2013 Kia Sportage Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
KIA America has rejected my appeal for an Engine replacement through the Recall , I had the KSDS, Knock Sensor Installed by North Town KIA 3900 Sheridan Drive Amherst NY , May 7 2021. The warranty I received mentioned to keep oil and filter changed every 7500 miles with 5 w 20 oil . The oil was changed by Myself and I have receipts every 5k miles or less. I was turned down for what KIA tech line said Insufficient maintenance . As in they are calling me a liar . I bought 5w 20 full Synthetic oil and filters on 12 occasions from Walmart that Fit my 2013 KIA Motor The weight was recommended by KIA and the Filters rated at 10K miles . Have worked on My cars since I was [XXX] old have thousands of dollars in tools. I do what ever maintenance that is still possible to do on newer cars . Brakes , Filters Fluid changes tire rotations Ect . If KIA would have mentioned in the Warrenty you need to take Videos I would have . Why are not receipts enough? Also the way the oil looks rite now ?? Clean on the dipstick. Have talked to 3 different car service technicians. And they said the same thing. If that motor was not maintained the oil would not look that good. I asked the dealer for the video that the technician does when they told me what I already knew. I paid 230 dollars for the diagnostic, They sent the video to KIA tech line. KIA told me I have to get a subpoena . To get a copy.. Does that tell you they may be hiding something?? So I have brought this to the attention of 3 different KIA dealers. They said hands are tied to to KIA tech line . My 2013 KIA Sportage looks as good if not better then some cars 3 years old .Everything works except The 2.4 liter motor with bad rod bearings. The car died while my Wife was driving it while at a stop light at a busy intersection. No light on dash no warning. What if it quit when she was at a high speed. No power steering, no power brakes??That is dangerous . This happened on September 4 2025, towed straight to the KIA Dealer . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO BEARING FAILURE
WHILE DRIVING CAR THE ENGINE CEASED CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL WITH CHILD IN THE CAR. THE CAR WITH ONLY 72,000 MILES ON IT WAS TAKEN TO KIA WHO REFUSED TO FIX THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER 2013 KIA SPORTAGE CARS BUT THIS VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE RECALL. THIS CAR ENGINE PROBLEM IS A DANGER AND COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH OR DEATH WITH THE CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. KIA OBVIOUSLY HAS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THERE ENGINES, BUT CONTINUE TO LET PEOPLE PUT THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY BY NOT RECALLING THEIR ENGINES.
WHILE DRIVING MOTOR SUDDENLY STARTS KNOCKING. TOOK TO THE GARAGE WAS TOLD MOTOR COULD SIEZ UP ANY TIME WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME MOTORS FOR THE SAME REASON. MY MODLLD WAS NOT INCLUDED. I FEL THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER.
MY 2013 KIA SPORTAGE HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT AND THE RIGHT FRON AXEL HAS BROKEN, ADDITIONALLY THEY THINK THE TRANSMISSION MAY BE BAD AND THEY SAY MY BREAK PADS, ROTERS AND TIRES ARE BAD. I PURCHASED TWO TIRES IN 2016 AND TWO IN 2017 AND DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES A YEAR. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I AM A VERY SAFE DRIVER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST SAFETY ISSUE I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CAR, TWICE THE DRIVER FRONT DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED, THEY FIXED THAT AT NO COST BUT THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENED TWICE AND COULD BE SO DANGEROUS SHOULD BE NOTED. SUPPOSEDLY I HAVE A 100,000 - 10 YEAR LIMITED POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BUT THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING AND THAT THEY WON'T KNOW ABOUT TRANSMISSION UNTIL THEY REPLACE AXLE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM DEALING WITH KIA OF CAPE COD IN SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
ROD BEARING FAILED AT 94,000. CAR WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HWY WHEN ENGINE SEIZED.
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT TO PARK AND MY SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO TO PARK POSITION. I TRIED TO PRESS IN THE BUTTON THE SIDE OF THE SHIFTER TO PUT IT INTO PARK BUT IT WOULDN'T PRESS IN AS IT NORMALLY DOES TO CHANGE THE GEARS. THE ONLY POSITION IT WOULD GO INTO WAS NEUTRAL OR PARK AND I WAS IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT WHERE I NEEDED TO REVERSE TO GET BACK OUT OF THE SPACE. I PUT IT INTO NUETRAL WHICH WAS THE ONLY OPTION AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR BUT MY KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. I HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN NUETRAL TURNED OFF. I PUT MY EMERGENCY BREAK ON HOPING THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING. I WAS ABLE TO GET A SCREWDRIVER FROM MY CHILDS SCHOOL TO RELEASE THE LOCK SWITCH ON THE SHIFTER SO THAT IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO REVERSE THE CAR OUT OF THE SPACE BUT WHEN I GOT HOME AND PUT IT IN PARK, THE SHIFTER BUTTON WAS STILL STUCK "PRESSED IN" AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I PARK ON A HILL SO I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK WITH KEY STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION AGAIN TO HOPEFULLY KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO THE STREET. MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND ACQUIRED A LOT OF MILES FROM MOVING FROM NORTHERN PART OF THE U.S TO SOUTHERN PART OF THE U.S AND BECAUSE OF THIS MOVE CAUSED MY MILEAGE TO GO OVER THE 60,000 MILE STANDARD WARRANTY. I DO HAVE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY COVERAGE UP TO 100,000 MILES BUT THE DEALER IS SAYING THIS ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2013 Kia Sportage has 7 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.