The 2021 Kia Sportage's elevated safety profile includes 2 recall campaigns and 46 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 46 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with engine leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Engine14

02Unknown Or Other10

03Engine And Engine Cooling3

04Unknown Or Other,engine2

05Trailer Hitches2

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

Kia Sportage Fuel Economy

21–26mpg combined

19-23city

24-30hwy

$2,600-$3,200/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~$2,600/yr5/10 Average

Sportage AWD - Automatic (S6)

23mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

21 city25 hwy~$2,950/yr5/10 Average

Sportage FWD - Automatic (S6)

23mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

20 city28 hwy~$2,950/yr5/10 Average

Sportage AWD - Automatic (S6)

21mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · All-Wheel Drive

19 city24 hwy~$3,200/yr4/10 Average

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

Where to Find 2021 Kia Sportage

36States

28%in top 3

If you're near Texas, you're in luck: 10% of listings are there. But with 36 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

TXTexas

2,63210%

FLFlorida

2,3909%

CACalifornia

2,1969%

PAPennsylvania

1,5916%

OHOhio

1,3635%

ILIllinois

1,0714%

NJNew Jersey

9264%

NYNew York

9134%

DEDelaware

8723%

DCWashington DC

7983%

AZArizona

7763%

MOMissouri

7413%

MDMaryland

6673%

GAGeorgia

6533%

NCNorth Carolina

6322%

OKOklahoma

5782%

WAWashington

5772%

MIMichigan

5222%

INIndiana

5042%

OR428

MN420

UT361

CO358

NH338

TN334

WI305

RI282

KY219

NV217

AR216

MA205

NE191

VA180

AL143

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 46 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.