Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2016 Kia Sportage
NHTSA data on file today
The 2016 Kia Sportage has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 134 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 #22V051000 Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V907000 High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 62 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 31 complaints
- Unknown or Other 18 complaints
- Electrical System 17 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 9 complaints
- Power Train 8 complaints
Of the 134 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 134 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2016 Kia Sportage has a below-average reliability due to significant issues with the engine, brakes, and potential fire hazards from electrical shorts. Multiple recalls affecting critical systems highlight the vehicle's susceptibility to major failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 60,000–90,000 miles | $3,000–$4,500 | common |
| brake system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $250–$600 | common |
| fuel lines | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$800 | occasional |
| electrical system | 40,000–70,000 miles | $150–$500 | 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 changes
- brake fluid replacement
- coolant flush
- transmission fluid change
- tire rotation and balancing
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- engine misfires or noises
- brake pedal vibrations
- burning smell from engine
- fuel smell near the vehicle
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2016 Kia Sportage at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.