Third generation (SL)
2016 Kia Sportage
The most reported problem on the 2016 Kia Sportage is brake wear, with 38 complaints.
- 131owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 8involved a crash
- 68,100median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Sportage doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Kia Sportage reliable?
The 2016 Kia Sportage has 131 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 248 for 2016 SUVs on this site. Of the 13 Sportage model years since 2014, it has the 6th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 12 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs well under the 2017 (40). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Brake wear leads with 38 of the 131 complaints (29%), ahead of engine failure at 26. Too few of the brake wear reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 13 of the 131 complaints (10%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 8 reports mention a crash, 5 mention a fire and 8 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 5 of 8, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Brake wear has a recall on the same system (22V-051). Engine failure has none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings jumped in 2022, with 56 complaints, 3.5 times the next busiest year. So far in 2026, 6 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 38 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
131 complaints is 1.9 times fewer than the median 2016 model on this site and 1.9 times fewer than the median 2016 SUV. Among the 8 Sportage model years here it ranks 6th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Kia Sportage
Kia filed 127 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Kia Sportage. 21 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 5 bulletins · 26 complaints
PITSTOP: INJECTOR HARNESS ROUTING FOR PI1802Y/Z AND PI1803Y/Z ENGINE REPLACEMENTS This bulletin provides information to address a no-start or hard start with poor running condition after engine replacement under PI1802Y/Z or PI1803Y/Z. Some replacement long blocks may come with pre-installed fuel rail, injectors, and injector wiring ...
TSB_R7 ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802W/X) - CLOSED - SUPERSEDED BY PI1802Y/Z.
3 more on this problem
VEHICLE PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802W/X) Specifically, this bulletin provides instructions on which procedures to follow if, after installation of the KSDS, any one of the subject vehicles below returns to the dealer with Diagnostic Trouble Code (?DTC?), P1326..
Q & A - This document is the Q & A for the new Product Improvement Campaign to provide information regarding a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTICE This notice advised the dealer service manager of the new Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
Engine knocking or ticking 13 bulletins · 19 complaints
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published PI1802 titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement"; equipped w/THETA II engine.
ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published PI1802 titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement" equipped w/THETA II engine.
11 more on this problem
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT TSB_PI1802_R2 - Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z_Rev3) - - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802 Rev 10, 03/16/2020) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z_Rev2) - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802 Rev 10, 03/16/2020) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN : KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802_R11) This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
TSB - ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802 Rev 10, 03/16/2020) titled Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement.
TSB - REV 10 KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive ...
TSB - PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) Rev.9 - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from ...
ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802W/X) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802, Rev 6, 01/31/2019) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement".
TSB - Product Improvement Campaign: KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive ...
Plus 1 older ones not listed here.
Check engine light or misfire 2 bulletins · 10 complaints
PITSTOP: MANUAL EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS TEST FOR HARD TO FIND/SMALL LEAKS If the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is illuminated with DTC(s) P0442, P0455, P0456, or P0457 (Evaporative Emissions System-Leak detected) and the evaporative (EVAP) leak self-test resulted in NTF, a manual EVAP test is recommended.
ECU UPGRADE ? MIL ON WITH DTC(s) P0420/P0171 - This bulletin provides information related to the ECU software upgrade for some 2012~2015MY Optima (QF) vehicles, produced from August 12, 2011 to October 2, 2015, some 2012~2015MY Sorento (XMa) vehicles, ...
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 1 bulletin · 5 complaints
PITSTOP: HVAC RECEIVER/DRYER DESICCANT REPLACEMENT - IN THE EVENT OF A HVAC SYSTEM CONCERN IN WHICH METAL PARTICLES OR SHARDS HAVE CONTAMINATED THE SYSTEM, THE DESICCANT OR THE ENTIRE A/C RECEIVER/DRYER ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Complaints filed by year
56 complaints came in 2022, 8.0 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.
NHTSA summary
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2016 Kia Sportage
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
All 2 recalls on the 2016 Kia Sportage, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Kia Sportage?
Brake wear, with 38 of the 131 complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Sportage problems start?
Of the 52 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 35,000 miles and half by about 68,000.
Is the 2016 Kia Sportage better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has fewer complaints than the 2017: 12 a year against 40.
How many 2016 Kia Sportage complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
13 of them (10%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2016 Kia Sportage?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 22V-051. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.