for her. He told me I had 24 hours to get the car off the interstate. I had the car towed to my driveway by a&e towing at about 2:30pm. I just realized this morning that I ought to report it to you. I haven't tried to start it, but I'm sure it won't.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

While driving on the interstate at highway speed with cruise control engaged, the engine suffered sudden catastrophic failure with absolutely no prior warning, warning lights, knocking, stalling, or other symptoms. The vehicle became inoperable immediately. The repair estimate is $6,500 for engine replacement. The vehicle is a 2017 kia Sportage equipped with a theta ii 2. 4l gdi engine, confirmed by service campaign sc340 on file with NHTSA. Two safety recalls remain incomplete on this vehicle: 21v137 and 22v703. The knock sensor detection system software update campaign sc340 was never completed prior to my purchase of the vehicle in February 2024 from a used car dealer, despite being issued in July 2018. Kia consumer affairs indicated the claim would likely be denied due to the incomplete ksds update, despite that update predating my ownership entirely. A dealer appointment had been scheduled for June 26, 2024 to address outstanding recalls prior to this failure occurring.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The contact owns a 2011 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the vehicle went into limp mode. While accelerating to overtake a vehicle driving under the speed limit, the vehicle started to stall. The check engine light was flashing, and the vehicle went into eco mode. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire and engine failure due to an oil leak. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

See all problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

On xxx, my 2012 kia Sportage experienced a catastrophic engine failure while traveling on the interstate. The connecting rod failed, breaking through the engine block, causing sudden and sever oil leak and heavy smoke. The safety of the occupants was put at risk due to the sudden powefr loss in high-speed traffic. This vehicle has two active federal safety recalls, sc200 snd SC 284, which are unrepaired. After the vehicle was towed to auffenberg kia in cape girardeau, mo I experienced an unreasonable delay of atr a mininum of 2 weeks or more before they could assess the damage, and they refused to provide a loaner vehicle while I was left without transport. Futhermore, they have stated they will not assist with anything until the inspection is complete and the exact cause of failure is determined.

While I was driving in the interstate my car when in limp mode while I was trying to pass a semi. I had my children in the car and was stranded on the side of the road. No warning lights ever came on before hand. My mechanic said it was a problem with my engine and it’s common in kia’s in but doe not include my year. It’s a costly repair for a car that’s not even 5 years old.

Engine failure at 93,000 miles. Timing chain jumped, causing internal engine damage. Dealer (capitol kia, san jose CA) diagnosed engine as failed and quoted $11,843 for short block replacement. Vehicle is a 2021 kia Sportage 2. 4l. This is a known issue with the theta ii 2. 4l engine.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

1. Component or system malfunction & availability component/system failed: an unidentified component within the engine compartment failed, resulting in a sudden, catastrophic thermal event (engine fire). Odometer reading: 100,415 miles at the time of the incident. Available for inspection: no. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire and is a total loss. 2. Safety risk assessment the vehicle was being driven at highway speeds on a major freeway by my 21-year-old son, brennan font, when the incident occurred. The sudden presence of heavy smoke and intense heat entering the cabin while traveling at high speeds created an immediate, life-threatening hazard. This forced an emergency pullover on the shoulder of a busy freeway. Moments after exiting, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, presenting a severe risk of explosion and injury to the driver and passing motorists. 3. Verification & third-party inspection reproduced/confirmed by dealer: no, the sudden and destructive nature of the failure prevented any prior diagnostic testing. Inspected by manufacturer/authorities: the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. However, the incident was handled and documented on-scene by local authorities. A formal police report was filed by the ventura police department (report number: 26-31369, responding officer: officer steinberger). 4. Warning symptoms and timeline there were no prior warning lamps, dashboard messages, check engine lights, or abnormal symptoms leading up to the failure. The onset of heavy smoke and heat was sudden and instantaneous. 5. Detailed incident description brennan immediately steered the vehicle to the shoulder of the freeway. As soon as he brought the vehicle to a stop and attempted to park, open flames breached the hood of the car. He successfully exited the vehicle without injury and immediately dialed 911. The vehicle burned completely before the fire could be extinguished. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Component/system failed: an unidentified component within the engine compartment failed, resulting in a sudden, catastrophic thermal event (engine fire). Odometer reading: 100,415 miles at the time of the incident. Available for inspection: no. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire and is a total loss. 2. Safety risk assessment the vehicle was being driven at highway speeds on a major freeway by my [xxx] [xxx [xxx] incident occurred. The sudden presence of heavy smoke and intense heat entering the cabin while traveling at high speeds created an immediate, life-threatening hazard. This forced an emergency pullover on the shoulder of a busy freeway. Moments after exiting, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, presenting a severe risk of explosion and injury to the driver and passing motorists. 3. Verification & third-party inspection reproduced/confirmed by dealer: no, the sudden and destructive nature of the failure prevented any prior diagnostic testing. Inspected by manufacturer/authorities: the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. However, the incident was handled and documented on-scene by local authorities. A formal police report was filed by the ventura police department (report number: 26-31369, responding officer: officer [xxx] ). [xxx] ymptoms and timeline there were no prior warning lamps, dashboard messages, check engine lights, or abnormal symptoms leading up to the failure. The onset of heavy smoke and heat was sudden and instantaneous. 5. Detailed incident description [xxx] immediat [xxx] red the vehicle to the shoulder of the freeway. As soon as he brought the vehicle to a stop and attempted to park, open flames breached the hood of the car. He successfully exited the vehicle without injury and immediately dialed 911. The vehicle burned completely before the fire could be extinguished. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? engine is malfunctioning, increase in oil consumption, mpg dropping, a ticking/knocking noise coming from the engine, and erratic engine behavior with random surges while driving to 6000+ rpm. Brought it into kia 2x now for same issue and first time said nothing was wrong and second time I am now going through an oil consumption test. Vehicle is still unsafe to drive but they say this is the only option to do their test to move forward with my warranty with kia. I am driving through mountain passes daily with this behavior and I worry if the engine blows I'll lose control of the vehicle and fall off the cliff. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I am instructed to drive it still. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? the engine oil consumption test is happening now, I have driven 500 miles and the engine oil is low, pending to hear back from kia on when they can get it in for next steps. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no, just a kia dealership (if that is the manufacturer then yes) were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no. And there is no warning lights for low engine oil. I have driven many times without oil and no warning that the oil was even low. The vehicle burns up oil fast.

Engine fire which led to explosion and total loss.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The contact owns a 2023 kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon coming to a stop at a stop sign, the vehicle stalled. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond, and the infotainment screen was turned off. The contact stated that the vehicle became operable after approximately two minutes. The contact stated the failure was recurrent. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the engine is experiencing excessive oil consumption. The vehicle rapidly burns through engine oil between oil changes without visible external leaks. The condition appears related to the engine lubrication and internal engine components. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the excessive oil consumption creates a risk of sudden engine failure, engine seizure, loss of power while driving, or vehicle stalling in traffic. This creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle could lose acceleration or stop unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds or in traffic conditions, increasing the risk of an accident or injury. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? the excessive oil consumption has been consistently reproduced during normal driving conditions. The vehicle requires frequent oil top-offs between oil changes. The issue has been discussed with a dealership/repair facility, and the symptoms are consistent with widespread kia engine oil consumption complaints. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? the vehicle will be inspected by a kia dealership or repair facility regarding the excessive oil consumption issue. No police or insurance inspection has occurred related to this issue. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? symptoms included rapid oil loss between oil changes, the need to frequently add oil, and concerns about low oil levels. Warning indicators related to low oil or engine performance appeared after the oil consumption worsened. According to service records from walmart dated December 29, 2023, the issue was present at that time and has progressively.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

My vehicle engine caught fire after getting gas. It started smoking then went up in flames.

Engine died. Complete failure with 50,000.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was advised that it was normal for the vehicle to use a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. The contact was advised to bring the vehicle to the dealer every 1,000 miles. The failure became a persistent failure. The failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was black smoke coming from the exhaust pipes and the engine seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The car shook and lights came on at a stop light and began violently knocking. Since it was at a stop light the safety was a risk had the hazard lights weren't engaged immediately. The dealer confirmed it was a catastrophic engine failure. An inspector for the warranty company was deployed two times. The lights only appeared at the time of engine failure.

Engine went out , starter went out got it replaced been having issues since I purchased it . Makes a noise my engine oil and gasoline was mixing my engine is locked now.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Unjustified denial of engine warranty coverage - 2015 kia Sportage "I am filing this complaint because kia is denying warranty coverage for a known engine defect (rod bearing failure in the theta ii gdi engine) on my 2015 kia Sportage. The manufacturer’s denial is based on the claim that I did not perform the ksds (knock sensor detection system) software update in previous years. However, I have officially performed this update at an authorized kia dealership (hendrick kia of cary) on April 17, 2026. Despite my vehicle now fully complying with the recall requirements, kia continues to deny the warranty claim by retroactively applying a 'missed update' penalty. This is a clear attempt to evade their obligations under the class-action settlement regarding this engine defect. The manufacturer is holding the current owner responsible for maintenance history they cannot control, even though the vehicle is now technically compliant. I request that the NHTSA investigate this practice, as it prevents consumers from accessing the safety-related warranty protections they are entitled to. " tips for your submission:.

The contact’s mother owns a 2017 kia Sportage. While the contact's mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact's mother noticed an abnormal odor and an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the auto zone and connected to a diagnostic machine, and dtc: p0128, p1326, and p0014 were retrieved. The contact's mother received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v703000 (trailer hitches). The contact was unsure if the failure was associated with the unrepaired recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly shut off and stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and found metal shavings inside the oil filter. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,111.

Car has 84000 miles on it for last 15-20 thousand miles there is a smell of gas in the oil. I took to dealership they charged me to replace a catalytic converter. Not even a year later the cars engine blew up. Now needs a whole new motor there is loud knocking and car will not accelerate.

The engine failed completely, it has to be replaced. Yes, it’s available the engine could start a fire. It’s confirmed by an independent service. No, hasn’t been inspected by the manufacturer. The SUV started shaking and making a sound, the engine light started flashing all of this in just one hour, and I have to stop.

Catastrophic fire started in fast food restaurant drive through, but able to drive to the parking lot before it became engulfed in flames.

The engine in my 2021 kia Sportage failed while being driven at highway speeds on us 131 in michigan. The car was taken to the closest gas station where the oil was checked and it was determined that 5 quarts were needed to reach the dipstick's full line. The fact that the car had consumed 5 quarts of oil seems to be a major safety concern. I've attached a note with additional information that has also been submitted to kia; a case number has been provided. However, after several weeks, there hasn't been any progress. I haven't even been able to get kia to provide information as to the fundamental root cause of the engine failure.

I am reporting a dangerous engine failure involving sudden loss of power and complete engine shutdown. While traveling uphill on I-90 in massachusetts, my 2017 kia Sportage suddenly lost engine power and rapidly became unable to maintain speed. I first moved into the right lane due to the power loss, but then had to cross traffic at approximately 20 mph to reach a small emergency shoulder area on the left side of the highway, where the vehicle completely died. This created a serious highway safety hazard for me and other drivers. We were stranded in a highly dangerous location and required assistance from multiple massachusetts state troopers due to the unsafe roadside conditions. The vehicle was towed to a kia dealership, where they diagnosed: spark plugs covered in oil, multiple cylinder misfires, compression loss in cylinder 3, burnt valve causing failure likely worn valve seals causing oil consumption. The dealership stated the engine had been burning/consuming oil and that the burnt valve caused the loss of compression and sudden breakdown. This vehicle uses the 2. 4l theta ii gdi engine, which has a long history of engine failures, oil consumption complaints, stalling, and class-action litigation involving sudden engine failure and loss of power. Kia denied coverage by claiming only rod-bearing failures qualify for warranty extension, even though excessive oil consumption and compression loss appear closely related to the same broader engine defect pattern. Other owners have also reported 2017 Sportage excessive oil consumption leading to compression loss and engine failure. I believe this is a serious safety defect because the engine can fail suddenly while driving at highway speed, drivers may have little warning before loss of power, oil consumption may not trigger adequate warning before catastrophic failure. This creates crash risk, roadside hazard exposure, and potential fire risk.

Consumes more than 1 liter of oil per 1000 miles.

Had my oil changed less about 3k miles ago and my oil like flashed on and then off. I check my oil and I have no oil. I should be able to go 5k miles. Took it to goodyear and he check for leaks and other things and it's an oil consumption issue and said there should be a recall on my engine. I will be taking it to the dealership. My car has about 70k miles on it. It should not be burning through oil like this.

Smoke coming from the engine.

The oil is mixing with the gas and their was smoke coming from the engine after that the engine has seized and the car stopped working. Also at the body shop I was told some wires were cut.

I respectfully request that NHTSA review this issue for potential safety related defect trends involving excessive oil consumption that progress to catastrophic engine failure in 2020 kia Sportages equipped with the 2. 4l engine. The vehicle consumed oil at an abnormal rate between oil changes despite routine maintenance and regular oil level checks, and the condition ultimately resulted in a non-operational vehicle. Over the months leading up to the failure, I was forced to add oil at least monthly and began checking the oil level more frequently due to the rate of loss. I maintain my vehicle carefully and have consistently kept up with oil changes. In March 2026, the vehicle broke down after I experienced a sudden loss of power and stalling, and the engine ultimately failed and left the vehicle non-operational. When an engine consumes oil rapidly and then stalls or loses power unexpectedly, drivers can face an increased risk of a crash particularly if the failure occurs at highway speeds or in traffic. I have found numerous similar complaints posted online by other kia owners describing the same pattern of excessive oil consumption followed by sudden loss of power, stalling, and/or engine failure. While I understand online posts are not formal findings, the volume and consistency of these reports suggest a broader trend that warrants NHTSA review for potential defects and safety impacts. After the failure, I had the vehicle towed to kia of [xxx] . The service department advised that the engine requires replacement and quoted approximately $14,000 for the repair. The invoice I received (#xxx) states that the technician recommends “short block motor replacement,” but the dealership verbally stated they would not perform only a short block replacement and would instead replace the complete engine because, in their view, a short block-only repair would lead to additional problems. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Car started making noise, slowed down. I stopped the vehicle immediately and parked on shoulder. Towed it to a mechanic shop and they said the engine stopped. It needs an engine replacement.

My safety is put at risk. My car has stalled two different times on the highway. I was able to get it off the road after restarting the vehicle and coasting out. The engine was worked out by kia of mission viejo. They stated it was not due to rod bearing, although I was told on a separate occasion that there was metal in my oil in the same scenario then when they submitted the video to kia, they said they only saw the burnt valve my check engine light has went on a total of three times I’ve had the same exact work done three additional times as well as the knock sensor having to be replaced because it went off and burned out due to what happened on the highway. My car is part of the theta engine issue with kia.