2021 Kia Sportage problems and complaints
Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Sportage. The most-reported areas: Engine (21), Unknown Or Other (14), Engine And Engine Cooling (6).
Key takeaways
- 51 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 3 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 4 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 21 | 41% |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 | 27% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 | 12% |
| Electrical System | 6 | 12% |
| Power Train | 4 | 8% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 4% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 4% |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 4% |
| Structure | 1 | 2% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Sportage SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Kia Sportage SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train,structure,visibility/Wiper - filed 2026-09-16
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...
Engine And Engine Cooling,vehicle Speed Control - filed 2026-08-20
See attached document for complaint.
Engine - filed 2026-08-11
The hose connected on the antifreeze leak into the engine compartment
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More for the 2021 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.