2016 Kia Sportage Problems, Recalls & Reliability
183 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Kia Sportage, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 33/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 88,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2016 sits among all Sportage years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several warning lights illuminated, and the engine seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Sportage
“The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Sportage
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 68 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 60,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 35,000 and 106,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification…
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product…
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units…
Model years named: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Technical service bulletins
127 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2016 Kia Sportage. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2016 Sportage TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Kia Sportage reliable?
The 2016 Kia Sportage drew 183 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 33/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).
What are the most common 2016 Kia Sportage problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Kia Sportage are engine (61 complaints), brakes & stability (38), and electrical (20).
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Sportage problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Kia Sportage problems around 60,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 35,000 and 106,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Kia Sportage have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Kia Sportage. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.