2013 Kia Sportage Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 100,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving all of a sudden my 2013 Sportage began shaking check Ingine light flashing. This happened out of nowhere. I pulled off to the side of the road, towed to Mechanic shop. They found that a piece of spark plug had broken off into the cylinder shaft. They said it was very unusual. I had it fixed through our local Kia Dealership…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Claim #25921274 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute Kia’s denial of warranty coverage for the engine failure in my 2013 Kia Sportage. Per communication with customer care, Kia denied my claim on the basis of “excessive mileage between oil changes.” However, this conclusion is not supported by sufficient evidence and…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 52,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while at a stop light, smoke was present from the vents inside the cabin. Later, while attempting to park more smoke was coming from under the hood and the neighbor also witnessed flames coming from the front of the vehicle. No further information was available. The contact…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 218,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 87,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

I received a recall notification last year, I live about an hr and a half away from the nearest Kia dealer, so I wasn’t able to get my car in to be inspected until last spring at the Kia in Medford. Then I got another notice in the mail stating my vehicle was amongst the ones that needed the HECU recall service done. I called the Kia…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Hecu needs to be replaced. This is a dangerous recall and it has almost been one year and it hasn't been resolved because the parts arent available.. I have children in my car and they tell me a fire could start while driving or parked. So, they will see the urgency in getting this part to us, after people have died? I am really upset…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 89,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2025

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…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 72,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 17,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

My daughter has a 2013 Kia Sporage. Last week she was driving and the engine kept cutting off on the highway. She has had the recalled engine replaced last year and has 33,000 miles on it. When we took it to be checked out the guy said it could be the timing chain. The dealership said that was unlikely. It sounds like it’s not getting…Owner complaint, filed 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed gas cap. The contact was informed that the gas cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred after a month. The…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 87,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 73,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Left rear wheel makes a noise like it's an old old car, as you driving low speed. Or even if it is stationary, it makes that noise as you get in or get out from the vehicle. Can't pin point, where the sound coming from. Annoying.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 80,000 miles

We were driving down the road and heard a whine. About 2 minutes later there was a pop in both front wheels locked we could not move and we cannot get them to unlockOwner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 21,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (5).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Interior door panels expanded due to weather (heat in california) and doors cannot be pulled open. In the event of a collision, passengers would not be able to get out of the car due to the expanded interior door panels.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 88,000 miles

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.Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 21,300 miles

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving at 45mph, went into the opposite lane to pass a vehicle and the engine revved into the 7000rpm range, all the lights came on in the dash, and it immediately lost power. I pulled to the side of the road and the engine stopped. I tried to restart the engine and it wouldn't even crank over. No warning lights had come on prior…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 100,220 miles

I was on the interstate driving around 70 miles per hour my car died as in stopped in front of a semi! My car has been serviced regularly and had no problems -nothing-no noise it just died. We are lucky I was not killed. Car was towed to cookeville kia they said it was internal engine failure possible rod bearing. He told us it would…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 130,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 45 MPH, the daughter collided with another vehicle after the vehicle aggressively merged in front of her. The collision was at the front driver and passenger side of the vehicle. The contact added that the collision threw her daughter forward…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Clock spring malfunctioned, replaced x2, then mat failed in the passenger seat. Car has never been in an accident. Stayed in driveway. Seldom used total milage 111,659Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 111,659 miles

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 kia sportage. While driving approximately 50 MPH, there was a loud abnormal noise and the sun roof exploded. The contact sustained lacerations to the eye that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The [VIN] was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 8,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 kia sportage. The contact was traveling at an unknown speed during inclement weather when an unknown object stuck the top of the vehicle. The impact caused the sunroof glass to shatter and the sunroof area was cracked. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for repairs. The authorized dealer was not able to…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 5,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 kia sportage. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, when she drove over a pothole and driver's and passenger's side rear wheels shifted. The contact drove to her residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The [VIN] had…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 107,000 miles

I have had my vehicle looked at numerous times since I bought it 3 years ago. There is a odd thumping/humming like sound coming from under the hood or axle area, while driving, at any speed. Nothing has been found. My vehicle shakes occasionally while driving over 45 MPH. My air pressure light continues to be on constantly, even after…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 77,111 miles

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving at 45mph, went into the opposite lane to pass a vehicle and the engine revved into the 7000rpm range, all the lights came on in the dash, and it immediately lost power. I pulled to the side of the road and the engine stopped. I tried to restart the engine and it wouldn't even crank over. No warning lights had come on prior…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 100,220 miles

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 for same issue…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 70,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

We were driving down the road and heard a whine. About 2 minutes later there was a pop in both front wheels locked we could not move and we cannot get them to unlockOwner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 kia sportage. While driving 5 MPH, the contact smelled a burning odor and flames erupted under the driver seat. The contact placed the vehicle in park and exited. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact was uninjured, but was transported to the hospital. The contact notified the [VIN]. The…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 28,000 miles