2021 Kia Sportage Complaint Log

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

I have experienced chronic and excessive engine oil consumption in my 2021 Kia Sportage S with the 2.4 L Theta II engine. Since around 80,000 miles, I have had to add oil every 2 weeks between oil changes to prevent the engine from running low. My vehicle now requires a complete engine replacement, estimated at $10,000. Despite regular maintenance and oil changes (documented by Express Oil Change in Pinson, AL, with service records at 81,520 mi, 88,215 mi, 94,153 mi, 96,970 mi, 98,902 mi, 101,522 mi, and 105,273 mi), the vehicle continues to lose oil rapidly. Kia and my dealer have confirmed there are no recalls or warranty campaigns for my VIN, even though this issue is identical to the well-documented engine defect affecting earlier Kia models covered under the Theta II engine settlement. This defect creates a serious safety risk, as the engine can run dangerously low on oil between services, leading to engine failure or stalling while driving. I am currently out of work recovering from surgery and cannot afford the $10,000 repair. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate and expand the existing Kia engine defect recalls to include 2021 Sportage models using this engine.

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

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and was unable to accelerate. The contact's wife arrived at the destination where the failure persisted, prompting her to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 117,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an oil change, and the contact was advised that the oil level was low. The contact stated there was no warning illuminated with the oil level being low. The contact was advised by the mechanic to check the oil level more frequently. The contact had recently checked the oil level and needed to add one quart of engine oil. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact researched online and related the oil consumption to a known failure with the engine installed in similar vehicles. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

My car has been burning oil way too quickly! I got the 10,000 mile oil to see if it way maybe that and by 3,000 miles there was hardly any one in there! It is not leaking out! My oil is changed faithfully! And I heard there is a recall on some newer model Kia sportages! This is craziness! I take care of my vehicle stay up on all of the maintenance! I’ve read complaints on here and there are others having the same issue it isn’t just me!

The car alarm keeps going off randomly and from googling it. Several people have reported an issue with the 2021 Kia Sportage it’s a known issue.

My car is burning oil like crazy. I’ve had to put 2 quarts in one week. Took it to dealership because of warranty. They ran an oil consumption test and told me pistons may be bad drive it another 1000 miles then we check it again. Why not fix problems then. So I have to check my oil every day until they want to do the work I guess

I had catastrophic engine failure driving down the road to work. Check engine light started flashing the the oil light. The car then shut off. Got it towed and they found two pieces of the engine block in the cradle cover.

Drivers side roof drip molding trim on roof detached and flew off of car while driving on interstate

BATTERY DIED, FOB DIDNT WORK 2 TIMES HAD TO HV TOWED, RIGHT FRONT LIGHT SEEMS AS IT HAS A SHORT, OVERHEATED OUT OF NOWHERE, NOW ALL HEADLIGHTS AND BACKLIGHT INCLUDING BRAKE LIGHT NO LONGER WORK. VERY UNSAFE AND UNABLE TO DRIVE. EVERYTHING IN THE RECALL HAS HAPPENED EXCEPT FOR CATCHING ON FIRE. THE TOW HITCH, I DONT HAVE ONE SO IT WASNT COMPLETED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS UNSAFE AND VERY DANGEROUS. PER NHSTA WHICH I HAVE FILED COMPLAINT ADVISED THAT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY WARRANTY. I HAVE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE AND TAKING UBER DUE TO THESE ISSUES. I NEED HELP AND AGENT ADVISE NOTHING CAN BE DONE BC THE RECALL HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS A FAIL AND NOW I HV TO TAKE THE HIT FOR IT.

Kia Sportage 2021- The service department at the dealership ran basic inspection of fault codes and found fault in system for knock sensor and camshaft b position sensor. These codes have relation to engine failure or possible timing chain failure. My safety was put at risk as I was driving down the highway and my car would not go over 40 miles per hour and cars were serving from hitting me from behind. Then my check engine light came on and started flashing. This information on my vehicle was looked at the dealership I purchased my vehicle, and they do not have the software/special tools to repair/replace timing components and vehicle was towed to Kia dealership. There was no warning lamps or symptoms that warned me before it happened. Once it wouldn’t go over 40 mph (wouldn’t accelerate) and my car light came on and blinking I pulled over.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil light and engine warning lights illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle had been consuming excessive engine oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed crankshaft and rocker arm. The contact was informed that the crankshaft and the rocker's arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The infotainment system has bubbles, and it interferes with touch screen process. I have seen lots of people that have different KIA's that have the same issue. This should be considered a RECALL due to how so many KIA's that have the same issue.

My vehicle is burning oil. In a little over 1500 miles after I get a oil change from the King Kia Dealership Service, my oil stick shows that the level of oil in my engine is none at all. When I check my oil, the stick, is absolutely dry. This has happened in the last 3 oil changes with my vehicle. There is no oil indicator light that comes on in the dash, but the oil stick is dry. Additionally, there is no indication of oil leaking from my car in my drive way. I will be returning to the King Kia dealer service for the third time on 10/13/25 for remedy of this situation. I contacted Kia Customer care and reported this situation and received a case number: [XXX]. I currently have 75,943 miles on my vehicle. To prevent engine damage, I've added quarts of oil to my vehicle to compensate but I'm most concerned that this oil is prematurely burning. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On Thursday [XXX] I purchased a 2021 Kia Sportage LX from Liberty Auto Plaza Dealership located in Libertyville, IL. During this purchase, the salesman Isaac told me the car was updated with Anti-Theft Protection. Between Friday [XXX] evening and Saturday [XXX] my Kia Sportage that I just purchased was stolen. I called the police department and made a police report and I filed a claim with my insurance company, American Alliance Casualties. My vehicle was recovered on Wednesday [XXX] and the insurance company picked the vehicle up on Friday [XXX]. My insurance company, American Alliance Casualties has had my vehicle since. [XXX] will be five months this company has had my vehicle. On [XXX] American Alliance sent me an Offer Letter to, either have the vehicle to be repaired or, have a direct check sent to me. I choose to have the vehicle repaired because I wasn't looking for money I wanted my car repaired. The company I chose was Fender Mender Auto Collision Center. I spoke with their receptionist, Heather on, Thursday [XXX] and she said my insurance company, American Alliance Casualties delivered my vehicle to their facility and they were going to start working on it right away. I called Monday [XXX] to follow up and see how is the progress going to repair my vehicle and she told me that there was something going on with the engine. On Monday [XXX] Heather from Fender Mender Auto Collision called and said my claim was denied because there is wear and tear on the engine. The engine has 27,000 miles from the time it was stolen so that's impossible. However, I spoke with the insurance adjuster Annette Khatib and she said the inspector stated there was a blockage in the engine possibly due to a manufacturer defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost all electrical and motive power. As a result, the vehicle collided with a shopping cart, causing it to collide with another vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V703000 (Trailer Hitches) 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service brakes were inoperable. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power and rolled before coming to a stop. The contact noticed smoke exiting from the hood compartment. The contact grabbed his five-year-old daughter out of the vehicle safely. The contact stated the vehicle was in flames. The fire department and the police department came to the scene. The fire department extinguished the fire. No police or fire reports were filed. No injuries were sustained. 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 53,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.

The panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded on the highway. There were no other vehicles nearby that could have thrown any debris at my vehicle. The edges of the glass are pushed out as if the force came from inside the vehicle.

While sitting in my driveway I heard a loud sound popping within the car but did not investigate immediately. I drove down the road and noticed that the car seemed to be noisy and there was a rattling sound within the headliner. I stopped to investigate and realized that the sunroof had exploded outward. Dealer denied responsibility. Car has been out of use for more than 3 weeks.

Remote start my car walked out to a puddle of oil. All the oil ran out. Had 400 mile left before oil change was due.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side tire was punctured. The contact stated that while using the factory OEM jack to raise the vehicle to change the tire, the jack fractured causing the vehicle to collapse. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was awaiting the replacement jack. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact left a voicemail but had not received a response. The failure mileage was 17,614.

The car was stolen and no safety/security features were deployed. In doing research, Kias are being stolen on a daily basis in my city and this was not communicated to me by the dealer when I bought the vehicle 6 months ago. These cars should not be allowed to be sold without steering wheel locks and/or signed acknowledgment by the buyer. They clearly do not have the necessary equipment or features to prevent them from easily being stolen.

My Kia can be easily broken into and stolen. In January of this year I was in Denver for military assignment and I locked my car at night however a their was able to break into my car by popping off the driver side lock and then basically hot wiring the car. Eventually I got my car back after it was repaired but then again someone broke back Into my car using the same method. However, I had a steering lock so they could not drive away. The security and safety features on my care are worthless and do not provide the security a modern car should.

The contact owned a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon pulling into a parking space on the third floor of a parking garage at her workplace, she smelled a strong burning odor. The contact also noticed smoke coming from underneath the driver's side of the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle and quickly exited it. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire. The contact began to extinguish the fire with the assistance of sheriffs who used fire extinguishers until the fire department arrived and took over. There were no injuries sustained. A fire department report was filed. A police report was filed. The vehicle remained at the scene and was totaled. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 19,920.

ON 1/17/2022 I TOOK MY CAR TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR OIL CHANGE AND ON 1/18/2022 MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT UP

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot, the vehicle lost motive power motive and stalled with an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that no failure was found. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 10,000.

On 01/04/2021 my son [XXX] purchased New 2021 Kia Sportage LX. On 10/15/2021 this car was stolen In West Allis Wisconsin parked in front of his work place. On 10/21/2021 police found the car abended on the north side of Milwaukee with substantial damage totaling $9,705.66. This car has been towed to [XXX] for repairs. Because of shortage of part and lots of damage it might take up to 4 months or longer to fix it. Starting on 11/15/2021 [XXX] will have to pay $50.00 a day or more for rental car to be able to get to work. Kia should be held responsible for designing a car with a key starting ignition that the tiffs can start the car jamming a screwdriver in the ignition. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The contact's wife owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while he was driving in another vehicle following his wife's vehicle, the contact noticed that his wife's rear turn signals were not visible since the rear turn signal headlights were mounted on the bumper and was too low to be visible for larger vehicles such as a SUV following from behind. The dealer was made aware of the issue but informed the contact that they could not modify the rear turn signal assembly since it would void the warranty. The contact attempted to notify the manufacturer of the issue but could not connect with a live representative. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact was concerned about the design of the rear taillight assembly. There was no failure.

The right rear passenger door does not unlock when putting the car in park intermittently! This occurs from the inside and outside. I realize I can disengage using my unlock feature but this should not happen. We have checked the child safety lock and it is not engaged! I can also tell you that my daughter-in-law has a 2019 Sorrento and my sister-in-law has a 2016 Sportage and both vehicles experience the identical issue!

I HAVE OWNED 3 KIAS AND ALL 3 HAVE HAD RECALLS. KIA HAS NEVER CONTACTED ME AND DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME IT'S NOT INVOLVED IF YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE INFO. AS THINGS STARTED TO GO WRONG LIKE ABS SENSOR LITE GOING ON AND OFF DEALER SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS THEY COULD GET A CODE WHILE IT WAS ON SO I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE ISSUE UNTIL IT STAYED ON CONSITENTLY SO THEY COULD FIGURE IT OUT. THIS HAPPENED ON 2 VEHICLES IN A ROW. MY HUSBAND TRADED HIS IN FOR A TRUCK AND GOT AWAY FROM KIA. I TRADED IN AND ENDED UP WITH A 2021 WITH LESS THAN 6000 MILES AT THIS POINT. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA HEADQUARTERS STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE RECALL IS FOR. ALL I HAVE HEARD IS ON THE NEWS ADVISING NOT TO PARK CAR INSIDE OR NEAR HOUSE DUE TO CHANCE OF CAR CATCHING FIRE. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOT USED THE CAR IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS I'M AFRAID TO, BUT I HAVE A LOVELY LAWN ORNAMENT THAT COST ME OVER 500 A MONTH. I WOULD LIKE KIA TO BUY BACK THE CAR SO I CAN GET SOMETHING I HAVE TRUST IN LIKE A CHEVY. NEVER HAD A RECALL ON THAT IN FOURTY YEARS. WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING BUT AMERICA MADE AGAIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE LANE KEEPING ASSIST VEERED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE LANE ASSIST WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS THE CHECK SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOU FUSZ KIA (1025 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63132:;(314) 931-4482) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY WAS 700.

2021 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 4300 MILES CAUGHT ON FIRE PUTTING ME AND 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN DANGER . BOught car brand new only had one oil change at kia dealership,no warning lights. CAR WAS TOTAL LOSSINPECTED BY INSURANCE COMPANY,FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE ELSE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A UNKNOWN VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF FIRE. THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LO FOR BODY WORK REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WERNER KIA 2755 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304 (850) 632-4044 WHERE DIAGNOSED THE TRANSMISSION, COOLER, AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.