Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2013 Kia Sportage
NHTSA data on file today
The 2013 Kia Sportage has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 381 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V652000 HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V907000 High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V224000 Bearing Wear may result in Engine Seizure NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 301 complaints
- Unknown or Other 27 complaints
- Electrical System 22 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 19 complaints
- Power Train 18 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 14 complaints
Of the 381 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 22 a fire; across all 381 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2013 Kia Sportage has a significant number of engine complaints and three major recalls, indicating potential reliability issues. The most concerning is the recall related to engine machining errors leading to premature bearing wear. With 301 engine-related complaints, this suggests frequent and potentially expensive repairs. However, the data for other components is less substantial, indicating fewer widespread issues in those areas.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50,000-100,000 miles | $1,500–$5,000 | very common |
| Brake system | 60,000-90,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | occasional |
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 change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Air filter replacement every 15,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking sounds
- Check engine light
- Soft or spongy brakes
- Warning lights on dash
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2013 Kia Sportage at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.