2016 Kia Sportage problems and complaints
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Sportage. The most-reported areas: Engine (62), Service Brakes (38), Hydraulic (31).
Key takeaways
- 134 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 8 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 62 | 46% |
| Service Brakes | 38 | 28% |
| Hydraulic | 31 | 23% |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 17 | 13% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 | 7% |
| Power Train | 8 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 5% |
| Air Bags | 5 | 4% |
| Structure | 4 | 3% |
| Steering | 4 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Kia Sportage SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2016 Kia Sportage SUV FWD | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-10-13
My 2016 Kia Sportage LX experienced a catastrophic engine seizure on September 9, 2026, at 91,249 miles. My son was returning home on I-95 South in Florida. After exiting at Sample Road and traveling west near Seabra Foods at approximately 40 mph, he first noticed unusual engine noises at an estimated 91,245 miles. He...
Engine - filed 2026-10-08
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) and electrical system malfunctioned, causing a severe short circuit, total power collapse, and an engine compartment thermal event (heavy smoke). The vehicle has an open, incomplete federal safety recall (NHTSA 22V051 / Kia SC227) for this exact fire and short-circuit hazard...
Engine - filed 2026-10-02
I have a 2016 Kia Sportage Ex with under 71k miles. I’ve reach out the Kia headquarters about my engine in July because my engine has a blow by. My vehicle has never been in an accident and I always keep my engine clean. I always change my oil on time and now I’m having engine failure with under 71k miles??!! I’ve only...
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More for the 2016 Kia Sportage
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.