2013 Kia Sportage Powertrain & Transmission Problems

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 INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

I was traveling at approx. 65 miles an hour in the #3 lane in traffic, when I lost power suddenly as if the engine died. I was able to immediately exit the freeway at the first exit and pulled into a gas station. (Approx. 2 blocks from the freeway exit) I noticed a light on the dash was lit in the shape of an engine that wasn't lit before. At this time, I heard an unusual loud knocking noise coming from the engine compartment. I had just come from the store and had frozen food in the car. I didn't know what was causing the noise it didn't sound good and decided to just have AAA tow it to my house. Once the car was at home in my driveway and I had unloaded the frozen food, I plugged in my OBDII reader which gave me a p1326 code. I checked to see what it meant and found out my year Sportage was prone to some kind of Premature bearing wear. The car has been serviced by the book by Kia of Alhambra since we have owned it. It was just in for an oil change, transmission flush, and brakes on the 19th of August 2022. We have never received any notice via email, mail, or from the dealership regarding any recall or potential problem at any time. This car is primarily driven by my wife. I'm glad she wasn't driving when this happened. I will be contacting Kia of Alhambra tomorrow and possibly having the vehicle towed there.

I was on the freeway going 55mph when my engine seized (engine light, oil light, and battery light went on) and I was no longer able to accelerate. I had just switched lanes in front of a semi when my acceleration stopped. It was a blessing there was an off ramp by the lane, otherwise the semi would have had to slam on their breaks since my car went from 55mph to nothing in a matter of seconds. No previous warning lights occurred before this incident. Luckily, I was able to coast off the freeway and park. When I restarted my vehicle, the lights went off and I was able to get my car home safely going very slow. The engine know knocks and KIA will not give us answers on coverage.

While driving my 2013 Kia Sportage at 70 mph from Wisconsin to Duluth MN, I heard a tapping coming from the engine. Very quickly, the noise escalated to a very loud knocking. At this time, I thought my engine was going to blow up while driving. I was very frightened by this experience. Then car shut off while I was driving putting myself and those behind me at rick of an accident, however I was able to pull over. I was alone. I had no idea what was happening and I was 75 miles from home. There was no WARNING indicator light to come on in my dashboard to inform me that there was an engine problem. After I steered my vehicle on the side of the road, I was able to start the car to get to the nearest gas station for help. There was no one available to help me. So I decided to drive my vehicle slowly home. That is when my engine blew-up and I could no longer drive the vehicle. I contacted KIA for Road Side assistance and they informed me the the tow would cost me near $560.00. Then I called my mechanic friend for a tow. After he arrived and looked at the engine, he looked over and under the engine and told me that a rod blew through the engine block. (Pictures available) My 2013 Kia Sportage was brought to KIA of Duluth the following day for repair. Kia of Duluth inspected the vehicle and informed me that a Knock Sensor Detection recall was not preformed on my vehicle and that my 100,000 mile Warranty had expired as I had 105,812 upon arrival. On October 27, 2021 I submitted a Claim to Kia Engine Settlement and have received no satisfaction. Further I was informed that I would be eligible for Towing and Rental Cost by Kia Consumer Affairs and KIA Engine and most resent been denied that as well. My 2013 Kia Sportage was valued at 10, 900 dollars when this happened on September 14th, 2021. I received no reimbursement. I have paid $2192.00 in towing and rental cost. This resulted in me purchasing a new vehicle.

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO BEARING FAILURE

AROUND THANKSGIVING I NOTICED A KNOCKING/ RATTLING/ CLANKING SOUND UNDER MY HOOD IN THE ENGINE AREA, WHICH OCCASIONALLY INCREASED/DECREASED WHEN THE RPMS MOVED. DUE TO COVID AND NOT TRAVELING I DIDNT DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS. I WENT TO THE STORE ON 11/30 AND THE SOUND WAS LOUDER AND MORE STARTLING. I HAD MY HUSBAND CHECK IT WHEN HE GOT HOME. WE NOTICED RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE BUT MY VIN NEVER REGISTERED. BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN, MY HUSBAND ASKED ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ASAP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT FOR 12/1. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TO GET TO MY APPOINTMENT THE SOUND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE - THEN ALL LIGHTS WENT ON IN THE DASH AND THE GAS STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS LIKE MY VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I WAITED OVER AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK; ON THE SHOULDER OF A BUSY HIGHWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR. IT WAS DROPPED AT THE DEALER AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WAITING ON A REPORT AS TO WHATS WRONG. WE BELIEVE IT FALLS IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT RECALLS.

ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8TH 2020, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE 2013 KIA SPORTAGE WITH A LITTLE OVER 66,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON HWY. 174 IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, GEORGIA THE CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND AND THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. OIL WAS EVERYWHERE IN THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THIS WAS IN A STRAIGHT OF WAY AND NOT IN A CORNER AND NO ONE WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND HER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE ENGINE BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK AND IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. KIA HAS RECALLED SIMILAR ENGINES BUT BECAUSE THIS WAS A DOHC MODEL ENGINE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THESE ENGINES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALLED ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. I SCANNED IN A TEXT FROM MY MECHANIC AND THE KIA MECHANIC WHO GAVE ME A PRICE FOR THE NEW ENGINE. THANK YOU

WHILE DRIVING CAR THE ENGINE CEASED CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL WITH CHILD IN THE CAR. THE CAR WITH ONLY 72,000 MILES ON IT WAS TAKEN TO KIA WHO REFUSED TO FIX THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER 2013 KIA SPORTAGE CARS BUT THIS VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE RECALL. THIS CAR ENGINE PROBLEM IS A DANGER AND COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH OR DEATH WITH THE CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. KIA OBVIOUSLY HAS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THERE ENGINES, BUT CONTINUE TO LET PEOPLE PUT THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY BY NOT RECALLING THEIR ENGINES.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CAR LOST POWER AT ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. I TAKE IT TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT I THREW A ROD AND THAT IT CRACKED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF KIA SPORT AGE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. BUT THE BEARINGS CAME LOOSE AND IT THREW A ROD JUST LIKE THE OTHER 2013 KIA SPORTAGES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED

WHILE DRIVING MOTOR SUDDENLY STARTS KNOCKING. TOOK TO THE GARAGE WAS TOLD MOTOR COULD SIEZ UP ANY TIME WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME MOTORS FOR THE SAME REASON. MY MODLLD WAS NOT INCLUDED. I FEL THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER.

DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE CAR STALLED 3 TIMES WHEN I WOULD LET OFF THE GAS. IT BEGAN MAKING A NOISE LIKE THE MUFFLER WASN'T WORKING, THEN A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE NOISE UNDER THE HOOD GOT LOUDER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP. HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED OR REPLACED. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER, THE SAID THE SAME THING. THEY WANT $9,800 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND MY HUSBAND WAS IN OUR DAUGHTER'S DRIVEWAY. HE PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE SO OUR SON-IN-LAW COULD LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE ENGINE STALLED (LATER FINDING OUT IT SEIZED). NOT KNOWING THE PROBLEM, THEY TRIED TO JUMP START THE CAR WITH NO LUCK. WE CALLED AAA AT 10AM AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, AFTER 4 AAA CALLS, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SHORKEY KIA DEALERSHIP. WE HAD TO PAY $119 FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THEN WERE TOLD THE BATTER WAS BAD ($172). AFTER THE BATTER WAS PUT I, WE WERE TOLD THE STARTER WAS BAD (DIDN'T GET THAT PRICE). AFTER THE STARTER WAS PUT IN WE GOT A CALL THAT THE CAR STARTED AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE SEIZED. BECAUSE THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF THE KIA SPORTAGE HAD RECALLS THAT DIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE ENGINE SEIZING, WE CHECKED FOR THIS RECALL, BUT THE VIN NUMBER IS NOT LISTED AS A RECALL. HOW MANY RECALLS ON THE SAME PROBLEM MUST OCCUR BEFORE ANOTHER VIN NUMBER IS ADDED TO THE LIST? MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE PARKWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED OR IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR IN A WRECK. SHORKEY SAID KIA IS NOT COVERING ANYTHING AND WE NEED A NEW ENGINE FOR $10,000. THE CAR MILEAGE IS UNDER 56,000 MILES AND IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT AN ENGINE SHOULD SEIZE AND BE BAD AT THIS LOW MILEAGE LEVEL UNLESS THERE'S A FLAW IN MANUFACTURING, WHICH THERE OBVIOUSLY IS SINCE OTHER 2013 KIA SPORTAGES HAVE BEEN RECALLED (THE RECALL WHICH CAUSED OTHER KIAS TO HAVE THEIR ENGINE SEIZE AS WELL.

MY 2013 KIA SPORTAGE HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT AND THE RIGHT FRON AXEL HAS BROKEN, ADDITIONALLY THEY THINK THE TRANSMISSION MAY BE BAD AND THEY SAY MY BREAK PADS, ROTERS AND TIRES ARE BAD. I PURCHASED TWO TIRES IN 2016 AND TWO IN 2017 AND DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES A YEAR. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I AM A VERY SAFE DRIVER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST SAFETY ISSUE I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CAR, TWICE THE DRIVER FRONT DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED, THEY FIXED THAT AT NO COST BUT THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENED TWICE AND COULD BE SO DANGEROUS SHOULD BE NOTED. SUPPOSEDLY I HAVE A 100,000 - 10 YEAR LIMITED POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BUT THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING AND THAT THEY WON'T KNOW ABOUT TRANSMISSION UNTIL THEY REPLACE AXLE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM DEALING WITH KIA OF CAPE COD IN SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO. THERE IS A ODD THUMPING/HUMMING LIKE SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OR AXLE AREA, WHILE DRIVING, AT ANY SPEED. NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND. MY VEHICLE SHAKES OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING OVER 45 MPH. MY AIR PRESSURE LIGHT CONTINUES TO BE ON CONSTANTLY, EVEN AFTER SHELLING OUT THE MONEY TO HAVE THE SENSORS REPLACED. I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I HAVE FLAT TIRES, ALTHOUGH THEY SEEM FINE WHEN I CHECK THEM. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY, MY CHILDREN AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WHILE I AM DRIVING. I HAVE SEARCHED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR RECALLS AND FOUND NOTHING FOR MY VIN. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SAFETY CAMPAIGN (SOME UNDERBODY ADDL ANTI-CORROSION: SL). I HAVE HAD MY RADIO HEAD UNIT REPLACED AS IT WAS GLITCHING WHEN USING BACKUP CAMERA. THE RADIO STOPPED PLAYING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS, ALTHOUGH IT STILL SHOWED I HAD FULL CONTROL OVER THE VOLUME AND TOGGLING STATIONS. MY PHONE WOULD CONNECT VIA BLUETOOTH BUT I WAS UNABLE TO USE IT. I FEEL MY VEHICLE IS PART OF MANY RECALLS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY AFFECTED AND ARE CURRENTLY AFFECTING MANY KIA'S AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF IT CAN BE ADDED TO THE LIST SO I CAN HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AROUND FOR MY FAMILY. BELOW I PUT MY LAST SERVICE DATE AS WHEN IT STARTED HAPPENING, AGAIN IT HAPPENED JUST SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2016.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MAKING A DANGEROUS LEFT TURN ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE PERSISTED AFTER THIS LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY AND DIAGNOSED AS HAVING ENGINE BEARING FAILURE. KIA CURRENTLY HAS A RECALL (SC-147) FOR ENGINES DEMONSTRATING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE, BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT EXTEND TO THE ENGINE IN OUR 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 109,856 MILES ON THE ENGINE AND WAS IN OVERALL GOOD SHAPE AND MECHANICALLY SOUND.

ROD BEARING FAILED AT 94,000. CAR WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HWY WHEN ENGINE SEIZED.

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT TO PARK AND MY SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO TO PARK POSITION. I TRIED TO PRESS IN THE BUTTON THE SIDE OF THE SHIFTER TO PUT IT INTO PARK BUT IT WOULDN'T PRESS IN AS IT NORMALLY DOES TO CHANGE THE GEARS. THE ONLY POSITION IT WOULD GO INTO WAS NEUTRAL OR PARK AND I WAS IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT WHERE I NEEDED TO REVERSE TO GET BACK OUT OF THE SPACE. I PUT IT INTO NUETRAL WHICH WAS THE ONLY OPTION AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR BUT MY KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. I HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN NUETRAL TURNED OFF. I PUT MY EMERGENCY BREAK ON HOPING THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING. I WAS ABLE TO GET A SCREWDRIVER FROM MY CHILDS SCHOOL TO RELEASE THE LOCK SWITCH ON THE SHIFTER SO THAT IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO REVERSE THE CAR OUT OF THE SPACE BUT WHEN I GOT HOME AND PUT IT IN PARK, THE SHIFTER BUTTON WAS STILL STUCK "PRESSED IN" AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I PARK ON A HILL SO I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK WITH KEY STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION AGAIN TO HOPEFULLY KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO THE STREET. MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND ACQUIRED A LOT OF MILES FROM MOVING FROM NORTHERN PART OF THE U.S TO SOUTHERN PART OF THE U.S AND BECAUSE OF THIS MOVE CAUSED MY MILEAGE TO GO OVER THE 60,000 MILE STANDARD WARRANTY. I DO HAVE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY COVERAGE UP TO 100,000 MILES BUT THE DEALER IS SAYING THIS ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.