Power Train Problems of Kia Motor Sportage - part 1

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.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

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.

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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.

The contact owns a 2025 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine experienced difficulty cranking. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to properly shift gear. The contact stated that the engine revved up, but the transmission failed to properly shift gear. The auto start/stop light was orange. The contact was concerned about a possible disintegration of the transmission after a friend alerted him of a similar failure. The contact called the local dealer and left a message. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

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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 🔎.

Awd lock engaged but not functioning and no error lights indicating the such. This made the vehicle slip aggressively on lightly snowed roads. Once parked it needed to be winched out as only the front wheels spun, not engaging the rear tires.

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Transmission stops drive ability at various times when pulling out into traffic it stops accelerating and the engine just revs high rpm’s until it slams itself back into a power gear. I have stalled several times recently pulling into traffic and was nearly involved in a wreck because a momentary lack of acceleration. This problem also hapoens when driving a steady speed it all of a sudden stops accelerating a d just revs the engine very high until it catches itself and regains the ability to have power.

The contact owns a 2023 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted. However, the failure reoccurred on five separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 27,776.

Frequently while driving my 2023 kia shortage hybrid will accelerate on its own. This happens randomly while driving straight as well as making turns. My SUV also has a vary hard time driving uphill. If im driving at 25 mph when approaching the hill, my car then gradually drops down to 10-15 mph. This is extremely scary especially when driving with my children in the car. I haven’t owned the vehicle for a year and don’t know why it’s performing this way.

While driving the vehicle and selecting ev only mode the engine rpms surge to about 3000. This happens frequently and I have it on video. Kia has had the car multiple times for electrical may electrical related repairs but say the vehicle is normal. The tech line person even had the dealer drive a similar car for a baseline. I would expect they had a baseline prior to manufacturing the car. This is an ongoing unrepaired issue. Date below is first reported date of electrical concerns.

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Kia America has rejected my appeal for an engine replacement through the recall , I had the ksds, knock sensor installed by north town kia 3900 sheridan drive amherst NY , may 7 2021. The warranty I received mentioned to keep oil and filter changed every 7500 miles with 5 w 20 oil . The oil was changed by myself and I have receipts every 5k miles or less. I was turned down for what kia tech line said insufficient maintenance . As in they are calling me a liar . I bought 5w 20 full synthetic oil and filters on 12 occasions from walmart that fit my 2013 Kia Motor the weight was recommended by kia and the filters rated at 10k miles . Have worked on my cars since I was [xxx] old have thousands of dollars in tools. I do what ever maintenance that is still possible to do on newer cars . Brakes , filters fluid changes tire rotations ect . If kia would have mentioned in the warrenty you need to take videos I would have . Why are not receipts enough? also the way the oil looks rite now ?? clean on the dipstick. Have talked to 3 different car service technicians. And they said the same thing. If that motor was not maintained the oil would not look that good. I asked the dealer for the video that the technician does when they told me what I already knew. I paid 230 dollars for the diagnostic, they sent the video to kia tech line. Kia told me I have to get a subpoena . To get a copy. . Does that tell you they may be hiding something?? so I have brought this to the attention of 3 different kia dealers. They said hands are tied to to kia tech line . My 2013 kia Sportage looks as good if not better then some cars 3 years old . Everything works except the 2. 4 liter motor with bad rod bearings. The car died while my wife was driving it while at a stop light at a busy intersection. No light on dash no warning. What if it quit when she was at a high speed. No power steering, no power brakes??that is dangerous . This happened on September 4 2025, towed straight to the kia dealer . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of I.

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I started my car and it started shaking violently, and would jolt back and forth, I would be on the highway and the speed would decrease rapidly and overheat slightly to pick up speed.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

I am writing to formally raise a safety concern regarding my vehicle’s brake and rotor system, which has experienced premature failure on two separate occasions. First occurrence: the issue was first identified prior to reaching 11,000 miles and was addressed by the dealership after surpassing 11,000 miles. The repair involved replacement of the rotors and bolts, but notably, the brake components themselves were not replaced. Second occurrence: around 23,000 miles, I began to notice progressively worsening shaking and a disturbing sensation of the brakes skipping or slipping—particularly during highway downgrades. By 24,500 miles, the issue had become significantly more pronounced. I returned the vehicle to kia of stockton at 25,248 miles. During my visit, ricardo from the kia of stockton service department attributed the issue to “driver error,” citing hot spots on the rotors. However, he also acknowledged that during the initial repair, only the rotors and bolts were replaced—not the brakes. Ricardo further stated that kia could not offer any additional support beyond a 10% discount on repairs, per his manager’s directive. I explained that I live and work locally, and my driving habits do not involve long commutes or frequent stop-and-go traffic. Given this, I strongly believe the repeated brake system failure points to a potential manufacturing defect rather than user error. Ricardo agreed that if this were his own vehicle, he would be concerned as well. This issue poses a serious safety risk—not only to myself and my family, but to other drivers on the road. In addition my vehicle has also experienced powertrain issues, where it feels as if the vehicle is stuck in 1st gear. I am therefore requesting a full investigation into this matter. If necessary, I would like to initiate the process of reporting this vehicle as a potential lemon under applicable consumer protection laws. Thank you for your attention to this urgent safety concern.

Fails to move when going from stopped to apply gas and moving forward there is a large delay and weak power. Shakes when idles and is really forcful switching from gas to battery or battery to gas,.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, however the contact was advised to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The cotnact stated that the failure occurred while traveling across two states. The vehicle was towed to the contact's brother's residence while waiting for a scheduled appointment with the dealer. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that an unknown software update was needed. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that the second unknown software update was part of an unknown special program. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

While driving on the highway at 80 mph, the accelerator suddenly stopped working and was completely unresponsive. The dashboard displayed the message "check hybrid system. Stop safely" and a warning ding sounded. The gas engine was still operating and showing rpms on the dashboard, but all acceleration and/or engagement with the engine was lost. I was able to coast and safely pull over to the side of the road. After pulling over, I turned off the engine and pushed the 12v battery reset button. The car restarted, and I was able to continue driving. The issue repeated about 20 miles later and again on a different drive four days later. Each time, there is no early warning or noticeable issue with the vehicle before the sudden warning and loss of power.

The hybrid powertrain system failed. Specifically, the vehicle remains stuck in ev mode and does not switch to the gasoline engine under acceleration, leading to complete loss of power while driving. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This malfunction caused the vehicle to lose all forward power in traffic. I had to pull over into emergency lanes and restart the vehicle multiple times. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to a crash, especially on highways or during merging. It puts both myself and others on the road at risk. The kia authorized service center was able to reset the adaptive system, and the hybrid warning light turned off temporarily. However, the issue reappeared the same day. The dealer claims they cannot reproduce it and refuses further diagnosis without replication. The vehicle was only inspected by a kia-authorized dealership. Kia consumer affairs has not yet conducted a manufacturer-level inspection or assigned a field technician. Yes. A “check hybrid system. Stop safely” warning message appears before the failure occurs. Then check engine light was on. It first appeared immediately after a routine service (oil change, tire rotation, multi-point inspection) on 26th June 2025, just 2 days after my regular service. The warning disappears after restarting but returns intermittently, typically after the ev battery is fully drained and the car fails to switch to gas mode.

I was riding on the highway at about 65 mph and then the check engine light came on, the car slowed down and lost power. Now when I take off I have to barely mash the gas to pick up speed, if I mash the gas pedal hard it barely moves and it loses speed and power going up a hill. I took the car to two different part store and had a reader hooked up and it said the power powertrain control module needs a reprogramming.

The contact owns a 2025 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the transmission unexpectedly shifted gears, causing a slight jerk before accelerating. The instrument panel frequently displayed codes advising the driver to "turn off the engine. " while driving approximately 45-50 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The instrument panel displayed a message advising the contact to "check your surroundings". When the contact attempted to depress the accelerator, the vehicle failed to respond. Upon releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle coasted, and the failure reoccurred several times. The contact safely coasted to the side of the road, restarted the vehicle, and the failure was temporarily resolved. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the issue and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 3,500.

My kia Sportage hybrid sx prestige, bought brand new on 4/29/2025 and had 250 miles when I had transmission problem on weekend after 3 days of ownership. The car, when slowed down to about 30 miles/hr, transmission suddenly shifted to neutral and the engine became dead. This happened 3 times within half an hour on freeway during the time of high traffic. I had to pull over and restarted the engine. I brought the car to the dealership on Monday, may 5 of 2025 and it took them 3 days to reproduced the problem to send to kia service headquarter and today is may 29 (3 weeks and 3 days later) the car is still in the shop waiting for a new transmission replacement.

Started vehicle and was driving, isg (auto start stop) light went amber and transmission refused to shift to allow uphill travel. Had to pull over and turn engine off and on again for the transmission to start working. Have had to dealer, however yet again they cannot replicate in their test drive so they can't do anything about it.

When I pulled up at home and parked the vehicle, I pressed the brake pedal, stopping the vehicle, and then pressed the park button and took my foot off the brake. The vehicle was not in park and rolled forward hitting my trailer with two jet skis on it in my driveway damaging the front of my vehicle, and one of the 2 jet skis. This is the first time this has happened, and there was no warning at all. Luckily it was in my driveway with no one around. If it had happened in a store parking lot or on a street, it could injure or kill someone easily.

Vehicle dash reset and cruise control was set. When dash came back up car surged nearly causing a wreck reported to dealership and they could not replicate so not sure what to do as they can never replicate the issues and won't do anything to help.

The issue appears to involve the cvt (continuously variable transmission) system or the transmission fluid/lubricant pump. The vehicle jerks or hesitates when accelerating from a stop, as if struggling to shift properly. The check engine light comes on repeatedly. This issue is ongoing, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The jerking and hesitation when trying to drive, especially from a stop or when merging into traffic, poses a safety risk to myself and others. The delayed or unpredictable response could easily lead to an accident in high-traffic areas, intersections, or when making turns. Yes. The issue has been observed multiple times. The check engine light has returned even after replacing the O2 sensors, and a trusted mechanic believes the problem may be transmission-related. However, the kia dealership claims there are no active recalls tied to my VIN, even though publicly available information lists powertrain- and fluid pump-related recalls for my vehicle's year and model. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by kia corporate. I reached out to the local dealer, who denied any applicable recall. I am submitting this complaint in hopes of an official review and inspection by the manufacturer or NHTSA to determine if the issue qualifies for safety recall intervention. Yes. The check engine light first appeared months ago, which led to replacement of the O2 sensors. Shortly after the replacement, the light returned, and the car began jerking while trying to drive or accelerate from a stop. These symptoms have persisted and appear to be worsening.

I own a 2017 kia Sportage, and I recently experienced a malfunction indicator engine light turning on. Upon diagnosis by kia russ darrow at odana rd madison, WI , the vehicle displayed dtc p001000 – ‘a (intake)’ camshaft position actuator circuit (bank 1). They have noticed oil leakage around the e-cvvt motor plug area. It pointed to camshaft position sensor malfunction and kia service say what the vehicle needs is a cvvt cover and seals/gaskets relating to the variable valve timing on the camshaft as it’s throwing the camshaft sensor circuit “high” voltage kia has issued technical service bulletin (TSB) sa305, which acknowledges a similar problem in earlier production models of the same vehicle (built from December 10, 2015 – September 12, 2016). However, my vehicle was manufactured in January 2017, and kia has not yet included it in the affected range. Despite this, I am experiencing the exact same issue outlined in the TSB. This failure poses a potential safety risk because it can affect engine performance and reliability. If left unaddressed, it could lead to unexpected engine stalling, loss of power while driving, or further engine damage, creating a hazardous situation. I have not yet received confirmation from kia regarding an official recall or warranty extension for my vehicle, but the symptoms are identical to those covered under sa305. The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by a mechanic, and I am currently in the process of contacting kia for further inspection and assistance. There were no prior warning messages, aside from the check engine light (mil) illuminating when the problem first occurred. This complaint is being submitted to request an investigation into whether this defect extends beyond the current TSB range and to determine if additional 2017 Sportage models should be included in a service action or recall to prevent safety risks. The affected component is available for inspection upon request.

The contact owned a 2018 kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle jerked and briefly lost motive power before slamming into gear. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that an abnormal burning odor was coming from under the hood and entered the vehicle through the a/c vents. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The thermostat and the electric switch on the driver’s side window were replaced. The contact stated that while driving uphill or going downhill, the rpm fluctuated, and the engine revved abnormally. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

I was driving my vehicle on the freeway when all of a sudden I got a warning light that came on that said check hybrid system it looked up my brakes and steering the car completely shutdown in the middle of the freeway it happened so fast I couldn't get to the shoulder my car completely just stopped. I spoke to kia and took it to the dealership and they ended up saying because it needed a update which I then called kia and let them know the situation that I almost got in a accident and that I didn't feel safe in that car and they didn't want to help.

Check awd / 4wd error message while driving. Codes clear once vehicle is turned off. Dealership won't help unless they see error message. Error message only appears while driving. Potential drive train lockup issue.

The car lost engine strength wouldn't go above 60 and I received a code p1326. Now it's just blinks and moves at a crawl. I was on the freeway luckily I was able to get out the freeway without incident.

The contact owns a 2019 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle very briefly lost all motive power before quickly returning to normal functionality. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

I bought a vehicle from a dealership in 2021. The dealership sold me a 2018 kia Sportage. To their knowledge, they state they were unaware of any safety recalls. However, fast-forward to March 18th 2024. As I was entering a busy street (with my two young children in the car (both under the age of 5) and going up a hill, the oil light flashed once and then stayed on, I noticed the vehicle decelerating, as I tried to pull over, making way for vehicles to go around, all three (oil, battery and check engine) lights appear in my dashboard. After one failed attempt of restarting vehicle, I knew I needed to call a tow truck. Thankfully my mom wasn't too long to execute the rescue (it was about 32 outside). The vehicle was towed to the dealership I had purchased it from (not a certified kia dealership mind you). I was told later on that day, that it was a good possibility my engine has blown. I was told the service technician had put over 3. 5 qtrs. In order for it to register on the dipstick. I was also told they could replace said engine for a whopping $10,000. Which, the vehicle is only worth $2,000 more than the cost of the motor replacement. I decided to have the vehicle towed to a certified kia dealership. Where, alas, the engine was in fact, blown. However, per the service manager, the blown engine was due to a recall (pi1802) which was in effect as of 1/19/19 (before I bought said vehicle). Per the service manager a vehicle should not be sold with an active safety recall. I then relayed that information to the gentleman who said the vehicle and was told it was illegal for them to work on a vehicle that they are not certified to service (although I had the option for them to replace the engine). I then begin the battle of who is responsible. And ultimately told by the manager of dealership, 70% of the used vehicles they sell have active safety recalls that they do not fix. Nor do they send them to be serviced and checked by the appropriate personnel.

February 2024 (27,813 mi): vehicle lost acceleration while driving, would not transition from ev to engine mode, entered limp mode. Dealer replaced high-pressure fuel pump under warranty after consulting kia tech line (case #[xxx]). September 2025 (58,000 mi): vehicle will not start without manually resetting 12v battery module integrated in hybrid battery system. Pattern suggests hybrid control system defects, not resolved by previous repair. Car has now been with dealer for 4+ days figuring out this issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2010 kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.  the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.  the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the abs and the four wheel drive warning lights illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately  170,000.  .

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The contact’s son owns a 2015 kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced lunging and the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The contact used an odb scanner to diagnose the vehicle and retrieved dtc codes related for: camshaft timing in cylinder bank 1 advanced, low oil, phaser stuck, faulty sensor, failed valve control solenoid, and worn timing components. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, and the contact was informed that the internal engine failure was likely due to low oil pressure. The dealer also stated that the engine oil level was good and recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact filed a case regarding the failure; however, the case was denied by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 111,508.

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I had my vehicle in for a recall from kia pi2103 for kia to update the software in my kia Sportage. Which was to install software that could help my engine from failing. This was performed on January 19th 2024. Along with this recall they were supposed to extend my warranty to 15 yrs 150,000 miles. Shortly after aout 500 miles later and a few weeks my engine developed a knocking noise. I took back to the dealer that performed the recall to have it diagnosed. They advised that it needs and engine and is part of the campaign but they needed to get prior authorization. After a month went by kia determined because I never took the key tag out of the car that I would not be getting a new engine for not meeting the requirements. How they determined this is when a service advisor is making a repair order they use window tags to locate cars. Well, the advisor rather than using a new window tag used the one that was sitting on my seat. I would like kia to honor their extended coverage and replace my engine at no charge. Attached is proof I had ksds and also a copy of the kia techline that the service manager gave me to show the reason.