Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Kia Motor Sportage - part 2

My 2017 kia Sportage has experienced excessive oil consumption, cylinder #3 misfires, loss of power, and highway stalling events. The dealership initially documented engine damage and indicated findings consistent with internal engine failure, including concerns related to metal contamination and cylinder damage. These issues appear consistent with numerous complaints from other kia owners involving the same engine family. Kia has since backtracked on prior findings, and both kia and the dealership have stopped responding to my requests for clarification and documentation. The cylinder damage and related engine failures appear to be symptoms of a larger engine defect that poses a safety risk due to sudden loss of power and stalling while driving. I request that NHTSA investigate these recurring engine failures and kia’s handling of these claims.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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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I came home from vacation and found my car completely dead. We took the battery in and ended up changing this. Soon later my cars power steering and dashboard would go in and out. I took it to mark kia who believed it to be the alternator, so they replace this. I picked the car up and not even 20 minutes later the same issues were occurring so I took it back where then they replaced the connector. I picked up my car and about a month went by and same thing occurred while I was driving even having my car completely die while driving it. I took it back in and now they believe it to be the engine harness.

On 1/10 about 1. 5 hour driving out of town later engine started idling low. Pulled over, replaced spark plugs and engine coil and still idling rough. Took vehicle for diagnostics of a broken head in the valve. I drive a 2. 4l engine 2017 kia Sportage lx awd. Only 114k miles. Quoted thousands and thousands, more than care worth to repair.

Motor is knocking.

Loosing oil constantly. Always on the low end. I am having to keep oil in my car to put in it when needed which is often.

I received a voluntary emissions update letter from kia, and although it was voluntary, the letter said failure to update could be considered lack of maintenance. The update was performed on xxx at dorsch Ford/kia in [xxx]. The vehicle ran poorly from that day forward. I gave it a couple of weeks to insure that the system could learn my driving habits. I then went to the dorsch service department to report my issues. The service writer {andy} said he hadn't heard of any issues with the update. I had him log in my issues to have a record that I complained. I returned several more times and talked to other service writers who told me that if they would check the vehicle and found nothing that I would have to pay service fees. The vehicle jerks and up/downshifts frequently and almost stalls sometimes when accelerating from a stoplight. It will lung periodically when navigating a parking lot at low speeds. It frequently searches for a different gear in traffic. To be clear, my car ran perfectly before this update. I asked them to put the previous tune back into the car but they said they can't do that. The car runs fine sometimes but the uncertainty of the jerking and shifting at improper times makes it dangerous to drive. Also almost stalling at an intersection is very dangerous too. I doubt that I am the only one to have this problem. Please help in any way you can to get this fixed without me having to spend money to correct a factory/dealer initiated problem thank you for all your help. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I own a 2020 kia Sportage that is currently within the 100,000-mile power-train warranty. The vehicle has been experiencing excessive oil consumption, requiring oil to be added between scheduled oil changes, despite no visible leaks or warning indicators. I have consistently maintained the vehicle according to kia's recommended maintenance schedule. Oil changes were performed regularly, including some done at home. For those oil changes, I have kept vehicle maintained with regular oil changes and more the last 9 months. There is no evidence that improper maintenance caused the oil consumption. Will be reaching out to kia customer service to see what next steps are. Maintenance dept constantly wants to fix things on car that are not needed yet will not report issues with engine. Very disappointed customer.

Driving to grandmas christmas weekend on the highway all of a sudden my car couldn’t keep speed was shaking the check engine light came on. Now my cylinder one psi is only 50. I have noticed over 100 complaints with very similar car issues. I just bought this car 5 months ago from a dealership. I have barely put 4,000 miles on the car myself.

Vehicle developed a cylinder 3 misfire that progressed to engine failure. The engine began running rough and lost power during normal operation. Dealer diagnosed internal engine damage and advised that a complete engine replacement is required. Prior to failure, the vehicle experienced significant oil loss, with oil leaking and rapidly depleting despite proper maintenance. Oil levels dropped abnormally between services. No adequate warning was provided before the engine condition worsened. Failure resulted in loss of engine performance and required towing. Vehicle was properly maintained. Repair cost exceeds reasonable expectations for vehicle age and mileage. Dealer advised that required engine parts are on backorder, leaving the vehicle inoperable for an extended period.

1. Hybrid system failure and check engine light on . 2. Car jerk while driving and gone to limp mode and my speed was reduced to 10 mph at traffic putting my self and other in danger . 3. My vehicle is currently at the dealership getting inspected this is the second time my hybrid warning light came on and the first time they told me nothing was wrong with my vehicle. 4. All of these symptoms happened at the same time while driving.

On December 24, 2025, while driving in traffic, my kia Sportage experienced severe lurching, bucking, and jerking, causing the engine to shut down. All dashboard warning lights illuminated, including a message prompting me to "turn engine back on. " the vehicle would not restart, necessitating a tow to horne kia. After several days of diagnostics, it was determined that a blown ignition fuse and a bad fuel pump relay were the issues, along with a battery replacement. However, just 19 days later, while attempting to merge onto the freeway, the vehicle again bucked violently, and the engine shut down with all warning lights flashing. The police had to assist in moving my vehicle out of traffic, and it was towed to courtesy kia in mesa, az. Once again, no error codes were found. After further diagnostics, it was discovered that the same ignition fuse had blown and that the catalytic converter had "shattered. " the catalytic converter was replaced. Upon picking up the vehicle from the dealership, and driving less then 5 miles on freeway, the vehicle was bucking and hard shifting once again resulting in a third tow to dealership just 48 hours later after the previous service. The dealership ran several diagnostics under kia's tech line, which revealed that the engine pistons are slipping and not functioning properly, resulting in loss of compression. Per kia's tech line, a new engine long block was ordered and replaced.

This complaint is in reference to my vehicle which is involved with federal class action lawsuits and the fact that my engine was defective from the day it was built. My engine was consuming oil at a rate of 1 quart every 361. 1 miles driven. I was advised to not put oil in it and drive it until it blows up. This would have put myself, my family, friends, or any other passengers or bystanders at risk. Kia is denying my claim solely on a non rod bearing failure.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

I own a 2020 kia Sportage that is currently within the 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The vehicle has been experiencing excessive oil consumption, requiring oil to be added between scheduled oil changes, despite no visible leaks or warning indicators. I have consistently maintained the vehicle according to kia's recommended maintenance schedule. Oil changes were performed regularly, including some done at home. For those oil changes, I have provided bank statements showing the purchases of oil and filters from autozone, which is a valid form of maintenance. There is no evidence that improper maintenance caused the oil consumption. The vehicle was kept by the kia dealership for 18 days during their evaluation. Despite providing documentation and cooperation throughout the process, kia denied my warranty claim. Denying warranty coverage solely due to oil changes performed at home is not consistent with the magnuson-moss warranty act, which requires proof that improper maintenance directly caused the failure.

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.

I was driving only going around 35 miles and the car went from no check engine light to flashing check engine light I had it taken to a show and was told the rod bears where grinding away and putting metal in the oil which is what the 2017-2019 model of the engines had the same problem.

The vehicle is experiencing excessive engine oil consumption. The engine was found by the dealership to be low by 3 quarts of oil after about 1000 miles during an oil consumption test, indicating abnormal oil loss. The suspected failure involves internal engine components, possibly piston rings, allowing oil to enter the combustion chamber and burn. This condition creates a safety risk because the engine can become critically low on oil, without warning, potentially leading to engine damage, loss of power, or engine failure while driving. The problem has been reproduced and documented by the dealership during oil consumption testing. However, there are inconsistencies in the dealership’s reporting, as later documentation stated that no oil consumption was found despite earlier records showing excessive oil loss. This vehicle has been inspected multiple times by an authorized dealership and is currently part of an open case with the manufacture. The vehicle was also held at the dealership for approximately three weeks without clear documentation of work performed. There were minimal warnings indicators prior to the issue. The vehicle showed rough engine performance, which was consistent with oil fouling the spark plugs. No clear warning light reliably indicated the severity of the oil loss before the condition was discovered during testing.

2018 kia Sportage had oil consumption issue but did not notify car owners, lead to complete engine failure of my car at only 117,000 this car is part of a class action lawsuit due to bad engineering , kia would not replace the engine on this even though I submitted all maintenance records, they had terrible communication when I was calling for months to file a claim with corporate, wouldnt return phone calls, supervisors not doing their jobs, car was sitting on lot for almost three months, still have loan on it, was at loss of work income etc. . They should be held liable for bad engineering of cars Sportage only had 117,00 miles when engine went out and we had oil changes, maintance and kept it in great shape this was confirmed at montrosse kia complete engine failure.

My 2017 kia Sportage with approximately 98,000 miles suddenly started using oil at times. It would go for several trips with everything fine and then it would be a quart low. I continued to drive it and check the oil before every trip. At approximately 106,000 miles, I suddenly lost engine power, a small puff of black smoke from the exhaust, and the check engine light came on. I crippled it home after checking all fluids - they were fine. I trailered the car to my mechanic and after diagnosing it, he stated the #1 cylinder had no compression. I brought it home and checked online to find out that this seemed to be a common occurrence with the Sportage. To double check, I took the car to a second mechanic to get the same results except he provided more detail. Compression on #1 cylinder 0, #2 was 140, #3 145, #4 140. He stated the compression should be above 175. My safety issue was I could have been stranded on i49 and if this had happened at night, I may not have been able to get it home. I took the vehicle to crain kia, fayetteville, ar. When the first check engine light came on and they stated it was shown as low engine oil even though it had oil in the engine and that it showed low compression on cylinder 4. I now have a vehicle with 106,048 miles that without major engine repairs is worthless to me.