2011 Kia Sportage Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Kia Sportage. Part of Generation 3 — 2011–2016.

20102012
Complaints
260
Crashes
10
Fires
10
Injuries
8
Fatalities
Recalls
8

Worst 2011 Kia Sportage Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#177 complaints

ENGINE

Avg mileage:86,834 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
#236 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Avg mileage:82,233 mi
Fires:3
#323 complaints

POWER TRAIN

Avg mileage:65,054 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Kia Sportage.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
ENGINE772286,834 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36382,233 mi
POWER TRAIN23265,054 mi
UNKNOWN OR OTHER23268,644 mi
SERVICE BRAKES12343,866 mi
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC122113,500 mi
STEERING9129,860 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL968,625 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING831,861 mi
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM7178,373 mi
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)546,500 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING514,652 mi
STRUCTURE:BODY540,006 mi
AIR BAGS42111,888 mi
SUSPENSION449,877 mi
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE320,335 mi
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY379,337 mi
VISIBILITY/WIPER270,505 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL1243,000 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS1100,000 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1150,000 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS131 mi
FIRERELATED1155,000 mi
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING1
SEATS17,852 mi
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE1
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM120 mi
TIRES123,340 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1100,000 mi

Recalls for 2011 Kia Sportage

8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~5,242,245 vehicles.

23V652000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
~1,730,192 affected

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

23V652000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
~1,730,192 affected

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

19V101000ENGINE
~32,296 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Kia Sportage vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.

18V907000ENGINE
~71,653 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

18V907000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
~71,653 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

17V224000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
~618,160 affected

Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.

15V360000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
~7,722 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sportage vehicles manufactured March 7, 2011, to June 8, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may intermittently fail.

13V114000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
~980,377 affected

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Other Kia Sportage Years

Wider context: See the full Kia Sportage reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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