2016 Kia Sportage problems and complaints
Owners have filed 131 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sportage. The most-reported areas: Engine (59), Service Brakes (38), Hydraulic (31).
Key takeaways
- 131 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 8 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 59 | 45% |
| Service Brakes | 38 | 29% |
| Hydraulic | 31 | 24% |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 17 | 13% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 | 7% |
| Power Train | 8 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 5% |
| Air Bags | 5 | 4% |
| Structure | 4 | 3% |
| Steering | 4 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Kia Sportage SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2016 Kia Sportage SUV FWD | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Vehicle Speed Control,engine - filed 2026-09-11
The vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic mechanical engine failure while driving. The vehicle completely lost acceleration, entered a low-pitched humming 'limp-home mode,' and the dashboard red oil pressure warning light illuminated solidly.The vehicle had previously received the mandatory corporate KSDS software up...
Engine - filed 2026-07-05
The knock censor went out, once it was replaced and the oil changed it’s still knocking and unable to drive. Mechanic from out of state looked at it and now said he thinks there’s a problem with in the engine. The car is sitting in a driveway, 4 hours from a Kia dealership.
Engine - filed 2026-03-10
Engine failure. The engine completely seized up
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More for the 2016 Kia Sportage
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.