2011 Kia Sportage: engine and transmission complaints
VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
60%
101 of 167 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
60% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Kia Sportage are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 80% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 56%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN05/06/2016CRASH1 INJURED
I WAS PARK IN THE PARKING GARAGE OF MY WORK PLACE. THE TIME WAS BETWEEN 7:10AM TO7:15AM. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR TO GET MY PURSE AND OTHER BAG ON THE GROUND. I LEFT CAR ON CAUSE I WAS LISTENING TO A SONG. I WAS LOOKING FOR AN APP ON MY PHONE TO SEE WHAT SONG WAS PLAYING. I THEN WALKED AROUND TO …
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING06/17/2026
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. While accelerating to overtake a vehicle driving under the speed limit, the vehicle started to stall. The check engine light was flashing, and the vehicle went into ECO mode. The contact associated the f…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING03/10/2025
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for the State Inspection, the vehicle failed the Emissions test. The State Inspector diagnosed a failure with the Evaporative Emissions Control System (EVAP). The contact was informed that the system was leaking. The check engine warn…
Three of 101 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (6)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 rec…
ENGINE
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Kia Sportage vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine da…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing proces…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2011 Kia Sportage
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
6 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.
