2011 Kia Sportage Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

77Engine complaints

42.5%Of all 181 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE77 · 42.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37 · 20.4%

POWER TRAIN23 · 12.7%

Unspecified / other23 · 12.7%

SERVICE BRAKES12 · 6.6%

Share of the 181 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Kia Sportage overview page.

What owners report

“IVE BEEN LOSING OIL DUE TO A LEAK FROM OIL PAN, NOTICED AS OF 2/1/20 MY 2011 SPORTAGE HAS BEEN MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AS…”NHTSA complaint 11307083 — filed 02/04/2020

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A SUDDEN CLANKING NOISE OCCURRED BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED…”NHTSA complaint 11288091 — filed 12/10/2019

“EVERYONE I KNOW THERE BLUETOOTH WILL NOT WORK. MOST IMPORTANT THE CHECK ENGINE HAS BEEN ON EVERY TIME AND IT SAIDS THAT IS OXYGEN SENSOR…”NHTSA complaint 11266108 — filed 10/04/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Kia Sportage have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 Kia Sportage: 77 of 181 complaints on file (42.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Kia Sportage have in total?

181 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 7 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 8 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.