Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 Kia Sportage
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 Kia Sportage has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 181 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V652000 HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V101000 Engine Oil Leak May Cause Stall or Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V907000 High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V224000 Bearing Wear may result in Engine Seizure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V360000 Intermittent Failure of the Brake Light Switch NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V114000 Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 77 complaints
- Electrical System 38 complaints
- Power Train 23 complaints
- Unknown or Other 23 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 12 complaints
- Service Brakes 12 complaints
Of the 181 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 181 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2011 Kia Sportage has a below-average reliability rating due to frequent engine complaints and six recalls, notably for its engine and braking systems. While there are a significant number of complaints, they are concentrated primarily on the engine and electrical components. The evidence is concentrated enough to suggest recurrent issues, but overall data remains limited for parts besides the key recalls.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Unknown | $1,500–$3,500 | very common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $300–$1,200 | common |
| Brake light switch | Unknown | $150–$350 | occasional |
| Fuel system | Unknown | $400–$1,000 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspection and service
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Coolant flush
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking sounds
- Brake light malfunction
- Fuel odor inside vehicle
- Electrical system failure
- Unusual engine noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 Kia Sportage at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.