2021 Kia Sportage problems and complaints
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Sportage. The most-reported areas: Engine (23), Unknown Or Other (14), Engine And Engine Cooling (7).
Key takeaways
- 54 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 3 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 4 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 23 | 43% |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 | 26% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 6 | 11% |
| Power Train | 4 | 7% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 4% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 4% |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 4% |
| Structure | 1 | 2% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Sportage SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Kia Sportage SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-10-02
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that after an oil change, while leaving the dealer and driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, exited the vehicle, lifted the hood, and checked the oil dipstick and became aware th...
Engine - filed 2026-09-29
My 2021 Kia Sportage is in Limp Mode at 2,000 RPM, and my mechanic confirmed it has the P1326 Knock Sensor code stored. Vin [XXX]. I need to see if my car can be added to the list of vehicles regarding the product improvement campaign PI2002A. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U....
Engine - filed 2026-09-26
The Kia never showed an engine light error or gave a code stating there was a problem. We Change the oil every 3000 miles. There was no oil on the dip stick and the oil was extremely low. The engine seized up today.
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More for the 2021 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.