Most common 2016 Kia Sportage problems
Share of the 134 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Sportage complaints by model year
Best Sportage years: 2019, 2014. Years to avoid: 2023, 2025, 2017, 2024, 2012. Compare all years →
2016 Kia Sportage recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
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.
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.
Engine
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2016 Kia Sportage:
Loss of Motive Power
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.
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
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.
What 2016 Kia Sportage owners say
Engine & cooling all 63 →
The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated her son was driving approximately 35 MPH when smoke came from under the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over safely and removed himself from the vehicle. The vehicle became totally engulfed in flames and was destroyed. The state police arrived on the scene and attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but were not successful. The fire department arrived on the scene shortly afterward and extinguished the fire. The local police filed a report. There were no injuries sustained. The approximate failure mileage was 118,860.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, he heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle was still losing motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the road and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle and shift into drive; however, the vehicle would not accelerate above 20 MPH. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and found metal shavings in the oil pan. The contact was advised by the mechanic that the engine and the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. …
Brakes all 38 →
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle caught on fire underneath the hood. The fire died down before the fire department arrived on the scene; however, there was no report filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact there was no fire damage; however the engine was completely destroyed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22v051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the oil gauge indicated that the oil was hot. The contact also stated that a grayish colored smoke was coming from under the hood. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical system
Received a recall notice stated "An Engine compartment fire may occur in the area where the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit is located in your vehicle. The exact cause of fire remains unknown. However, it is believed that the HECU may experience an internal electrical short circuit that could result in overcurrent. An electrical short circuit in the HECU increases the risk of an engine compartment fire while the vehicle is parked or driving. A fire increases the risk of injury. Out of an abundance of caution, park your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until you have the recall repair performed." Yet, with this kind of instruction, KIA offered NO temporary replacement vehicle like a rental car. I called KIA corporate directly, spoke with their consumer department and also a supervisor. …
This Recall has been ongoing since February 2022. In my travels I see hundreds of new KIA Sportages on the road but they can't come up with a single fuse to keep me from burning alive in my car? I am 70 years, working part time and need my job. I won't take the risk of transporting clients in my Sportage because of the potential danger and my employer is becoming impatient with this situation. My car sits out in the hot sun baking all summer because if it catches fire while in my garage I'm guessing my homeowner's insurance wouldn't pay because I KNEW there was a potential for fire. We are only weeks away from winter and do I scrape snow and ice off of my car at my age because KIA is busy cranking out new cars without a thought for the ones they have already put on the road? It's almost six months -- to engineer a simple fuse? …
2016 Kia Sportage engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Kia Sportage a good car?
Based on 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Sportage rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Sportage at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Kia Sportage?
The engine & cooling — 63 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor. Next are the brakes (38) and electrical system (17).
How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Sportage have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2016 Kia Sportage, the most recent from February 2, 2022 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Sportage?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2025, 2017, 2024 and 2012. See the full Kia Sportage years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Sportage problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 38% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.