Problems · NHTSA complaints

2021 Kia Sportage problems

Owners filed 54 complaints about the 2021 Kia Sportage with NHTSA between Dec 2020 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (23).

Complaints
54
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine23
  2. Engine and engine cooling7
  3. Electrical system6
  4. Power train4
  5. Visibility/wiper2
  6. Fuel/propulsion system2
  7. Exterior lighting2
  8. Trailer hitches2
  9. Structure1
  10. Vehicle speed control1
  11. Visibility1
  12. Equipment1
  13. Lane departure1
  14. Air bags1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20201
20216
20226
20235
20244
202512
202620

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

23 reports3 fires
“My 2021 Kia Sportage is in Limp Mode at 2,000 RPM, and my mechanic confirmed it has the P1326 Knock Sensor code stored. Vin [XXX]. I need to see if my car can be added to the list of vehicles regarding the product improvement campaign PI2002A.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2026EngineODI 11767666

Engine and engine cooling

7 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that after an oil change, while leaving the dealer and driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, exited the vehicle, lifted the hood, and checked the oil dipstick and became aware that there was no oil on the dipstick. Since the failure, oil had been added to the engine three times. A dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, opened a case, and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 103,916.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2026Engine and engine coolingODI 11768470

Electrical system

6 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while parked on several occasions, a "Battery Discharge Warning" message was displayed, which disappeared once the vehicle was driven. The contact then stated that on several occasions after the vehicle sat unoperated for a day, the engine failed to start. The contact's husband jump-started the vehicle on multiple occasions and noticed that the battery was completely drained. The contact's husband replaced the battery approximately three times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an electrical issue, requiring repair or replacement. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer for a full diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2026Electrical systemODI 11748804

Power train

4 reports
“Severe structural manufacturing defect in my 2021 Kia Sportage. A physical hole has formed in the floorboard on the driver side directly next to the pedals, creating an immediate risk of a catastrophic accident. The vehicle also has chronic failure of the air conditioning system, documented by Sunset Kia of Sarasota as a leaking evaporator. This prevents the windshield from defrosting during heavy Florida rains, severely impairing visibility. Dealer confirmed these hazards under a signed repair order on June 3 2026, but Kia Corporate closed case 25175676 without any physical technical inspection, leaving an unsafe vehicle on the road.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2026Power train, Structure, Visibility/wiperODI 11764717

Visibility/wiper

2 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2023Visibility/wiperODI 11517562

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports
“On June 14, 2026, the driver experienced sudden rough engine running followed immediately by a flashing check engine light. The vehicle was towed to the selling dealer, which has performed all prior maintenance. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and available for inspection. Technician notes show DTC P1326 was stored — the Knock Sensor Detection System code associated with connecting rod bearing wear on Kia's Theta II engine family. The technician performed an audible knock check only (none heard) and cleared the code. The vehicle was found approximately 2.5 quarts low on oil due to an internal turbo oil leak. The dealer's notes state the code "may be related" to low oil — hedged language, not confirmed causation. The dealer confirmed the turbo failure but has not performed a bearing clearance test to confirm or rule out bearing damage from the low oil condition. The dealer performed a turbocharger replacement. Despite a verbal commitment from the service manager that a bearing clearance test would follow, no such test was performed 40 days later. When the vehicle was declared ready, the service manager did not recall the commitment and suggested…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2026Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11752678
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.