2016 Kia Sportage Safety Report
2016 KIA SPORTAGE Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Kia Sportage
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Kia Sportage. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (129) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 13 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Kia Sportage with 36 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2017 | Check the 2017 Kia Sportage before buying across this generation. |
Kia Sportage Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Sportage years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Kia Sportage | 375 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Kia Sportage | 143 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Kia Sportage | 150 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Kia Sportage | 65 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Kia Sportage | 144 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Kia Sportage | 36 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Kia Sportage Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Kia Sportage, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
33 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Kia onlyService Brakes, Hydraulic
31 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes, Hydraulic issues Kia onlyElectrical System
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other,Engine
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Engine issues Kia onlyEngine,Fuel/Propulsion System
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Kia Sportage
Reliability Score
The 2016 Kia Sportage receives a reliability score of 8 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Kia Sportage
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Kia Sportage
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Kia Sportage:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Failure Engine failure has been reported, with the engine completely seizing up. This issue is critical and can lead to a complete breakdown of the vehicle. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Issues Transmission failures have been reported, causing gear changes to fail. This can lead to unsafe driving conditions. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Recalled Hydraulic Service Brakes Kia Motors America has issued a recall for hydraulic service brakes due to potential issues with the control unit/module. This can affect vehicle safety. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel Delivery System Issues Recalls have been issued for fuel delivery systems due to potential issues with hoses, lines, and fittings. This can affect the vehicle's performance and safety. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Kia Sportage:
Engine issues, including complete engine seizure, are the most common problems reported.
Transmission failures, causing gear changes to fail, are a significant issue.
Recalled hydraulic service brakes are a critical issue, affecting vehicle safety.
Issues with the fuel delivery system, including hoses, lines, and fittings, are reported.
Recall Details for the 2016 Kia Sportage
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Kia Sportage by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An engine compartment 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 install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC227.
Summary: 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 Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Kia Sportage
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Kia Sportage with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 2 involved fires. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
Engine failure. The engine completely seized up
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the transmission failed to properly change gears. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was n...
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 failure mileage was approximately 116,124.
My wife was recently in a car accident and sandwiched between two cars and the airbags didn’t deploy.
WAS DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR STARTED KNOCKING MAKING NOISE, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MY TAIL PIPE. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE, BUT THAT DIDN'T DO THE TRICK, THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON, MY CAR DRIVES VERY SLOW NOW. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT ON THE ROAD
La guagua se apagó corriendo motor trancado quiero saber si tiene recall de la bomba de aceite es una kia sportage 2016 motor gdi [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2 problems occurred within 1 month from each other: - Kia Sportage engine started to randomly stall. I needed to do a full stop in the middle of the road and restart the car to continue driving. I had 3 stalls happen within 2 weeks before I had time to take it to the dealer. The Kia Dealer held it for over a week and drove it but could not find any issues. They mentioned low oil, which was strange...
On Sunday, June 1, 2025, I was leaving work and was exiting I97 to enter on 695 and and I accelerated to proceed on 695 and my vehicle lost power, the engine light along with the oil indictor came on, and making a loud knocking sound. The vehicle was towed and taken to the mechanic and the code read, "Knock sensor." The knock sensor was replaced at $301.85. I was able to drive the vehicle witho...
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 unavailable. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Th...
Me and my family were on the way to the beach, as I accelerated on the interstate got to 65 mph, engine light started blinking, car instantly slowed down. Got off on next exit, to check and see what was going on, car started hesitating after acceleration. Was able to get it to an autoshop (O'Reilly's) diagnosis shows knock sensor failure and they told me it has to do with the safety recall, didn't...
Very often, when I put my car into park, it doesn't seem to fully engage, and I either can't remove the key (until I put it back into drive, and then park again), and in some instances I experience a "rollaway" as soon as I remove my foot from the brake pedal. I believe there is already a recall for the Kia Telluride model for this issue.
Have approx 101000 miles on car. It had 54202 when i bought it from A Kia dealer in Gastonia NC who was forced out of ownership because of fraud. The car has been serviced regularly and engine oil changed between 3-5ooo miles. I have put approximately 57000 miles since 2017. I have never had an issue with car until Christmas Eve 2024 when after leaving stop sigh and a turn around panel oil light c...
Vehicle went from operating fine to a flashing yellow engine light. Within minutes, the vehicle could not be safely driven. There was a knocking and vibration from the engine.
AS WE WERE DRIVING MY NIECE HOME FROM SCHOOL ABOUT A BLOCK FROM HER HOUSE, THE CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER AND WHEN WE PULLED OVER TO LET HER OUT, THE CAR SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT START BACK ON. WE WAITED A WHILE AND TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON, BUT IT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. THERE WERE NO MESSAGES OR ANYTHING SAYING SOMETHING WAS WRONG
The car accelerated of its own accord, I had been driving 30-35 miles an hour when it accelerated suddenly and caused me to wreck.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and stalled. During the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not c...
The engine knocks took it to the auto mechanic and needs a new engine. Have to pay for this and reading on line it is a well known issue
I was driving down the road on 4/18/2024 and my engine locked up. I got it off the road as far as I could, but was very dangerous spot. All maintenance has been done on this SUV. I had it towed to a local independent shop where I was informed it was locked up. No warning light came on. I just lost all power and coasted to the side of the road. It is available for inspection at the shop it was towe...
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while the vehicle was being driven and while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or...
My car shut off in the middle of getting off a highway ramp. Completely shut down, had to push it to the side of the road in the middle of an off ramp/intersection.
Showing 20 of 129 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Kia Sportage
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine
Opened 2022-09-12 · Closed 2023-12-12
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug...
Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Opened 2023-11-17
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 (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando....
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Kia Sportage
Has the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE have?
The 2016 KIA SPORTAGE has 129 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 8 involved crashes. 8 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
The 2016 KIA SPORTAGE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE involve engine (33 complaints), service brakes, hydraulic (31 complaints), electrical system (7 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, unknown or other,engine, engine,fuel/propulsion system.
How many crash reports does the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE have?
There are 8 crash reports associated with the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE out of 129 total complaints (6.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE have?
There are 5 fire reports for the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE out of 129 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
8 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE is acceptable with caveats. It has 129 complaints, 2 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE are: 1. ENGINE (33 complaints), 2. SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (31 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE (5 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 33 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
Be aware of potential engine and transmission issues, and check for recalls related to hydraulic service brakes and fuel delivery systems. The 2016 KIA SPORTAGE has 129 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
The 2016 KIA SPORTAGE receives a reliability score of 8/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 129 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 13 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Failure and Transmission Issues.
What are the known issues with the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
Known issues with the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE include: Engine Failure, Transmission Issues, Recalled Hydraulic Service Brakes, Fuel Delivery System Issues. These are based on patterns found across 129 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
The most common issues are engine failure and transmission problems.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 KIA SPORTAGE?
Yes, recalls have been issued for hydraulic service brakes and fuel delivery systems.
What should I do if I experience engine issues?
If you experience engine issues, have the vehicle inspected immediately to prevent further damage.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential engine and transmission issues, and check for recalls related to hydraulic service brakes and fuel delivery systems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Kia Sportage
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Kia Sportage. The data includes 129 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 8 reported crashes, 5 fire incidents, 8 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Kia Sportage an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16