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2016 Kia Sportage Engine Problems

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

58Engine complaints
44.6%Of all 130 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

ENGINE58 · 44.6%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC30 · 23.1%
Unspecified / other18 · 13.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16 · 12.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9 · 6.9%

Share of the 130 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Kia Sportage overview page.

What owners report

“La guagua se apagó corriendo motor trancado quiero saber si tiene recall de la bomba de aceite es una kia sportage 2016 motor gdi [XXX]…”NHTSA complaint 11681109 — filed 08/16/2025
“2 problems occurred within 1 month from each other: - Kia Sportage engine started to randomly stall. I needed to do a full stop in…”NHTSA complaint 11671168 — filed 07/03/2025
“On Sunday, June 1, 2025, I was leaving work and was exiting I97 to enter on 695 and and I accelerated to proceed on 695…”NHTSA complaint 11665787 — filed 06/09/2025

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

Engine complaints by year filed

2201862019120204202120202272023820246202542026

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Kia Sportage have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Kia Sportage: 58 of 130 complaints on file (44.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Kia Sportage have in total?

130 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 8 involved a crash, 5 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.