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2016 Kia Sportage

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA130
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2016 Kia Sportage is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sportage FWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 130 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Sportage FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl212823$2,700
Sportage AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl192622$2,850
Sportage SX FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202622$2,850
Sportage SX AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192521$2,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36327, 36335, 36328, 36336.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Kia Sportage is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SC227
Park outside126,747 vehicles
ProblemKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.RiskAn engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.FixOwners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC227.
NHTSA campaign 22V051000reported Feb 2, 2022Kia Motors America
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

SC172
71,653 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.FixKia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
NHTSA campaign 18V907000reported Dec 19, 2018Kia Motors America

NHTSA defect investigations

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · action AQ23002

Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
130complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 5 a fire · 8 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 16 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 56 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Engine58
Service Brakes, Hydraulic31
Unspecified18
Electrical System17
Fuel/Propulsion System9
Power Train8

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change and she was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the ma…”May 20, 2022 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of t…”May 18, 2022 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, she noticed that the vehicle was losing power. The contact stated that she was able to pull off the roadway to assess the vehicle. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that she then att…”May 13, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2016 Sportage with

2016 Toyota RAV4 →2016 Honda CR-V →2016 Chevrolet Equinox →

Other Sportage model years

A

2027 Kia Sportage

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2026 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 32 complaints

A

2025 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 69 complaints

C

2024 Kia Sportage

3 recalls · 98 complaints

F

2023 Kia Sportage

7 recalls · 299 complaints

B

2022 Kia Sportage

1 recalls · 46 complaints

C

2021 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 50 complaints

C

2020 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 160 complaints

C

2019 Kia Sportage

2 recalls · 69 complaints

F

2018 Kia Sportage

3 recalls · 162 complaints

F

2017 Kia Sportage

4 recalls · 399 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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