2016 Kia Sportage Powertrain (other) Problems

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 not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11716724

Incident

Feb 5, 2026

Mileage

180,000 mi

When coming to a stop and brake applied car starts to vibrate. Local mechanic who looked at the vehicle believes it's the torque converter. The miles are high but it's under a the recall new engine, which technically has only approximately 60k.

NHTSA ID

11561565

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

Blind spot. Numerous times the driver mirror is large and close to the window /door frame causing a huge blind spot as to where I've almost hit people crossing in a crosswalk, mostly by making a left turn.

NHTSA ID

11559800

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

This car was driven by a 17 year old high school student. Car with high oil consumption engine resulting in engine seizure 4/2022. Engine unseized and consumption of 1qt oil every 1,000 miles deemed "within normal limits" per Kia of America policy (Ganley Kia in Mentor Ohio). Kia corporate offices contacted with no resolution. From 4/2022 to 8/2023, car was driven only 2.5 non freeway miles to high school and home. It continued to consume oil resulting in adding and checking oil weekly despite low mileage driving. The car finally developed a lower engine knock at complete engine failure 8/2023. We sold it to [XXX] for $700.00. The manufacturer (Kia) of the car is fully aware of the defective engine design, the high oil consumption, and potential eventual engine failure. The car has poor resale and trade in value. Kia should be investigated for safety and ethical concerns. We were lucky there was not a fire, an accident, or a fatality. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11544642

Incident

Aug 30, 2023

the car was bought certified used from Galpin Kia which is no longer in business. That location closed down. I had gone 2 times with the same issue and they refused to look under the car & mechanic basically said chill out it’s fine. Sent me to galpin Ford to which I talked to 2 employees and In tears expressed my fear and concern yet was told to relax and nothing was wrong .took to Kia new location 2 times was told to come back and 3rd I refused to leave till it was looked at. Mechanic said it was not in good shape and rep told me to not drive unless a emergency & would email me that night which was Saturday what labor it needed and prices and I’ve yet to hear back I followed up twice since and still no response ..the fact I was told not to drive & it mechanic stated to rep in Spanish, basically something with wheels and tires being eaten away while driving also a ball bearing cracked and they asked if I had receipts as it could be a lemon.. I try to keep all my conversations via chat or email for this very reason i also have emails I’ve communicated with corporate about the situation to which I had no response and most of the repairs that I got were at certified kia service stations. It needed alignment 4-6 within 6 months. Car pulling badly and needed tires changed or alignment each time. Car feels like it’s gonna fall apart and at times the wheel kinda tightens up and I feel i don’t have control. I’ve been dealing with this over a year and no one has even bothered to check after my constant emails, calls voicing my concern & fear of driving. It sits in garage since while trying to get Kia to do something, pandemic hit and coincidentally the warranty conveniently expired. Please help

NHTSA ID

11445377

Incident

Jul 20, 2020

THE PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR, EVERYTIME WE WOULD GO GET A OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE FACILITY WOULD TELL US THAT OUR OIL WAS LOW AND WE DIDN'T SEE HOW WHEN WE WOULD HA E IT CHANGED REGULARLY SO WE WAS LOOSING OIL AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE BACK IT WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND AND IT WASN'T VISIBLE WHEN YOU WOULD LOOK UNDER THE HOOD SHE WE TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG, IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUE TO BRING IT BACK AND THEY WOULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE TO GET TO THE PROBLEM SO I CALLED KIA CORPORATE OFFICE THEY TOLD BE THAT THEY WOULD WRITE OUT A INCIDENT REPORT AND TAKE IT TO KIA I INFORMED THEM THAT I DID THAT AND CORPORATE BASICALLY SAID TO FOLLOW THE SHOP RECOMMENDATIONS CAUSE MY VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE A ACTIVE RECALL ON IT SO I REACHED OUT TO NHTSA TO REPORT THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD AND TO ALSO LET SOMEONE ELSE NO I HAVE HAD ISSUES THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING AND NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO KIA AND THEN AGAIN SAID THAT IT WASN'T NOTHING THEY CAN DO IT WASN'T A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE SO LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON MY WAY TO WORK THE CAR STALLED AND COMPLETELY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY STOPPING TRAFFIC I HAD HELP SAFELY GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WOULDN'T CRANK SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME THEN CALLED KIA AND SPOKE TO A SERVICE AND THEY STATED THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT FOR MY VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT, TIMING AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OIL CANISTER, I DON'T SEE WHY THE VEHICLE HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED IF THEY KNOW THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THEM THIS IS A 2016 VEHICLE IT IS FAIRLY NEW AND IT HAS SO MAY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331986

Incident

Jun 19, 2020

Mileage

145,000 mi

THE ENGINE OF THE CAR JUST DIED ON ME WHEN I WAS TURNING RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. UNKNOWN CAUSE WHY THE ENGINE JUST DIED ON ME. I TRIED STARTING IT, AND IT WOULD START AND DIE AGAIN. IF I START THE CAR AND STEP ON THE GAS, THE ENGINE DOES NOT DIE BUT ONCE I RELEASE FROM THE GAS, THE ENGINE DIES AND I SMELL A STRONG GAS ODOR.

NHTSA ID

11289135

Incident

Dec 10, 2019

THE CAR HESITATED OR CHOKED WHEN ACCELERATING TO CHANGE LANES AND A CLOUDY FUME EMITTED FROM THE REAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE SPAN OF 2 WEEKS, BOTH ON FREEWAY AND SURFACE STREETS. SEVERAL TIMES CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ID

11208679

Incident

May 16, 2019

Mileage

28,500 mi