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

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.

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

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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.

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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:.

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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.

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

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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.

I would welcome making my vehicle available for inspection on this issue. Year/make/model: 2023 kia Sportage ex hev awd 4-door SUV color: black powertrain: hybrid electric vehicle (hev) number of occupants: 2 (driver and passenger) injuries: none, but fatalities could have occurred. Vehicle turned off completely – no power, no hazard lights, and although driver miraculously made it to the shoulder, most of it was blocked by a snowbank and sat in a dead car with no hazard lights. Passenger (recovering from leg surgery in full leg brace) was forced to exit onto a snow bank and enter a tow truck cab, risking re-injury. Crash: no — vehicle was somehow brought to shoulder and aid protected by two state trooper vehicles until a tow arrived. Our car suddenly emitted a loud alarm at highway speed on I-84 -the instrument panel displayed an "stop vehicle immediately" warning. There was no prior warning, unusual noise, or dashboard indication of any problem. The car shut completely down while still on the highway. Car was towed to the nearest kia dealer - columbia Ford/kia [xxx] ). After diagnosis, the authorized kia dealer documented the following on repair order invoice w7403: • concern: "tow in. Died while driving. Separated" • diagnostic fault code: bms p1bb20 • failed/replaced parts: ? decoupler-basfiltr, part no. Spo 25290 2mhd0 ? bolt-crankshaft, part no. Kia 23127 2mha0 ? battery module assy, part no. Spo 37507 l5000 • parts total: $835. 54 • vehicle in dealer possession: March 5, 2026 – March 20, 2026 (15 days) complete loss of motive power at highway speed. Based on my subsequent research, this failure mode appears consistent with a documented similar issue in the united kingdom and european markets - which did result in a recall. -hybrid belt/tensioner system. Kia issued revised parts and ecu updates in those markets. No equivalent safety recall or consumer notification has been issued in the us. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S.

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On March 4, 2026, the engine in my 2021 kia Sportage malfunctioned while I was driving on a local road on long island, NY. The check engine light illuminated, the vehicle lost the ability to accelerate normally, and the steering wheel became heavy and difficult to turn at the same time. This created a serious safety risk, as I was unable to maneuver or accelerate normally and could have been stranded in an active roadway or unable to avoid a collision. The vehicle was able to restart but was towed as a precaution and transported to service. An independent repair shop examined the vehicle and identified the issue as an engine problem, advising that the repair should be covered by kia. I delivered the vehicle to kia smithtown, an authorized kia dealership, on March 9, 2026. As of today, the dealership has had the vehicle for approximately six weeks and has not yet completed a formal diagnosis or begun the repair, and no loaner vehicle has been provided. No police or insurance inspection has occurred. The check engine light first appeared at the moment of the failure on March 4, 2026; there were no clear warning symptoms prior to that. The vehicle remains in the possession of kia smithtown and is available for inspection.

Engine failure. The engine completely seized up.

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The contact owns a 2020 kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cylinder #4 misfire, a knock sensor, and bearing clearance measurement failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty because the warranty was on the vehicle with the previous owner. The dealer contacted the manufacturer and was advised that the repair could not be covered under warranty because the failure was considered the consumer’s negligence. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

My vehicle broke down on my family 2 hours away. The SUV started engine failure with the engine light coming on then the rpm’s reved up to 4000 and started chugging. We stoped at the gas station shut the vehicle off and got it towed home to a local shop. I have the 2. 4 engine and less then 130,000 miles on it and the shop said my piston is gone and my engine is bad.

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I am filing a complaint regarding a 2021 kia Sportage that experienced catastrophic engine failure, leaving the vehicle non-drivable despite regular maintenance and documented oil changes. I brought the vehicle to an authorized kia dealership, located at 402 NJ-35, keyport, NJ 07735, for evaluation. On or about March 17, 2026, I was informed by the dealership that coverage for engine replacement had been denied. At that time, I was not provided with a clear or sufficient explanation for the denial. Due to the lack of explanation and assistance, I escalated the matter to kia corporate and was assigned a case manager. On March 30, 2026, I was contacted by my assigned case worker from kia corporate, marcia, who confirmed that my request for engine replacement remained denied. Again, no specific or sufficient explanation for the denial was provided, despite my attempts to obtain clarification. I made multiple efforts to understand the reason for the denial and to resolve the issue directly with both the dealership and kia corporate. Despite these efforts, I was not offered a reasonable solution, nor was meaningful assistance provided. The vehicle ultimately stalled out in the middle of a highway. As a result, I am now left with a non-drivable vehicle and a significant financial burden, including an outstanding loan balance on a vehicle that cannot be used. I am also aware that there have been reported concerns, recalls, and investigations involving engine issues in certain kia vehicles. While I understand each case is reviewed individually, this raises concern that my situation may not be an isolated incident and warrants further review. I believe this outcome is unfair given my documented maintenance history and the severity of the engine failure. I am requesting assistance in obtaining a fair resolution, including reconsideration of the denial and/or financial assistance toward the cost of engine replacement.

My vehicle stalled (104000mi) bought in 2024 looked up online was known between 2023-2024 engine recall I wasn't told or shown on car fax anything about this so [xxx] worked on engine 2. Mths no charge was to get new motor they replaced alternator. Told done engine light was on I went to drive it jerked and over dash said engine problems return to dealer ( 5 min) I did . They had it2 more weeks said transmission box lied I found diagnostics in my dash says engine control problems. Theysaid I had to return loaner and take my vehicle it's not the transmission they are lying. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Claim #25921274 to whom it may concern, I am writing to formally dispute kia’s denial of warranty coverage for the engine failure in my 2013 kia Sportage. Per communication with customer care, kia denied my claim on the basis of “excessive mileage between oil changes. ” however, this conclusion is not supported by sufficient evidence and does not meet the legal standard required under the magnuson-moss warranty act. My vehicle received regular oil changes at intervals ranging from approximately 5,000 to 13,000 miles using full synthetic oil designed for extended service intervals. While these intervals may exceed conservative manufacturer recommendations, they do not constitute neglect, nor do they establish that maintenance caused the engine failure. The engine failure occurred suddenly while driving at highway speed, resulting in a complete seizure and requiring an emergency stop. This type of abrupt failure is consistent with known defects in kia’s engines, particularly rod bearing failure, and not indicative of progressive oil starvation or maintenance-related damage. Under federal warranty law, kia bears the burden of demonstrating a causal connection between the alleged maintenance deficiency and the specific mechanical failure. A general assertion regarding oil change intervals is insufficient. To date, kia has not provided evidence establishing that my maintenance practices caused or contributed to the engine seizure. Accordingly, I request the following: 1. All documentation supporting the denial of my claim, including: •photographs of engine teardown •inspection reports •evidence of sludge, oil starvation, or restricted oil flow 2. A written explanation detailing how the oil change intervals directly caused the engine failure, rather than a known defect associated with this engine. Absent such evidence, the denial of coverage constitutes a breach of warranty under kia’s engine settlement program and the magnuson-moss warranty act.

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Car was driving, stopped at a stoplight, never moved again. 3 lights came on, check engine, check oil (which had been serviced previously by a month and a half), and check battery. Bob sight kia has stated engine issues associated with the rods failing and the starter not functioning due the the manifold, I am uncertain to the technical terms. It was late at night, the area only semi lit up and I had to wait for a tow in unsafe conditions as I was stuck in a turn lane. Prior to the failure, no issues. This is my only means of transport as a waitress, I had recently moved into this area and plan to move again at the end of year, so my car is much needed. From the theft issues of this car to the mechanical issues over the last year, I can honestly say I will not be buying a kia again. What I need to know now is has the threshold been met by the standards you have set through complaints by consumers like myself and the manufacturer information that a recall or a means of financially assisting this situation exist yet? the repairs quoted are literally almost half of what I owe on the car left and I do not know what to do, but am hoping to hear from you.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, the transmission failed to properly change gears. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several warning lights illuminated, 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 116,124.

At 113,000 my engine failed. It was determined that low compression occurred due to the first cylinder failing. I’ve been having excessive oil consumption since about 60k.

In April of 2025, it was noticed that my Sportage was consuming oil. There were no leaks or smoke just having to put oil in. Two mechanics stated that’s just kia. On the night of 1/30/2026 my Sportage had an engine light come on. After the winter storm, I was able to get the code read and it came back as a cylinder 1 misfire. In may of 2025 I replaced all coil packs and spark plugs. On 2/1/26 we replaced the coil packs and spark plug. On 2/4/2026, kia told me I have to replace the engine. I am still paying the vehicle off. This does seem to be an issue with kia engines 2. 4 from what I’m reading.

The vehicle frequently fails to engage gas engine when depressing gas pedal to any degree. A full push of the gas pedal does not result in gas engine engagement. This has happened over 15 ties since the recall computer update last summer (2025). This creates extreme danger because the operator expects the full power of the engine to engage when pulling out of intersections or crossing oncoming traffic, but the engine does not engage causing a slow, creeping acceleration from the electric motor only. I took it into the kia dealer and they found nothing wrong. No warning lights occur when the malfunction happens. And no check engine lights occur either. The only correction is to fully turn the vehicle off and back on. Doing that resets everything back to normal. This malfunction usually occurs within the first 25-30 minutes of vehicle operation.

Took my car for the theft recall and had it performed, my vehicle was stolen last night and the theft used a usb charging cable to steal it, the recall did not fix this.

Intake camshaft position actuator circuit alert went off I have had the engine replaced 3 times in this car in the past year now, the first time in February of 2025 then in August of 2025 and again in October of 2025 and I am now having further engine troubles with this vehicle. All replacement engines have been re-manufactured and I have been told be the kia dealership that the first 2 were sent with faulty parts. They claimed they switched to another company for the 3rd replacement but this engine is having issues as well.

In January 2026, my wife was driving our 2024 kia Sportage hybrid ex downhill in traffic when the hybrid system failed without warning. Cabin filled with smoke, lost steering control, and explosion shook the vehicle. She was surrounded by other vehicles and could have been killed or caused multi-car crash. Component failure: dealership diagnosed hybrid system failure after 2. 5 weeks. Vehicle at dealership awaiting repair. Failed components available for inspection. Safety risk: zero steering control downhill surrounded by traffic. Smoke impaired visibility. Explosion posed fire risk. Life-threatening danger to occupants and other motorists. Dealer confirmation: yes, confirmed by dealership. Repair pending. Warning symptoms: none. Instantaneous catastrophic failure. Critical issue: I discovered kia issued service campaigns for 2024 Sportage hybrids directly related to this failure: service campaign sc322 (January 2025) - hybrid control unit software failure affecting 2023-2025 Sportage hybrids built Feb 2022-Jul 2024 12v battery overcharge campaign - battery management system overcharging causing loss of motive power and "check hybrid system stop safely" warnings sc319 (NHTSA 24v-422) - motor-driven power steering contaminated circuit board causing loss of power steering never notified of campaigns despite being owner since may 2024. Nhtsa shows zero recalls, falsely indicating safety. By classifying defects as "voluntary service campaigns" instead of safety recalls, kia avoided mandatory federal notifications. My wife drove with multiple known defects kia failed to disclose. Vehicle under 2 years old, within warranty. This catastrophic failure and notification failure warrants NHTSA investigation. There was smoke and we called 911 and the fire department came out.

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