The 2016 Kia Sportage is associated with 130 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 34 reports (26% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 4 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl and 2.4l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 21 to 23 MPG combined.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 130 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Engine (34 / 26%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 8 crash / 5 fire / 7 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 21–23 MPG (4 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Sportage SX FWD | 2L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 20 MPG | 26 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
| Sportage SX AWD | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 MPG | 25 MPG | 21 MPG | — | $2,950 / yr |
| Sportage FWD | 2.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 21 MPG | 28 MPG | 23 MPG | — | $2,650 / yr |
| Sportage AWD | 2.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 MPG | 26 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| SUV FWD | | | | | 17.4% |
| SUV AWD | | | | | 15.5% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as No and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Kia Sportage models.
View complete 2016 Kia Sportage crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Kia Sportage problems & component breakdown (39 categories) →
Affected Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Defect Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC227.
Affected Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Defect Summary: 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 high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
View all 2016 Kia Sportage recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →