2011 Kia Sportage Transmission Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  531%
• 25k–50k
  16%
• 50k–75k
  425%
• 75k–100k
  213%
• 100k–150k
  319%
• 150k+
  16%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Kia Sportage owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

2011 Kia Sportage engine stalling/failure. Has been having oil pressure/heating/oil feed line/consumption issues. Taken to a Kia dealership on multiple occasions for all routine maintenance, including every 3000 oil changes. Owner was told that a catalytic converter was needed in 2021 due to engine stalling/ failure while driving 55-60mph on highway to a rapid deceleration and vehicle would go >20mph. Owner had car towed to Kia dealership and had a new catalytic converter put on in 2021 by dealership. Then in 2022 same engine stalling occurred again. Taken back to dealership and was told car needed waste gate actuator replaced. Owner agreed to cost/repairs. Then during repair was told that another catalytic converter was needed due to sludge/clogging, when one was put on less than 1.5 years prior. With less than 20k miles on new one. …

I was driving 65mph on the Freeway and all of a sudden I have no power. I press acceleration to the floor and it done nothing. Code p200a Intake Manifold Code p420 Exhaust Manifold I couldn't go no faster than 25/30 mph on an incline. I live in West Virginia so there's inclines every few miles. I've been looking on the internet and I'm not the only one that is experiencing this. It needs to be fixed ASAP. And Dealership's charge an arm and a leg for things like this. The parts alone are expensive. I believe it is going to get worse before it gets any better. So my opinion and many others say it needs to be a Recall on the 2011 KIA SPORTAGE 2.4L I4 FI DOHC 16V. Thank you for your time.

I was park in the parking garage of my work place. The time was between 7:10 am to7:15 am. I put the car in park. I stepped out of the car to get my purse and other bag on the ground. I left car on cause I was listening to a song. I was looking for an app on my phone to see what song was playing. I then walked around to other side to get a book that was in passenger seat. I walked back to driver side stood there a minute or two still searching for app on phone all sudden my car starting to roll back. I tried to stop the car by trying to get in car too fast door hit me knock me down my legs got caught under door flip me completely around. Then crash to wall of the garage. My back got injured. My car tail gate got damage. I do not know what could of cause the car to roll while parked. There is a little incline in the garage. Called Kia consumer protection. …

Kia technical service bulletin transaxle oil temperature sensor DTC p0711, p0712 & p0713 https://static.oemdtc.com/TSB/2012-043.pdf my vehicle, when still cold experiences rough shifting. Vehicle will slam into gear, up through gears and down shift hard as well, until the car has warmed up. After that the shifting issue goes away. I have taken the vehicle into the shop multiple times, for the problem, and they had trouble duplicating the problem as the vehicle had warmed up transmission repair shop is currently replacing temp sensor as the vehicle is repeating the issue and also stored code related to the problem. This vehicle has had multiple recall related issues, including the engine seizing (which was replaced under recall) which damaged the turbo (also replaced as part of the engine recall). …

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. While the contact was pulling into the driveway, the vehicle would not shift into park. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Kia of bedford (18180 rockside rd, bedford, oh 44146, (440) 735-400) where it was diagnosed that the battery was defective. The contact was informed that they repaired the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that it needed a new engine and transmission. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19V101000 (engine); however, the dealer never informed the contact of the recall and stated that she would be financially responsible for all repairs on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 86,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the transmission gear shift was stuck and would not move. The contact had to hit the gear shift button in order for it to operate. In addition, the radio malfunctioned and would not work and the key was stuck in the ignition. The contact had to hit the key with a screwdriver in order for it to loosen up. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 168,128.

Step on gas, RPM goes up but no acceleration, at times can not get over 35mph. On even terrain with cruise engaged speed will drop and then rev back up. This only happens occasionally. Have been back to the dealer x3 but with no engine codes fired they can't locate the problem. Safety concerns of not being able to maintain speeds on interstates and county roads. Several consumer forums state common concerns relating to possible turbo, transmission and/or gas line issues. Kia not responsive to consumer concerns.

The car has AWD and the rear wheel drive coupling fails without warning leaving only front wheel drive. I live in wisconsin and this was discovered during a snow storm, the car got stuck trying to pull out onto the road front wheels spinning with no rear wheel assist. There was no traffic close but you have the expectation of all wheel drive and drive the car with that expectation so the potential for an accident due to the car not gaining traction when needed is there.

We own the car, 2011 Kia Sportage sx t-gdi, for less than 3 months and I had to take it to the dealership pretty much every other week with some issues. Last problem we had was an accelerator/speed control when the car wasn't shifting or accelerating over 25-30 MPH even the RPM were up to 6-7x1000, and I was able to floor the pedal and keep it there, was no speed response. The only fix was pull over and shut off the engine, but even after that it could take several times to do the same procedure.I finally got an appointment to the dealership on Tuesday morning 11nov14, pick it up Thursday afternoon 13nov14, they said I had a bad battery that might cause the problem. So I end up paying for a new battery and replacing it, and at the same time the dealers replaced a brake lamp switch, and I was told everything works great. …

I purchased this car as first owner. I maintained my car at dealership service department where I purchased my car. Starting July 2016, my car engine would shut down randomly as I was slowing down at traffic light or freeway ramp light. This was not expected. I was really shocked and scared that someone would rear-end my car. I brought the car to dealership service three times. They can't fix it and claimed there was no check engine code for them to follow-up on. It got worse as I drove the car on the freeway about 60 MPH for about 20 minutes. The engine would seized. It felt like the engine exploded. It was super scary and unsafe. I felt like the car could freeze and possibly roll-over. I brought it to the dealership service again. They said it was the map sensor and changed it. …

Transmission complaints in other Sportage years