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

The contact owns a 2020 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while taking the vehicle in for an oil change, the contact was informed that the engine was not consuming oil, which caused concern because the vehicle had previously been fueled by the contact. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

My kia engine was replaced under recall. The replacement engine triggered p1326 ksds failure while I was traveling overseas, placing the vehicle in limp mode. Kia USA refuses to assist or authorize diagnosis, leaving me stranded. This is a repeat recall-related safety failure, even though there is a kia dealership near me.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

I have documented the following issues: -84 instances of "keep hands on the wheel" when my hands were on the 10/2 or 9/3 position. This dates back to March 2025 and has continued into December. -12 instances of the er braking engaging with "collision alert" when no other vehicles/object/danger were around. The er braking is the sudden, full force stopping of the vehicle staring in April 2025 and as most recently as 12/06/2025. -3 instances of the vehicle being in "drive" but not moving forward; only the engine revving. This started in August and occurred again in October and on 12/06/2025. -1 instance of the vehicle randomly shutting off while driving very slow into the garage on 12/06/2025.

Engine began to knock on [xxx] on my way home from work. Drove to work and back the next day, but heard a loud clunk when I started it to head home. Stopped at auto parts store and checked oil. Completely dry dip stick (after wiping it clean). Added 2 qts of synthetic since I had an appt the next morning ([xxx]) at 7:30am at dealership where I purchased it. Knocking stopped but only drove about 12 miles total from that time until appt in the morning. Kia now tells me that engine failed and based on their records, insufficient maintenance. Kia dealer changed hands recently so not sure of the recordkeeping on their end. I've only ever had my vehicle serviced there. Also, no engine light nor oil light ever came on to warn me of low oil pressure. Service tech says he will email me video of their inspection. Not yet received. Currently requesting warranty coverage. Expect it to be denied, based on what service techs have said. I cannot believe kia didn't get their act together after the theta ii engine debaucle. My car is a 2022 kia Sportage with ~50-51k miles. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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October 2, 2025 no oil in engine. Car has always had regular oil maintenance. Dealer put almost four quarts of oil in car to start an oil consumption test of 1,000 miles. November 22, 2025 driving about 70 miles an hour, on the 241 toll road car loses powder, speed dropped to about 20 miles an hour. I was able to make it to the highway shoulder where the engine struggled to stay running. I cut the engine off and it would not start again. Had to be towed to covina kia. Still had over three hundred miles before the 1,000 mile test. Last oil change July 9, 2025 at covina kia. I bought my 2017 kia Sportage in October 2016 brand new. I'm the only one to drive it. I have always taken it back to dealer for servicing. All my oil changes were done with the dealer and on time. I understand there is a class action lawsuit against kia for oil starvation and engines seizing, (theta ii sc147). All indications suggests my engine also suffered the same manufacturer defect as claimed in the lawsuit. And I want to be compensated kia manufacturer is aware of there engine problems and should be more proactive, before someone is killed.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The engine failed catastrophically while the vehicle was in operation. The failure involved internal engine components and resulted in the vehicle losing power. The vehicle is currently at a kia dealership and is available for inspection upon request. I was driving at highway speeds with my children in the vehicle when the engine failure occurred. The sudden loss of power created a dangerous situation where I was unable to maintain speed with traffic, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision. I had to safely maneuver the vehicle out of traffic while vehicles were passing at high speed. Yes. The kia dealership confirmed engine failure after inspection. The engine was deemed inoperable and required replacement. The vehicle has been inspected by a kia dealership, and the issue was escalated to kia America. Kia reviewed the case and denied warranty coverage. The vehicle remains available for further inspection if requested by NHTSA or the manufacturer. There were no immediate warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The engine failure occurred suddenly while driving on the highway, without sufficient warning to prevent the unsafe condition.

Car shut off middle of driving. Mechanic said engine is seized, and no oil in engine. Car has always had regular oil maintenance. There is a class action lawsuit against kia for oil starvation and engines seizing, (theta ii sc147). Last oil change was ~4,500 miles ago. All indications suggests my engine also suffered the same manufacturer defect as claimed in the lawsuit. Balise kia in west springfield MA refuses to do the inspection of the engine without proof of every single oil change since I purchased the vehicle in 2016, which is an impossible request. Corporate also stated that it is the dealership's discretion to demand oil receipts, even though I offered to print credit card statements instead, and I purchased a car fax report that has them listed beginning in 2019, but unfortunately none reported before then. I provided them with receipts of no oil changes missed since 2024. Still denied the inspection. There were no warning lights prior to the engine seizing.

My kia engine has failed and kia is refusing to submit or honor my engine replacement claim under the known engine defect class action/recall. The dealer told me that the claim cannot be submitted because a prior owner did not receive the ksds (knock sensor detection system) software update. Kia then changed their reasoning and stated the engine failure was “for another reason,” but still refuses to provide documentation or allow the claim to be processed. I was left without a vehicle, charged excessive diagnostic fees, and stranded in dangerous winter weather conditions (around -30°f wind chills). The dealership refuses to send the engine claim to kia, stating the “missing ksds update” as the justification, even though the engine failure was unrelated to that software and the recall states that kia must prove the update’s absence caused the failure before denying coverage. Kia’s refusal has resulted in an unexpected repair estimate of approximately $6,000, no loaner vehicle, and severe hardship. Their actions appear to violate recall obligations and consumer safety protections, as I am being denied a known-defective engine replacement due to a prior owner’s failure to complete a software update. I am requesting investigation and intervention, as kia is not honoring the recall process or the class action settlement requirements.

While driving on the parkway with my child and younger cousin in the vehicle, the car unexpectedly began to decelerate without warning. I safely pulled over to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. When attempting to restart it, the engine would not crank or turn on. Moments later, smoke began to appear from under the hood. Additionally, the engine, battery, and oil warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. This incident created a dangerous situation and raised serious safety concerns regarding the reliability of the vehicle.

I have experienced chronic and excessive engine oil consumption in my 2021 kia Sportage s with the 2. 4 l theta ii engine. Since around 80,000 miles, I have had to add oil every 2 weeks between oil changes to prevent the engine from running low. My vehicle now requires a complete engine replacement, estimated at $10,000. Despite regular maintenance and oil changes (documented by express oil change in pinson, al, with service records at 81,520 mi, 88,215 mi, 94,153 mi, 96,970 mi, 98,902 mi, 101,522 mi, and 105,273 mi), the vehicle continues to lose oil rapidly. Kia and my dealer have confirmed there are no recalls or warranty campaigns for my VIN, even though this issue is identical to the well-documented engine defect affecting earlier kia models covered under the theta ii engine settlement. This defect creates a serious safety risk, as the engine can run dangerously low on oil between services, leading to engine failure or stalling while driving. I am currently out of work recovering from surgery and cannot afford the $10,000 repair. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate and expand the existing kia engine defect recalls to include 2021 Sportage models using this engine.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

On November 2, while driving my 10-year-old son to a soccer game, the vehicle suffered a sudden loss of power at road speed. The vehicle's failure to provide a "limp-home mode" or any sensor warnings prior to stalling created a significant life-safety risk for my son and me as we had to coast across traffic to a safe location where the car stalled. •no warning indicators: there were no prior "check engine" lights, oil pressure warnings, or temperature fluctuations. •hazardous failure mode: the vehicle stalled completely in active traffic. I was forced to perform an emergency maneuver, coasting across lanes of traffic to reach a safe shoulder. •outcome: the vehicle was towed to ourisman kia of bethesda, where service technicians diagnosed "severe internal engine failure. ".

My check engine light started blinking and the car was stalling out. I have now parked the car in my driveway. I bought the car October, 2024.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

I've had this car for a little over 3 years, after the 1st year of having the vehicle it started consuming more oil between oil changes. My low oil light would come on in-between oil changes and so I also carried extra oil with me. I just had a routine tune up with oil change and all new spark plugs and I new belt with pully motor 2 months ago. Now I need a whole new motor. It currently is only running on 3 cylinders and has exhaust coming up through the engine. All out of nowhere. Routine oil changes and tune ups, have all my receipts to prove how well kept up on it has been. Single mother without a vehicle and still 20 grand in debit over a car I can no longer drive.

The car experienced sudden engine failure, flashing check engine light. The car was towed to the nearest mechanic and knock sensor code p1326, consistent with recall 20v750, was present. Kia corporate refuses to authorize inspection and repair under the recall because the code was cleared after the event in order to get it towed to the dealer. The defect clearly matches the recall condition, but kia is declining inspection in violation of recall obligations. Car has been maintained with regular oil changes at the scheduled intervals for the duration of it's life.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Severe oil consumption issue at 100k miles. Same issue seen on kia class action lawsuit for gdi engines. No leaks present, after 800 miles from oil change, no oil seen on dip stick.

On October 16, 2025 my car lost ability to accelerate while driving on highway. Just as the car was losing motive power the engine light came on. Car was then towed to a mechanic. After looking at the car the mechanic reported that the engine had seized and I would need a new engine. The mechanic was able to get the engine moving. The week before I had put oil in the car as I noticed it was going through oil faster.

My wife was driving home from work on 10-15-2025 when the car started to lose power and started shaking, vibrating really bad. She got off the exit and at the red light and it died. She called me crying and scared. She started the car back up to try to get the car home and she said the car is vibrating and shaking really bad and I’m so scared and it died again in traffic. I told her to pull over and I would come get her and she did make it home. I look at the car and found it had a misfire on cylinder 2. Cylinder 2 had no compression. I did take it to kia and they confirmed the diagnosis. Here is where the problem lies. The technician that scanned my car purposely miss diagnosed it. He wrote it only had burnt valves and cylinder. He never said anything about the hole in my piston. He took a picture of it and it has a hole on top. He said the car was drivable; are you kidding me. When you start the car the voice comes over the speakers and says the computer has detected a major engine problem. My cars VIN # confirms that it qualifies for the class actions settlement because of the engine that is in the car. They are known to fail because of excessive oil use, starvation of oil, bad piston rings, bad rod bearings. We have been without her car since this happened. Kia said the car was drivable and I can promise you it is not. This car is not safe at all to drive. It loss all power in traffic and it kept dying.

The contact owns a 2018 kia Sportage. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign number: 22v703000 (trailer hitches) and 21v137000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the contact was possibly charged for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The ksds warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact became aware of abnormal oil consumption. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and dtc: p0010 was retrieved. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense; however, the local dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the camshaft needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

My kia Sportage was stolen, however a couple of years ago I had the kia anti theft logic software updated on the car. I’ve been told that although it does not prevent anyone from breaking in, they should not have been able to move the car. Prior to this, the engine is running on 3 cylinders instead of 4 which has caused major issues with the car burning oil rapidly.

Car started having issues with retaining oil and was blowing oil out of the oil fil cap, oil changes were being performed every 3 weeks due to continued oil loss without cause. Car started shaking while driving on the highway, check engine light started flashing and car lost all power. Car was towed from highway to kia authorized dealer where they performed a full engine replacement, replaced serpentine belt, oil filter and air filters. Picked up vehicle from dealership approx. 2 weeks later, engine was still blowing oil out of oil fill cap and entire vehicle smelled like used oil. Dealership also refilled engine with wrong type of oil upon replacement of engine. Car requires 5w-20, dealership put in 5w-30 instead of correct oil.

In 2024 the car was losing power. I took the car to the shop. I had to replace some type of rings. The cost was like 600. 00. Then the car stated using oil like crazy. When I went in for a oil changed I told the man that was doing the oil change. The looked over the car and said that everything was fine. I continued to drive my car. But I was getting oil changes early and having to add oil to car. Then on October 3 2025 my car powered down and was towed to the shop on October 6th. Then on October 9th I was told my car engine was gone.

Engine went out at 150,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2021 kia Sportage. The contact stated that her mother was driving at an undisclosed speed on the freeway and had stopped on the shoulder of the road to access the navigation system. The contact stated that after the driver shifted to park(p), the driver noticed smoke. The contact's grand-mother who was also occupying the vehicle advised the driver that the smoke was coming from underneath the hood. The driver then noticed that smoke and flames were coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle burned to the ground. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. It was unknown whether a fire department report and a police report were filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location and was in the process of being inspected by the insurance company adjuster. Both the contact's mother and grand-mother later received medical assistance for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

My 2018 kia Sportage (VIN [xxx] ) experienced complete engine failure due to low compression/internal combustion chamber failure. The vehicle lost power while driving on sept 30, 2025, and had to be towed to [xxx] kia in dayton, OH. This same dealership previously performed an oil retention test in Aug 2024 which failed, identifying a defective engine. Kia was aware of the issue but declined to replace the engine at that time. The failure pattern matches kia’s known engine defect. Kia consumer affairs (case #25572677) has denied goodwill assistance despite this safety-related engine failure and prior diagnostic documentation. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On Sunday, [xxx], I was driving my 2020 kia Sportage on [xxx] in California at approximately 75 miles per hour. Without warning, the engine made a loud, abnormal noise and the vehicle suddenly and dangerously lost power. My speed dropped abruptly to around 62 miles per hour, nearly causing a rear-end collision as surrounding vehicles were traveling at freeway speed. I was forced to immediately pull over to the shoulder to avoid being struck. At that point, the engine was running extremely hot, creating a hazardous situation. Out of concern for my safety, and with fear that the vehicle could potentially catch fire, I exited the vehicle and waited at a safe distance until I could arrange for a tow truck. This incident placed me and other motorists in serious danger. The abrupt loss of power at freeway speed could have easily resulted in a major accident. It is important to note that this Sportage has been meticulously maintained, with 12 documented service records in just 2. 5 years of ownership. This clearly demonstrates proper care and maintenance, ruling out negligence as a cause of the failure. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving uphill on interstate 15 north near temecula, California, the vehicle suddenly lost engine power without warning. My speed dropped from approximately 75 mph to around 60 mph in heavy traffic. This unexpected loss of acceleration created an immediate safety hazard, as vehicles behind me were traveling at freeway speeds and I was nearly rear-ended. I had to maneuver from the far-left lane to the shoulder while the vehicle continued to lose power. Once stopped, the check engine light was flashing, and the engine temperature gauge showed extreme heat, raising concern for a potential fire. The vehicle was towed to a kia dealership, where technicians confirmed a complete engine failure and recommended a full short-block replacement. The vehicle has been regularly serviced and has more than a dozen documented service visits, including visits for ongoing oil-consumption concerns. Despite this, the low oil warning light never illuminated when the engine oil level was low; the only alert that appeared was the routine maintenance reminder. The lack of a low oil warning contributed to undetected oil loss and sudden engine failure. This failure occurred at approximately 92,000 miles and mirrors previously reported engine and bearing defects in similar kia models. The vehicle and documentation are available for inspection upon request.

While driving in the carpool lane, the engine briefly cut-out and than a rattling sound was heard. We decided to immediately exist the free way at a left-side car pool exit as a precaution. Immediately after exiting, the car went into a complete stall. Had we remained on the freeway, we would have been stranded in the fastest lane with no shoulder and with traffic approaching from the rear at 70mph. Thus we likely avoided catastrophe. There was no warning light. The problems was later determined to be caused by a manufacturer defect resulting in a connecting rod bearing failure. Pursuant to a class action settlement the engine was replaced. I'm writing to let others know that this is a potentially life-threatening danger and that the knock sensor recall does not adequately address this. Also, the dealer mischaracterized the symptoms on the engine warranty invoice, misstating the narrative above, wrongly stating "customer states cel started flashing when driving after light appeared vehicle would not accelerate properly or start. " this quote is untrue. There was no warning, and the car stalled.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

I am writing to report a serious and dangerous issue with my kia vehicle that is putting my life and my family’s safety at risk. While driving, the engine shuts off completely whenever I come to a stop or press the brake pedal. I then have to manually restart the engine to continue driving. This happens frequently, including while I am in traffic or on the highway. I have come very close to being hit by other vehicles multiple times while my children were in the car. I already brought the vehicle to a kia dealership, and they informed me that the issue was fixed. However, within one week, the same problem started again. This clearly indicates that the problem has not been resolved and may be due to a manufacturing or system defect. I cannot continue to drive this vehicle under these conditions. I am requesting immediate assistance to ensure my vehicle is either: properly repaired and guaranteed safe to drive, or replaced with another vehicle if the defect cannot be corrected. Please treat this as a high-priority safety matter. I am sending this email as official documentation that I have reported this issue to kia headquarters in case anything happens to me or my family while operating this vehicle. I expect a prompt response and resolution. Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter. Sincerely, [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] vehicle information: make/mode: 2024/kia Sportage VIN: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

In 2018 my I was driving home when it just shut off and wouldn’t start. Smelled like burning and had it towed to my house and had several mechanics look at it and couldn’t find the problem then as it was parked on day it started to smoke and the engine was burning I put out the fire and then a couple months later I got the recall information the car was a total loss and could t be repaired and no compemsation was sent to me. Ive contacted the class action suit and they were very vague with the information. I waited and the car eventually disappeared in which I thought the kia company picked it up. I still have t hear word from anyone and my car is no where to be found and I would like to be reimbursed for the car since it was paid off.

See all problems of the 2009 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Subject: complaint regarding excessive oil consumption in kia vehicle I am writing to formally report a persistent safety and reliability concern regarding my kia Sportage. Despite diligently maintaining the vehicle according to kia’s recommendations, the engine has been excessively consuming oil. This issue has been ongoing for approximately two years, causing repeated inconvenience, potential safety risks, and significant concern regarding the vehicle’s reliability. I reported this problem to kia multiple times, seeking a resolution under the warranty and for guidance on repair or remediation. Unfortunately, my concerns have been consistently minimized or dismissed, and no meaningful solution has been offered. I was informed by kia representatives that the issue does not warrant action, despite evidence that similar engine oil consumption problems have affected other vehicles of the same make and model. This situation has left me without recourse and raises concerns about the safety, durability, and quality of this kia vehicle. I respectfully request that the national highway traffic safety administration investigate this matter to determine whether it constitutes a defect that could affect the safety or reliability of kia vehicles and to ensure that affected consumers are protected. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

There were no known issues with my vehicle not even a check engine light or anything was on. I was driving then the car randomly stopped accelerating. It would only go up to about 25 miles per hour. Something started rattling under the hood and it cut off in the middle of an intersection. I was almost hit because it was a 4 way intersection which put myself and all of the other cars on the road at risk. A police offer had to direct traffic until a tow truck made it. I had to get my car towed to a mechanic shop and I was told my engine blew. I checked for engine recalls using my VIN but nothing came up but my car had the same issue and symptoms as all of the 2020 kia Sportages that did have recalls.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle lost automotive power and was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who discovered metal shavings in the engine oil. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who confirmed that the piston rings had failed and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 55,445.

My 2018 kia Sportage (2. 4l theta ii gdi engine) suddenly triggered diagnostic trouble code p1326 (knock sensor detection system – detection of excessive connecting rod bearing wear) and entered limp mode at 111,595 miles on Sep 13, 2025. The vehicle is now speed- and rpm-limited to protect the engine from catastrophic failure. This is the exact failure mode covered under the well-documented Hyundai/kia theta ii engine defect that has led to thousands of engine seizures and, in some cases, vehicle fires. Kia implemented the knock sensor detection system (ksds) software update (campaign sc200) on this VIN, yet the system has now correctly detected excessive connecting rod bearing wear. Despite the vehicle falling squarely within the class vehicles listed in the 2020–2023 Hyundai/kia engine litigation settlement (in Hyundai and kia engine litigation ii), kia’s settlement VIN-check website [xxx] ) incorrectly states this VIN “has not been matched with an eligible class vehicle. ” I am concerned this may be used as a pretext to deny the lifetime short-block warranty repair that other identically-equipped 2018 Sportage owners have received at no cost. Continued driving risks sudden engine seizure or fire, which NHTSA has previously investigated under pe21-003 and related actions. I am forced to keep the vehicle parked until kia honors the repair or provides clear justification for denial. I can no longer safely use the vehicle for normal transportation requested action: I request that NHTSA investigate kia’s inconsistent application of the theta ii lifetime warranty and settlement benefits, particularly when the ksds system (installed by kia) has triggered the exact warning it was designed to detect. This appears to be a continuing safety defect affecting 2011–2019 kia vehicles equipped with the 2. 4l theta ii gdi engine. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

This is an issue of nonconformity according the florida lemon law: "florida's lemon law protects consumers who buy or lease new or demonstrator vehicles with persistent, significant defects, known as nonconformities, within the first 24 months of ownership. " my March 2025 leased kia Sportage was sitting for about an hour. I turned it on and the all the dash warning lights stayed on, hot air blew (no ac), and I couldn't shift out of park. I tried turning it off/on twice, with a few minutes in between attempts, and on the second attempt only the check engine light stayed on, cold ac blew, and I could shift. I drove 3. 5 miles home. About an hour went by, I started it again and the check engine light was still on. I drove it 2. 5 miles to the dealership, turned it off, and minutes later they started it to move it but the check engine light had gone off. They said another car almost the same mileage (4040miles) had the same issue and because the light wasn't on, the scan showed nothing. They told me to return if it happens again and not to shut it off because the kia dealer could not duplicate or reproduce the concern at that time. My vehicle is available for inspection and diagnosis, but the dealer said a computer scan wouldn't show anything. Something is definitely not okay and I do not feel safe. Although this incident was while traveling 20-40mph, I travel at high speeds on the highway during the week for work, and am very concerned for my safety.

Driving 70mph on the freeway and check engine light started flashing. Car immediately went into “limp mode” and within a few hundred feet went from 75mhp 30mph. Used odb reader and code p1326 came up for “engine knock sensor”. Engine was two quarts low on oil. No low oil warning. I just had an oil change a month ago and there is no apparent oil leak. When I opened the oil cap small amount of smoke was visible coming up from engine. Car has 75400 miles on it. I reset the code, put 2 quarts of oil and drove 2 miles to a kia dealership. The said they couldn’t look into it since I reset the code. I drove another 4 miles and the same code and symptoms showed up. Having my car towed home because the dealer can’t inspect until next week. Other kia’s have had this same error code and were recalled with engine replacement.