Diagsheet

2016 Kia Sportage · symptom sheet

Brakes grind, pulse or wear early

  • 38owner reports
  • 55,000median miles
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Nov 19, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026

38 of the 130 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Sportage.

Tick what matches of 38 reports

1
1
1
1

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the service brakes, hydraulic covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

22V-051Feb 2, 2022
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.

Risk and remedy
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.

NHTSA investigations into the service brakes, hydraulic on the Sportage

AQ23-002opened Nov 17, 2023
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 2008 to 2021

Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.

NHTSA summary
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. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

219
2922
323
124
325

What owners wrote

“Very often, when I put my car into park, it doesn't seem to fully engage, and I either can't remove the key (until I put it back into drive, and then park again), and in some instances I experience a "rollaway" as soon as I remove my foot from the brake pedal. I believe there is already a recall for the Kia Telluride model for this issue.”

Filed Apr 28, 2025

“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.”

Filed Dec 22, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 38 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car