2013 KIA Sportage Engine Problems
Owners have filed 301 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 KIA Sportage, 79% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 100,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine seized” (14% of reports).
- 301engine complaints
- 100,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $8,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 59%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine seized: mentioned in 43 of 301 complaints (14%)
- Started making: mentioned in 17 of 301 complaints (6%)
- Loud knocking: mentioned in 16 of 301 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2013 KIA Sportage at $8,150, and half of them between $6,450 and $10,200.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 227 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 301 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 18 a fire, 1 an injury.
KIA Sportage engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sportage | 6 | 11% | 3,500 |
| 2024 Sportage | 10 | 14% | 17,850 |
| 2023 Sportage | 38 | 20% | 47,000 |
| 2022 Sportage | 21 | 46% | 42,000 |
| 2021 Sportage | 23 | 43% | 59,960 |
| 2020 Sportage | 75 | 46% | 21,014 |
| 2019 Sportage | 36 | 51% | 40,000 |
| 2018 Sportage | 91 | 55% | 18,400 |
| 2017 Sportage | 220 | 55% | 68,500 |
| 2016 Sportage | 62 | 46% | 84,000 |
| 2015 Sportage | 84 | 58% | 91,000 |
| 2014 Sportage | 72 | 58% | 92,750 |
| 2013 Sportage | 301 | 79% | 100,000 |
| 2012 Sportage | 328 | 84% | 100,000 |
| 2011 Sportage | 77 | 43% | 99,500 |
| 2010 Sportage | 2 | 10% | 100,000 |
| 2009 Sportage | 10 | 13% | 80,500 |
| 2008 Sportage | 17 | 17% | 90,000 |
| 2007 Sportage | 8 | 10% | 97,500 |
| 2006 Sportage | 15 | 14% | 126,000 |
| 2005 Sportage | 1 | 1% | 111,195 |
| 2002 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 150,075 |
| 2001 Sportage | 1 | 0% | 92,000 |
| 2000 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 96,989 |
| 1999 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 250,695 |
| 1998 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 60,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While driving all of a sudden my 2013 Sportage began shaking check Ingine light flashing. This happened out of nowhere. I pulled off to the side of the road, towed to Mechanic shop. They found that a piece of spark plug had broken off into the cylinder shaft. They said it was very unusual. I had it…
Claim #25921274 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute Kiaâs denial of warranty coverage for the engine failure in my 2013 Kia Sportage. Per communication with customer care, Kia denied my claim on the basis of âexcessive mileage between oil changes.â However, this…
My engine failed due to the knock sensor recall a known issue on my 2013 Kia Sportage the recall is supposed to provide a lifetime warranty but I was denied coverage because the failure happened before I was able to perform the update as I was a new owner to the car and was unaware of the recall at…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 KIA Sportages have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 301 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 KIA Sportage (79% of the 381 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 KIA Sportage engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 100,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2013 KIA Sportage?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,150 (half paid between $6,450 and $10,200), from 24 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 KIA Sportage?
The most frequent phrase is “engine seized”, in 43 of 301 complaints, followed by “started making” (17).
See all 2013 KIA Sportage problems or engine problems across all Sportage years.