2021 Kia Sportage Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2021 Kia Sportage has a Complaint Index of 40 with 51 complaints and 2 recalls, but NHTSA lists it as Caution because one recall carries a park-outside warning. It ranks 13th worst out of 21 model years, with Engine problems making up 51% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #13 of 21 Sportage years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 51
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- 2 Park Outside
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 7
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20.5 city / 26.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2021 Kia Sportage problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine26 (51%)
- Other15 (29%)
- Electrical System7 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (8%)
- Structure & Body3 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (6%)
- Fuel System2 (4%)
- Airbags1 (2%)
- Lane Departure1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report engine compartment smoke and burning odors, sometimes while parked or idling, with several incidents classified as fires.
- Some describe the engine seizing after oil apparently mixed with gas, followed by smoke and total loss of power.
- One owner reported the lane keeping assist system veering the vehicle off the road into a guard rail at highway speed.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a low-speed head-on collision, resulting in head and neck injuries.
- A sunroof reportedly exploded outward with a loud popping sound while the vehicle was parked in a driveway.
- One owner reported a sudden loss of motive power while exiting a parking lot, with the vehicle restarting afterward.
2021 Kia Sportage recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V703000Sep 19, 2022Structure & Body70,887 vehiclesPark Outside
Trailer hitches
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
- NHTSA 21V137000Mar 4, 2021Brakes379,931 vehiclesPark Outside
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
2021 Kia Sportage fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20.5 MPG
- Highway
- 26.5 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2021 compared with other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Kia Sportage reliable?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Sportage has a Complaint Index of 40 and 51 complaints, ranking 13th worst among 21 model years. Its verdict is Caution, driven mainly by a park-outside recall rather than the complaint volume alone.
- What is the most common problem with the 2021 Kia Sportage?
- Engine problems are the top issue, accounting for 51% of complaints (26 of 51), including several reports of smoke and fire, at a median mileage of 47,000 for failures overall.
- Does the 2021 Kia Sportage have a fire-related recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 21V137000 covers a Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit that can short-circuit and cause a fire in the engine compartment, and owners are told to park outside until repaired.
- How does the 2021 Sportage compare to other Sportage years?
- With a Complaint Index of 40, the 2021 model ranks better than Avoid-rated years like 2012 (90), 2017 (95), 2020 (85), and 2023 (100), but worse than Good-rated early years like 2005-2007.
- What is the 2021 Kia Sportage's fuel economy?
- The EPA rates the 2021 Sportage at 23 mpg combined (20.5 city / 26.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800.