The 2021 Kia Sportage's elevated safety profile includes 2 recall campaigns and 41 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

22V7030002022-19-09

TRAILER HITCHES

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

21V1370002021-04-03

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.

An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2021 Kia Sportage has accumulated 41 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with engine leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Engine12

02Unknown Or Other10

03Unknown Or Other,engine2

04Engine And Engine Cooling2

05Trailer Hitches2

41 total across 1 model years (2021–2021)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Kia Sportage Fuel Economy

21–26mpg combined

19-23city

24-30hwy

$1,700-$2,100/yr

With 4 configurations tested, the 2021 Kia Sportage ranges from 21 to 26 MPG combined. That's a 5 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Sportage FWD - Automatic (S6)

26mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

23 city30 hwy~$1,700/yr5/10 Average

Sportage AWD - Automatic (S6)

23mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

21 city25 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Sportage FWD - Automatic (S6)

23mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

20 city28 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Sportage AWD - Automatic (S6)

21mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · All-Wheel Drive

19 city24 hwy~$2,100/yr4/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2021 Kia Sportage

37States

27%in top 3

If you're near Florida, you're in luck: 11% of listings are there. But with 37 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

FLFlorida

2,80711%

TXTexas

2,5119%

CACalifornia

1,9297%

PAPennsylvania

1,5206%

OHOhio

1,2265%

ILIllinois

1,1194%

DCWashington DC

9744%

MOMissouri

9564%

NYNew York

8773%

NJNew Jersey

8583%

DEDelaware

8413%

MDMaryland

8263%

GAGeorgia

7823%

NCNorth Carolina

7193%

AZArizona

6803%

WAWashington

6462%

OKOklahoma

5902%

INIndiana

5422%

OROregon

5252%

MIMichigan

5022%

UTUtah

4752%

TNTennessee

4492%

MNMinnesota

4342%

NH366

CO342

NV268

WI258

RI220

VA195

AR187

MA174

AL172

ID161

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2021.

2021 Kia Sportage Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 2021 Kia Sportage a good car to buy?

The 2021 Kia Sportage has 2 recalls on record. There are 2 recalls on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is engine, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 2021 Kia Sportage?

NHTSA shows 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia Sportage. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 2021 Kia Sportage?

Depending on configuration, the 2021 Kia Sportage delivers 21–26 MPG combined. Choose wisely. The full comparison shows how engine choice affects your wallet.

What are common problems with the 2021 Kia Sportage?

ENGINE is the number-one complaint area for the 2021 Kia Sportage, based on 41 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.