KnownCarProblems2013 Kia Sportage Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 381 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine (82% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Sportage model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2013 Kia Sportage problems
Engine
313 complaints · 82%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
We were driving on a parkway at approximately 55-65 MPH when without warning the check engine light, oil lamp, and battery light came on. Simultaneously my husband (the driver) reported that the car would no longer accelerate. The garage it was towed to reported that they could get the car to start but there was a…
I have a 2013 Sportage. While driving on a parkway the check engine and check oil light came on and the engine seized. Thankfully I was able to pull over and avoid a possibly fatal car accident with my wife and I in the car. I had it towed to a garage and then the yonkers Kia dealership as the garage advised me of…
Other or unspecified
27 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.
There is a recall on the engine of 2013 Kia Sportage engines seizing up. My 2013 Kia Sportage 4 cylinder motor seized up when I pulled up to a red light. I was in rush hour traffic as I was nearing the red traffic light. I had aaa tow vehicle to Kia dealership in wilmington, being told it would cost $12,000.00 to fix.
'takata recall' gasoline smells coming from the oil dipstick when I checked the oil level I could smell gasoline inside my oil , my vehicle was stationed in my driveway under my carport.
Brakes
25 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, the contact became aware of an abnormal burning odor. The contact stated that the failure had been occurring intermittently while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while coming to a gas station rest stop, making a left turn to the fuel pump, the vehicle lost power and coasted to the fuel pump. There were no warning lights illuminated. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes…
Electrical
22 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles.
While driving at 65mph my Kia Sportage went dead. I pulled over onto the side of the road. I tried to start it again but it would not start. After that, smoke started coming out from under the hood. The Kia was towed to the Kia dealership and checked by mechanics, who said that the rod bearing went bad and it seized…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where…
Transmission
18 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles.
I was driving down the road and I heard a loud bang. The car lost power at all dash lights came on. I take it to mechanic and he said that I threw a rod and that it cracked a hole in the engine block. This specific type of Kia sport age engine has not been recalled. But the bearings came loose and it threw a rod just…
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…
Fuel system
9 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 17,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
When you climb hills like the one on interstate 20 or a small incline in our driveway the car want go the gas is mashed to the floor and instead of the car speeding up it slows down. Doing 80 I-20 start up hill slows down to below 60mph. When you to start out of the drive way or from a stop sign you just barley mash…
We experience an intermittent raw gasoline smell in the interior cabin of the vehicle. This problem started a few weeks after purchasing the vehicle and has persisted ever since despite 3 repair attempts at Kia dealerships (22aug2012, 07jan2013, 30jan2013). Because it is intermittent (occurring once or twice every…
Body and structure
6 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 21,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
I was driving 50mph on a windy day. A semi passed US and the air pressure imploded the front sunroof. There was no debris other than shattered glass in the interior.
This vehicle is equipped with running board that are "flush" with the bottom of the doors. Any time there is snow or ice, while driving the snow and ice will build-up on the running boards and make it difficult to impossible to open any of the doors. If a quick exit were required in poor weather or in case of an…
Suspension
6 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. While driving 30 MPH, the rod bearings fractured and the vehicle seized without warning. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,601.
The front passenger side wheel bearings started to wear. They were replaced and seized up while driving. A new wheel bearings was replaced and repaired. Again it seized up while driving. Car is being towed to shop for third repair. It was recommended I look up recall on car noticed there was one recall and 114…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Kia Sportage recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the hecu fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed november 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2024 through june 18, 2024. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc284.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began june 20, 2017. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc147.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
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
Loss of motive power
Summary
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
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Scope and timeliness
Summary
Nhtsa opened recall query (rq) 17-003 to investigate the timeliness and scope of kia?s theta II gdi engine recall (recall no. 17v-224), and kia?s compliance with reporting requirements. On november 23, 2020, the agency entered into a consent order with kia to administratively resolve NHTSA?s assertions of violations of law in connection with rq17-003. Nhtsa?s assertions included that kia may be liable for civil penalties on multiple grounds, including that recall no. 17v-224 was untimely and kia?s recall report contained certain inaccuracies.under the consent order, kia agreed to a total civil penalty of $70,000,000. The total civil penalty included a payment of $27,000,000 as a non-deferred
Questions about the 2013 Kia Sportage
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Kia Sportage?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (313 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); other or unspecified (27 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); brakes (25 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Kia Sportage have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Kia Sportage?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Sportage model year since 2000, with 381 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.