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2016 Kia Sportage
Common Problems

Ranked from 84 federal NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

7
High severity
6
Medium
1
Low

14 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Engine Knocking or Abnormal Noise

    24complaints
    High severityEngine

    An unusual knocking sound occurs while driving, often accompanied by a loss of power or engine performance issues.

  2. 2

    Delayed Availability of Recall Parts

    20complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Recall parts for various issues are not available for an extended period, causing inconvenience and safety concerns.

  3. 3

    Engine Loss of Power and Stalling

    16complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The engine suddenly loses power and stalling occurs, often accompanied by a check engine light.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 15 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Service Brakes Hydraulic Recall Issues

    10complaints
    Medium severityBrakes

    Issues with the service brakes hydraulic system, including unavailable parts for recall repairs.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 14 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

    Related recall: 22V051000

  5. 5

    Engine Knock Sensor Failure

    7complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The knock sensor fails, leading to engine misfires and the need for replacement.

  6. 6

    Engine Stall During Operation

    7complaints
    High severityEngine

    The engine unexpectedly stops during driving, often without warning, leading to potential loss of control.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 15 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  7. 7

    Engine Oil Leak and Burning

    5complaints
    High severityEngine

    Engine oil leaks and burns, leading to cylinder misfires and loss of acceleration.

    $200–$1,600est. oil-leak repair · 18 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  8. 8

    Engine stalling or dying while driving

    5complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The engine randomly stalls or dies while driving, often without warning, leading to potential accidents.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 15 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Sunroof malfunction leading to shattering

    4complaints
    High severityOther

    The sunroof unexpectedly explodes or shatters during operation, posing a significant safety risk.

  10. 10

    Airbag deployment failure in collision

    3complaints
    High severityOther

    In collisions, airbags fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury or death.

  11. 11

    Brake issues causing loss of control

    3complaints
    High severityOther

    The brakes fail to work properly, leading to loss of vehicle control and potential accidents.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 14 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  12. 12

    Steering failure leading to loss of control

    3complaints
    High severitySteering

    The steering suddenly locks up or fails, causing loss of vehicle control and potential accidents.

  13. 13

    Unexplained engine failures requiring multiple repairs

    3complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The engine frequently stalls or fails, requiring multiple repairs and causing inconvenience.

    $4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 1220 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  14. 14

    Exterior lighting issues affecting visibility

    2complaints
    Low severityOther

    The exterior lights do not function properly, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.52 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.