2013 Kia Sportage Engine Problems

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

300Engine complaints

78.9%Of all 380 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

ENGINE300 · 78.9%

Unspecified / other27 · 7.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22 · 5.8%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC19 · 5%

POWER TRAIN18 · 4.7%

Share of the 380 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Kia Sportage overview page.

What owners report

“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…”NHTSA complaint 11182898 — filed 02/27/2019

“WHILE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED MAKING A RATTLING, KNOCKING SOUND, IT WAS A SCARY SOUND SO I DROVE IT TO FIRESTONE TO…”NHTSA complaint 11182742 — filed 02/27/2019

“2.4 GDI ENGINE RECALL WAS NOT EXTENDED TO MY VEHICLE BUT ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN FREEWAY FOR SAME FAILURE REASON AS OTHER 2013 VEHICLES…”NHTSA complaint 11180907 — filed 02/18/2019

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Kia Sportage have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Kia Sportage: 300 of 380 complaints on file (78.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Kia Sportage have in total?

380 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 5 involved a crash, 22 involved a fire, 6 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.