There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2011 Kia Sportagein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for the State Inspection, the vehicle failed the Emissions test. The State Inspector diagnosed a failure with the Evaporative Emissions Control System (EVAP). The contact was informed that the system was leaking. 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 243,000.
I'm [XXX] from Brooks Alberta Canada. I purchased this car from a private seller here in Brooks last [XXX] named “Hein Teresa Lorraine” lives in [XXX], Brooks AB T1R 0R7" and she did not include all the details in her car that it has a recall issue with the engine which is the Knock Sensor Problem. After a couple of days of using it I experience engine malfunction, the oil pressure light is keeps on flickering and as I drove from Brooks going to Calgary the engine suddenly stalled and activates the “Lymp Mode”. I cannot able to move forward and almost hit by a huge truck because of that incident. I coordinated with Straightline Kia Medicine Hat that incident, they check the vehicle and test it, after several testings they proved that the vehicle has a engine recall backjob. The check engine code shows P01326 which is responsible for engine stalling while accelerating. Kia Manager "Kent" talk to me and promise me that he will do all the reports to replace the engine. He submitted the report to the engineering department of Kia for the engine replacement but they declined it due to lack of documentation proof for regular maintenance of the vehicle from the previous owner. I told them that i recently purchased the car and I cannot able to provide the previous oil change done with the vehicle. Unfortunately after 2 weeks of waiting for nothing, Kent refuse to do a follow up report on the said incident and telling me that I need to take my car and need to pay a certain amount for their job done to my vehicle. Even the car rental that they provided I am also shouldering the expense because Kent is insisting that my car is not covered by the warranty anymore. As I do my research it has a lifetime warranty for the Knock Sensor failure for the same Car model. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
MY VEHICLE HAD A AN ILLUMINATED OIL LAMP ON THE CLUSTER AND AN OIL LEAK. ON [XXX] I TOOK MY 2011 KIA OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE UNDER SAFETY CAMPAIGN 174 (SC174 SL THETA 2 - 2.4 L MPI ENGINE OIL PAN)- WHEN KIA OF DOWNTOWN RETURNED MY VEHICLE TO ME THE INVOICE STATED "OIL PAN WAS FOUND NOT LEAKING , OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WAS REPLACED" OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS I NOTICED I STILL HAD AN OIL LEAK SO I MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AT KIA OF DOWNTOWN LA TO ASK THEM TO LOOK AT THE OIL PAN AGAIN UNDER SC174 I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DOWNTOWN LA KIA ON [XXX] - THIS TIME I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM THEM STATING "VERIFIED CUSTOMERS CONCERN UPON INSPECTION FOUND OIL PAN TO BE LEAKING FROM SEAL" AND AN ESTIMATE OF $845.84 TO REPAIR IT --- I CALLED AND SPOKE TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR AND SHE SAID MY 'WARRANTY WAS VOIDED BECAUSE OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCES" WHICH THEY SAID ARE SMALL SCRATCHES ON BOTTOM THE OIL PAN - I TOLD THEM I DONT THINK THEY CAN "VOID" A SAFTEY RECALL -- I NEXT CALLED KIA CORPORATE OFFICE AND OPENED A CASE -#[XXXXXXX] - SUPERVISOR NAMED 'RICHARD"OF CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME ON RECORDED CALL THAT KIA CORPORTATE MADE AGREES WITH THE DECISION NOT TO REPLACE MY OIL PAN DUE TO THE SCRATCHES AT THE BOTTOM OF MY PAN THAT ARE NO WHERE NEAR THE MAIN SEAL. DID KIA VIOLATE ANY FEDERAL LAW BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE LEAK AT THE MAIN SEAL AND DENYING TO REPLACE THE OIL PAN AND RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME WITH A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT - RECALL - SC174 DOES NOT MENTION ANY EXEMPTIONS FOR THE RECALL SUCH AS AGE, DAMAGE , NEGLIGENCE ETC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
No check engine light on. Driving down highway when car jerked hard, coasted to side of the road. Lights, radio, dashboard lights, window controls all work. Towed to mechanic was told engine needs to be replace.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V101000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was unsure if there were any warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and of the recall notification. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pressure switch, oil pan, and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that a follow-up call would follow; however, the contact had not received a response. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off as several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact managed to coast the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway. The contact made multiple attempts to restart the vehicle but every attempt failed. Due to the excessive heat and with a newborn baby inside the vehicle, the contact called authorities for assistance. The authorities could not provide the adequate assistance needed to handle the matter; therefore, she called her husband. Her husband was able to call a neighbor who came to assist the contact with her children. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it had yet to be diagnosed or serviced. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rod bearings failed and the engine seized. The contact related the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000.
Was driving home when car had it’s check engine light start flashing and car wouldn’t come up to speed. Went by local auto zone to check code given and it was associated with the KSDS recall update and the car is now in limp mode. Towed car to Peak Kia where it’s been for almost two months. They wanted me to tow it to Arapahoe Kia since they had previously replaced the engine (see complaint from 2019) and it now needs replacement again but it’s not covered under warranty again according to them since it’s a 2011 Kia. Not putting another cent into this car after paying over 7500 to replace the first MPI engine if Kia won’t cover replacement of faulty engine someone can have the car to investigate the engine issues and hold them accountable, be it the NHTSA or a lawyer. Kia even did the software update that put the engine in limp mode and still won’t do anything to cover a known defect.
The engine malfunction light came on and the vehicle began seizing. It would no longer go any faster than about 20 miles per hour. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was jeopardized as I was driving 60 miles per hour on the freeway and the light came on and the vehicle immediately began to lose speed. The issue was inspected by the dealership that I had the vehicle towed to that I normally service my vehicle. There were no symptoms or warning lamps prior to this incident. The dealership said it was a "bearing clearance issue". I contacted Kia directly and they have offered $500 of goodwill assistance towards a $5k replacement of the engine.
Engine failed while driving
123000 MILES STARTED KNOCKING AND ENGINE SEIZED. CAR IS GARBAGE
ON STARTUP SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AND SOMETIMES ODOR OF GAS ENGINE EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING..
I HAVE A 2011 KIA SPORTAGE EX AWD. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY KNOCKING AND THEN MY ENGINE SEIZED. TOTALLY LOCKED UP. MY ENGINE IS A THETA II BUT IT'S THE MPI ENGINE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL SO I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE. I'M FINDING HUNDREDS OF POSTS ONLINE FROM OWNERS WITH THE SAME ENGINE THAT I HAVE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THESE ENGINES? CANADA HAS ALREADY INCLUDED THEM IN ITS RECALL.
I HAVE A 2011 KIA SPORTAGE. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM KIA ON 2019 THAT MY OIL PAN NEEDED REPLACED. THE LETTER STATED THAT IF LEFT UNFIXED IT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER THEY REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR STARTED TO FEEL AS IF IT WOULD NOT FULLY GO ON EXCELRATION. I CALLED THE KIA DEALER SEVERAL TIME. THEY NOTIFIED ME OF A KIA ENGINE RECALL HOWEVER TOLD ME THE VIN NUMBER DOESN'T QUALIFY. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME I COULD SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THE CAR BUT I WOULD NEED TO PAY $150 SERVICE FEE. I CANCELLED THE APPOINTMENT AND SCHEDULED WITH A PRIVATE MECHANIC DUE TO SERVICES MANGER TELLING ME I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FEES. I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE THE CAR STOPPED WORKING THE FOLLOWING MORNING. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE ENGINE STARTER BRI MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. THE CAR JUST STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS TO EXCELRATE . I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE ENGINE IS STUCK AND WAS NOT WORTH REPLACING. MY HUSBAND AND I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND FOLLOWED UP WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THEY 30 DAYS LATER SENT A LETTER THAT THEY WILL REPLACE PART OF THE ENGINE BUT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SERVICE FEE AROUND $2200 PRETAX. I DON'T FEEL THIS ISSUE IS HANDLED APPROPRIATELY. I BELIEVE THE ENGINE FAILED AS PART OF THE SAFETY RECALL. THE CAR IS 2011 AND HAD A DEFECTIVE OIL PAIN UNTIL 2019. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT CAUSED MY ENGINE TO FAIL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT KIA HAS BEEN HONEST ABOUT THE RECALL OR FAIRLY HANDLING THE ISSUES.
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IN USE. MY BRAKES WORKED BUT NOT MY GAS. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WAS IN DANGER OF BEING HIT. *TR *BF CONSUMER STATED METAL GOT CAUGHT IN THE ENGINE AND CONSUMER ENDED UP BUYING A NEW CAR.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A SUDDEN CLANKING NOISE OCCURRED BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BLAISE ALEXANDER KIA (2501 LYCOMING CREEK RD, WILLIAMSPORT, PA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO A FAULTY MOTOR ROD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *BF *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SEIZED ENGINE. I HAD NO INDICATIONS OF ANY ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE AND KIA WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT PART OF THE ENGINE RECALL.
TAKATA RECALL IM HAVING LOSS POWER AND HAS DIED ON ME THREE TIMES IN LAST FEW WEEKS AND RUNNING OUT PINGING NOISE AND RUNNING ROUGH IT HAS ABOUT 85,000 MILES ON IT AND I KEPT UP ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR.
ON JUNE 18TH CAR WAS MAKING TICKING NOISE. CHECKED OIL, OIL FULL. NO DASH WARNING INDICATORS ON. DROVE TO WORK AND ON DRIVE HOME FROM WORK VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING NOISE, ENGINE BEGAN MAKING NOISE, SOUNDING LIKE BOLTS TUMBLING IN A DRYER. MAXIMUM SPEED HOME 25MPH. LOCAL MECHANIC LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND SAID WITHOUT TEARING MOTOR APART HE BELIEVED THE BEARING WAS GONE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT THERE TO BE DIAGNOSED. ON JULY 10TH THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS 0 PSI ON ALL FOUR CYLINDERS. REQUIRES REPLACING THE ENGINE. REPAIR QUOTE GIVEN WAS: SHORT BLOCK PLUS PARTS WAS $10,584.42 OR USED LONG BLOCK $6,558.24. ON 18TH RECEIVED IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL #19V101. DEALERSHIP RESPONDED BY TELLING ME THAT RECALL WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY AGREEMENT ON DATE OF PURCHASE 10-10-2017. WARRANTY WAS FOR 120 MONTHS OR 125,000 MILES. CAR HAS 125,235 MILES CURRENTLY ON IT.
SON'S 2011 KIA SPORTAGE LX, WITH 155,000 MILES, WOULD STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP, OR IDLING. CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY RESTART. CAR ENGINE SOUNDS AWFUL, LIKE PARTICLES GRINDING. ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID WHEN THEY WERE WORKING ON IT, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DIAGNOSIS REPORTED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR ISSUE. UPON FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, MECHANIC CONCLUDED NEW ENGINE NEEDED. WE ARE SENDING THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000. WHY WASN'T OUR CAR'S VIN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, WHICH IS "BEARING WEAR MAY RESULT IN ENGINE SEIZURE?" IS THIS WHY OUR ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED???? WHO DO I CONTACT FOR HELP?
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026