2011 Kia Sportage problems
The 2011 Kia Sportage has 264 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (32%) concerns engine. Next are electrical system (14%) and brakes (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 264 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 10 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 71,000 miles 173 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 37 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 22 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 23 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 13 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 24 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 16 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 16 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 173 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 71,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 94,000 miles (62 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 10 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 13th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Kia Sportage with enough data (98 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
On [XXX], my 2011 Kia Sportage SX (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while I was driving. The vehicle rapidly filled with smoke, causing throat and eye irritation from smoke inhalation. My insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. Kia America (Case #[XXX]) acknowledged the incident and confirmed that a fire inspection would be conducted. The inspection was completed, but Kia has refused to release the findings or determine the cause.
Update to NHTSA (ODI #11679186) Subject: Update to ODI Complaint #11679186 – Kia America Written Response Body: Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am writing to provide an update to my ODI Complaint #11679186 regarding my 2011 Kia Sportage SX (VIN: [XXX] ), which caught fire while I was driving on [XXX]. On August 27, 2025, Kia America issued me a written response (attached).
I was park in the parking garage of my work place. The time was between 7:10am to7:15am. I put the car in park. I stepped out of the car to get my purse and other bag on the ground. I left car on cause I was listening to a song. I was looking for an app on my phone to see what song was playing. I then walked around to other side to get a book that was in passenger seat. I walked back to driver side stood there a minute or two still searching for app on phone all sudden my car starting to roll back.
When I placed the vehicle in reverse, it felt like the car lunged stopped and lunged again. The car did not move, because the brakes were still engaged. The review camera did not turn on. I backed out and pulled back into my spot, put the car in park, put it into reverse again, and the lunging occurred again. I checked the reverse lights, and they were not on. I proceeded to drive to my destination.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sportage. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to city kia (9550 s orange blossom trail, orlando, fl) where it was diagnosed that the clock spring was faulty and a defective part would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was concerned that the air bags would not deploy in the event of a crash. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,665.