Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

181 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
98

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

sudden stalling 44transmission slipping 12
A recent report: The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. While accelerating to overtake a vehicle driving under the speed limit, the…
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The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. While accelerating to overtake a vehicle driving under the speed limit, the vehicle started to stall. The check engine light was flashing, and the vehicle went into ECO mode. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire and engine failure due to an oil leak. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11744681 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
26

Most reports here involve electrical shorts. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

electrical shorts 7sudden stalling 3
A recent report: Front headlights went out also rear brake lights now I have a problem with brake light and tailgate lamp staying on when car and lights are off. The suspension has had a issue ever since I bought it…
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Front headlights went out also rear brake lights now I have a problem with brake light and tailgate lamp staying on when car and lights are off. The suspension has had a issue ever since I bought it it makes awful loud noises when driving and especially hitting bumps in road. Passenger front and rear windows won't roll down. Had to replace battery as well. Inside door handles fell off as well as outside rear handles.tire pressure indicator light stays on as well as the park assist and drive train lights stay on.problem with car going in drive sometimes it locks up and have to restart and slam on brakes several times to unlock

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11745422 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
19

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

loss of braking 4fire 4
A recent report: The contact owns a 2011 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…
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The contact owns a 2011 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11647865 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
11

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

loss of steering 7premature wear 2loss of braking 1
A recent report: I have replaced the control arms on my vehicle 5 times since 2019. Now my vehicle has brake and steering issues resulting from this and the control arms are needed replacing again. This has caused me…
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I have replaced the control arms on my vehicle 5 times since 2019. Now my vehicle has brake and steering issues resulting from this and the control arms are needed replacing again. This has caused me to wreck once and luckily it wasn’t life threatening but I am now afraid to drive the car

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11554466 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
5

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 4sudden stalling 1
A recent report: The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH she rolled over a large puddle of water on the roadway. The contact stated that she hydroplaned and she…
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The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH she rolled over a large puddle of water on the roadway. The contact stated that she hydroplaned and she lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that she drove off of the roadway and down an embankment and rolled over several times before coming to a stop at the bottom of the embankment. The contact was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The contact stated she was diagnosed with a concussion, bruises to both arms, a sprained left ankle, and cuts to her hands and feet. The contact stated that she was conscious when she was removed from the vehicle and noted that only the side air bags had deployed. The driver's front air bag had not deployed. The contact stated that the police were on the scene but was not sure if a report had been written. The contact stated that the vehicle had been towed to an impound lot and declared a total loss by her insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11609590 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
11

Most reports here involve corrosion. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

corrosion 2
A recent report: MY SUNROOF SHATTERED OUT OF KNOW WHERE.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11110887 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Worth reading
11

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

premature wear 2electrical shorts 1
A recent report: On [XXX], my 2011 Kia Sportage SX (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while I was driving. The vehicle rapidly filled with smoke, causing throat and eye irritation from smoke inhalation. My insurance company…
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On [XXX], my 2011 Kia Sportage SX (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while I was driving. The vehicle rapidly filled with smoke, causing throat and eye irritation from smoke inhalation. My insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. Kia America (Case #[XXX]) acknowledged the incident and confirmed that a fire inspection would be conducted. The inspection was completed, but Kia has refused to release the findings or determine the cause. On [insert date], Kia denied my claim without explanation, despite the vehicle being a complete loss due to fire. This is a critical safety issue that could have caused severe injury or death. I am requesting NHTSA investigate the cause of the fire and Kia’s handling of post-incident safety reporting. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11679186 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 181 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2011 and 2026, roughly 12 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.