2021 Kia Sportage Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 Sportage years
The 2021 Kia Sportage has a Complaint Index of 27, ranking 12th worst of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Sportage years. It has 51 complaints, 2 recalls, and 7 fire reports, with Engine issues making up 51% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 51
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 7
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20.5 city / 26.5 hwy
Top 2021 Kia Sportage problems
NHTSA owner 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%)
What owners report
- Engine fires with smoke or burning odor reported, sometimes while parked or shortly after driving.
- Airbags failed to deploy in a low-speed head-on crash, resulting in head and neck injuries.
- Lane keeping assist reportedly veered the vehicle off the road at 55 mph, causing a crash into a guard rail.
- Vehicle lost power and stalled while exiting a parking lot, with no fault found by the dealer.
- Sunroof reportedly exploded outward with a loud popping sound while the vehicle was parked.
- Rear turn signals mounted too low on the bumper were reported as hard for following drivers to see.
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?
- Compared to other Sportage model years, the 2021 has a Complaint Index of 27 and ranks 12th worst out of 16 years, giving it a "Good" verdict. It has fewer complaints (51) than many other Sportage years.
- What problems does the 2021 Kia Sportage have?
- NHTSA complaints show the Engine is the top problem area, accounting for 51% of complaints (26 of 51), with a median mileage at failure of 65,000. Electrical System issues make up another 14%.
- Does the 2021 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Sportage: one for a tow hitch harness fire risk (campaign 22V703000) and one for a brake control unit that can short-circuit and cause a fire (campaign 21V137000). Both recalls advise owners to park outside away from structures.
- Are there fire risks with the 2021 Kia Sportage?
- NHTSA complaints include 7 fire reports for the 2021 Sportage, several tied to the Engine problem area, which also has 4 of the model year's fire reports.
- How does the 2021 Sportage compare to other years, like 2017 or 2023?
- The 2021 Sportage's Complaint Index of 27 is much lower than the 2017 model's 93 and the 2023 model's 100, both rated "Avoid." The 2021 year performs better than most other Sportage model years.