2013 Kia SPORTAGE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Kia SPORTAGE has 449 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (70% of all complaints), specifically: we experience an intermittent raw gasoline smell in the interior cabin of the vehicle. this problem started a few weeks after purchasing the vehicle and has persisted ever since despite 3 repair attempts at kia dealerships (22aug2012, 07jan2013, 30jan2013). because it is intermittent (occurring on. ⚠️ 33 fire reports filed.
449
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
5.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
314 complaints- • WE EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAS PERSISTED EVER SINCE DESPITE 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS AT KIA DEALERSHIPS (22AUG2012, 07JAN2013, 30JAN2013). BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT (OCCURRING ON
- • WHEN YOU CLIMB HILLS LIKE THE ONE ON INTERSTATE 20 OR A SMALL INCLINE IN OUR DRIVEWAY THE CAR WANT GO THE GAS IS MASHED TO THE FLOOR AND INSTEAD OF THE CAR SPEEDING UP IT SLOWS DOWN. DOING 80 I-20 START UP HILL SLOWS DOWN TO BELOW 60MPH. WHEN YOU TO START OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY OR FROM A STOP S
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER ENGINE OIL PAN AND SEAL WERE LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,932.
“WE EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAS PERSISTED EVER SINCE DESPITE 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS AT KIA DEALERSHIPS (22AUG2012, 07JAN2013, 30JAN2013). BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT (OCCURRING ON”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
27 complaints- • THE DESIGN OF THE IGNITION KEY IS FAULTY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY STARTS WITH A PROXIMITY INTERFACE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR STARTER BUTTON AND THE REMOTE KEY WHICH IS ATTACHED TO A MANUAL KEY FOR THE DOORS. THE MANUAL DOOR KEY ATTACHES TO A KEY RING AND THE EXPENSIVE REOMTE KEY ATTACHES TO THE MANUAL KEY. ON
- • EVERY TIME IT RAIN OR IF I WASH THE CAR, LOTS OF WATER AND SITTING IN THE DOOR BASE WHEN YOU OPEN IT AND SOME ARE COMING IN THE CAR, I HAVE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FOUR TO FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT SOLVE. IT'S MORE WATER IN THE TWO FRONT DOORS THAN
- • REMOTE SMART. USED TO WARM VEHICLE. DRIVING ON TURNPIKE 75 MILES AN HOUR THE VEHICLE QUIT ABRUPTLY IN THE PASSING LANE. ALL INTERIOR SYSTEMS STOPPED. ABLE TO GUIDE TO MEDIAN . TURNOFF KEY,PLACE IN PARK. STARTED IGNITION. VEHICLE STARTED ABLE TO DRIVE. PREVIOUS TIME AFTER USING REMOTE VEHICLE S
“THE DESIGN OF THE IGNITION KEY IS FAULTY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY STARTS WITH A PROXIMITY INTERFACE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR STARTER BUTTON AND THE REMOTE KEY WHICH IS ATTACHED TO A MANUAL KEY FOR THE DOORS. THE MANUAL DOOR KEY ATTACHES TO A KEY RING AND THE EXPENSIVE REOMTE KEY ATTACHES TO THE MANUAL KEY. ON”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
25 complaints- • AFTER AROUND 13/14K MILES, THE FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE EXTREME NOISES LIKE VERY LOUD SANDPAPER AGAINST METAL WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE. AFTER THE CAR RAN A LITTLE BIT, THEY WOULD STOP BUT THEN IT PROGRESSED TO A CONSTANT EMBARASSING NOISE. I HAVE HAD IT BACK THREE TIMES IN WHICH THEY EITHER C
- • KIA SPORTAGE 2013 PLATE. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON APPROACH TO JUNCTION DESPITE PUMPING BRAKE PEDAL. RESULTED IN CRASH AND INJURIES SUSTAINED. MALFUNCTION OF ABILITY TO DEACTIVATE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING BRAKE IN ADDITION, ON ONE OCCASION. CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. HAVE INFORMED MANUFACTURER
- • WHEN YOU CLIMB HILLS LIKE THE ONE ON INTERSTATE 20 OR A SMALL INCLINE IN OUR DRIVEWAY THE CAR WANT GO THE GAS IS MASHED TO THE FLOOR AND INSTEAD OF THE CAR SPEEDING UP IT SLOWS DOWN. DOING 80 I-20 START UP HILL SLOWS DOWN TO BELOW 60MPH. WHEN YOU TO START OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY OR FROM A STOP S
“AFTER AROUND 13/14K MILES, THE FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE EXTREME NOISES LIKE VERY LOUD SANDPAPER AGAINST METAL WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE. AFTER THE CAR RAN A LITTLE BIT, THEY WOULD STOP BUT THEN IT PROGRESSED TO A CONSTANT EMBARASSING NOISE. I HAVE HAD IT BACK THREE TIMES IN WHICH THEY EITHER C”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
22 complaints- • THE DESIGN OF THE IGNITION KEY IS FAULTY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY STARTS WITH A PROXIMITY INTERFACE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR STARTER BUTTON AND THE REMOTE KEY WHICH IS ATTACHED TO A MANUAL KEY FOR THE DOORS. THE MANUAL DOOR KEY ATTACHES TO A KEY RING AND THE EXPENSIVE REOMTE KEY ATTACHES TO THE MANUAL KEY. ON
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND FLAMES ERUPTED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED, BUT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. TH
- • REMOTE SMART. USED TO WARM VEHICLE. DRIVING ON TURNPIKE 75 MILES AN HOUR THE VEHICLE QUIT ABRUPTLY IN THE PASSING LANE. ALL INTERIOR SYSTEMS STOPPED. ABLE TO GUIDE TO MEDIAN . TURNOFF KEY,PLACE IN PARK. STARTED IGNITION. VEHICLE STARTED ABLE TO DRIVE. PREVIOUS TIME AFTER USING REMOTE VEHICLE S
“THE DESIGN OF THE IGNITION KEY IS FAULTY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY STARTS WITH A PROXIMITY INTERFACE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR STARTER BUTTON AND THE REMOTE KEY WHICH IS ATTACHED TO A MANUAL KEY FOR THE DOORS. THE MANUAL DOOR KEY ATTACHES TO A KEY RING AND THE EXPENSIVE REOMTE KEY ATTACHES TO THE MANUAL KEY. ON”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
18 complaints- • I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT TO PARK AND MY SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO TO PARK POSITION. I TRIED TO PRESS IN THE BUTTON THE SIDE OF THE SHIFTER TO PUT IT INTO PARK BUT IT WOULDN'T PRESS IN AS IT NORMALLY DOES TO CHANGE THE GEARS. THE ONLY POSITION IT WOULD GO INTO WAS NEUTRAL OR PARK AND I WAS IN A
- • ROD BEARING FAILED AT 94,000. CAR WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HWY WHEN ENGINE SEIZED.
- • VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MAKING A DANGEROUS LEFT TURN ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE PERSISTED AFTER THIS LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY AND DIAGNOS
“I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT TO PARK AND MY SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO TO PARK POSITION. I TRIED TO PRESS IN THE BUTTON THE SIDE OF THE SHIFTER TO PUT IT INTO PARK BUT IT WOULDN'T PRESS IN AS IT NORMALLY DOES TO CHANGE THE GEARS. THE ONLY POSITION IT WOULD GO INTO WAS NEUTRAL OR PARK AND I WAS IN A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 449 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: WE EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAS PERSISTED EVER SINCE DESPITE 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS AT KIA DEALERSHIPS (22AUG2012, 07JAN2013, 30JAN2013). BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT (OCCURRING ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THE DESIGN OF THE IGNITION KEY IS FAULTY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY STARTS WITH A PROXIMITY INTERFACE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR STARTER BUTTON AND THE REMOTE KEY WHICH IS ATTACHED TO A MANUAL KEY FOR THE DOORS. THE MANUAL DOOR KEY ATTACHES TO A KEY RING AND THE EXPENSIVE REOMTE KEY ATTACHES TO THE MANUAL KEY. ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: AFTER AROUND 13/14K MILES, THE FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE EXTREME NOISES LIKE VERY LOUD SANDPAPER AGAINST METAL WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE. AFTER THE CAR RAN A LITTLE BIT, THEY WOULD STOP BUT THEN IT PROGRESSED TO A CONSTANT EMBARASSING NOISE. I HAVE HAD IT BACK THREE TIMES IN WHICH THEY EITHER C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THE DESIGN OF THE IGNITION KEY IS FAULTY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY STARTS WITH A PROXIMITY INTERFACE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR STARTER BUTTON AND THE REMOTE KEY WHICH IS ATTACHED TO A MANUAL KEY FOR THE DOORS. THE MANUAL DOOR KEY ATTACHES TO A KEY RING AND THE EXPENSIVE REOMTE KEY ATTACHES TO THE MANUAL KEY. ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia SPORTAGE — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 449
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 33
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Kia SPORTAGE