2013 Kia Sportage: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 380 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
380
Complaints
3
Recalls
5
Crash reports
22
Fire reports
6
Injuries
52.6
Severity index
Severity index 52.6 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 145 2013 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2013 Kia Sportage ranks 93 of 145 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 36% of its model-year peers. See the full 2013 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 300 | 78.9% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 27 | 7.1% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 25 | 6.6% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 22 | 5.8% |
| HYDRAULIC | 19 | 5.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 18 | 4.7% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 14 | 3.7% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 7 | 1.8% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 300 of 380 complaints (78.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 66 |
| 2019 | 76 |
| 2020 | 57 |
| 2021 | 46 |
| 2022 | 33 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 2 |
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V907000 | 19/12/2018 | 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 recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The h |
| 17V224000 | 31/03/2017 | 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 process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine. |
| 23V652000 | 25/09/2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Con |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.