Kia Sportage engine problems, 2016–2027
654 of the 1,541 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Sportage 2016–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2017 (228), 2018 (96), 2020 (83). Filed under the same heading across these years: 4 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Kia Sportage engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1 | 100% | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 5 | 14% | — | 3 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 9 | 13% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 13 | 13% | — | 26 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 in depth | 68 | 22% | — | 38 TSBs | the record → |
| 2022 | 22 | 48% | — | 17 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 29 | 55% | — | 18 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 83 | 52% | 63k | 42 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2019 | 38 | 54% | 60k | 38 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2018 in depth | 96 | 59% | 35k | 71 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 228 | 57% | 72k | 74 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 62 | 47% | 86k | 70 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 36 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 29 · 2022: 71 · 2023: 93 · 2024: 93 · 2025: 156 · 2026: 132
Across the model years, half of the 198 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 23,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I have a 2017 Kia Sportage sx turbo my car has not run right ever since I leased it. There were times where it seemed like the car wasn't going to start, cranking, but not turning over. There are times when I hear a loud clicking noise when I accelerate, which sounds like something under the hood of my car is about to break.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. While driving various speeds, the vehicle decelerated on its own. Also, while at a stop, the vehicle vibrated and made a tapping noise when the engine was turned off. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The failures recurred several times.
Car shifts to low mode from 50-20mph on its own slow deceleration when stopping slow acceleration when stationary
Addendum to the complaint dated january through senator marco rubio office. I received a letter from NHTSA DOT that the investigation is open as to the "software upgrade", should be labeled recall and into the "theta engine", see attached.
Engine started to consume oil. I'm now going through a quart or more of oil in a couple hundred miles. Dealerships are aware of an oil consumption issue with kids engines. This needs to be a recall because it can cause engine to sieze while driving or cause a fire
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- 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 i…
4 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Apr 4, 2026
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2020MY Optima, 2016-20
- Apr 1, 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER ACTION: ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P2B59F0 (CA2516) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Engine Control Unit (ECU) software on certain 2024–2025MY vehicles equipped with 2.5 GDI or 2.5 T-GDI Theta III engines listed in the table below. Affected vehicles may experience an illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) accompanied with DTC P2B59F
- Apr 3, 2025
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine
- Feb 28, 2025
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), w
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Kia Sportage
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Kia Sportage problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Kia Sportage years have the most engine complaints?
2017, 228; 2018, 96; 2020, 83. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2027 (100%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Kia Sportage?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the Kia Sportage?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 64,813 miles across the model years; half of them between 23,000 and 100,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.